Best Fairway Woods 2024

Check out the best fairway woods on the market for distance, accuracy and forgiveness

Best Fairway Woods
(Image credit: Golf Monthly)

The fairway wood can be one of the hardest slots to fill in your golf bag. We don’t hit them as much as irons, drivers, wedges and putters but when we do pull the headcover off, they really have to step up and perform. These clubs can be used all around the course; from the rough to those little bump and runs on the greens, they are a very useful club and it can pay off getting the right metal wood for your game. We also don’t tend to hit them as much in practice and it’s fair to say that golfers typically replace fairway woods less often than others clubs in the bag.

WATCH: We test and compare the best fairway woods on the market in 2024

The good news is that evolutions in multi-material construction and the use of A.I (artificial intelligence) in face design, means that the best fairway woods now deliver more distance and consistency off the tee. They are easier to pick up off the fairway, can be hit well out of rough and even used around the green from collar rough or mown aprons.

We tested all fairway woods on course, at the range and indoors using either a Foresight Sports GCQuad launch monitor or TrackMan with Titleist Pro V1x golf balls. Below, after thorough testing you’ll find our take on the best fairway woods currently on the market to help narrow your search and find the right fairway wood for you. Alternatively, you can really focus your efforts using our guides to the most forgiving fairway woods, the best fairway woods for mid handicappers and the best women's fairway woods.

The Quick List

Best Fairway Woods - Best 3 Woods and Best 5 Woods

Why you can trust Golf Monthly Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Top pick

PXG Black Ops Fairway Wood Review

(Image credit: Future)
A traditional shape with a multitude of adjustable options

Specifications

Lofts: 15°, 17°, 18°, 21°

Reasons to buy

+
Performs well from the tee and off the fairway
+
Sleek, modern design
+
Precision weighting technology provides customization

Reasons to avoid

-
Modern clubhead looks may not please purists

First up we have the PXG Black Ops fairway wood which we think nearly offers the perfect combination of performance and playability. Looks wise it offers some serious shelf appeal thanks to the black and silver tones sitting alongside the carbon fiber crown.

There are three weight ports that can be chosen individually when custom ordering your fairway wood, ensuring you are going to see the exact ball flight you desire. We actually ended up going with lighter weights, which does remove some forgiveness, but ultimately gave fast ball speeds, a strong ball flight and the correct amount of spin to maintain carry. The face itself has been made 12.5 percent thinner than the predecessors and when testing the Black Ops fairway wood, we noticed straight away how good these clubs felt off it. The sensation was springy and the numbers proved that.

This fairway performed just as well when struck off the deck as it did from a tee which is testament to how forgiving and easy this club is to use. We saw a high but forward-looking ball flight off the tee which we loved, yet it got the ball launching high when struck from the turf. Finally what we like most when it comes to the PXG Black Ops fairway wood is the simplicity of their only being one model too that can be tuned for different players.

Best for ball-strikers

Photo of Taylormade Qi10 tour fairway

(Image credit: Future)

Specifications

Lofts: 15º, 18º

Reasons to buy

+
Looks superb at address and in the bag
+
Provides good workability
+
Plenty of adjustability on offer

Reasons to avoid

-
Produces a louder sound and firmer feel that may not please all

Firstly, it's worth noting what separates the TaylorMade Qi10 Tour fairway from the other two models in the Qi10 in the family. As such the most obvious difference is the Tour has a more compact head compared to the other models, and there are various customization and adjustability features. This is to give the golfer more control and aid workability.

The same weight track we loved in the Stealth 2 plus remains and the Qi10 Tour fairway wood remains as the only model in the family to have an adjustable loft sleeve, which alters loft and lie angle. Obviously, this will be personal preference with how you set it up, but the weight track does a good job of altering the flight and trajectory. 

Overall though, the Qi10 Tour fairway has been created with the better player in mind, specifically those who have a high swing speed and want to keep spin and launch a touch lower.

Best wide appeal

Ping G430 MAX Fairway on the course

(Image credit: Kevin Murray)
Stunning aesthetics and excellent playability

Specifications

Lofts: 15°, 18°, 21°, 24°
Stock shaft: Ping Alta CB Black 65
Left handed options: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Exceptional forgiveness
+
Versatile from different lies
+
Consistently fast ball speeds

Reasons to avoid

-
Not the easiest to flight low into the wind

An upgrade on the impressive G425 fairway wood, the G430 offers new visuals, enhanced feel and several new features that aim to make this a more reliable golf club. The first thing to note is Ping have implemented a stunning carbon matte finish on this club, implementing a new Carbonfly Wrap that is designed to save 10g of weight and lower the club's center of gravity. The new carbon finish also helps to reduce spin and increase ball speeds coming off the face. It gives the club a very premium look and that is combined with the fantastic green and white detailing on the sole of this club which adds to its smart look synonymous with some of the best Ping drivers.

The G430 also comes in a variety of lofts, ranging from a 3-wood all the way to a 9-wood, which means there's a lot of versatility on offer depending on the type of club you're looking to add to your bag. Combine that with Ping's Facewrap Technology, which is designed to provide a stable connection between sole and crown, as well as allow for more consistent ball speeds regardless of strike location, and you have a club which will appeal to a broad range of players.

During testing, thinly-struck shots popped up and flew just shy of a desired ball flight, a great sign that this club offers a lot of forgiveness. And on centered strikes, the G430 packed a lot of power, and we were very impressed with the distances we were getting both on the range and on the course. Ultimately, this is a very impressive club that combines a fantastic aesthetic with even better performance attributes, to produce what is one of the most forgiving fairway woods on the market.

Best high flight

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Fairway Wood Review

(Image credit: Future)

Specifications

Lofts: 15°, 16.5°, 18°, 20°, 21°, 24°, 27°

Reasons to buy

+
Produces a high, powerful ball flight
+
Extremely forgiving
+
Looks superb from every angle

Reasons to avoid

-
The more confident player may prefer a deeper face

After a particularly successful 2023 with the launch of the Paradym range, Callaway has now unveiled the Paradym Ai Smoke fairway woods which feature new and improved aesthetics. Starting with the Max, the standard head, the white and grey crushed carbon sole gives the product its ‘Smoke’ name, which is nicely highlighted in a bolt blue to really capture the attention of your playing partners. When in the sun, both the sole and the carbon crown come to life and look spectacular when this club is at address.

The Ai Smoke Max fairway was unbelievably forgiving when taken out for testing which we would imagine is largely due to the Ai Smart Face implemented within the entire Paradym Ai Smoke family. Data from thousands of golf shots has been taken and entered into Callaway's ‘super computer’ to create a face with multiple sweet spots for incredible consistency of ball flight and spin rates, regardless of strike location. The additional forgiveness within this club made it extremely easy to play out of the first cut of rough with it and still had the ball launching in a good window.

Given the looks and overall performance here, we think it will be hard to beat as an all-rounder this season. We think it should a contender for any golfer looking to upgrade their fairway woods during the course of the year.

Best feel

Cobra Darkspeed X Fairway Wood Review

(Image credit: Future)
A powerful fairway that delivers satisfying strikes off the face

Specifications

Lofts: 15º, 18º, 21º

Reasons to buy

+
Modern, sleek looking head
+
Plenty of launch and spin for those seeking carry
+
Solid levels of forgiveness

Reasons to avoid

-
Matte head can make the club appear a little small

In the latest Darkspeed range of fairway woods from Cobra, the X fairway wood is the 'standard' model out of the three released, and therefore is the model created with the majority of golfers in mind, seeking a neutral ball flight and upon testing it did exactly that.

The matte black head is a thing of beauty although it does make the head look a little more compact than other models out there. The Cobra X fairway wood produced a particularly high ball flight and one that will suit golfers looking to maximize their carry distance and stopping power into greens. The feel off the face was energetic very solid, while producing a fairly loud sound to match.

As such we would recommend the Cobra Darkspeed X to anyone who wants help producing a higher ball flight with plenty of spin from their fairway wood, using it more off the deck than from the tee.

Best adjustability

Titleist TSR3 Fairway Wood held aloft on the golf course

(Image credit: Future)
Fast off the face and greater adjustability settings

Specifications

Lofts: 13.5°, 15°, 16.5°, 18°
Stock shaft: Aldila Ascent Ultralight 35
Left handed options: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Full face grooves enhance alignment
+
Faster off the face than prior version
+
More adjustability to alter shot shape

Reasons to avoid

-
Weight track doesn't sit flush to the sole

Titleist have made significant changes to its TSR3 fairway wood, with the ARC (Active Recoil Channel) being removed for 2022. In its place, Titleist have reconfigured the way the hosel enters the clubhead and made significant weight savings. What's more, the sole plate has also been made thicker, which makes the centre of gravity lower and deeper - a key ingredient for fairway wood performance, especially from the deck.

It boasts a similar aesthetic to some of the best Titleist Drivers in the game right now. There is also the addition of the new SureFit CG weight track system that now has five positions instead of three, providing more adjustability for golfers seeking greater assistance in managing their ball flight and launch characteristics. It's not just the weighting system that has been improved, with the company introducing full face scorelines that undoubtedly make aligning the club face easier and makes it look more inviting to hit behind the ball.

Best simplicity

Srixon ZX Mk II Fairway showing its sole plate

(Image credit: Future)
Fast ball speed and sleek looks combined

Specifications

Lofts: 13.5º, 15º, 18º, 21º
Stock shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX
Left handed options: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Versatile sole sits well at address
+
Generous sized head improves forgiveness

Reasons to avoid

-
Looks of step in crown may not be for all

An excellent fairway wood if you're looking for something that is easy to hit from a variety of lies, the Srixon ZX Mk II is a fantastic club that will appeal to a range of golfers. It is an upgrade on the previous Srixon ZX fairway and boasts a new Cannon Sole that shifts the weight more towards the front of the club to improve the center of gravity and the forgiveness on offer. Combine this in your bag with a set of the excellent Srixon ZX7 Mk II or ZX5 Mk II irons (or even a selection of both... if you're feelling adventurous) and you'll have a pretty excellent, easy to use suite of clubs. 

Let's focus a little more on the aesthetics on offer here, and during testing we were pretty excited to see how big the clubhead came up behind the golf ball. Its matte black finish is a nice touch, that is combined with some cool white detailing that shows off the curves of the club very subtly. That combined made it feel like this club inspired a lot of confidence when you're stood behind the ball. This certainly appeals to those looking for more forgiveness in their fairway wood game, but there's more! The Mk II comes with several contours on its sole plate, which have been redesigned to center the weight and work with the club's higher trailing edge to create a squarer face angle at impact. That helps to generate straighter ball flights and get the ball up from difficult lies on the course. 

On testing, we really enjoyed the forgiveness and speed the face offered. That is down to a Rebound Frame and Dual Flex Zones that are found on the face of the clubm, which help to promote faster ball speeds off the face of the club. We loved the yardages and stability the club offered on the course. In our view, we think inconsistent golfers will really benefit from the consistency this club offers, delivering great accuracy to attack greens on longer par fours and par fives. 

Best value

Wilson Dynapwr Fairway held aloft on the golf course

(Image credit: Future)
A high-launching fairway wood, great for mid-handicappers

Specifications

Lofts: 15º, 18º, 21º
Stock shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX
Left handed options: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Produces exceptional launch
+
Performed well from a variety of lies
+
Clean classic looks

Reasons to avoid

-
Lacks adjustability through a bonded head

One of the excellent new additions to the brilliant Wilson Dynapwr range of golf clubs, this fairway wood is a standout when it comes to style, feel and performance around the course. Supplementing the visually stunning Wilson Dynapwr drivers, the Dynapwr fairway woods continue the excellent visuals in Wilson Staff's latest range of clubs, boasting a stunning matte clubhead that features pops of red detailing on its sole plate and heel. Interestingly those aesthetics were customised after the brand consulted contracted tour players to get a better idea of what kind of design and shape would suit all types of golfers. 

Wilson have thus refined the head on the club to create a generously sized pear-shape design that has a pretty shallow design, that hugs the ground behind the ball. On the back of the sole, you'll notice the brand have added a 12g weight, designed to produce a high MOI and stability in your swing. It also combines to produce a higher launch angle on shots off the deck which also helps players drive the ball into the air. In testing we found the Dynapwr launched high into the air with very little effort. Turf interaction was also good and it performed very nicely out of the first cut, producing a muted 'thud' which will appeal to those who dislike metallic sounds on impact. 

We felt there was a lot of forgiveness on the Dynapwr fairways, thanks a lot to the face of the club which has been crafted using A.I. Technology to create a PKR2 face. In layman's terms, that means the club has varying layers of thickness across its face which results in faster and more consistent speeds on off-center hits.

Best looking

Photo of the mizon ST-G Fairway wood

(Image credit: Future)
New technology with standout shelf appeal

Specifications

Lofts : 13º, 17º, 20º,
Stock shaft: Aldila Ascent Red 50
Left handed option: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Exceptional looks
+
Great feel and sound
+
Powerful flight

Reasons to avoid

-
Deep face and low spin may intimidate some

The Mizuno ST-G has been designed as a low-spinning option for faster-swinging players chasing a more penetrating ball flight. To boost ball speed, Mizuno has implemented their cortech chamber technology into the head, which is essentially an internal stainless steel weight encased in elastomeric TPU. This is designed to take stress away from the clubhead and provide an additional energy source. But how did the club test?

Well starting with the looks, Mizuno has absolutely nailed the aesthetics here. The clean, compact, and beautifully pear-shaped head, really appealed to our eyes. Then from a hitting perspective the ST-G felt very easy to launch both from the fairway and the tee, but the low spin characteristics of the head produced a powerful and neutral ball flight. Additionally the sound is pleasingly muted also, which contributes to the impression of softness.

We found no real bias either way in terms of curvature and felt the head produced reasonable levels of forgiveness given the nature of its design, with mishits suffering more in terms of distance than dispersion for us at least. Overall though it will definitely appeal to the lower handicap player looking for a lower spinning fairway wood.

How we test the best 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, along with North Hants Golf Club in Hampshire. 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 competitor on the EuroPro Tour and Clutch Pro Tours, and he is supported by technical editor Joel Tadman. Both are competitive low handicap golfers, able to efficiently test the biggest product releases and successfully communicate equipment technology and product features to a wide golfing audience.

How to choose a fairway wood

Thinking about upgrading your metal woods? That may be a wise decision, with there being plenty of new and exciting options on the market right now that can offer plenty of forgiveness and distance. Brands are constantly innovating the design and build new golf clubs that promise to help you swing through the golf ball with more power and precision. 

But with there being countless models on the market right now, it can sometimes be very difficult to decide which one is best for your needs as a golfer. So to help, I've set out a few important considerations below that you're going to want to think about when choosing your next metal 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 three different Cobra LTDx fairways with different head sizes, shapes and they are designed for different golfers. If you need as much help as possible, a larger head 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. Our 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.

For more excellent fairway wood options, be sure to check out our guides on the best fairway woods for high handicappers and most forgiving fairway woods.

FAQs

What are fairway woods?

Fairway woods are versatile distance clubs that are designed to be hit from the tee, off the fairway and even from light rough, similar to a mini or small headed driver but with slightly more loft and a shallower face.

Traditionally, the size of a driver head ranges from roughly 440cc to 460cc, whereas a fairway wood often is from 140cc to 180cc. Fairway woods look similar in appearance to drivers but have smaller heads.

Fairway wood faces are much shallower than a driver, which keeps the COG (centre of gravity) lower, helping you to get the ball airborne. Fairway woods are more forgiving than long irons and almost every Tour player puts one or two fairway woods in the bag.

What fairway woods should I carry?

This depends on three factors.

First, what ability level are you? Fairway woods are more forgiving than long irons, so if you are a beginner or a high handicap player we’d recommend putting as many fairway woods in the bag as possible, providing the lofts and gapping are correct. If you are a better player, then which woods you carry will depend on the following two factors.

Loft and gapping is the next point to mention. Fairway woods have to be able to fill the gap in the bag from the driver to your irons. Therefore, knowing how far you hit each club gives you insight into which yardages you need to fill with fairway woods. The best way of doing this is on a launch monitor with an experienced PGA professional or custom-fitter.

The final factor is the type of golf course do you play on? If you play a lot of links golf, then you’ll likely need to hit lower penetrating shots, whereas inland or parkland golf requires you to hit shots that fly higher and land softer on the fairway or green. Fairway woods are definitely more suited to target parkland golf rather than fast-running firm linksland golf.

The same logic applies to playing golf in windy conditions. Fairway woods are usually designed to give higher launch which makes them difficult to control in the wind, especially when compared to long irons or driving and utility irons.

What loft should a fairway wood be?

Manufacturers offer a range of fairway wood head styles and lofts, ranging from super-strong three woods at 13.5° to 7,9 or 11-woods which are designed for golfers who struggle to launch mid and long irons and want more confidence inspiring equipment to hit the ball further.

Each golfer is different, in their physical fitness, ability and approach to the game. A wide range of fairway wood lofts can provide options for senior players, women and juniors who want alternatives to hitting longer irons. Many established Tour winners have carried 7-woods when course conditions required high flying soft-landing ball flights on key par-5 holes and at long par-3’s.

Amazon Promo Codes

<a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/coupons/amazon" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"">Amazon Promo Codes

Get saving on those Amazon orders with these coupon codes to help reduce the price in your basket.


Rock Bottom Golf coupons

<a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/coupons/rock-bottom-golf" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"">Rock Bottom Golf coupons

These Rock Bottom Golf coupons will help you save on golf clubs, bags, balls & apparel.


TGW promo codes

<a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/coupons/the-golf-warehouse" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"">TGW promo codes

These The Golf Warehouse coupon codes will help you save on golf clubs, golf shoes, golf balls and apparel.


Sam De'Ath
Staff Writer

Sam has worked in the golf industry for 12 years, offering advice on equipment to all levels of golfers and as Staff Writer, he tests and reviews equipment throughout the bag. Sam graduated from Webber International University in 2017 with a BSc Marketing Management degree while playing collegiate golf. His experience of playing professionally on both the EuroPro Tour and Clutch Pro Tour, alongside his golf retail history, means Sam has extensive knowledge of golf equipment and what works for different types of golfer.

Sam is a member of North Hants Golf Club in Fleet, Hampshire, where he won the club championship 3 times in succession from 2015-2017. His golfing highlight to date is shooting a round of 10-under 60 at his home club, narrowly missing a wedge shot for a magical 59.


Sam’s current What’s In The Bag?


Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2, 9°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus, 15°

Hybrid: Ping G430 19°

Irons: Titleist T-100 4 iron, Titleist 620MB, 5-PW

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8, 50°, 54°, 62°

Putter: Scotty Cameron Select GoLo

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x 2021 


With contributions from