How Straight is the Discraft Cicada VS Other Straight Fairway Drivers?

We're putting almost 30 straight fairway drivers with a variety of flight numbers to the test to find the straightest ones on the market!
If you’re enjoying our Flight Numbers Don't Matter series, consider supporting us by picking up one of these sweet “Flight Numbers Don't Matter” custom stamped discs from Millennium. Available now at sixsideddiscs.com
Follow Caleb Thomas ‪@CalebThomasDG‬ on KZbin or @calebthomas_dg on Instagram.
We're a disc golf retailer from Ohio specializing in Mystery Boxes.
Visit us at: www.sixsideddi...​​​​​​​​
Support us on Patreon: / sixsideddiscs
Join our Discord: / discord
/ sixsideddiscs
/ sixsideddiscs
Thanks for watching! Like and Subscribe for more videos.

[@BradSchick]

Awesome video as always, thanks for all the work you put in to these.

[@SixSidedDiscs]

These ones are a lot of work but a lot of fun to dive into and compare. Thanks for watching!

[@orenconner]

"For those with slower arm speeds"... we all have slow arm speeds! Get someone throwing those discs with 350 MAX distance so we can know how it will fly for us noodle arms.

[@fishblade2]

Absolutely a great idea!

[@Paladyr7]

I'll volunteer! 😂

[@dr.ew88]

Why so everything they test can just go left or lefter?

[@discgolfwes]

Pipeline is the GOAT and the perfect example of flight numbers not mattering.

[@tdwester]

Couldn’t agree more.

[@cdem3]

But a GOAT is overstable beef 😜

[@JustinWayneDawg]

@@cdem3GOATs are great

[@tarzanboy1231]

This is a most excellent video, thanks! BUT - Caleb is a way above average player. My guess is he is throwing at > 65 mph. I would love the same comparison but using a solid player that throws 10 mph slower. I think we will see different results, more applicable to average players. Still, this is an excellent comparison - thanks!!!

[@FanoFan-q4z]

Exactly, players like Caleb generally already know what discs work for them. It's us beginners who throw 250 - 300 that need the most help choosing discs. Watching this guy throw is of no help at all to me.

[@secondedgeblades]

Just pick from the understable list here. My max is ~310 and everything on their understable list is pretty damn straight for me.

[@mrWade101]

The Essence is known as a beginner disc and for new players it definitely flies straight.

[@chrispreperato5562]

Yep, its a great disc for someone in the 300ft of power range; starts out with a "Pro throwing a teebird" type flight, that 80% straight, soft fade to finish...and beats into dead straight (or even a little turn)

[@jessebuck90]

Essence is my go-to as a new player and often the disc I can throw the furthest.

[@chrisrhome6638]

The way a disc flies has everything to do with how it was thrown. Just because your guy can throw some discs well doesn't mean he can throw all discs well.

[@pbgamble]

I agree, this video would be worth watching if there were release velocities and distances.

[@FanoFan-q4z]

Wish you guys would always use different arm speeds for these reviews. As a beginners these discs fly nothing like this for us. And generally beginners are the ones that need the most help finding the right discs. If you throw like this dude chances are you've played long enough that you have your bag pretty sorted out and know what works for you. Would be nice to see some sub 300' arms throwing these discs because that's where most of us beginners live.

[@dan.dupreezdiscgolf]

You forgot the stalker by discraft! Such a good disc. So straight! Basically just a longer buzzz in ESP plastic

[@ILoveAnimation2]

Exactly! Was about to that too. They totally forgot😅

[@cameronmonday6830]

And the zombie, and the sting

[@calebscoolreviews]

came to the comments looking for this because I love my stalker. Discraft for midrange/fairway and MVP for distance in my bag

[@Timberius]

Hawkeye (not a new mold) and Dark Rebel are the same disc, I heard. Just marketing doing some testing to see if an overpriced dark rebel can sell as good as a Hawkeye, and even if not, if the profitability makes up for it. Both are the old FD mold. The new FD is a bit more stable out of the box, but beats in to Hawkeye equivalent (which I've experienced with their tournament edition c-line shimmer plastic. Kinda sad because I had it for the 0 1 fade). Beware of what you can spot on the Dark Rebel's stamp - once seen it cannot be unseen 😂

[@JoeHenry-r7r]

You should've used the era in their forged plastic, which is a lot flippier than the composite era

[@TheGiraffehead]

I was hoping to see the ThoughtSpace Votum. Flight numbers say it is over stable, but it flies perfectly straight for me.

[@jackdonkey22]

Avenger ss flies straight for me but the pros use it as a roller.

[@meister-t]

Thanks for a great, well done, review. I'd have loved to also see the Maul, but judging by my recent experience with the Diamond, and yours with the other Lat64 disc, it might be way understable. BTW Hawkeye and DarkRebel are actually the same mold (old FD mold). In Sirius plastic the JLS should give you a -2 2 flight (I have one, I can attest to that).

[@andretuomela4100]

My appreciation goes to Caleb's right arm and Greg's vocal cords. Great video 👍🔥

[@joedefrancesco5517]

Enjoyed the video. Got me thinking... with the tech disc getting traction, it would be super helpful to know how fast your tester is throwing. It could make a major impact on how we can all select discs better by adjusting for our own throwing speed!

[@McDroogy3]

I think the axiom rhythm could also contend for the slightly slower arm speeds. I think the crave and frio fly relatively similar. I still miss the crave that was sacrificed to the lake at Idlewild last summer. For me the rhythm is straighter than my crave when I don’t want to use full power.

[@mmdoof]

After throwing it for a year, I don't quite think Rhythm would fill that spot. Sure at some point it is high speed straight when powered down, but the fade and the skip become too hard to control. The same problems as with the 10 speeds, you'd rather want to overspeed than underspeed a disc when you need a fadeless flight. But It's fantastic for hyzerflip turnovers.

[@gardenstateflatlandb]

I can vouch for the Soda as an extremely straight flyer, at least for my arm. I can expect laser straight flights up to around 300'. This disc shines on low, head-height or lower lines. It seems to have some magical hover mode it goes into when flying lower to the ground. The shallow rim and smooth edges also gives me the cleanest release out of any disc I throw. Honorable mention, the Discraft Zombee. Less glidey, but super straight, and not as susceptible to turning and burning, like the Lat 64 River, and Leopard3 which I also throw...at least in my older run in Z plastic.

[@masonzuleger]

The XL isn't a straight 7 speed from discraft?

[@ethanwhitelaw4942]

No mention of the stalker :(

[@SixSidedDiscs]

Great call out, we didn't have any Stalkers when we filmed this a couple weeks ago, we had 2 arrive later that week! We'll have to test them out in a future video!

[@MrWiLSo234]

And the Zombee i love the stalker too but for better than buzzz distance with little fade the zombee is my go to

[@nolangray8435]

I use a Rhythm and a G-star Teebird3 as my straight fairways. Love the series and love watching the different flights!

[@TAS-gb5ph]

One thing to note about the C-Line FD: in my experience, the ones with a lot of dome are as beefy as the one Caleb threw in the video. The flatter ones are still more stable than the s-line, but I wouldn’t call them beefcakes.

[@hmnim]

Agreed 100% the C-Line is definitely more stable, but the one in this video looks like an outlier. Gotta be the dome. Most my C-Lines are pretty mellow and fly true to the numbers. S-Lines definitely have a -1 turn though.

[@mahazroko6753]

It's not a beefcake but it does have heaps of integrity meaning it'll be hard to overpower it so much it'll turn on you. I'm what most would call a power thrower and my FD just flew longer the more i smashed on it, never turned. It would turn however if i put some OAT on it, but it would also reliably fight back. Great disc imo.

[@jschalburg23]

I like to mention that the neutron crave at 160g and beat in is pretty flippy. Working on beating in my 171g proton crave so it has a little less fade. Mold in general is just very straight out of the box. I also bag a innova made FD thats flys more like the DM made FD and a Innova made 2nd run FD that is super straight. Kind of of cross over in my bag with the crave but they are all just fun to throw. I am looking forward to trying the Cicada. Great Video!

[@mmdoof]

I throw the FD as well despite being mainly a Crave thrower. They're both great narrow line shot-shapers, but just very different in their soul. FD loves to be thrown flat and hard and can resist a little bit of wind whereas Crave is more of a hyzerflip finesse disc that can land flat on a shot of almost any release speed. It flies fast because of the flat top but requires more caution in wind because of the turn. Just very different animals, yet both absolutely magnificent at what they do.

[@jschalburg23]

@mmdoof recently have but a first run and a esp cicada in my bag. Both 172-174g. First run is more similar to the light weight crave, touchy, really doesn't like being thrown flat, esp is not as beat in but flies less stable than my semi beat in proton crave, just fun discs to throw and enjoy the flight of.

[@wakimura303]

Surprised there was no mention of the discraft stalker! 7 5 -1 2 and the understable counterpart of the athena

[@raidonbay]

I manipulate and throw laser lines with an Axiom Plasma Insanity 170g, 2016 release. Next to that the Crave, is always in my bag. I would love to see a FH straight comparison for Fairway Drivers.

[@davidsilvey435]

My two best straight fairway drivers are a (best and old) Innova DX beat up Cheetah. Flies like a crow flies. Straight. Straight where I send it. And yes, I make mistakes and then it flies straight into OB, or worse yet into a tree, which is harmful for old Innova DX plastic. Second is a Latitude Gold Line FUSE (Jasper Lundmark signature series). Made in Sweden. Printed as a "mid-range" but it just flies straight, and pretty long for my old arm speed of maybe 60, maybe 55. 240- 250' with normal throw. I liked the video above. Might maybe buy a new discs in the future. I am 59 and retired on a fixed income. I bought many discs 3-6 years ago that sit un-thrown so will work with those....... but have bookmarked this video. 180-230' approaches is what keeps my scores decent. Slower arm speed straight fliers are critical to us older guys. Thanks for the video!

[@aaroncollins85]

You missed the DGA Pipeline

[@discgolf2479]

No discraft stalker?

[@abrahamnagy7882]

The Dynamic Discs escape is pretty straight, in my experience fuzion is really straight and beats in to understable, and i just got a new lucid ice one that will slightly turn, or hold the line, and go straight far, with a healthy fade. Like a lot DD, i think it is more understable than other companies discs at the same flight numbers, but its great!

[@hyperutetic]

I was disappointed with the latest run of undertow. I had the same experience with it that you did. I fell in love with that mold from the first flight run. The first flights were surprisingly super straight. Gummier plastic, the new ones are way harder.

[@yeadogthazmyboi]

You should have someone with an average arm speed throwing too. This is basically useless for someone who doesn’t rip

[@aka_yogi]

Crazy. Legacy discs never gets any love on any video. There are gems in their lineup. Icon plastic is superb. The bandit should be in this lineup.

[@mikelopez8714]

hugely agree that Legacy needs representation here. My Patriots in Pinnacle plastic are the straitest fairways I've thrown.

[@calebdyer6332]

Phenob is a great straight flyer

[@aka_yogi]

@@calebdyer6332 that's the mold I was thinking

[@tjessem81]

My GoTo straight disc for forehand, is Latitude 64, 157gr Opto Jade 🙂

[@rodano16d40]

Mantis is the first disc I fell in love with. Really wish they had stock runs in plastics other than Z. Z swirl runs are gummier and $$

[@MrWiLSo234]

Im curious to see how well the cicada will hold up thrown on hyzer and anhyzers. You gotta test out a Zombee though, it literally is a faster Buzzz and is my go to for tight but longer wooded courses. Someone else mentioned the Stalker too but comparing it to the Zombee the Stalker finishes with more fade as its more overstable.

[@bobbybobman3073]

I know a guy who loves the era ... But he also calls 500' an everyday distance, he bombs. Like 72-76 mph according to techdisc.

[@mrdacline]

Great video, I think you know you muffed some of those ratings. The river was clearly understable and the leopard3 was the longest and straightest flight in the vid. 😏

[@McSlobo]

Everyone says Stag is understable, mine is a meat hook. And my S-line FD is just a flippy disk, just like River - great for anhyzer lines though. I'd rather throw Vanguard than either of those if I wanted a straight shot. Even if it goes a bit left, it doesn't go that much.

[@fishblade2]

Thank you for this type of content. It’s nice to get just a huge assortment of discs and how they fly. I agree with some others who said you should do this test with someone who only throws 350 max but I would also say it would be awesome to have someone with 350 max distance throwing distance drivers in a similar test including plastic differences.

[@Peilla]

Falk is my straight fairway. But I'm a 350 foot thrower.

[@flipflat4814]

Innova Star TL, Innova Champion/DX Gazelle, Innova Champion Eagle L, Innova Champion Cheetah, Lightning Disc Golf Glow ProStyle D-1 all really straight 👍.

[@serenityinsilence]

Prodigy got no love in this comparison, but anyone curious about a straight fairway from them check out the F5 in 500 plastic. If you are a beginner or slower arm player in the 250ft range, the F7 in 400 plastic flies more like an F5. Bigger arm players would probably prefer the F3 as their straight disc.

[@beenschmokin]

Mantis is super straight you just have to throw it straight and flat. It does what you do. What makes you people think it doesn't matter how you release the disc and that somehow it will magically undo the physical forces you put into it? Git Gud. The speed you throw the disc makes a world of difference. All discs roll to turn if over sped. All fade if under sped. Throwing them all the same speed makes the test completely useless.

[@anthonyfinney6326]

It's so strange to me to see these "ratings" sometimes. The Soda and The Valkyrie had a similar fade at the end of their flight. But the Soda had much more turnover than the Valkyrie, and yet, somehow, the Valkyrie is listed as more overstable? Clearly, IMHO, the Soda is more overstable than the Valkyrie in that even AFTER the Soda showed more turnover flight, it still had enough fade to pull it close to the Valkyrie's fade. I get it with this channel and series though. "Flight numbers don't matter" is the motto. But I truly believe sometimes these ratings are heavily off and misleading. Almost like there is some other decision-making beyond flight path versus flight numbers.

[@Jim3Mix]

Innova Star Leopard and Champion T-Bird are my current fairway straight flyers. Good to see the Leopard made the list! I am interested in the Cicada, though.

[@adriangust]

i must have gotten a wierd hawkeye, my champion hawkeye took the place of my beat up roadrunner 😂

[@jessehenderson836]

I’m pretty sure Kastaplast flight numbers are like made up haha. Every disc I’ve thrown from them feel absolutely great plastic wise, until I want them to do one thing, then it’s the most understandable flight possible. Each of their discs feel like 1.5-2 levels of turn too high compared to how they fly. The Svea is a great example. I bag one, but it’s definitely not a -1 0 turn fade. The thing is flippppppy. But it fits a slot I need.

[@InbredJed82060]

The crave is my favorite disc.

[@prattacaster]

I just never saw that big of a difference between my rivers and my Stags, in fact, my Stags on average have more stability. Btw throwing 325-350ft.

[@robertjones1730]

Discraft is gonna sell out of Cicadas and be all like "what to heck just happened?" Black friday we'll be fighting over them in lines at our local pro shop, there'll be Cicada scalpers on the corners and then by next April they'll be given away as CTP prizes because nobody wants them anymore. But I think I'll still have one in my bag because that looks like it would fit perfectly between my Thoughtspace Pathfinder and my Westside Sword then I can reach any distance in a straight line all the way out to 430'

[@mattbroughton750]

lol, those insanity's come in different runs. The one I have is closer to a raptor than a passion.

[@kspraddiscgolfguy]

I'm about halfway into the video - very straightforward, simple but effective graphics, and not much fluff (or noise). Easy to follow. It's interesting to note that a viewer new to this channel doesn't know the arm speed/torque of the person throwing, so likely has no idea if the results the thrower is getting would be comparable to the viewer or not. I know this already took time enough to test 30ish discs, but it would be interesting to have different people of different abilities/arm speeds throw and check out the flight paths. The desire for such an effort just might depend on the channel's target audience.

[@liveround45]

My favorite is the Innova IT in Gstar, it reliably goes 300'-325' arrow straight with very little beat in. Pretty durable as well, I play a lot of desert courses .

[@jonfeverton]

Would the “zombee” be considered their straight fairway already? I’ve thrown those for years and they seem to be similar to a cicada. Thoughts?

[@luchaunderground6830]

The River is the straightest fairway for new to semi-pro players. You missed the Gateway Assasin...yeah I know not too many have heard about it.

[@SquirtHoliday]

Hello. I've started throwing left hand cuz my right hand hurts. What's the best disc for this

[@jd802north]

Why would you have a picture of the first run in your video thumbnail and wait until the very end and say you’re actually using a test flight? If the differences of these from the test flight to the first run is anything like the Athena was, you might as well be reviewing a different disc. Just saying, this was kinda a waste of my time since I already know how the test flights fly.

[@Kris_Terry]

Composite Era is VERY overstable compared to the forged plastic

[@davelopez9161]

It would be really nice to know what Caleb's release velocity and spin rate is. Stating that he has a lot of power and torque doesn't really mean anything. Also, at what elevation and wind conditions is Caleb throwing these discs?

[@armageddoon1]

love the bloopers at the end of the video, it just makes these feel human. In my opinion too many youtubers nowadays don't show blooper reels or the (painful) part of the creation process. Keep em' coming!

[@philipjones0630]

I would say the previous Discraft driver closest to filling that gap was the stalker.

[@ChuckSchickx]

My Cicada is not a straight flyer at all...tends to be on the over stable side. I still bag it tho. I'm hoping once it's beaten in, it will flatten out.

[@DavidInSomnia]

I use the Innova Hawkeye in Gstar and it has the cleanest release and straightest flight of any disc I throw. Really want to try a Crave and Cicada though.

[@haydenmcdaniel1155]

Was looking forward to this but stopped watching when you ignored the stalker

[@GoodStarfish]

I have a crave and an insanity and are slightly different but very reliable discs

[@woodwindfixer9248]

Middle aged low arm speed here and the river is my go to fairway driver. It can be touchy in the wind but is really versatile if you don’t overpower it. The Saint pro is also surprisingly straight.

[@czechchap]

Lat64 Brave in Royal Plastic is very straight.

[@sreknobremag3431]

been loving watching this series, but I wish you also point out the fact that different runs will also affect the flights as well

[@philipjones0630]

If you want a real straight glider find a beat-in DX Eagle. Great for intermediate players.

[@maxray29]

crave all day, sometimes undertaker when i'm feeling strong

[@upperdecker1750]

You should really put these lists in written form on your website so people can reference them without having to rewatch the entire videos

[@salommy]

ESP stalker is my favorite straight Fairway right now.

[@nativejuicevapors]

Why would a 9/5/-2/-1 be straight there suppose to turn when thrown flat

[@zacharywoodford8530]

The fact that the only thing seperating the numbers on a zone and a luna is the speed being 1 higher on a zone tells me that flight numbers truly mean nothing. Zones are crazy stable and a luna will turn if thrown flat

[@simonbelmont5801]

The Infinite Discs Exodus is one of the straightest fairway drivers in my bag. Would be curious to see you test some of the Infinite Discs line. Their Aztec is my go-to driver for more distance. Cheers!

[@calebdyer6332]

The infinite dynasty is my straight flyer. Exodus is a bit stable for me. As mine has beat in its starting to become a bit straighter though.

[@kennethmartinsen5106]

Try cosmos from Viking Discs. In storm plastic 7/5/0/1

[@DavidClaibourn]

Gateway Sabre, Assassin and Spear should be on this list.

[@brannnnnnn]

FD, Hawkeye, Dark Rebel all pretty much the same disc.

[@DeadphishyEP3]

Up until last month, i was using an XS fairway. So old, but so straight. 😢

[@aidanparks5697]

What about the stalker? Wish you would’ve mentioned that one as it’s one of my go to’s

[@ericandresen680]

Go River! Not all Swedish disc are understable.

[@gaymongoose]

seems like everytiem i looked down to the disc or numbers on screen they were different than what you were saying - very confusing

[@brandonfox0619]

The stalker?? Same flight number just beaded

[@richardtoepfer9326]

I have the hawkeye in g star plastic. It is definitely straight lol

[@cannondaleish]

Add also STING into the comparison.

[@denwaontheisland3555]

I'd like to see a Weight comparison.

[@Raiaramis24]

This clear Mantis is not the best. Z plastic but not see thru flies like a dream.

[@nateg6053]

i use the prodigy FX-3 to be the best fairway Driver for me

[@kentbrennan9551]

Hawkeye & TL3 I find to be the straightest for me

[@HyzerMyzer]

My frios were beefy, and my lariats were straight 😂

[@Jim3Mix]

Thanks very much for these interesting and informative videos. Another great one! I have a question: How do DG manufacturers test their discs? Do they have some sort of throwing machine, like ball golf companies have used to test their new golf ball products? Nothing against Caleb and Greg, but a machine would be more consistent in throwing the disc and the results would likely be easier to compare across different discs and companies.

[@Alliat6364]

I’ve thought a lot about this too. I really want to build a throwing machine. Also preferrably use it in some huge indoor space to factor out wind and air turbulence. One can dream!

[@FearTheWeird300]

Should have put a Saint in there. It’s a higher speed River

[@eliwirth1938]

As another example of flight numbers don't matter, I just got a brand new Simon Lizotte stamped C-Line FD, and it's flippier than my ESP Stings!

[@hmnim]

I think the SL run was one of their earlier runs of the new FD and its particularly inconsistent as a result. I have a couple that have a bead on the bottom of the rim that are basically FD1's.

[@docdabble9671]

Gimme the Prodigy 400 F1 over all of them

[@GodsNumberOneSon]

DX Thunderbird is my straightest fd

[@maxscheetz8336]

The L in TL stands for, long… as in, Teebird Long.

[@LearyTheCablGiDiscGolf]

I have been on team crave for the past year. Insanely good in the SC woods

[@darinladd5312]

neutron plastic? both of mine are fission and they flip way too easy (i can almost always out-drive them with a hex--why is that not on the list?)

[@discgolfingdad5475]

This is such a good series. I will watch every one you put out.

[@ernestorogers2327]

No Legacy Discs representation? Smh the Phenom and Nemesis would fit nicely. Phenom in Icon plastic is an og FD type disc. So good. And if you’re doing 10 speeds

[@ernestorogers2327]

Even had three lonestar, Clash, a new era and a gateway disc in there lol

[@fernandoacosta8237]

Perfect fairway video.

[@mrtebbebear]

What about the discraft stalker?

[@clanxzombx4456]

Cicada is just a zombee discraft