Discraft Nuke SS Review: Understable Speed 13 Distance Driver

The Discraft Nuke SS (13/5/-3/3) is the understable "super straight" version of the standard Nuke, built on the same maximum-speed rim but with a heavy dose of high-speed turn baked in. Where the standard Nuke needs a strong arm just to stay stable, the Nuke SS uses that Turn -3 to flatten out and glide, which is why Discraft markets it toward developing players chasing distance they haven't earned with technique yet.

This review covers what the Nuke SS actually does in the air, which plastic to buy first, who benefits from a Speed 13 rim with this much turn, and how it compares to the standard Nuke and the other high-speed drivers already covered on this site.

Who Should Throw the Discraft Nuke SS?

Despite Discraft's marketing toward developing players, the Nuke SS still carries a Speed 13, 2.5cm-wide rim that needs real arm speed to get off the ground cleanly. What it doesn't need is the raw power required to keep a fully stable Speed 13 driver locked in, since the built-in turn does a lot of that work for you.

• Beginners: Still not the best starting disc. A wide Speed 13 rim is hard to grip and release cleanly regardless of how understable the flight is. Start with a slower fairway driver and work up to Speed 13 territory.
• Intermediate players (300-380 feet): This is where the Nuke SS earns its reputation. The heavy turn produces long, banana-shaped turnover shots and rollers that outperform what a standard Speed 13 driver would do at the same arm speed.
• Advanced players: Power throwers use the Nuke SS specifically for max-distance rollers and wide hyzer-flip turnover lines, tasks where the standard Discraft Nuke's stronger stability actually works against the shot.

How the Discraft Nuke SS Flies

The 13/5/-3/3 combination describes a wide-rim, high-speed driver that turns hard early in the flight before Glide 5 carries it through a long, flat middle section. The Fade 3 finish still shows up at the end, but only after the disc has covered significant ground turning over, which is the entire appeal for players who want turnover distance without babying the release angle.

That -3 turn is the key difference from the standard Nuke's 13/5/-1/3: both discs share the same speed and fade, but the SS turns nearly three times as hard at release, which is why it flattens into long rollers and turnover shots that the standard Nuke simply won't produce. For more on how turn and fade interact, see the overstable vs understable guide.

Compared to the MVP Octane (13/5/-1/2): the Octane's lighter turn and lighter fade make it a more all-purpose Speed 13 option for gliding distance shots, while the Nuke SS's much stronger turn makes it the more specialized choice specifically for rollers and hyzer-flip turnovers.

Discraft Nuke SS Plastics Compared

Discraft runs the Nuke SS across its usual blend lineup. Here's how the common options differ:

• ESP: The standard release. Grippy and durable, and the truest version of the stock understable flight. This is the version most players buy first. Around $20-22.
• Z Line: Stiffer plastic that beats in more slowly than ESP, holding the turn-heavy flight longer before it starts to flip earlier with wear. Good for players who want the stock numbers to last.
• Titanium: Premium, highly durable blend with a distinct in-hand feel. Flies close to ESP but resists chip damage from roller shots better, a useful trait for a disc that's often thrown to roll.
• Z Glow: Glow-in-the-dark Z Line for night rounds. Same flight profile as standard Z Line.

Recommendation: start with ESP for the truest version of the Nuke SS's turnover flight. Move to Z Line or Titanium once you're using it primarily for rollers, since both hold up better against ground impact than ESP.

Similar Discs to Consider

If the Nuke SS isn't quite the right fit, here are the closest alternatives:

• Discraft Nuke - The same Speed 13 rim with much less turn (13/5/-1/3), for players who want stable distance instead of turnover.
• MVP Octane - A lighter-turn Speed 13 driver (13/5/-1/2) that glides further before fading, better suited to all-purpose distance than dedicated rollers.
• Innova Wraith - A slower, more accessible Speed 11 driver (11/5/-1/3) for players not yet ready for a full Speed 13 rim.