Finding the right fairway wood can be difficult. There are simply too many brands, technologies, and prices to choose from. In this article, we have constructed a list to help you find the best fairway wood for you.
In this article, we have boiled down a list of the 7 best fairway woods for every type of golfer. After hours of thorough testing of fairway woods, we have finally found the best fairway woods for everyone from a beginner to a scratch golfer.
Best overall – TaylorMade Stealth 2
Editors Choice – Ping G430
Best for mid-handicappers – Callaway Paradym
Best for low handicappers – Titleist TSr3
Best for forgiveness – Ping G425
Best for distance – Cobra Radspeed
Best budget option – Wilson D9
Pros:
- Forgiving
- High ball flight
- More ball speed
Cons:
- None
The TaylorMade Stealth 2 fairway wood is full of new technology that will make your game better in many ways. The clubface is developed with variable thickness for maximum ball speed across the face while maintaining playability in a shape that gives better confidence.
The center of gravity is positioned lower than in the previous model, providing a more centered center of gravity for better performance from the fairway without compromising length. To accomplish this, engineers lowered the center of gravity by placing a heavy internal weight near the back of the club and lowering the top two millimeters.
The 3D Carbon fiber Crown is a carbon fiber top that moves mass from the area high up in the toe and allows more weight to be moved back for optimal forgiving properties and maximum playability. TaylorMade’s acclaimed V Stell sole provides excellent ground contact and increases versatility. The laser-etched sighting aid creates a visual contrast between the face and the top and is intended to aid sighting and improve confidence. Speed Pocket construction provides maximum ball speed and additional forgiving properties on thin hits.
Conclusion:
The TaylorMade stealth 2 is a game-enhancing fairway wood with a high ball flight for players of all skill levels. The TaylorMade fairway wood excellent choice if you are looking for a safe option from the tee or fairway. That’s why it’s the best fairway wood in our book.
Editors Choice - Ping G430
Pros:
- Forgiving
- Adjustable
- Higher ball speeds
Cons:
- Not great for shot shaping
The Ping G430 fairway wood and its carbon fly wrap technology consist of a new carbon crown construction and the edges of the head. The weight savings are moved to lower the center of gravity and increase ball speed.
The strong and thin hitting surface in sea-aged steel now continues a bit up the crown and also down under the sole to increase the flexibility of the hitting surface. This results in more length and higher launch.
Spinsistency improves performance even on thinner shots by reducing spin and increasing ball speed for optimal length. The Ping engerered eight-position hosel gives you the ability to adjust the loft to 1.5° and the lie up to 3° flatter than standard to further fine-tune your ball flight.
Conclusion:
The Ping G430 fairway wood clubs have the latest and greatest technology that Ping has to offer right now. With forgiving properties and great launch and ball speed. Are you a player that needs a little bit more help from the fairway wood it’s exactly what the G430 has to offer.
Best for mid-hcp - Callaway Paradym
Pros:
- Large sweet spot
- Forgiving
- Faster ball speed
Cons:
- The design isn’t for everybody
Callaway Paradym fairway wood is equipped with a molded carbon sole to reduce the weight of the club, higher club head speed, and more length in the shots.
The further developed Jailbreak technology which in this year’s models is 25% lighter and has been added with Batwing technology to allow the hitting surface to flex more when hitting the ball and help to get an increased speed on the ball.
With a high-density tungsten weight, the center of gravity shifts downward and forward. The result is optimal swing speed and lower spin, which in its type leads to maximum carry distance.
Conclusion:
The Callaway Paradym fairway wood is one of the best fairway woods on the market right now. It makes an astonishing sound and the latest and greatest technology from Callaway. Callaway Paradym is the fairway wood for those looking for a safe alternative in all situations. Overall, Paradym is a fairway wood you can trust when you need it.
Best for low handicappers - Titleist TSr3
Pros:
- More distance
- Fast Ball Speed
- Adjustable hosel
Cons:
- Not very forgiving
The TSR is the third generation of Titleist Speed fairway woods, now the center of gravity has been moved further down for increased resistance to twisting. Fine-tune your performance with optimal adjustment options.
TSR3 fairway woods have a new SureFit groove for easier adjustment of the center of gravity in five positions, which provides both greater adjustment possibilities, better precision, and low spin. The center of gravity is placed further back for better puncture safety.
The SureFit adjustable hosel gives the player the opportunity to adjust the loft, lie angle, and whether the head should be closed or open.
Conclusion:
The Titleist TSR3 is a tour-inspired low spin fairway wood made for skilled golfers with a centered ball hit who are looking for a fairway wood that provides good length with a penetrating ball flight and the ability to shape the shots to your liking.
Best for forgiveness - Ping G425
Pros:
- High ball speeds
- Forgiving
- Solid feel
Cons:
- None
The Ping G425 fairway wood delivers long strokes and a predictable spin rate without compromising on the forgiving characteristics.
The face wrap technology means that the thin hitting surface in sea-aged steel goes into the crown and under the sole, which gives a high trampoline effect for increased ball speeds and a good departure angle. The hitting surface has a complex profile which means that on low hits the club has about 2.5 degrees less loft.
The reduced loft together with the face wrap technology means that the spin rate and ball speed are kept consistent even on low hits. In the sole of the club head is a carefully placed tungsten weight that keeps the club head stable through the ball hit and increases the club’s forgiving properties. There are 3 sighting dots on the crown that make it easier to address behind the ball.
Conclusion:
The Ping G425 is a fairway wood designed to be consistent in all positions. It suits the player who wants an easy-to-play option for long shots from the fairway, rough, or tee. The new Ping technology makes this fairway wood a more forgiving club with faster ball speeds and a high launch to force the ball into the air in sticky situations. That’s why the Ping G425 is one of the best forgiving fairway woods on the market.
Best for distance - Cobra Radspeed
Pros:
- More distance
- Forgiving
- High ball speed
Cons:
- Looks aren’t for everybody
The Cobra Radspeed fairway wood has been equipped with the new Hollow Split Rails technology which gives the golf club a lower center of gravity. These rails allows the club to slide easily through the grass in all positions and also provide a high launch on the fairway.
The Cobra fairway woods have spaced out the weights in the club head with one weight closer to the face than before and the other far back to deliver increased ball speed while also giving the club more forgiving properties. The forged hitting surface gives you a good feel when hitting the ball and a high trampoline effect for more carry distance.
Conclusion:
The Cobra Radspeed fairway wood with its low center of gravity and perfectly placed weights on the club head makes this fairway wood very forgiving even on off-center hits whilst also delivering better ball speeds and high launch angle. What more can you ask for in a fairway wood?
Best budget option - Wilson D9
Pros:
- High ball speeds
- Forgiving
- Great price
Cons:
- High spin
The Wilson D9 fairway wood golf club has been engineered to be versatile and a great option for many positions on the course. a hot-hitting surface made of thin Carpenter Custom 455 steel. The face has Variable Face technology which makes it different thicknesses at key points to provide optimal ball speed wherever you hit.
The weighting has been optimized to increase the club’s forgiving properties and provide a higher launch angle. The design and head shapes are developed together with Wilson’s professional players out on tour.
Conclusion:
The Wilson D9 has everything you want and need in a great fairway wood and more. Great looks and the performance to back it up. And all this for a great price, what more do you need to hear?
Buying guide
The 7 things you should think about before buying a new fairway wood
Buying a fairway wood can be difficult for many reasons. That’s why in this buyer’s guide, we are going to help you to locate what you are looking for when buying the best fairway wood, or any golf clubs for you and your desired outcome on the course. Keep these tips and tricks will help you when you are on the lookout for a new fairway wood.
We are going to go through a list of 7 of the most crucial points to find the best fairway wood for you and to make the best score on the golf course.
1. Budget
When looking at fairway wood, fairway woods, or just golf clubs, in general, it is important to find something that suits both your player level and the size of your wallet. There is a wide range of how much a fairway wood will cost. What you can keep in mind is that there are almost always bargains to be had if you can live with a model that is 1 or 2 years older. And we promise, even if there’s a red price tag on the clubs, they can still be good enough for most golfers.
2. Asses your ability
Do you have a typical miss? Do the golf ball always go in the same direction or are you one of the few who always hit the fairway? Do a mini analysis of your game from the tee and be honest with yourself. The better you know your own game, the greater the opportunities to help you.
3. Outcome
Many say they want to hit longer and get a straighter ball flight. But to do that, unfortunately, it also often requires you to spend time on training. However, a fairway wood can be a great help along the way to, for example, remove an unwanted screw or create a feel – which in turn can very well lead to both length and precision. Think about whether there is something specific you want to achieve.
4. You do You
Many people need a lighter and kinder shaft than what they play today! Some people think that if you hit fade or slice, the shaft is too soft because your friends say you swing fast. It doesn’t have to be that way at all – and often it’s a swing technique issue. Golfers with lower handicaps sometimes play wrong shafts, but it is a bit more macho to demonstrate that you have Stiff or X-stiff. And sure, it can mean that some misses get a little better when you hit worse, but your pursuit of optimal length is sacrificed and you will quickly look around for a new fairway wood. A good general tip is to drop the macho style and choose a softer shaft.
5. ball flight
Manufacturers today have rules to adhere to the current properties and this makes it difficult to produce revolutionary innovations. Nevertheless, the latest models of golf clubs often go a few meters longer than the previous ones. This is because the flight of the ball is more optimized through height and spin. Therefore, the loft is incredibly important. Many golfers today say they hit too high and that the golf ball does not roll as far as their friends. Then the question is whether it is the carry we are looking for or the total length. What do you want your ballpark to look like and what will the result be?
6. Feel or Looks
Everyone likes different things. An important part of finding the right fairway wood is that you should enjoy looking at it. It gives you confidence before the shot and you probably dare to swing the club a little more freely and naturally. The feel is also subjective, but what feel do you want in a fairway wood?
7. The shaft
This may be too advanced for some, who just want the shaft to feel “good”. But with the help of different properties, you can make some changes in both safety from the tee and feeling in the shot. Can you put into words what you are looking for? A feeling that the club swings easily or maybe that when you miss, the club does not turn in your hands. These are factors that play a role in the choice of the shaft.
Summary
Choosing the best fairway wood can be very difficult, but does it have to be? You just have to be true to yourself and your needs and ask yourself questions like. What’s my budget? How often do I play? What do I want to get out of my fairway wood? You can come a long way with some common sense. The only thing that matters is how confident you feel when you are going to tee off or hit a long shot from the fairway on the golf course.