I've seen some poor reviews of this disc but personally I have found it to be the EASIEST driver to shape my control drives with. It's great as a fairway driver or off the tee on par threes under 300'. It will hold absolutely any line I put on it and has a considerable speed and glide. I used to get a lot of use out of a Roadrunner many years ago but as I've gained throwing speed the monarch just does better. I also have a Mamba which some have said is this discs "big brother" but i disagree. The mamba has such an aggressive turn I only use it occasionally when I want a RHBH anhyzer shot that never fades out, or for long FH shots with a gently hyzer. (The Mamba is GStar so that's probably a big part)

This disc is a great disc for beginners throwing drivers or someone getting into rollers. I do not like the Innova disc "Groove" because it just doesn't feel right in your hand and the groove is just plain weird. For some reason the groove on the Monarch doesn't seem to bother me however and feels better in the hand. I may be a little biased as this was one of my first drivers and loved it for backhand and forehand shots.

Disc: 166 Champion Monarch (green dyed)

A strange disc. Weird groove on the rim underside. Not a fan. I threw it for a couple rounds to give it a try. High speed and understable is a combo I don't generally throw, and this disc showed me why. It is aimed for intermediate arms (which I consider myself), and I just couldn't get it to do what I wanted most of the time. It turns over and just keeps gliding in that turn. Possible good for big open shots that you don't need grat accuracy on, but not the disc for me.

Summary: Weird gimmicky rim. Try something else for this slot in your bag.

The Monarch was the first distance driver I could use effectively. That being said, my form was terrible when I bagged this disc. I was usually luck to get 250'.  I would say that the understability of this disc, grants the beginner a chance to extend their range somewhat. However, looking back at my progression, I would recommend a beginner to stick with mid-rangers, and max them out before moving up to anything over speed 8. 

I wanted this disc because 2 of my friends use them to get out of trouble in the woods. They always get out and in a favorable lie due to the Understability of this disc when Thrown Overhand. It flips VERY quickly- that's where the -4 comes in at. So we throw the monarch a lot in the woods to get that fast flip to the flight plate and let that slick Champion slide on the ground, usually on pine straw.

I don't like this dis very much on the forehand unless I take some off. Forehand just has too much snap and turns it over for the most part.

RHBH this 175g disc usually goes straight when I throw it abt 80-90%...but at times, it does something peculiar...Hole 7, gold teepads at Tyus park in Griffin, GA is a long 90° dogleg right. Tee pad is up a hill, hole travels over a small "valley" with a ditch running across it then a hill before road, straight to the basket after that after some trees. I drive my Monarch straight into the hill, it goes straight then it Fades abt 10 Right... Is to see a disc do that.... Most my long (300+) backhands with this disc from an elevated teepad finish straight or a slight fade to the right..

I have no problem with the groove on the rim. Pick up a monarch if ya don't like it after awhile give it to a friend. Someone with enjoy this disc.