Väinö Mäkelä In The Bag 2026
Väinö Mäkelä is one of Finland’s best-known disc golfers — and, like us, he is from Turku. He is a four-time Finnish Pro Tour overall champion, the 2021 Finnish Champion, and the player whose bag interests Finnish disc golfers more than anyone else’s.
Väinö joined Innova midway through the 2024 season and has since built a surprisingly straightforward bag. Instead of carrying ten different discs for every possible shot, he relies on a small number of trusted molds in different plastics and stages of wear. That is exactly the part most players can copy directly into their own bag.
Let’s go through the entire setup, starting with the bag itself.
Bag: SIGR Odin
Väinö carries a grey SIGR Odin. The Odin is the flagship model from Norwegian brand SIGR, built for players who carry a full set of discs plus everything else they need: a large main compartment, separate putter pockets, a bottle holder and weather-resistant materials that can handle Nordic spring and autumn conditions.
The Odin is not a cheap bag, but it is the kind of purchase you only need to make once. If you have carried the same worn-out bag for five seasons and are considering an upgrade, this is the type of model competitive players tend to choose.
See the SIGR Odin and available colours
Throwing putters
Halo Star Aviar3 and Star Aviar3
The Aviar3 is Väinö’s throwing putter, and he carries it in two different plastics. Halo Star is stiffer and handles more power, while regular Star beats in faster towards a straight and slightly understable flight. The Aviar3 has a low-profile, beadless rim, so it feels very different in the hand compared to a classic Aviar.
Flight numbers: 3 / 2 / 0 / 2. In practice, this is the disc for 40–70 metre approaches and controlled shots where there is no room for surprises.
See the Halo Star Aviar3 or Star Aviar3
Putting putter
KC Pro Aviar
The putting putter. The KC Pro Aviar is a beaded putter designed by Ken Climo, and it remains the disc many professionals return to year after year. KC Pro plastic is stiff and offers a dependable feel in virtually any conditions.
Flight numbers: 2 / 3 / 0 / 2. If you are looking for a putting putter that can maintain the same feel for years, this is it.
Midranges and approach discs
Champion Toro and Champion Glow Toro
The Toro is a low-glide, overstable approach disc designed for Calvin Heimburg. Väinö carries two: a regular Champion version and a Glow version. Glow plastic is typically slightly stiffer and more overstable, allowing the same mold to cover two different stability levels within the same slot.
Flight numbers: 4 / 2 / 1 / 3. The Toro is the disc for forehands, windy approaches and any shot that needs to get down and stop quickly.
See the Champion Toro or all Toro models
Champion Gator and Metal Flake Champion Gator
The Gator may be the most underrated disc in Innova’s entire lineup. It is an overstable, low-profile midrange with a short, sharp fade. It does not glide much, and that is exactly what makes it so accurate. Metal Flake plastic gives the same mold a slightly different feel and level of durability.
Flight numbers: 5 / 2 / 0 / 4. For forehand-dominant players, the Gator is close to essential, and on a backhand it is a perfect option in the wind.
See the Champion Gator or Metal Flake Champion Gator
Champion Roc3
The Roc3 is the workhorse of the bag. It holds its line in the wind and finishes with a predictable fade, making it a midrange that works in almost any situation. In Champion plastic it maintains its stability for a long time and slowly beats in towards a straighter flight.
Flight numbers: 5 / 4 / 0 / 3. If you carry only one midrange, this is a strong candidate for that slot.
Fairway drivers
Star Swirly Teebird and Champion Teebird
The Teebird is one of the most highly regarded fairway drivers of all time, and Väinö carries two of them. In Star plastic the Teebird feels softer and beats in towards a straighter flight, while Champion maintains its stability considerably longer. Swirly runs are popular among collectors, but they also offer a glidey and predictable flight.
Flight numbers: 7 / 5 / 0 / 2. This is the disc for controlled fairway shots in the 90–110 metre range.
See the Star Teebird or Champion Teebird
Color Glow Champion Firebird, Halo Star Firebird and Champion Firebird
Three Firebirds in the bag tells you almost everything you need to know. The Firebird is an overstable speed 9 driver that refuses to turn even when thrown with serious power, making it indispensable in windy conditions. Three different plastics provide three different stability levels: Halo Star is the stiffest, Champion is the classic option and Color Glow sits somewhere in between.
Flight numbers: 9 / 3 / 0 / 4. Hyzers, forehands, spike hyzers and any shot that needs to get to the ground under control.
See the Halo Star Firebird or Champion Firebird
C-Line PD and S-Line PD, Innova Made
This is one of the most interesting details in the bag. Väinö uses PDs from the Innova Made era — older Discmania control drivers produced by Innova. They fly differently from newer runs, which is why experienced players still hunt for them.
The PD is a speed 9 control driver that handles power and finishes with a dependable fade. C-Line is stiffer, while S-Line is slightly softer.
Innova Made runs are no longer produced, so they are only available on the used market. We regularly get them in stock.
Distance drivers
Star Roadrunner
The only clearly understable disc in the bag is a Roadrunner in Star plastic. Väinö uses it specifically for rollers.
Flight numbers: 9 / 5 / -4 / 1. If you have never thrown a roller before, this is one of the best discs to learn the shot with.
Star Destroyer and Halo Star Destroyer
The Destroyer is the world’s best-selling distance driver, and Väinö carries two in different stages of wear. A fresh Halo Star Destroyer is stable and handles plenty of power, while a beat-in Star Destroyer turns slightly and produces more glide. The same mold, but two completely different flight paths.
Flight numbers: 12 / 5 / -1 / 3. This is the disc for maximum distance when the line still needs to remain under control.
See the Halo Star Destroyer or Star Destroyer
Champion Boss
The Boss is faster and more overstable than the Destroyer, and it demands noticeably more arm speed. In Champion plastic it is overstable and dependable, but still offers a surprising amount of glide. This is a disc for strong headwinds and maximum-distance shots.
Flight numbers: 13 / 5 / -1 / 3. If a Destroyer turns too easily for you, the Boss is the next step.
Luster PD2 – Innova Made
The PD2 is an overstable distance driver for power throwers and the most demanding conditions. Luster plastic is translucent and stiff, and as an Innova Made run this is a highly sought-after disc among collectors and competitive players.
Moondust Halo Champion PD2 – Väinö Mäkelä 2026 Tour Series
And here it is: Väinö’s signature disc for the 2026 season. Väinö chose the PD2 as his Tour Series disc, which tells you a lot about the type of player he is. Not an easy-to-throw disc, but an overstable tool that allows a power thrower to control the wind.
Moondust Halo Champion is one of the most striking plastics Innova produces. It is durable, stiff and instantly stands out in the bag.
Every purchase also directly supports Väinö’s professional playing career.
Buy the Väinö Mäkelä 2026 Tour Series PD2
What you can learn from Väinö’s bag
Three things:
- Fewer molds, more plastics. Väinö does not carry ten completely different models. He carries the same mold in different plastics and stages of wear, keeping the hand feel consistent while changing the flight. This is one of the fastest ways to build a predictable bag.
- The bag leans overstable. Three Firebirds, two Toros, two Gators and a PD2. Strong winds and demanding courses require discs that remain under control.
- A beat-in disc can be more predictable. A seasoned Star Destroyer has developed its flight through countless impacts and can become extremely predictable. That is why it makes sense to buy multiple copies of your favourite mold and let them wear in at different rates.
The complete bag
- Bag: SIGR Odin
- Putters: Halo Star Aviar3, Star Aviar3, KC Pro Aviar
- Midranges: Champion Toro, Champion Gator, Metal Flake Champion Gator, Champion Roc3
- Fairway drivers: Star Teebird, Champion Teebird, Halo Star Firebird, Champion Firebird, C-Line PD, S-Line PD
- Distance drivers: Star Roadrunner, Halo Star Destroyer, Star Destroyer, Champion Boss, PD2, Väinö Mäkelä 2026 Tour Series PD2
Get Väinö’s signature disc here!
Leave a comment