If you're trying to squeeze every last bit of distance out of your backhand, you've probably come across the pharaoh disc golf mold from Infinite Discs. It's one of those discs that has developed a bit of a cult following over the last few years, and for good reason. While the market is absolutely flooded with high-speed distance drivers, the Pharaoh stands out because it hits that "sweet spot" for a huge range of players. It's not just a meat hook that falls out of the sky for anyone throwing under 400 feet, but it's also not so flippy that it's unusable in a light breeze.
I remember the first time I saw someone rip a Pharaoh on a local course. It had this beautiful, sweeping S-curve that seemed to just hang in the air forever. That's the first thing you'll notice about this disc—the glide is absolutely legit. When people talk about "cheater distance," they're usually talking about discs like this. It's a speed 13 driver, but it doesn't necessarily feel like you need a professional-level arm to make it work.
What Makes the Pharaoh Tick?
The pharaoh disc golf driver is technically manufactured by Innova for Infinite Discs, which means you're getting that consistent, high-quality plastic we're all used to. If you look at the specs, it's often compared to a mix between a Shryke and a Destroyer. It's got that wide rim that you'd expect from a speed 13, but the profile is just a little more approachable.
The flight numbers are generally listed as 13 | 6 | -1 | 2. Now, we all know flight numbers can be a bit of a suggestion rather than a rule, but these are pretty close to the mark. That "6" for glide is the real hero here. Most drivers tap out at 4 or 5, but the Pharaoh really does want to stay lofted. If you give it enough height and a bit of an angle, it'll carry way further than you expect.
For the average intermediate player, the Pharaoh acts as a primary distance bomber. If you've got about 350 feet of power, this thing is going to turn over slightly, hold that line for a long time, and then finish with a dependable, soft fade. It's not going to dump hard like a fresh Halo Destroyer, which makes it much more useful for hitting those long, open fairways.
Understanding the Different Plastics
One of the coolest things about Infinite Discs is how they handle their plastic runs. Since the pharaoh disc golf mold has been around for a while, there are several different "runs" and plastic blends to choose from. Each one changes the flight characteristics quite a bit, so you can actually bag three or four Pharaohs and have them cover totally different shots.
- S-Blend: This is basically Innova's Star plastic. It's grippy, durable, and feels great in the hand. A fresh S-Blend Pharaoh is usually the gold standard. It starts out pretty stable but seasons into a perfect hyzer-flip machine.
- I-Blend: If you want something that's a bit more affordable and beats in faster, I-Blend is the way to go. It's a slightly softer plastic that offers incredible grip. Out of the box, an I-Blend Pharaoh is often a bit more "flippy," making it a great choice for players who are just starting to move up to high-speed drivers.
- Metal Flake Glow C-Blend: These are usually the beefiest Pharaohs you can find. If you have a massive arm or you're worried about the wind turning your disc into a roller, look for these. They have a bit more bite at the end and can handle a lot more torque.
- Swirly S-Blend: These are often the signature runs (like the ones for Eagle McMahon back in the day). They tend to be slightly more stable than the standard S-Blend and, let's be honest, they look incredible.
How It Performs on the Course
When you're actually out there on the teepad, the pharaoh disc golf driver is a lot of fun to throw. If you're staring down a 400-foot par 3 with a wide-open fairway, this is the disc you reach for.
On a hyzer flip, the Pharaoh is a dream. If you release it on a slight inside edge, it'll pop up to flat, drift a little bit to the right (for a right-hand backhand thrower), and then just cruise. It doesn't have that aggressive "dump" at the end of the flight that a lot of high-speed drivers have. Instead, it's a more forward-penetrating fade. This is huge because it means you're gaining extra distance even as the disc is slowing down.
Now, if you're dealing with a massive headwind, you might want to be careful. Because the Pharaoh has so much glide and a bit of turn, a stiff breeze can catch it and push it way off line. In those situations, you're probably better off reaching for something like an Emperor or a Slab. But for most "normal" days, the Pharaoh is surprisingly reliable.
Who is the Pharaoh For?
I wouldn't necessarily hand a pharaoh disc golf driver to someone on their first day of playing. A speed 13 rim is pretty wide, and if you don't have the hand speed to get it spinning, it's just going to hook into the ground 150 feet away.
However, for that "intermediate" crowd—the people who are throwing their fairways about 300 feet and looking to break into that next tier—the Pharaoh is a fantastic bridge. It teaches you how to manage a high-speed rim without being so punishing that it ruins your form.
Pro-level players also love it for long-distance rollers or massive sky turnovers. When you have 500 feet of power, the Pharaoh becomes a specialized tool for those shots where you need the disc to never come back. It's versatile, which is a word that gets thrown around a lot in disc golf, but here it actually applies.
Pharaoh vs. The Competition
Naturally, everyone wants to know how it stacks up against the big names.
Compared to an Innova Destroyer, the Pharaoh is definitely less stable. Most Destroyers require a lot of force to get them to move off their line, whereas the Pharaoh wants to move. It's much more comparable to a Discraft Hades or an Innova Shryke.
In my experience, the Pharaoh feels a bit more "substantial" in the hand than a Shryke. Some Shrykes can feel a bit thin or flimsy depending on the run, but the Pharaoh usually has a nice, consistent shoulder to it. Against a Hades, I'd say the Pharaoh is a bit more reliable in terms of not "burning over." The Hades can be a bit finicky if you over-torque it, but the Pharaoh seems to handle power just a little bit better.
Final Thoughts on the Pharaoh
At the end of the day, the pharaoh disc golf mold is just one of those discs that makes the game more fun. There's something deeply satisfying about watching a disc catch the air and just glide for days. It takes the stress out of those long holes where you feel like you have to throw your arm off just to reach the circle.
If you decide to pick one up, my advice is to start with an S-Blend around 168-172 grams. You don't always need max weight to get the best performance, and a slightly lighter Pharaoh is an absolute bomber. It might take a few rounds to get used to the rim width and the way it wants to stay in the air, but once you click with it, you might find it hard to take out of your bag.
Infinite Discs really hit a home run with this one. Whether you're trying to beat your personal distance record in a field or you need a reliable workhorse for your local league nights, the Pharaoh is worth a look. It's flashy, it's fast, and most importantly, it actually does what it says on the tin. Give it a rip and see if it doesn't add an extra 30 feet to your drive—you might be surprised.