I've been throwing the lat 64 strive for a few weeks now, and it's definitely not just another high-speed driver cluttering up the market. If you've been following the disc golf world lately, you know that Latitude 64 has been on a bit of a tear with their Royal Line. They've managed to find this sweet spot between high-end aesthetics and actual, on-course performance that feels premium without being "too pretty to throw."
When I first pulled the Strive out of the box, the first thing I noticed was that classic NexEdge technology. For those who aren't familiar, it basically means the bottom of the rim is incredibly smooth. There's no flashing, no sharp plastic bits to scrape your fingers—it just feels like a finished product. But looks and feel only get you so far; what matters is how this 13-speed monster actually behaves when you give it everything you've got.
First Impressions and Hand Feel
The lat 64 strive is a wide-rim driver, there's no getting around that. If you have smaller hands, you're going to notice the 2.4cm rim width immediately. It's built for speed. However, because it's part of the Royal Line, the Grand plastic provides a level of grip that makes that wide rim feel a lot more manageable. It's got that slightly tacky, premium feel that reminds me of a mix between Star and Gold line, but maybe a bit more durable.
I've always felt that 13-speed discs can be a bit hit-or-miss. Sometimes they're so beefy they just dump out immediately, and other times they're so flippy that they're basically unusable for anyone with a decent arm. The Strive seems to sit in a very intentional middle ground. It's designed to be the "faster Rive," which is a tall order considering the Rive is arguably one of the best distance drivers ever made.
How It Actually Flies on the Course
Let's talk about the flight numbers: 13, 5, -1, 3. On paper, that looks like a standard high-speed stable driver. In practice, the lat 64 strive feels exactly like those numbers suggest, but with a bit more "push" than I expected.
When I took it out to my local long-distance course, the first thing I noticed was the glide. Usually, when a disc is this fast, it wants to get to the ground quickly. But the Strive hangs in the air. If you can get it up to speed—and that's a big "if" for a lot of players—it has this beautiful, subtle turn that lets it track right (for a right-hand backhand throw) before that dependable 3-fade kicks in.
I wouldn't call it a "flipper" disc by any means. Even in a moderate headwind, it held its line surprisingly well. It didn't turn over and burn, which is my biggest fear with high-speed drivers that claim to have some turn. Instead, it just stood up, rode the wind for a bit, and then finished strong. It's the kind of reliability you want when you're staring down a 450-foot par 3.
Backhand Power Shots
For backhand players with a bit of "oomph" in their swing, the lat 64 strive is a dream for pure distance. On a flat release, it does a nice "S" curve that isn't too dramatic. It's a tight flex, which means you can use it in fairways that aren't necessarily wide open. You don't need a massive canyon to let this thing work.
I found that if I threw it on a slight hyzer, it would pop up to flat, ride straight for about 80% of the flight, and then have a very predictable finish. It's not a "dumping" fade either. It's more of a forward-penetrating fade, which is how you gain those extra 20 or 30 feet that make a difference at the end of a round.
Forehand Versatility
I was a bit skeptical about using a 13-speed for forehands, as I usually prefer something like a PD2 or a Firebird for that "point and shoot" flick. But the Strive actually handles torque quite well. The rim is shallow enough that it doesn't get caught on your fingers during a sidearm release.
Because it has that bit of turn, you can actually get some serious distance on a forehand flex line. If you start it on an anhyzer, it will fight back, but it takes its time doing it. It's not going to immediately snap back to flat, so you have to be careful with your angles. But for long, searching forehands, it's a very capable tool.
The Strive vs. The Rive
The elephant in the room is how the lat 64 strive compares to the Rive. Most Latitude 64 fans have a Rive (or three) in their bag. The Rive is a 13-speed too, but it often feels a bit more like a 12-speed in terms of manageability.
In my experience, the Strive is definitely faster. It has a bit more "zip" out of the hand. While the Rive is known for being incredibly consistent and somewhat "beefy" for the average player, the Strive feels like it wants to go further. If the Rive is your reliable workhorse, the Strive is your "I need to reach the basket on this long hole" disc.
The turn on the Strive is also a bit more noticeable than on a fresh Rive. A Rive usually takes a few months of hitting trees before it starts to show that -1 turn, whereas the Strive has it right out of the box. This makes the Strive feel a bit more "pro-ready" for maximum distance right away.
Who Should Actually Bag This Disc?
Let's be honest: not everyone needs a 13-speed driver. If you're currently throwing 250 feet, the lat 64 strive is going to act like a very expensive brick. It'll go about 200 feet and then dive left hard.
However, if you're pushing past that 350-400 foot mark, this is where the disc starts to shine. It requires a certain amount of arm speed to engage that glide and turn. For the intermediate to advanced player, this could easily become the primary distance driver.
Pros will love it because they can crush it on a hyzer and trust it won't flip over. Amateurs with decent form will love it because it's one of the few high-speed drivers that actually feels "fast" without being terrifyingly overstable.
Plastic Durability and Feel
I have to give a shout-out to the Grand plastic again. I've hit my fair share of trees with the lat 64 strive over the last few weeks—mostly because I was trying to see how much power I could put on it—and the rim is still in fantastic shape.
The Royal Line is clearly designed to compete with the top-tier plastics from other brands, and honestly, it might be winning. It doesn't get that "waxy" feel that some plastics get when they're wet, and it doesn't feel brittle in colder weather. It's a very consistent material, which is exactly what you want when you're trying to build confidence in a high-speed driver.
Final Thoughts on the Strive
So, is the lat 64 strive worth the hype? If you're looking for a disc that can bridge the gap between a controlled fairway driver and a "maximum distance at any cost" disc, then yes. It's fast, it's sleek, and the Royal Line production quality is second to none.
It's not a beginner's disc, and it's not trying to be. It's a high-performance tool for people who want to see just how far they can push their game. Whether you're using it for massive backhand bombs or long, gliding forehand shots, it delivers a level of consistency that's hard to find in the 13-speed category.
If you already love the Rive but find yourself wishing it had just a tiny bit more "go" and a slightly more workable turn, the Strive is exactly what you've been waiting for. It's a permanent fixture in my bag now, at least for those days when the wind is down and the fairways are long. Just make sure you've got the space to let it fly, because this disc definitely wants to move.