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Fairway woods are some of the most underrated clubs, especially when you consider their importance in the game.
They are also some of the hardest slots to pack in your golf bag because some golfers have difficulty hitting them.
True, you may use your fairway woods as often as your irons, wedges, drivers, and putters. But they can really boost your performance.
Having the best fairway woods will help you reach a par-5 or even a fairway finder off the tee.
So, they can be a valuable addition to your golf bag. The main issue, however, is that it can be a tedious task to find the right fairway wood.
This is due to the fact that there is a wide variety of options to choose from.
Some top brands offer fairway woods that suit different tastes, swing speeds, and budgets. This means that you have to take time to find the one you should spend your hard-earned money on.
If you don’t know how to find the best fairway woods, don’t worry. We will guide you through the process of identifying the right wood for your game.
On top of that, we will recommend the best fairway woods on the market. So, read on to find out more.
The Best Fairway Woods
1. Callaway Elyte Fairway Wood
Key Features
- AI 10X face for better launch
- Tungsten Speed Wave is 35g to promote fall ball speeds.
- Comes with a New Step Sole for improved center-face contact and turf interaction
Pros
- Lovely head design
- Noticeable uptick in speed from Ai Smoke
- It is very good to launch fairway wood.
Cons
- Beginner golfers may be better suited to the X model.
Price: $349
The Elyte Fairway Woods is among the best fairway woods because it has raised the par in terms of performance.
The set features the innovative Tungsten Speed Wave to deliver faster ball speeds. It is also user-friendly and forgiving even for mid- to high-handicappers.
2. TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Fairway Wood
Key Features
- Modified CG locations for better energy transfer
- Multi-material construction, including steel, carbon, and aluminum
- New TSS weighting system incorporated in lofts for precise swing weight adjustment
Pros
- The hefty sliding sole weight makes it a versatile fairway wood.
- Decent players love its compact shape.
- A valuable model for golfers who want to tinker with spin, ball flight, and descent angle
Cons
- It is relatively expensive fairway wood.
Price: $399
The Qi10 is one of the best fairway woods that excel in terms of carry distance. It also boasts a fast speed and is forgiving.
So if speed and distance are your immediate requirements, then you should stick with Qi10. This model will also be ideal if you find fairway woods too hard to launch from the deck.
3. PXG Black Ops Fairway Wood
Key Features
- Carbon fiber crown allows for distribution of weight and lowering CG.
- High-strength stainless steel face
- Squared face design, which boosts forgiveness and delivers fast ball speeds
Pros
- It is super sleek in design.
- Performs satisfactorily from the tee and off the fairway.
- It features precision weighting technology for better customization.
Cons
- Purists may not like its modern clubhead design.
Price: $349
The PXG Black Ops offer a perfect balance of aesthetics, playability, and performance.
We ranked highly because it offers some serious shelf appeal due to its carbon fiber crown. Its black and silver tones also contribute to this.
In terms of performance, the Black Ops is easy to hit and more forgiving than most fairway woods. We were particularly impressed with how you can fine-tune the set for different players.
4. Titleist GT3 Fairway Wood
Key Features
- Seamless thermoform crown
- Features classic Titleist styling
- L-Cup face for better results on low-impact shots
Pros
- Feels fast off the face
- It is a good investment for golfers who want to hit different
- It has got premium looks.
Cons
- It is not the highest-launching club from the rough.
Price: $399
Building on the strengths of GT2, the GT3 also features the same Seamless Thermoform crown design.
Apart from this, it comes with a new weight-track system on the sole next to the face. What it means is that you will have more control of the ball speed.
5. Cobra Darkspeed X Fairway Wood
Key Features
- AI-designed HOT face
- PWRSHELL insert and PWR BRIDGE weighting to maximize launch and ball speed
- Features carbon crown
Pros
- Plenty of launch and spin for golfers seeking carry distance
- It features a modern, sleek head.
- Excellent forgiveness
Cons
- Its matte head might make the club appear small.
Price: $249
If you are looking for an aesthetically pleasing fairway wood, then you will love the Darkspeed X. Besides the look, it also excels in terms of ball flight.
So, it might be ideal if you are looking for maximum carry distance.
6. Ping G430 Max Fairway Wood
Key Features
- Facewrap technology, which generates more flexing for better ball speed
- Carbonfly wrap technology reduces weight and improves ball speed performance.
- Trajectory tuning 2.0 hosel allows for adjustments
- Tungsten sole weight also expands the perimeter weighting for more forgiveness.
Pros
- Offers exceptional forgiveness
- Delivers consistently fast ball speeds
- It is versatile as it allows you to hit from different lies.
Cons
- It is not the easiest to flight the ball low into the wind.
Price: $269
As an upgrade to the hugely popular G425, the G430 comes with new visuals and additional features.
We also believe it is one of the best fairway woods because of the Carbonfly wrap. It makes the wood lighter by 10g.
7. Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Fairway Wood
Key Features
- Breakthrough fairway performance backed by Ai Smart Face
- High launch with Easy Distance
- Lighter, stronger carbon chassis
Pros
- Seriously impressive in nearly all aspects
- It is easy to hit from different lies.
- Has a fantastic range of shafts
Cons
- It might be replaced soon.
Price: $349
The entire Ai smoke family has been brilliant in many areas. The Paradym is particularly easy to launch from the turf. It is also somehow unique.
The fairway wood features a full-on carbon fiber sole.
How We Tested the Best Fairway Woods
We tested the best fairway woods through our thorough methodology.
First, we try to get a better understanding of the product through the background information of each brand. For instance, we check for new technology used in the delivery of the product.
After that, we put each fairway wood to a practical test on the course as well as an indoor simulator.
The indoor simulator enables us to test the woods in a controlled environment. Once we are through with the indoors, we transition to outdoor testing.
In this phase, we test each fairway wood on the golf course. From there we analyze the data, which helped us in coming up with this list of the best fairway woods.
How to Find the Best Fairway Woods
If you are in the market for a new fairway wood, you have to pay attention to a few aspects. In some instances, you have to make a balance between two or more factors.
For instance, you may need to find a balance between distance and forgiveness.
The good thing is that there are many excellent models that excel in many areas. So, you won’t have to worry about finding the best fit.
Having said that, here are the main factors that you have to consider while choosing the right fairway wood:
- Club head size: Usually, compact fairway woods tend to favor players who love to shape the ball. Comparably, larger heads offer more forgiveness and a confidence-inspiring look.
- Forgiveness: As you may already know, some fairway woods are more forgiving than others. So, you should know your skill level to be able to choose the right wood for your style of play.
- Loft: If you know how far your irons and hybrids go, it will help you understand the ideal loft of your wood. The same goes for the driver.
- Versatility: Given that a fairway wood performs varying roles, you should go with something that is versatile. This way, you can hit off the deck from different lies.
- Adjustability: Two important adjustability factors are the weight and loft. Movable weight tends to fine-tune the moment of inertia and center of gravity of your wood.
- Shaft: Getting the right shift is as important as getting the right head. Using a heavier shaft will launch the ball lower and tend to shape the ball to the right. Likewise, a lighter and more flexible shift will launch the ball higher and tends to have a right-to-left bias. So, you should know your swing to choose the best match.
- Looks: Some may see this as a little superficial. But there are tangible benefits to having good-looking fairway wood. It will promote confidence in your ability to hit the right shots.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Ideally, fairway woods are for every golfer, from pros to high handicappers.
That is why most brands nowadays produce fairway woods that suit different needs and abilities.
Notably, some modern fairway woods feature adjustable hosels.
It means that you can tune the loft and lie to suit your game.
The choice of fairway woods to put in your bag will depend on three things. First, you have to know your ability level.
For instance, if you are a beginner, you might opt to use more forgiving fairway woods.
Secondly, you have to consider loft and gapping.
In other words, your choice of fairway wood should be able to fill the gap in your bag.
Finally, you have to consider the type of golf course that you will play on.
For instance, you may carry woods with lower penetrating shots if you are going to play links golf.
Since fairway woods are versatile, you can use them instead of a driver off the tee.
This is usually the case when you want to leave yourself a specific yardage into the green.
You can also use fairway woods to sweep the ball off the turf on the fairways.
Some players love to use their fairway woods around the greens.
Closing Remarks
Choosing the best fairway woods for your game will make a big difference in your performance.
While they are the clubs we hit less often, they can inspire confidence when you use them. Just be sure to find the right one for your style and ability.
Hopefully you will find your best match from the above selection.
Some fairway woods, like the Callaway Elyte and PXG Black Ops, are more forgiving. Similarly, the Titleist GT3 shines in terms of adjustability.
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