Gator

PDGA approved in the year 2000, the Innova Gator was the first modern overstable control midrange.

Before the Gator, there were overstable midranges in production, although they did not resemble modern midranges. The mold that was closest to the Gator in terms of function was the Innova Griffin. And while it was an overstable midrange, its profile more closely resembled a terribly slow overstable fairway driver. The innovation that made the Gator stand out was its extremely blunt edge paired with an overstable profile.

Gators are collectable molds and since their release coincided with the dawn of Champion plastic, the early Champion Gator molds can fetch a nice sum. The original runs of Star Gators, to the joy of early forehand throwers, were beadless and beadless Star Gators are also quite valuable. Professionals such as Jessica Weese and Scott Withers have both had the Gator as a tour series mold.

Molds like the Hyzerbomb Mortar and Caiman are simply Innova rebrands of the beadless Gator. The original pearly Champion Gators are more blunt and overstable than modern Gators and have earned the nick name “Blunt Nose Gators.” Metal Flake Champion Gators are notoriously overstable and were quite popular on the pro tour until the Croc was released by Innova in 2019.