[Innova] The Hero 235

[Dr. Bogey]

The other day I rediscovered a Hero 235 in my stash of miscellaneous flying discs. It's basically a larger-diameter Sonic (aka the Hero 215). I threw it around the yard for a bit and played some catch with my kids, and WOW is it ever a fantastic frisbee! So glidey, so easy to throw and catch. Understable, but easily controllable. I'm gonna try bagging it in place of my Lightning Upshot for a while.

I couldn't find a dedicated thread for the 235, so I thought I'd start one. I did some digging for info, and 235s are available in some interesting variations. They're mainly marketed as dog discs. Most info was found at the Hero Discs website.

• Air 235. Looks like this is the basic model, about 103g.
• Xtra 235 Freestyle. More durable plastic, about 105g.
• Xtra 235 Distance. Grippier plastic, about 110g.
• SuperClass. DX plastic, seems like it comes in heavier weights but I couldn't find any specific weight info.
• SuperHero. Champion plastic. I saw one at 136g.
• SuperStar. Star plastic. I saw weights from 125g to 143g.
• SuperAero 235–K9 Candy. Looks like Blizzard plastic. Weights from 116g–136g.
• SuperAero 235–Starlite. Starlite plastic, with a weight range of 117g–121g.
• Innova SuperDog. GStar plastic, one listed at 148g.

The 235 is PDGA approved as "Hero Disc Type 235 from Innova Champion Discs." I saw conflicting opinions on old posts here about whether or not all the variations are included in that approval. I'd be interested in seeing something definitive on the matter.

 

[thatdirtykid]

The superclass branded ones are closer to star than Dx. When we thought superclass events were going to be a real thing we some new options hit the market. They did come in heavier weights. I have a 160s and one close to 180. Came quite warped and was flippier than the 160s one.
Fun Ds for sure.
May be able to find good chatter about them in the old superclass thead

 

[thatdirtykid]

All the superhero branded ones I have seen are 135g give or take

 

[biscoe]

The other day I rediscovered a Hero 235 in my stash of miscellaneous flying discs. It's basically a larger-diameter Sonic (aka the Hero 215). I threw it around the yard for a bit and played some catch with my kids, and WOW is it ever a fantastic frisbee! So glidey, so easy to throw and catch. Understable, but easily controllable. I'm gonna try bagging it in place of my Lightning Upshot for a while.

I couldn't find a dedicated thread for the 235, so I thought I'd start one. I did some digging for info, and 235s are available in some interesting variations. They're mainly marketed as dog discs. Most info was found at the Hero Discs website.

• Air 235. Looks like this is the basic model, about 103g.
• Xtra 235 Freestyle. More durable plastic, about 105g.
• Xtra 235 Distance. Grippier plastic, about 110g.
• SuperClass. DX plastic, seems like it comes in heavier weights but I couldn't find any specific weight info.
• SuperHero. Champion plastic. I saw one at 136g.
• SuperStar. Star plastic. I saw weights from 125g to 143g.
• SuperAero 235–K9 Candy. Looks like Blizzard plastic. Weights from 116g–136g.
• SuperAero 235–Starlite. Starlite plastic, with a weight range of 117g–121g.
• Innova SuperDog. GStar plastic, one listed at 148g.

The 235 is PDGA approved as "Hero Disc Type 235 from Innova Champion Discs." I saw conflicting opinions on old posts here about whether or not all the variations are included in that approval. I'd be interested in seeing something definitive on the matter.

I throw the Supersonic (215) for my dog all the time and was told by Sam at Hero Disc that they are PDGA legal under the Sonic approval. I don't see any reason any of the variants would not be legal. These discs are fantastic for learning to manipulate angles, etc.

 

[thatdirtykid]

The 235 is specifically approved. Also the smallest diameter approved for Superclass events.

 

[flatflip]

The ones approved for competition follow the same weight guidelines as standard discs -- 8.3 g/cm of outside diameter. There were quite a few of the Superheros on the market 190+g when they first came out. Can't find any over 180 now and I doubt any more will get made as the dream of Superclass never got traction. Its a moose of an upshot disc and fabulous for playing catch on windy beaches.

 

[419HondaGuy]

Hero just came out with these PDGA approved Hero 235 ( Super Star) weights ranging 160g-190g.

 

[thatdirtykid]

Nice! if only superclass events would come back with them My high 170s is what I found to be the best putting super class disc. I am still more a Zephyr guy for throwing, and like the TeMoko for "OS" stuff.

 

[thatdirtykid]

Real talk though; for golf, if you like fastbacks you cannot beat a sonic. If you are like me and love the Zephyr the Polecat just works better.
Smaller diameter means less affected by the wind and maybe more important they just stay in the basket better.
Don't let this dissuade you from trying some Superclass discs! Go play some old school rounds every now and then or enjoy one of the best catch discs ever (superhero is still my go to "beach" frisbee)

 

[419HondaGuy]

@thatdirtykid
Being that I compete in Disc Dog long distance competitions and other events, I have really mastered and fell love in love with those discs. I use 120-125g taffy ( star) super sonics and they released limited edition halo super stars 235s last year that i stocked up on. The one long standing distance event that is its own tour series, Quad, have stayed true to requiring 110g weight limit fast back style discs, so I use the Hero extra and hero air for that event only.
They dont last long when your teammate is a 70lb Amstaff with a gator like bite strength.

After being away from throwing discs for 6-7 years, these discs helped me so much in improving my form overall for control and controlled distance. They have to be thrown so pure, without any oat, its translated over to throwing golf discs. I used to be known as only a power/distance guy, but these K9 discs taught me touch and finesse.

I would love for another manufacture to step in and compete with Hero ( Innova) and create a full line up for K9 competition discs like Hero. Disc Dog competition landscape resembles early disc golf in a low of ways, they have updog events on ESPN last year, and will this year too.

 

[biscoe]

@thatdirtykid

After being away from throwing discs for 6-7 years, these discs helped me so much in improving my form overall for control and controlled distance. They have to be thrown so pure, without any oat, its translated over to throwing golf discs. I used to be known as only a power/distance guy, but these K9 discs taught me touch and finesse.

I would love for another manufacture to step in and compete with Hero ( Innova) and create a full line up for K9 competition discs like Hero.

I get most of my dg practice throwing the (taffy) SuperSonic for my lab. Nothing better for teaching you to manipulate angles, etc.

I have been trying to get Prodigy to make a dog disc for years at this point- their naming system would perfectly accommodate the K-9.

 

[419HondaGuy]

I get most of my dg practice throwing the (taffy) SuperSonic for my lab. Nothing better for teaching you to manipulate angles, etc.

I have been trying to get Prodigy to make a dog disc for years at this point- their naming system would perfectly accommodate the K-9.

Thats awesome!
The market is there for it, and disc dog people would love another company to come out with a full line up. For the most part, it's either Hero ( innova) or Hyperflite.

 

[biscoe]

Thats awesome!
The market is there for it, and disc dog people would love another company to come out with a full line up. For the most part, it's either Hero ( innova) or Hyperflite.

We have tried one Hyperflite disc- I can't recall what it was but I didn't like the feel. Have also done the Bite a couple times. The Innova domination of that market is similar to the grip Discraft has on Ultimate. My dog's Mom did both dock diving and toss and fetch- I just don't have the time or self discipline for us to do it.

 

[419HondaGuy]

We have tried one Hyperflite disc- I can't recall what it was but I didn't like the feel. Have also done the Bite a couple times. The Innova domination of that market is similar to the grip Discraft has on Ultimate. My dog's Mom did both dock diving and toss and fetch- I just don't have the time or self discipline for us to do it.

Hyperflite , most of their discs fly like bricks, and I agree with you about the feel.
That's a great point about Innova & Discraft - ultimate and disc dog .
I could be wrong, but I would imagine disc dog would be a more lucrative market versus ultimate. Most disc dog players are having to continue buying more and more discs due to their teammates, but also like dg a lot of DD are always looking around for latest greatest discs, and purchase many discs. Where I'm assuming some players on ultimate teams do not even own a disc, and ones that do probably own like 1-3?

I heard from other Disc dog people that were playing years back, that Lat 64 was really promoting and doing a lot with pushing the Bite at UpDog events. But nothing else ever materialized, and I don't believe they ever really sponsored or did anything else like that .
One of my friends in disc dog, he is part owner in a dog show business, they perform at sporting events, fairs , ect.
last year, their Dynamic Disc sponsored their business. They hooked up them up with DD pop up tent canopy, disc bags, shirts, and lat 64 bites. the bite is pretty much useless in majority of disc dog competition events, I only hesr of it ever used in the updog game far out, which is distance game where it can be air shot or roller, cumulative of 3 throws ( 1 bonus throw* if missed hurts score* )

 

[thatdirtykid]

@thatdirtykid
Being that I compete in Disc Dog long distance competitions and other events, I have really mastered and fell love in love with those discs. I use 120-125g taffy ( star) super sonics and they released limited edition halo super stars 235s last year that i stocked up on. The one long standing distance event that is its own tour series, Quad, have stayed true to requiring 110g weight limit fast back style discs, so I use the Hero extra and hero air for that event only.
They dont last long when your teammate is a 70lb Amstaff with a gator like bite strength.

After being away from throwing discs for 6-7 years, these discs helped me so much in improving my form overall for control and controlled distance. They have to be thrown so pure, without any oat, its translated over to throwing golf discs. I used to be known as only a power/distance guy, but these K9 discs taught me touch and finesse.

I would love for another manufacture to step in and compete with Hero ( Innova) and create a full line up for K9 competition discs like Hero. Disc Dog competition landscape resembles early disc golf in a low of ways, they have updog events on ESPN last year, and will this year too.

How much variance do you tend to find between different versions or weight classes of the 235s? Would adjusting from your prefered version to the sonic be all that different than adjusting to prefered golf weight 235s?

Disc Dog competitions are an awesome watch it's cool to hear from someone who really competes. I have a frisbee dog who probably could have trained up pretty well with a better owner. He's on the old side now and is still good for catch across our little 1/4 acre and is his prefered way to get some running in. He learned the difference between his discs and mine on his own pretty early (anything that's making them damn chains get noisy he's not interested in) but he has gravitated to fabric varieties which work great for us but I wouldn't mind something that shapes shots more consistently.

 

[419HondaGuy]

How much variance do you tend to find between different versions or weight classes of the 235s? Would adjusting from your prefered version to the sonic be all that different than adjusting to prefered golf weight 235s?

Disc Dog competitions are an awesome watch it's cool to hear from someone who really competes. I have a frisbee dog who probably could have trained up pretty well with a better owner. He's on the old side now and is still good for catch across our little 1/4 acre and is his prefered way to get some running in. He learned the difference between his discs and mine on his own pretty early (anything that's making them damn chains get noisy he's not interested in) but he has gravitated to fabric varieties which work great for us but I wouldn't mind something that shapes shots more consistently.

With the different 235 discs, the Super Star ( taffy/star) and Super Hero ( candy/champion) are going to be more durable, and more stable in terms of dog discs. Then you have the Hero Air and Hero Extra, Im also really quite familar with these since they are required discs for the longest running distance event, Quad, which is its own Tour series pretty much. They held true to fastback style discs, weight limit of 110 grams. These are not durable, not as stable as the other 2. so we only use those for those events, which during the season Im prepping for one each month basically.

But assuming form/ tech are on point for throwing pure hyzers for distance, there is not a big adjustment for me at least. Also, throwing these discs so much I have really become comfortable with throwing US/flippy discs, so where I used to grab something like a Z Pred or Zone, Im throwing a US Fairway/ buzz or putter.

I hope I answered that properly for you?