Callaway is one of the most highly respected golf brands in the business and, as such, it should come as no surprise it makes some of the best fairway woods on the market. These models don't just find their way into the bags of players on Tour though, but also higher handicap players too, with the company covering a wide range of skill levels and aspects. Whether you're looking for extra distance, workability, or better dispersion with your fairway woods, there's a model for you.
You don’t have to watch Tour golf for too long before you’ll see Callaway’s very fast and eye-catching fairway woods on show. Major winners like Henrik Stenson, Jon Rahm and Georgia Hall have been using the brand for some time, with the trio regarded as some of the best ball strikers on the planet.
Bearing that in mind, I have taken a look at some of the best Callaway fairway woods available in the current range. Alternatively, if Callaway is not for you, I also recommend checking out our guides on the best Ping fairway woods or the best TaylorMade fairway woods.
The Quick List
The Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max offers high levels of forgiveness while producing a high, powerful ball flight that will please any golfer. The striking aesthetics provide strong shelf-appeal.
The Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond is a powerful option for those looking for a fairway wood to combine as a driver replacement. It offers low launch, low spin and plenty of distance.
The Ai Smoke Max D fairway is a really strong option for those who struggle with a slice or want to promote a high draw with their fairway woods. The additional forgiveness means mishits are far less noticeable
The Paradym is forgiving across the face while producing fast ball speeds. High launch and mid spin characteristics make it a great option from the tee and fairway.
The Paradym TD is one of the fastest, lower-spinning options we have tested this year, making it perfect to hit instead of driver on tighter holes.
A mid-launch fairway wood that is hugely forgiving and delivered exceptional ball speed. One of the most accurate new release fairway woods we’ve tested.
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The Callaway Rogue ST Max D fairway is packed with power and forgiveness and delivers on its main promise to golfers, to encourage a draw and correct a slice.
A low spin fairway wood that combines classic shaping with modern technology for impressive ball speeds. Long and accurate and a great back-up to driver..
A great looking fairway wood built for better players. A compact head, designed with artificial intelligence, geared for penetrating ball flights and low spin rates.
Paradym Ai Smoke
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Paradym Ai Smoke
Featuring new and improved aesthetics, Callaway recently unveiled the new Paradym Ai Smoke fairway woods, which got their name as a result of the white and gray crushed carbon sole it has. What’s great about this design is that, at address - especially when playing in the sun - the aesthetics of the sole and carbon crown look incredible.
When we took the Max out for testing, we found that it was extremely forgiving and easy to play with, which is why we added it to our best fairway woods guide as well as in our best fairway woods for mid-handicap golfers guide. The forgiveness offered by this club appears to be due to the Ai Smart Face that’s been implemented within the entirety of the Paradym Ai Smoke family. Callaway have become industry leaders in using Ai technology in their clubs, with data from thousands of golf shots being added to their ‘super computer’ and used to create a club face with various sweet spots for increased consistency and improved ball flight and spin rates.
What we found, when playing this with this club, is that the forgiveness offered meant that it was far easier to play even the toughest of shots. Taking into account the aesthetic of this club’s design, combined with the performance offered, it’s fairly hard to beat as a good all-rounder fairway wood.
- Read our full Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Fairway Wood Review
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Fairway Wood
Next in our guide is the Ai Smoke Triple Diamond fairway wood, which has been designed to aid golfers with a more confident and faster swing. The design of this wood features an extremely compact design, alongside boasting a deeper face. When positioned behind the ball, this club looks fairly intimidating, meaning that it may not be the best option for a newer golfer, instead it’s a great fit for a lower handicapper.
The Triple Diamond model doesn’t feature the same crushed carbon sole that the other fairway drives and woods have, another factor that sets it apart. Instead, it has been designed with a more traditional-looking steel sole that has an extra weight port towards the face of the club to help encourage a lower ball flight.
When we put it to the test, we found that it was harder to strike than the other more forgiving fairway woods in the Paradym Ai Smoke range, but we still loved the performance it offered when played off the tee. We also noticed that the new Smart Face meant that any miss-hits felt less penalizing, and found that ball flight was easier to manipulate in strong winds than we’d expected.
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D Fairway Wood
Next up is the Paradym Ai Smoke Max D, which has been designed to aid a high launch and draw-bias. Due to this, the club features a more upright lie angle and has a larger head than the standard Max club.
When we put it to the test, we found that it performed exactly as we would like a Max D model to perform. Boasting really great forgiveness while also offering consistently high draws, making it an easier club to play with. We found that this was one of the most forgiving fairway woods we’ve played with, as even the shots that struck the heel of the club felt that they’d gone a good distance and had a powerful ball flight. What makes this wood so much easier to play with it due to the Ai Smart Face technology that this club features, allowing the head to have various sweet spots for making contact with the ball.
It’s from the first cut of rough where we feel this club really excelled over the other models within the range. The shallow club face and high MOI meant that launching the ball from thick, wet rough became effortless, making propelling the ball down longer holes much easier to manage. For higher handicappers and golfers who struggle with their fairway wood, the Paradym Ai Smoke Max D is a great club choice.
- Read our full Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D Fairway Wood review
Paradym
The Paradym Fairway Wood features a gorgeous carbon sole panel, that has been added by Callaway to enable weight from the head to be carefully repositioned, in a bid to boost MOI for added stability and increased forgiveness, while also helping to improve ball speeds.
When we put this wood to the test we instantly noticed ball speed gains compared to when we played with its predecessor, the Rogue St Max. After testing this club out, where we noticed that it truly excelled was with the feeling offered off the face - it felt extremely soft and meant that there were no ‘dead’ shots when failing to strike the ball perfectly.
- Read our full Callaway Paradym Fairway Review
Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond Fairway
The Paradym Triple Diamond model is designed for more confident golfers with a faster swing. The design features a deeper club face, which is ideal for any golfer who’s looking to decrease spin and improve their ability to hit a lower and more powerful ball flight.
While this wood features plenty of Callaway smart technology, such as their Jailbreak Batwing Technology, the head of this club is far more compact and doesn’t include alignment aids on the crown, which creates a clean, clear visual aesthetic. That said, while this club does lack some of the features of the other models, full face alignment lines have been added to help aid alignment and ensure that setting up square to the target is quick and easy.
- Read our full Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond Fairway Review
Rogue ST
Released in 2022, the Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway was designed to target a diverse range of golfers, with a focus on improving distance, forgiveness, and general performance. The range was released with 3-wood to 11-wood heads, which was the largest selection offered ever from the brand.
The Rogue ST range was brought in to replace the Mavrik range, with the ST alluding to the Speed Tuned technology that Callaway used to further optimize its designs for the very best launch, spin and ball speed numbers. The heads of the ST range also include redeveloped Jailbreak systems, with the dual ‘batwings’ moved further out to the very edge of the face, offering enhanced face flex for improved ball speeds, while also ensuring that it’s an ultra forgiving fairway wood.
When we put it to the test, we found that it was ultra forgiving, thanks to the length, accuracy, and speed offered by the ST range.
- Read our full Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway Review
Callaway Rogue ST Max D Fairway
Now we’re looking at the Rogue ST Max D, which was one of the very first woods from Callaway to feature a dedicated draw bias, making it one of the best fairway woods for high handicappers. Designed with golfers in mind who need to correct a slice within game play, this club features a partially closed face, in addition to vertical and horizontal grooves that have a more upright lie angle, designed to make overcoming a slice far easier to achieve.
To ensure golfers are able to achieve a higher launching and more powerful ball flight, the sole of the club has a 27g Tungsten speed cartridge, in addition to extra weight located at the heel of the club. Making this a great choice club for a new golfer or a golfer who struggles with launch and ball flight.
- Read our full Callaway Rogue ST Max D Fairway Wood Review
Callaway Rogue ST LS Fairway
The last fairway wood in the Rogue ST range is the LS model, which comes complete with a super compact head. Out of the three Rogue ST clubs, the LS has the most traditional design style in terms of how the club looks.
This wood features a number of Callaway’s best technology, including the redeveloped Jailbreak ST system, with the dual rods of the design being pushed to the very edge of the club face, ensuring that stiffness remains while also allowing added flex for increased and enhanced ball speed.
- Read our full Callaway Rogue ST LS Fairway Review
Callaway Epic Speed Fairway Wood
Designed to be paired with the Mavrik model fairway woods, the Epic Speed Fairway Wood range comes with two heads, the Max and the Speed. Of the two head options, the Speed is a great choice for golfers that are looking for a lower spin and stronger ball flight.
Thanks to featuring Callaway’s Jailbreak Ai velocity blades, this club is able to create ultra fast ball speeds across the entirety of the face. It features a Centre of Gravity that’s more forward and a leading edge that encourages a stronger ball flight and improved shot shape dispersion in play.
In terms of how it looks, this fairway wood is extremely visually appealing. It might have a simple black head with minimal graphics, but it looks sleek and seamlessly smart. While the white grooves on the club face make it simple to align the club and set the face to frame the ball in the sweet spot.
When we put it to the test, it didn’t disappoint. We found that the LS was, without a doubt, one of the best performing fairway woods.
- Read our full Callaway Epic Speed Fairway Wood Review
How we test fairway woods
When it comes to Golf Monthly's testing procedure, we use the same ethos and methodology for all golf products to make sure they are as insightful, honest and comprehensive as possible. When it comes to golf clubs, we usually attend product launches so we can meet with the manufacturer’s R&D experts to understand the new technology.
After we have an understanding here, our first port of call when hitting clubs is usually the indoor simulator at Foresight Sports, where the team can test in a controlled environment using premium balls and the GCQuad launch monitor. We also use TrackMan at golf facilities across the UK. We then do outdoor testing, usually on ranges at West Hill Golf Club, Surrey, The Wynyard Club in Teesside and at Brancepeth Castle Golf Club in Durham. We then put the clubs into play out on these golf courses.
Specifically for fairway woods, product testing is headed up by Sam De'Ath, a former EuroPro and Clutch Pro Tour professional with many years of experience in the golf industry. He is ably assisted by technical editor Joel Tadman, and editor Neil Tappin. All three have been testing clubs for many years, and can efficiently test the vast majority of the biggest product releases and convey the pros and cons eloquently.
How to choose a fairway wood
As manufacturers are putting a lot of technology into producing modern fairway woods, getting the right club for your needs can sometimes be an overwhelming decision. From jailbreak clubfaces to tungsten weights, there is a lot to take into consideration, but don't fret. I've set out several key points below that you need to consider when picking your next fairway wood.
1. Loft
Figure out the specific gap to be filled in your golf bag. Ask yourself how far does my driver go, and how far do your longest irons or hybrids go? Knowing this will dictate the ideal loft for your fairway wood.
2. Forgiveness
Some fairway woods are more forgiving than others, especially because many manufacturers create different models for different levels of player. For example, there are four different Cobra LTDx fairways with different head sizes, shapes and they are designed for different golfers. If you need as much help as possible, the LTDx MAX will work for you, whilst if you are a better player and strike is more consistent, then forgiveness may not be a key factor for you.
3. Adjustability
Most modern fairway woods come with a degree of adjustability, whether that’s loft, moveable weights or shaft fittings. Think about how important adjustability is to you, because you can change the characteristics of a club’s performance with a turn of a wrench. Or, you can keep things simple and opt for a non-adjustable model with a stock shaft you hit well.
4. Versatility
Fairway woods must work well off the tee, on the ground from different lies and even around the green. If you have a model that works in only one of these areas, then there may be plenty of improvement and flexibility in upgrading your fairway woods.
5. Looks
You have to like how a golf club looks, especially when looking down on the golf ball. The fairway wood is one of the most difficult clubs to hit, which is why you need something that gives you confidence and may even spark a pang of jealousy in your playing partners. My advice is go and pick several models, see how they look and feel in your hands and test them in a variety of situations and lies.
6. Budget
Be aware of your budget. You can go for more premium models, such as the TaylorMade Stealth Plus or Callaway Rogue ST LS or you can opt for cheaper designs like the Wilson Launch Pad. Wherever you fall in budget, our guides will present you with good advice on buying a new fairway wood.
If you're after a new set of fairway woods, be sure to also check out our guides on the best fairway woods for high handicappers, the best Ping fairway woods and the best TaylorMade fairwaywoods.
FAQs
How do you hit a fairway wood?
When it comes to hitting a fairway wood ball position is arguably the most important aspect. Many golfers will often have the ball too far back in the stance so there’s not enough loft at impact. With fairway woods, make sure you have the ball just inside your left heel, this will be far enough forward to help shallow out the angle of attack out a little.
The second thing is that you need a nice wide base, so your stance should be shoulder-width or a fraction more. Too narrow here and you’re going to get too much weight towards the left foot. Your weight distribution at address should be evenly balanced between your feet – think 50/50.
For further advice on the best way to hit a fairway wood, check out our guide here.
What fairway woods should I carry?
That depends on your style of play, the clubs that you're comfortable hitting and the other clubs that you have at your disposal. Ultimately most golfers like to carry a three wood and a five wood to bridge the gap between their hybrids and their driver. But many low handicappers often remove their five wood and replace it with another hybrid or another wedge. Ultimately, there is no right or wrong answer here, only what feels right for your game.
When should I use my fairway wood?
Fairway woods are distance clubs that can be used when you're either on the tee or on the fairway, and are trying to send the ball a long distance to the hole. They are designed to be played from the fairway but can also be played from the rough. Ideally though, it's better to play your hybrids from the thicker cuts of rough, but you can opt to use a fairway wood, so long as the ball isn't sitting up in thick grass.
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