Woods are designed to hit the golf ball the farthest, more than any other club in a golf set. Traditionally made from wood, hence the name, they are now made using metal and other alloys. They are used to hit the ball from a tee or from the fairway.
The most common types of woods are:
- Drivers
- 3 woods
- 5 woods
Most players will use drivers to hit the ball off the tee, but sometimes a good swing with a 3 wood can create greater accuracy than a driver. This makes them a great alternative to drivers. Within the golf community, there is also a classic debate of driver vs. 3 wood.
Those who are for drivers suggest that distance will get you closer to the hole and over time will lead to lower scores. Those who are for 3 wood say that hitting fairway wood is more accurate and will keep you away from penalty shots.
Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer and it depends on what you feel you are more comfortable using. Although it is not always necessary to have one in your set, a 3 wood can sometimes help a lot, especially if you are having a bad day with your driver and that is why most players will have at least one in their golf bags.
Best 3 Woods in Golf
We have researched the market and selected a variety of 3 woods for you. Let’s look at some of the best 3 woods available today to help you choose.
Callaway Rogue Fairway Wood
Callaway’s Rogue Fairway Wood is a highly rated and popular 3 Wood that uses graphite for its shaft material. It has a 15 degree loft and is available in regular, stiff, ladies and light flex configurations.
The light and strong Triaxle Carbon Crown saves weight and is repositioned in the head to promote high launch, low spin and increased moment of inertia (MOI). Combined with the power of Callaway’s Jailbreak Technology and X-Face VFT Technology, it promotes high ball speed and long distance.
The Jailbreak Technology is one of the biggest breakthroughs in recent years. It keeps the vertical compression at bay that results in a much more efficient transfer of energy from the club face to the ball.
The ultra-low center of gravity (CG) and high MOI make the Rogue fairways easy to hit with exceptional accuracy.
TaylorMade SIM MAX-D Fairway
The TaylorMade SIM MAX-D Fairway wood has a UST Mamiya Helium shaft material and comes in regular, senior and stiff flex configurations. It has a 16 degree loft and a 190cc head size that is made with strong C300 steel which delivers powerful high performance and unmistakable feel.
The reinvented V Steel design sole plate helps reduce friction with the turf at impact and gives you the confidence to attack any lie. The Twist Face feature of the club face uses corrective face angles that are designed to reduce golfer mishits and produce straighter shots.
The Speed Pocket feature gives increased sole flexibility and is designed to provide additional ball speed and forgiveness on low-face mishits. The V steel, C300 steel and composite carbon materials used in the head construction allow engineers to precisely position weight in the head for ultra-low CG.
This is a good 3 Wood for low handicap golfers looking for a bit of forgiveness and unmistakable feel.
Cobra Men’s Speedzone Fairway Black-Yellow
The Cobra Golf 2020 Speedzone Fairway is an underrated 3 Wood that gives fine distance and forgiveness. Made with an MCA Tensei AV Blue 65 shaft, it has a 14.5 degree loft and comes in regular, stiff and senior flex configurations.
The CNC milled face of the club is up to 5 times more precise than traditional hand polishing and is used to ensure that every face is right up to the legal limit. The hollow split rails flex more than solid rails, creating a 70% larger hot spot area from heel to toe for higher launch and more ball speed than ever before.
The Stability Zone-Dual Baffler Rails provide excellent stability and speed through the turf, allowing the club to glide effortlessly out of any lie. The light Carbon Fiber crown creates discretionary weight to move the center of gravity lower and deeper.
The traditional head shape has a 167cc size with back CG placement and makes it a great 3 Wood for any golfer looking for distance with forgiveness.
Callaway Steelhead XR Fairway Wood
Here is another fairway wood from Callaway, the Steelhead XR 3 wood is made with a graphite shaft and has a 15 degree loft that comes in regular, senior, stiff and extra stiff flex configurations.
With an improved Steelhead shape and refined Hawkeye Sole, it has a versatile, confidence-building head that is super-easy to launch. The Hyper Speed Face Cup is exceptionally efficient at delivering fast ball speed and distance across the entire face, especially on mishits.
The lightweight J-36 carbon crown saves substantial weight that is repositioned in the perimeter for more forgiveness, easier launch, lower spin and added power. The shorter hosel frees up even more weight in the head.
Developed with direct input from aerospace experts, the proprietary Speed Step improves aerodynamics for fast swing speeds and distances. The premium stock shaft also provides added power and control.
This 3 wood is super-charged with modern, power-producing technologies to promote more distance and offers high forgiveness measured in MOI, making it a great addition to any player’s golf bag.
Our Final Thoughts
The 3 woods mentioned on this list are all great fairway woods and will improve your game, thanks to advanced technologies, improved materials and better designs. If you are a beginner or simply buying your first 3 wood, then we suggest to get the Callaway Men’s Steelhead XR Fairway Wood.
Although this is an older model, it is thoroughly field tested and comes highly recommended by golfers. They understand that it can still hold its ground even with new competing technologies available in other 3 woods. It is pocket friendly, and great for first timers who want to get the feel of a reliable fairway wood.
A few key things to look for when buying a 3 wood are:
- Loft
- Forgiveness
- Premium shaft
- High speed
- Low spin
Choosing the perfect 3 wood can be difficult, but adding one to your bag will definitely help improve your game. We hope our selection of the best 3 woods was helpful.
