Good for beginners to keep straight. Not good for a headwind.

The star sidewinder is a great disc for nearly everyone. Out of the box the sidewinder is fairly stable. But when breaking it in it is a amazing hyzer flip disc. If you throw it flat watch it drift to the right (rhbh) maybe a lil fade at the end. I would not throw in a headwind. It can bomb!

Halo- the halo star sidewinder is like a perfect beat in thunderbird. It may drift a lil but it will always fade at the end. Very dependable. Can handle a lil headwind.

Champion - beef basically a Thunderbird. I use my champion sidewinder for sidearm. But I know it will fade at the end. Holds it's stability for a long time

You can have multiple sidewindesr in your bag to cover nearly every shot you need from a fairway/distance driver 

I don't hate it, I don't love it.  It's just a disappointment.  I've been playing for 2 years, almost daily, and this disk is more stable than the numbers suggest.  On one of my best days, I can get this to turn some, and the fade back is always much more than that of a Heat for example.

This one's in Star plastic, and if you look carefully, it has some tiny shiny specs in it.  The edge of the disc is significantly frailed all around the periphery, so not nearly as durable as one would expect.  I have an older Milennium JLS that's Sirius plastic (supposedly like Star, also made by Innova) that's significantly more durable.  My GStar Hawkeye is also significantly more durable.  In fact, may as well say my entire bag is more durable.  Even the bag itself is more durable. Maybe I wound up with some bizarre bastardly experimental blend variant of Star, I don't know.

Bottom line, more stable than the numbers, sensitive to wind, will climb in altitude when thrown faster (or call it harder to control if you prefer).  I found that the Heat gives me a bit mre control.   3 stars though, are for the dismal quality of the plastic, as the rest is all subjective.

This is a great beginner to advanced level disc.

It doesnt require much armspeed, and can really help to teach you your hyzer flip angles. It doesnt like wind very much, but I love this disc for wooded tunnel shots, especially on a flick. With good technique, it will stand up and drive dead straight.  Very little fade, and it also makes an awesome first time roller disc. 

My backhand is very slow, just now dipping my toes into the 9 speeds. This disc has been a nice ease in as the under stability leaves me with a lot of straight glide before dumping. I'm only fast enough to flatten up from a very slight hyzer and it fades quite a bit harder than the claimed 1 in my opinion (not very beat in yet either). Would recommend as a stepping stone to other slow arms that are ready to try something faster than the 7 speeds (like my exodus). I anticipate this disc working even better as i speed up to a better hyzer flip to turn.

There's no stability to save the grip locks with this one, when its yanked, it stays very yanked

My go-to 9 speed for sure. Out of the box, this disc flew like a Champion Valkyrie. After a few weeks, the turn became more usable and is now my main distance driver for woods lines. It even feels good for touchy forehand shots. I give the turn more of a -2 or -2.5. It has more over stability than my G Star Valkyrie for comparison.

My go to driver for years in the woods. I have 3 in my bag and can't say enough great things about the sidewinder. Great, easy turn with a nice fade. Get into a field and throw some big S curves. Awesome disc

I actually found this disc on a course with no name or number so I have been trying it out recently and I think its a really interesting disc. It is a very under stable disc so if you are looking for a slower distance driver that turns right throwing RHBH this is a good one to give a try. It definitely is a good roller disc as well or a high turnover disc. I personally don't think that I will be bagging this disc because its flight characteristics just aren't for me. I have found to like throwing forehand discs soly for fairway drivers which the sidewinder resembles more than a distance driver for me with the arm speed that I have. But if we are just talking about under stable distance drivers then I would highly suggest the Tern for something that will get you more distance with more of a right turn as well given that you have the speed to throw it since the tern is a faster driver. I would definitely recommend and could see the use of this disc for a beginner or someone that just has a slower arm speed or prefers to throw slower discs.

 My Sidewinder is in the Gstar plastic and like all star plastic starts out quite a bit more overstable then other plastics. But once it's had some time to beat in gets slower older arms like mine excellent distance off the tee.

 My Sidewinder is in the Gstar plastic and like all star plastic starts out quite a bit more overstable then other plastics. But once it's had some time to beat in gets slower older arms like mine excellent distance off the tee.

As long as you have good form, timing, and technique this disc can be a very useful disc because it will stay on any line you throw it on. Put on a big hyzer, you get a solid right to left flight that keeps pushing forward. On an anhyzer and you will flip it and it can become a roller. And throw it flat it will stay flat with a slight turn and small small fade. 

This would be a great distance driver for new throwers and beginner skill levels. 

This is a great "goes on whatever line you put it on" disc as long as you are throwing smoothly. It can be a good roller if you have the power for it but for me personally I use roadrunner for that. This is a great disc for working shots through the woods and can be a great tool in your bag!

In my shop, I always recommend this to beginners and newer players as a good starting driver. I keep one in my bag, and it is one of the straightest flying to understable fairway drivers I have had. 

This disc is more stable for me than the numbers suggest. I have it in star plastic and I like it, but I wouldn't rate it a -3 turn. I feel like when I release it flat, it acts similar to a destroyer or my my gateway apex--a little bit of turn but then a consistent fade. However I have realized that if I release it with a bit of anheizer, then I can actually get the -3 turn out of it and it acts a ton different than a destroyer or apex. I'm rating it a 4 cause I think the numbers are off, but maybe that's just my disc or the way I throw. I like it but again if I want the -3 turn, I know I have to release it right to get that. So currently I rarely drive with this disc, but I use it for longer approach shots or a shot that I need to get around a tree or something.

This is a great disc for obtaining easy distance off the tee.  Easy throws (RHBH) will gently drift to the right before coming back and finishing with an easy fade.  This distance gained through the Sidewinders beautiful flight is always impressive.  This is also a very good disc to learn throwing technique and working different release angles.  Additionally, it was the first disc that I used as a roller.  The only drawback to this disc is that it is highly affected by the wind, so I leave it in the bag on windy days.  This disc does so many things and can be a valuable tool for experts and beginners alike.  

I have several Sidewinders in different plastics, they are my go-to for most BH shots. Got my first ace with a Team Innova stamp Star sidewinder. Would definitely recommend.

I recently picked up a star sidewinder (159gm) to add an under stable driver to my bag.  I love my star sidewinder.  It is great for hyzer flip straight shots, you can also get a nice S curve (hyzer flip to flat to turn to slight fade).  It has a lot of glide.  I only throw around 300' (working on form to get more distance) and some of my longest throws have been with the sidewinder. On the negative side, it is touchy in the wind.  It can handle some wind, you just have to know the direction of the wind and learn to compensate your release angle (ex. lot of hyzer, a little hyzer or a flat release). according to the wind. For an S turn, it needs some open space as opposed to a tight fairway. I would say the star sidewinder I have behaves pretty close to the flight numbers.

I got this disc as a mystery disc freebie from Innova. It was an F2 so I wasn't initially sure what it was until I decoded their lettering system. Throwing it without know the numbers was interesting because I found it to be one of the more overstable discs in my bag. I throw forehand and have a pretty strong arm, still this thing got very little turn for me. It goes pretty straight and fades much harder than the numbers suggest. When I found out what the numbers were supposed to be I was shocked. Idk if I got a weird one since it was an F2, but that is my experience with it. I still really like this disc for shorter drives. Additionally, as a lot of people stated, it truly is the best disc in my bag for a nice roller shot.

I got a F2 sidewinder in Star expecting it to be a very understable fairway driver that would be close to my sting, but faster. I'm a new player who played ultimate in the past so I have a decent forehand than can send my mids 250-300 ft.

I was very pleasantly surprised with the sidewinder. On forehands, when I disced down initially I would drive with a mako3 and it always seemed to turn on me due to torque from throwing forehand. I expected the sidewinder to be flippy on forehands based on the flight ratings (and my sting being flippy on forehands), but the disc flew very straight when released flat. There was also more end of flight fade than I expected. When I throw it backhand I get a bit more turn and still a decently strong end of flight fade. 

This disc is a staple in my bag right now as my primary fairway driver to develop my throws with. I recommend it for other beginners and ultimate converts.

*Note about me as a player to help this review be most clear: I am 'intermediate" skill level, usually drive around 275 +/- 25 feet. I throw right handed. Hopefully this allows you to compare to yourself better and please keep in mind what point of view my comments are coming from.

This disc has a very comfortable feel in the hand and is a nice understable driver to bag. I do not turn the disc over and have it roll like it seems many people do/it is intended for when I throw it BH. I have found it to be a reliable, straight flying driver. I occasionally use it to throw overhead too when I am in a tough spot where going over is really the only option.

With a small rim and being a little bit deeper, this is a very comfortable disc in the hand that feels good to throw. 

This is a great understable disc for beginnners looking to get some straighter shots, slowly working up to turnover drives or rollers. I personally use it for some sidearm drives (RHFH) that I need to flip up flat for a moment and then come back to the right. I would maybe like mine to have some more turn to it, but perhaps that's fault on me. I would recommend it to anyone.

Star Sidewinder (175g) - This is a great disc to start with as a driver. It is definitely understable, but especially with newer plastic it would always come back and finish left a little bit (RHBH). It was the first driver I had that I could flex for extra distance. Now that I can thrown a bit harder and have worn in my disc, it flips way over before trying to finish left again so it has limited utility, but I still keep it in my bag because it helps me get a little extra distance when driving up-hill, unlike some of my more stable drivers that want to stall and fade quickly. I heard you can roll these, but most of the courses I play at are way too wooded to try. 

Absolutely love this disc. Before this disc is broken it, it flys pretty straight for me. After it breaks in a bit it becomes an excellent hyzer-flip disc. I highly recommend this disc, it's extremely easy to throw for someone like me who hasn't been playing very long.

Great hyzer-flip disc out of the box for slower arm speeds. After using my Star Sidewinder for a couple months, it is a full turnover disc, but not uncontrollable. With some height, it still has a bit of fade at the end of the flight. I got another in Champion plastic as a stable complement and the combination is working out great. I also got a backup Star due to how much I rely on this disc lately.

Very straight disc out of the box. It will beat into a great hyzer flip disc. I used this disc a ton in the woods. It is very useful for both beginners and advanced players.

I have a Star Sidewinder and a Champion one. The Star flies exactly how I expected but the champion is very overstable. I love my star Sidwinder, as someone who can't throw very far backhand (280 max) I get the full flight out of this disc. I would recommend this for any beginner working on their backhand! 

I have only had experience with the Star variety of the Sidewinder, but it is a nice stable to understable flying disc. When it was brand new it was a real straight flier, and even had some decent fade at the end of the flight. As it was worked in it gained more and more turn, to the point it flies like a longer Leopard for me. It has some nice distance for me, getting it out around 400 ft. This is a nice entry level disc for someone looking to step up from slower fairway drivers. This is a nice roller disc as well.

I've always heard that this was a good roller disc but I could never manage to get it to turn at all. Well, now that my arm speed is up, I can tell what people were talking about. I bag a 175g Star Sidewinder and when powered up, this thing turns into a roller pretty quick. I also use it for shots where I have to throw it high but get a lot of movement either left or right. 

The Sidewinder has become my favorite driver for both fairway and distance when I need some turn out of my shot. This disc also hits the ground soft, which is great. I bag a 175g and a 169g, and they cover just about everything understable to stable. I trust my heavier one in a bit of a headwind or cross winds, unless it's ripping. If you throw a lot of Trilogy plastic, these will be more stable than you think, given the -3 turn, so keep that in mind.

I love this for wooded shots and turnovers

This review is for my 175g, blue, Star Sidewinder.

The Sidewinder feels very comfortable in the hand; the 1.9 cm rim is large enough to power grip well, but not so large that it feels bulky. I've thrown Roadrunners as well, but to me, the Sidewinder feels flippier out of the box.

I like throwing air shots with understable drivers, and while the Sidewinder certainly has big distance potentially, it can get pretty squirrelly in the air, even when the wind is down. It would probably make a good first driver for beginners, but there are probably other understable drivers that seem more consistent to me for air shots I'd recommend, including a Mamba or Roadrunner. My girlfriend bags a Sidewinder and a Mamba, and I see her reaching for her mamba more often, so I think that anecdotally backs up my position.

Where the Sidewinder truly shines is on the ground. I use my sidewinder almost exclusively for backhand rollers. It is an incredible disc for this purpose. I first learned to throw rollers when I moved to San Diego and started playing frequently with Central Coast Disc Golf's Ian Anderson. Those familiar with Ian will know that after a big sky anhyzer, the backhand roller is probably he favorite shot. He throws them fantastically and the Sidewinder is his disc of choice. Naturally, when I began to learn from him, I gravitated toward a Sidewinder as well.

The Sidewinder is a tremendous roller disc because it is very easy to get to the ground, and controllably flippy to the point where, once you learn your angles, rollers are very shapeable. Sky rollers, rollers that have you land quickly, even cut rollers (though these require a softer throw or a significant cut angle), the sidewinder can do it all. The star plastic has broken in fairly soft, which gives a nice, confident grip, and which I believe lets this disc roll more easily over uneven surfaces. I can't imagine any other disc taking its place for rollers.

I think the Sidewinders flight numbers are accurate: 9 5 -3 1. I'd probably give it 3.5 stars for air shots, it's certainly understable as advertised, but not as dialable as some other understable drivers for me. I'd definitely give it 5 stars as a roller. Hence my 4 star rating. If you are looking to learn how to throw backhand rollers, I strongly recommend giving a sidewinder a try.

Bought this disc out of frustration when I began playing disc golf avidly... The first driver I bought (champ shryke) was dumping left everytime due to bad form, so I thought I needed something understable to compensate.  Enter the Sidewinder.  With minor improvements to my form, I was able to throw this thing long and straight and it quickly became my max distance driver.  So in that respect, it's a great disc for beginners looking to improve their game.

Fast forward a few months and I've logged hundreds of hours of practice and my form has become much better.  The Sidewinder just doesn't cut it for me anymore... flips too easily and for some reason I grip lock it all the time now.  I still keep it in my bag for the odd turnover or long anny when I have no other choice, but it rarely gets used... perhaps once per every 5+ rounds.  May start using it as a roller, but I already have a Champ RR for that, so I dunno...

Bottom line:  Great first driver for beginners looking for a forgiving disc that throws long and straight.

I recently picked up a 171g sidewinder in star plastic and have been fairly impressed. I learned how to disc golf with a sidewinder years ago and was looking for a lower speed driver to fill my understable spot in my bag. I enjoy using the sidewinder for 280-340 ft holes where I have a little bit of room to work down the fairway. The reason I like it is because you can throw it pretty much right at your target, watch it move right (RHBH) and then come back for a gentle fade. And you don't have to rip it very hard to get that subtle S-cuve either, in fact it becomes real easy to turn over too much when you pull through full power. 

One thing I've noticed is that my sidewinder doesn't turn over as fast as it's advertised to, but moves gently right after flying straight for awhile. I also thought it had closer to a 1.5 fade instead of a 1. 

Lots of power throwers avoid the sidewinder, but if you're still not throwing over 400 consistently and want an easy throwing disc that allows you to practice proper form and get results, I think the sidewinder is right on the money. It's also a great disc for beginners to gain confidence in their drives with. 

This is a good disc, it simply isn't the disc the numbers suggest.  It will have a little turn and a consistent fade.  It ends up pretty straight at the end of the flight.  I think what has happened is this mold has got much more stable over the years, so my review is for the current ones being produced.

I throw a 175g Star Sidewinder. When I first picked up this disc it was a little more stable than anticipated. After a few rounds I fell in love with it. I typically throw this disc when Im looking to throw a technical flex shot or hyzer flip out to 340-360ft, but never in a head wind. Its also turning into a long distance roller disc as well. Good for finess shots. In the star plastic I would recommend it to intermediate and advanced players but in DX Im sure itd be very suitable for beginners.

Love this disc. Very easy to anti, hyzer and everything inbetween when new, then becomes easy to hyzer flip or simply turn on an anti until it lands once it's seasoned. I love the feel of it in star plastic and it is one of my favorite discs to throw because I always know it will fly exactly where I put it. Currently the oldest disc in my bag and the fact that I haven't replaced it even after switching to more trilogy discs speaks for itself. It is also a great disc for rollers and I use it for left turning and escape tomahawks (LHBH).

I purchased a 170g Star Sidewinder from Infinite Discs, and I've given it a good workout on the range and the course, along with my 167g Star Roadrunner.  The Sidewinder performed well... and generally as expected..., with some turn to the right and a fade back to the left after my RHBH throws.  Distance was decent and about the same as the Roadrunner, but not as much as the Valkyrie.  For myself, I did not find the Roadrunner and Sidewinder to be all that different in their flight patterns.  The Sidewinder would be a good disc for newer disc golfers.

Between the Valkyrie, the Sidewinder, and the Roadrunner, all 9 speed discs, the choice will likely come down to the thrower's personal preferences, throwing style, and desire for under-stability (the Roadrunner has more and the Valkyrie less than the Sidewinder).  All are great discs when thrown properly.

I have the Avenger SS (esp) and Sidewinder(star) in my bag and I can not decide with to keep. They both fly so true for me.

This is an interesting disc. I'm right handed throwing backhand. It immediately comes out to the right, but comes back pretty well. My brother throws right handed forehand, and it does the same with him to the left. Kind of a disc for the right situation. Be warned though, if you tilt a little right, it will go right and go forever...all the way into the drank. Release it correctly though, and if you know what to expect, you'll get some great throws out of it.

I have a 175 Star sidewinder and it flies SO FAR! This disc is awesome. I reccomend it for everybody!

The Sidewinder, to me, is one of the most underrated discs from Innova and a must-have for any dis golfer. I believe that this disc will give max distance to any beginner or slower arm-speed player. As a beginner, this disc will be forgiving on drives due to being understable. Weaker armed players will find it dead straight with proper form. At the same time, medium armed players can use this disc dependably for anhyzer lines, and players with bigger arms will find this to be an awesome roller. A 168g Star Sidewinder was one of the first drivers I ever owned and I have used it for multiple tasks as I've improved. Additionally, if I'm struggling on the course and feel like my form is off, I'll take out this disc to help me find it back. I'll take away some power and really focus on proper form, and I won't grab a higher speed disc until I can get the Sidewinder flying right.

The sidewinder is the ultimate disc. Not to fast and not to slow. With its glide it feels more like a high speed driver. I like to throw this disc when I want distance without that annoying skip you get from the high speed distance drivers. The sidewinder is a great disc for beginners and experienced players alike!

classic favorite. for a beginner, it can be the perfect straight-on-til-morning disc with a super slight fade at the end. for a more advanced player, you can play with the sensitivity to get some sick technical shots. my first sidewinder was a glow plastic [similar to DX in durability] and I have since beat the hell out of it, because I'll typically play the entire night course with that single disc. I found my favorite sidewinder at DeLaveaga in star plastic, and it instantly became the go-to disc for a whole season, until I passed it along to a new player.

This is the only disc that I can get to turn properly to get that 's-curve.' It's also the first disc that is the Star Plastic that I've ever thrown. It's super consistent, and can handle a bit of wind. It looks pretty flying and takes a beating. One of those discs where if I'm just wanting to chuck it as far as I can, it's gonna go.