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Mako3 vs Buzzz: Which Midrange Should You Choose?
For a Mako3 vs Buzzz choice, start with the shot you want your midrange to make. Innova rates the Mako3 5 / 5 / 0 / 0; Discraft rates the Z Buzzz 5 / 4 / -1 / 1. Flight-number scales are not standardized across manufacturers, so those ratings are not a direct head-to-head test or a promise that either disc will fly the same for every player.
Innova describes the Mako3 as a straight-flying midrange with very limited fade. Discraft describes the Buzzz as a versatile disc that can hold different lines when thrown with the intended angle. Consider the Mako3 for the former description or the Buzzz if you prefer its feel and want the latter role. You do not need both unless your copies reliably cover different shots.
Mako3 vs Buzzz flight numbers
| Reference model | Speed | Glide | Turn | Fade | Manufacturer's description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innova Mako3 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | Straight shots with very limited fade |
| Discraft Z Buzzz | 5 | 4 | -1 | 1 | Versatile lines; holds an intended angle |
Each brand's numbers describe its own model rating. The Mako3's higher glide number does not prove it will fly farther, and the Buzzz's -1 turn and 1 fade do not make it a guaranteed left-finishing disc. Your release, power, plastic, wear and exact disc all matter.
Compare the documented Mako3 and Buzzz side by side. The chart uses the catalog ratings to illustrate intended flight. It cannot reproduce your throw or establish which disc is straighter for you.
Which midrange should you choose?
| If you want… | Start by considering… |
|---|---|
| A first midrange for practicing straight releases | The Mako3 |
| A versatile midrange that Discraft describes as holding an intended line | The Buzzz |
| A disc that feels more comfortable in your hand | Choose the one you can grip and release consistently |
| More distance because one has a higher glide number | Test your current disc first; ratings do not guarantee extra distance |
| A different shot from the regular Buzzz | Check whether you mean the Buzzz SS or Buzzz OS before comparing |
Is the Mako3 straighter than the Buzzz?
The ratings cannot settle which is straighter because Innova's and Discraft's flight-number scales are not standardized against each other. Innova describes the Mako3 as having very limited fade. Discraft says the Buzzz can hold the angle you put it on. These are each manufacturer's descriptions, not results from a shared flight test. Your release on the intended angle can matter more than either description.
Is the Mako3 better for beginners?
The Mako3 is a reasonable first midrange if you want one disc to practice controlled lines with. A beginner who prefers the Buzzz's rim feel or already throws it comfortably has no need to switch because of the numbers. Keep a comfortable, useful disc while you learn to repeat your release.
The regular Buzzz is not the Buzzz SS
The regular Z Buzzz and Paige Shue Z Buzzz SS are different molds. The Buzzz SS listing uses -2 turn, compared with -1 for the Z Buzzz. If you search “Mako3 vs Buzzz” but own a Buzzz SS, use the SS's own model and source when comparing it. Our Buzzz SS vs Hex comparison explains that version separately.
Should you carry both?
Carry both only when each earns a job in your actual rounds, or when one is a backup you deliberately want. Similar midrange categories and nearby ratings do not make two molds identical, but two different names do not automatically fill different slots either.
If you can borrow one, compare it with your current midrange on a safe, open practice line:
- Note each disc's model, plastic, marked weight and condition.
- Choose one target and use comfortable throws with the same throwing style.
- Alternate discs and watch the starting direction, the flight and the landing area.
- Repeat on another day before deciding that the difference is consistent.
This is a practical comparison routine, not a controlled equipment test. If the results do not give you a useful distinction, use the midrange you already trust. If one gives you a shot the other does not, write that job down in Bag Check before adding both to your bag.
For a low-fade beginner bag, see our first-bag guide. To compare the Mako3 with another neutral midrange, read Hex vs Mako3. If you are still deciding how the numbers work, start with disc golf flight numbers.
Sources and scope
Manufacturer information checked September 27, 2026: Innova's Mako3 model page and disc comparison table; Discraft's Buzzz model page and Z Line Buzzz listing. This article compares the Innova Mako3 and Z Line Buzzz reference records. It does not represent all plastics, weights, wear stages or runs, and DiscField has not performed a controlled flight test of the two models.