What’s in Nathan Queen’s Bag?

Nathan Queen just completed the greatest underdog finish in the history of the Disc Golf Pro Tour (DGPT). Out of 32 competitors at the DGPT Championship Queen was ranked 28th. Not a single bracket on UDisc picked Queen to prevail. But when all was said and done it was Queen who held the trophy over his head and exclaimed “WOOOOO!” He then grabbed his $30,000 check and ran around the 18th green as fans cheered him on. What a joyous way to end the DGPT season.

Queen is sponsored by Innova and throws a unique bag by modern standards. He is a smooth lefty backhand thrower whose game is rooted in precision and consistency rather than distance. Below is a breakdown of discs in Queen’s bag. Each disc is listed with various information and has a link to its product page on the Rogue website. The information included is the disc name, plastic-type, flight numbers, disc description from RogueDiscs.com or the manufacturer website, and an explanation from Queen himself in quotes. Much of the information for this blog was gathered from Queen’s In The Bag video.

Putters

P2 (Glow D Line) 2 / 3/ 0 / 1 – The P2 is a straight flying, but slightly overstable putter made by Discmania. This disc is stable enough that it can handle headwind throws and fairly long approach shots.

“I think the glows have a little bit more glide to them. Or they feel better in my hand, one of the two.”

Colt (Star) 3 / 4 / -1 / 1 – The Colt is a flat V-Tech putter designed for straight flying drives. This putt and approach disc has a shallow rim that cuts through the air more easily than taller bulkier putters. The V-Tech allows the Colt to have a similar flight path for gentle approach shots as well as powerful drives.

“Really good for wooded shots that you need to control. You can throw it slower so it can just kind of go straight and sit still.”

Stud (Star) 3 / 3 / 0 / 2 – The Stud is the Studly brother of the Colt but with some added stability. This means the Stud will handle the wind better and hold flight characteristics longer. The Stud is equally at home driving, approaching, or putting in windy or calm conditions.

“It’s a little more stable (than a Colt)…It handles the wooded lines a little better than the wind.”

AviarX3 (Star) 3 / 2 / 0 / 3 – The AviarX3 is the more overstable sibling to the Aviar. The X3 will have a harder fade at the end of its flight and is ideal for headwinds. Bigger arms love this disc for its dependability and torque resistance. This putter is more suited to throwing than putting due to its overstability.

“My most stable throwing putter. This will handle any headwind that you put it in. When you try to throw it on a turnover it will just flatten out and hyzer back for you.”

Sonic (Star) 1 / 2 / -4 / 0 – The Sonic is THE most fade-resistant of any disc on the market. While most disc golf putters are fairly similar, the Sonic is not. This is a unique disc that is easy to throw. It has a grooved edge around the rim for a superb thumb grip. This putter is a slow flyer that seems to float in the air.

“This is kind of more my warm-up disc. I’ll use this to kind of throwback and forth sometimes before a round…Super fun disc to have. Flies just like a frisbee.”

Midranges

Mako3 (Star) 5 / 5 / 0 / 0 – The Mako3 is the newest version of the remarkably straight flying Innova Mako. This midrange disc is the perfect solution for anyone who wants a straight flyer with very limited fade.

“This will be slight;y longer(than throwing putters) hyzer flip to flat and fading t o the left. Being as floppy as it is this is a disc I use more in the woods than out in the open.”

Rancho Roc (Star) 4 / 4 / 0 / 3 – The Rancho Roc is a mold of the Roc that was originally manufactured when Innova moved to Rancho Cucamonga California. This is said to be the most overstable of the Roc Family.

“Really consistent; it’s flat to stable so it’ll come out of your hand flat and finish pretty consistently.”

Gator (Star) – 5 / 2 / 0 / 4 – The Gator is a bulky overstable midrange, perfect for shots that you want to stay put next to the basket. The Gator has very little glide (Innova rating of 2) and will go only as far as you throw it.

“I throw my Gators a little more than I would my Roc…I’ll be able to crank on this and let it fly straight but it will still have that Gator finish.”

Fairway Drivers

Sidewinder (Star) 9 / 5 / -3 / 1 – The Sidewinder’s name says it all – this disc turns over faster than you expect on release, oftentimes making for either an unintended rolling throw or a flight with a much slower than anticipated rollover. The Sidewinder is essential for getting you out of uncomfortable positions.

“This is my hyzer-flip to turnover disc…Good in the woods just like all flippy discs.”

Leopard (Star) 6 / 5 / -2 / 1 – The Leopard is a fairway driver that is straight flying and great for beginners. New players will get greater distance from it thanks to its reliable flight path and reduced fade. Advanced players use it for weaving between trees, rollers, and turnover drivers.

“A staple I feel like should be in everybody’s bag; a Star Leopard. It’s just your general neutral fairway driver…This has been one of my favorite discs for a long time.”

TL3 (Star) 8 / 4 / -1 / 1 – The TL3 is the evolution of the TL. Much like the longer faster TeeBird3, the TL3 has a bit more speed and a little less glide for more control. Think TeeBird control, straighter flight, AND finish.

“Similar flight path to the Leopard but a little bit faster for me.”

Thunderbird (Star) 9 / 5 / 0 / 2 – The Thunderbird is a fairway driver for long-range placement shots and remaining predictable in the wind. It has the right blend of speed and reliability, making it versatile on the course.

“This has been one of the more consistent 9 speeds that I’ve got. I can throw this into a headwind and keep it from turning over.”

TeeBird (Star) 7 / 5 / 0 / 2 – The TeeBird is a popular and dependable straight-flying fairway driver. It has a dependable finish and is made to carve lines down fairways. The TeeBird has great glide for getting that long straight push down the fairway. This was a staple disc for 12x world champion Ken Climo. A true gem for all skill levels.

“This is more of a utility disc for me. Certain situations where I’m not sure what to do. this is kind of what I fall back on.”

Firebird (Metal Flake Champion) 9 / 3 / 0 / 4 – The Firebird is a very overstable driver that is great for headwinds and forehands. Nate Sexton
has made a career out of throwing forehands with this disc. Great for flex shots as the stability of this disc will give predictable fade at the end of the flight. This is an advanced disc due to its overstability.

“Whenever I need something slightly more stable than my FD3 to finish to the right I’ll pull out my…Firebird.”

FD3 (S-Line) 9 / 4 / 0 / 3 – The Discmania FD3 is the most stable fairway driver in our Originals line. For many players, it will be a utility driver that only comes out in specific situations, like in strong headwinds or to cut tight corners. For players with more arm speed, it will hold a straight line for a longer time, before the inevitable fade.

“I’ve gotten so many birdies out of it.”

Distance Drivers

Wraith (Star) 11 / 5 / -1 / 3 – The Wraith is a stable, long-distance driver featuring good speed, fantastic amounts of glide, and pinpoint accuracy. It can be used by players of all skill levels.

“You can do so many different things with a Wraith. That’s probably why they’re one of my favorites. They’re super easy to throw; comfortable in the hand.”

Boss (Champion Glow) 13 / 5 / -1 / 3 – The Innova Boss was the first speed 13 driver on the market. It is one of the more popular ultra-high-speed drivers and is available in all of Innova’s most popular plastics. The world distance record is currently held by David Wiggins Jr. with an R-Pro Boss!

“I use my Boss whenever there is a little bit of a headwind.”

Quasar (Sirius) 13 / 5 / 0 / 3 – The Millennium Quasar is an ultra-fast, long-distance driver with a smooth glide, tons of fade, and a resistance to turn. It’s built for strong, powerful throwers who need to finish with a strong fade.

“My most stable distance driver. There’s not much of a chance for this to turn over on you…This disc has come back for me even in 25mph headwinds.”

Bringing It All Together

Nathan Queen defied expectations and won the 2021 DGPT Championship as the 28th seed. Some of his success can be attributed to his discs from Innova. However, Queen’s can-do attitude as underdog propelled him to the top. Queen is not the furthest thrower nor the best putter. He was not the person that anyone expected to win and yet he prevailed. Let this be a lesson for all of us that we can succeed no matter what lies on the road ahead. Keep on truckin’.

Head on over to RogueDiscs.com to check out the list of discs in Nathan Queen’s bag.