The fairway game makes a big impact on your win/loss ratio. It is no surprise that so many golfers look to buy the best fairway woods to catch up if their drive was less than perfect.
In a Hurry? Here are Our Top Choices
When it comes to design, the fairway wood producers are adopting the speed and power characteristics of the driver. They now have a broader sole shape and weighting scheme that delivers perfect launches from the fairway.
The 5 Best Fairway Woods in Golf
If you are looking to buy a new driver that helps you get out of the rough or need a shot-shaper that drives the ball long, our guide will be helpful to find what you need.
1. Callaway Mavrik Fairway Wood
Callaway claims the Mavrik is their longest fairway wood ever produced. Based on buyer feedback they seem to have hit the mark with this club.
The Callaway Mavrik Fairway comes in three varieties; Standard, Max and Sub Zero. The standard Mavrik has an A.I. optimized Flash Steel Face SS20 that has been crafted to loft the ball at maximum speed at a smooth 15 degree angle.
The club hits the ideal balance between high launch and low spin for the ball speed.
2. Cobra King Speedzone Fairway
If you are looking for a low lofted fairway wood, then the Cobra King Speedzone will more than meet your requirement. It is a great choice for golfers who have a swing speed above average and players who hit a lot of fairway woods from the tee will find it a good addition to their set.
Its hollow split high-speed rails flex at impact for greater ball speeds and higher launch angles. The clubface is CNC-milled. The carbon crown pushes down into the center of the head which makes it a very forgiving driver when you are off center.
3. TaylorMade SIM Fairway Wood
The Taylormade SIM, SIM Max, and SIM Max D-Type are three new titanium fairway woods that were introduced recently. They were probably inspired by the success of titanium fairways in 2019.
Tiger Woods, Jon Rahm, Rory and DJ all won titles with a titanium M5 in their bags. They proved how a lightweight titanium chassis and a carbon crown could make a world of difference for players.
The TaylorMade SIM Max Fairway has the iconic V Steel design that was enhanced with the new 180cc SIM fairway. The wood features an 80g sole weight that creates an extremely low CG, giving increased ball speed, higher launch and improved forgiveness on low-face hits.
4. Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo
The Cleveland HB Turbo Fairway Wood is based on the same speed-enhancing technology that made the HB Turbo Driver a success. The club features a Turbocharged Cup Face, which offers a unique variable thickness pattern.
The fairway wood makes it easier to hit the ball higher and farther thanks to a variable thickness cup face. The larger face area has a bigger sweet spot that flexes more effectively at impact for greater forgiveness.
It has a redesigned HiBore Crown that pushes the center of gravity down for a higher launch. The club delivers more speed and distance whether you are hitting the ball off the tee or going for the green in two.
5. Wilson Staff D7 Fairway Wood
Wilson’s nonadjustable D7 fairway shows off its bona fides with a package geared for golfers who require extra speed and forgiveness. The Wilson D7 Fairway crown has been designed with a layer of DuPont Kevlar sandwiched between two layers of carbon fiber to save weight.
It has thin-cast weight saving pockets with a stainless steel face to improve distance. With the launch and spin numbers on the higher side, D7 offers good control on the drop-and-stop shot. Golfers will be pleased with its classic profile and how easy it is to square the face up on impact.
What Should Be the Length of Your Fairway Wood?
Having the right fairway wood length is important for getting the right balance of trajectory, distance, and feel.
When fairway wood shafts get too long, they can throw off the swing weight and make them feel too light. If the shaft is too short, you won’t be able to produce enough speed to maximize distance.
Is it Important to Have a Low Center of Gravity for Fairway Woods?
A low center-of-gravity on your fairway woods increases the initial launch speed with minimal spin.
If you’re a golfer who struggles with getting the ball airborne, purchasing fairway woods with low centers-of-gravity will help immensely.
The best way for golf club manufacturers to achieve a low center-of-gravity is to move as much weight as possible from the crown and clubface to the rear section of the sole.
What are Adjustable Fairway Woods?
When you purchased fairway woods in the past, you were stuck with the lie and loft that they were fixed with. In recent years, more adjustable fairway woods have become common.
Golfers can now use a simple tool to adjust the loft, lie, and even face angle of the best fairway woods in the market.
While most new fairway woods are adjustable these days, it is always better to ask before you buy.
Our Final Thoughts
A good quality fairway wood will improve your game and give your shots better speed, angle and performance. However, you will need to do extensive testing and fitting to help you find the right mix of fairway woods with the proper loft, shaft flex, and angle.
The best fairway woods are ideal for tee shots on short 4s par, reaching 5s par in two shots. You should look for clubs that make up for your shortcomings. If you’re a high handicapper, for instance, you should aim for fairway woods with a low center-of-gravity and a wide sole.
We hope that this short review of the best fairway woods can help you find a club that improves your game.
