Best TaylorMade Fairway Woods: Quick Menu
1. The list in brief
2. How we test
3. How to choose
4. FAQs
Given how many top players are signed to TaylorMade, as well as how many non-contracted players use its woods, we feel very confident saying that TaylorMade makes some of the best fairway woods in the game.
Although hitting a fairway wood is arguably one of the toughest shots in golf, it can give the player the most satisfaction when struck correctly. What's more, there are a number of options out there to try, such as the best Callaway fairway woods, or perhaps the best Ping fairway woods.
In this piece though, we're taking a look at the brand TaylorMade, with the company consistently pushing the boundaries of performance year on year, as well as making some of the best fairway woods on the market. Why not check out the best options available below, with factors like cost, performance and looks all taken into consideration.
The Quick List
The TaylorMade Qi10 Tour fairway is one the golfing purists and more confident ball strikers will enjoy. The compact head makes the ball flight easy to manipulate, but doesn’t offer too much by way of forgiveness.
The TaylorMade Qi10 fairway is what can only be described as a superb all-rounder. It combines forgiveness and power to create a multi-use fairway wood that performs well from the tee and the fairway.
A strong contender for most forgiving fairway wood of the year. The TaylorMade Qi10 Max fairway looks superb and boasts a confidence-inspiring head that produces outstanding performance from various lies.
The TaylorMade Stealth 2 fairway wood is a power packed, work of art. Its slick looks, outstanding performance and multiple loft options make this option near-perfect.
The Stealth 2 HD fairway wood is one of the most forgiving fairway woods we have tested, producing consistently fast ball speeds and a high draw that will benefit slicers.
The TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus fairway wood will suit high swing speed players who struggle to get standard fairways to launch correctly. It's also full of customization options.
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When introduced to the public, we found that this fairway wood was the longest and straightest on test, with its sharp looks, incredible feel and sound very impressive.
Another performance packed fairway wood from TaylorMade with a fast face, high launch and stand out looks. A fitting is essential to dial in its exciting potential.
Super-sized, sophisticated in design and outstanding in performance. Put simply these are really easy woods to use. It's hard not to love the new Kalea Premier fairway wood.
Best TaylorMade Fairway Woods
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TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Fairway
There are three fairway woods in the Qi10 family, but what separates the TaylorMade Qi10 Tour fairway from the other two models in the range is that the Tour has a far more compact-looking head with various customizations and adjustability features to give the more confident golfer the utmost in control and workability of their golf ball.
The Tour replaces the Stealth 2 Plus, which is a little confusing as usually the names remain the same, such as Max or Max D etc. 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 an excellent job of altering the flight and trajectory.
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. It isn't a fairway wood for high handicap golfers and it is not the most forgiving fairway wood either, but if you're a good ball striker then this is the one for you.
- Read our full TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Fairway Wood Review
TaylorMade Qi10 Fairway
We were big fans of the Stealth 2 fairway wood range and, in the Qi10, some of the trusted technology has stayed put. For example, TaylorMade has persisted with the Thru-Slot Speed-Pocket to create fast ball speeds and a powerful thud through impact, with the V-Steel sole technology continuing to offer golfers a smooth feeling through impact and the best turf interaction possible.
The TaylorMade Qi10 fairway wood replaces the standard Stealth 2 model. It has been designed with both power and forgiveness in mind, but it's the aesthetics where we see the biggest changes compared to its predecessor. Whereas the Stealth 2 was not too dissimilar to the original Stealth, the Qi10 represents a big shift away from that design and colorway. We think TaylorMade have played a blinder here as it's a fine looking bit of kit.
Overall, the performance of the TaylorMade Qi10 fairway wood was solid and produced an impressive, powerful feeling through impact. In our testing, the distance was respectable, but there weren’t massive gains to be had over the previous years model.
- Read our full TaylorMade Qi10 Fairway Wood Review
TaylorMade Qi10 Max Fairway
If you’re looking for one of the easiest-to-hit fairway woods in 2024, then look no further. This is our favorite in the Qi10 fairway family. Boasting a large 200cc footprint, the TaylorMade Qi10 Max fairway wood will have you brimming with confidence when stood over the ball. It's exceptionally easy to launch and optimize your carry distance and should appeal to a broad range of golfers.
In our testing, we found that the spin was plentiful and we would say the Max best suits golfers who have a moderate swing speed and want to get the ball airborne, although both faster and slower swingers would also see good results.
The stated loft of this fairway wood is actually 16°, which is one degree higher than most traditional fairway woods. That gives it a naturally higher launch, so for those with a slow swing speed or who typically have a downwards attack angle with their fairway woods, the Qi10 Max is certainly worth considering if you’re looking to up your fairway wood game this year.
- Read our full TaylorMade Qi10 Max Fairway Wood Review
TaylorMade Stealth 2 Fairway
The Stealth 2 Fairway Wood boasts several improvements on the original Stealth Fairways which were released in 2022. The classic red and black colorway seen throughout the Stealth range remains, albeit with a slight facelift. It comes with a clean carbon gloss crown that has tons of shelf appeal.
When we tested this club on the golf course, we were very impressed. It is a very consistent club that caters to less experienced players, thanks mostly to how the weight is distributed lower in the club head. TaylorMade have lowered the center of gravity of the club to improve the forgiveness while also helping players launch the ball higher into the air. We found it was very easy to get the ball into the air and we regularly saw some very satisfying, and high, ball flights.
What was even more pleasing was how hot it felt off the face, compared to other options on the market like the Callaway Paradym. The speed here was excellent and will certainly assist players who are looking for a little more punch to get the ball down the fairway. We loved the versatility too and were able to play a number of different shots with excellent results. TaylorMade's new V-shaped sole allowed the Stealth 2 to cut through thick rough, glide over wet grass, and ultimately, deliver a really satisfying interaction with the turf. All things considered, this is one of the best fairway woods for mid handicappers.
- Read our full TaylorMade Stealth 2 Fairway Wood Review
TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD Fairway
The draw biased Stealth 2 HD is the most forgiving fairway wood of the three Stealth 2 models and offers the larger footprint. The satin black top line in front of the gloss crown provides a subtle alignment aid along with the ‘T Bug’ TaylorMade alignment stamp and white strip first seen on the top of the face of the original Stealth models.
Confidence-inspiring at address, the HD provides superb turf interaction and performs exceptionally well out of lies from the fairway, the rough and even off the tee. Due to these characteristics, we found that the ball flew high and jumped out of some nasty lies very well on the golf course, making it extremely versatile. This club will appeal to the higher handicapper and to golfers who struggle with a slice.
- Read our full TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD Fairway Review
TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus Fairway
The TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus fairway has undergone the most radical change of the range from its predecessor, the TaylorMade Plus Stealth fairway, with the club still aimed at the high swing speed player. Now though, it also offers a wide choice of adjustability options.
Its most notable feature is the sliding 50g steel weight in the middle of the sole. By loosening the screw, you can either move it to the back and create a higher launch or, if you slide it forward into what TaylorMade describe as the ‘garage’, then you will reduce the spin by around 200rpm and create a club that plays similarly to the Rocket 3 version of the previous Stealth Plus.
Overall, it is a fantastic performing fairway wood for the more accomplished golfer that will certainly give you a number of benefits out on the golf course. It is worth noting though that the Plus version of the Stealth 2 fairway has a smaller 170cc head than the standard model and is really aimed at high swing speed and high spin players who want a more penetrating fairway. It is not for beginners, seniors or golfers who have slow swing speeds.
- Read our full TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus Fairway Review
TaylorMade Stealth Fairway
In 2022, TaylorMade introduced the eye-catching Stealth and Stealth Plus, with the 190cc Stealth Head featuring in five options from 3-wood through to 9-wood. Ranked as one of the best fairway woods on the market that year, the first thing we noticed at address was the premium looks, with the red and black head featuring a Fujikura Ventus shaft which leads to a striking carbon coated head.
Along with the looks, there was the inclusion of the trusted TaylorMade tech, which included the V Steel sole, Twist Face and Speed Pocket, with the striking 3D carbon coated head featuring a new laser-etched alignment aid on the clubface which makes this club very easy to line up.
The Stealth model was a huge hit in testing, even outperforming the Stealth Plus, hence why it is included in our 2022 Editor's Choice Awards. It was forgiving on mishits and had the tightest dispersion of all the 2022 fairway releases, meaning it will still hold its own now against newer models, while coming in at a vastly reduced price. If you don't want to break the bank on newer clubs, this is a fantastic option for golfers in the mid-high handicap range and even those of a higher level of ability.
- Read our full TaylorMade Stealth Fairway Review
TaylorMade Stealth Plus Fairway
Another performance packed fairway wood from TaylorMade with a fast face, high launch and stand out looks. The Stealth Plus model encourages a higher launch thanks to carbon in the crown. This helps free up weight to be moved lower in the clubhead, thus reducing drag and creating the desired higher launch.
The clubface is made from ultra-thin Zatech titanium which promotes faster ball speed and pushes the limits of face flexibility.
Available in three different lofts, as well as an extensive range of shaft options, in our testing the Stealth Plus was producing more launch and spin at impact than the other models in the range.
Stealth drivers and fairways came in at a higher price than most of the competition when they hit the shelves in 2022, but the cost has come down considerably now that newer models have replaced it, meaning there are bargains to be had. If you are using a fairway wood that pre-dates 2022 this will almost certainly be a longer and straighter fairway option than what currently resides in your bag.
- Read our full TaylorMade Stealth Plus Review
TaylorMade Kalea Premier Women's Fairway Wood
Featuring in three loft choices (3, 5 & 7 woods), the emphasis in the design of the Kalea Premier has been placed on distance without compromising forgiveness. It does this by a weight-saving carbon crown, which combines with a flexible Speed Pocket behind the face to make them lighter, faster and longer.
At address, it is confidence inspiring, with TaylorMade boosting the clubhead size by a significant 37% on the original Kalea. What's more, the woods have a shimmering blue finish with a subtle 't-shape' pattern like a honeycomb. It's eye-catching rather than distracting in bright sunlight and I liked the bold, white edging as it frames the ball nicely.
- Read our full TaylorMade Kalea Premier Women's 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.
Lastly, it's worth noting that no manufacturer can buy a good review and our experts tell it how it is.
How to choose a fairway wood
Modern-day fairway woods are jam-packed full of technology that can help players perform better on the course. Yet, that can sometimes mean there is a lot to choose from when purchasing your next club. The range on offer can sometimes be a bit overwhelming and can cause golfers headaches when picking out the right fairway club for them. To help you in your buying decision, we've set out a list of key points below that you should definitely consider when purchasing 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 three different Stealth 2 fairways with different head sizes, shapes and they are designed for different golfers. If you need as much help as possible, the Stealth 2 HD 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.
6. Budget
Be aware of your budget when narrowing down your search for a fairway. You can go for more premium models, such as the TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus or Callaway Paradym 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.
For more great fairway wood offerings, check out our guides to the best callaway fairway woods, best Ping fairway woods, and best women's fairway woods.
FAQs
What degree fairway wood should I get?
When it comes to which degree fairway wood you should get there are a number of factors that need considering. Firstly, what distance are you looking to cover with it? You don't want your 3-wood going further than your driver, but you also don't want to leave a large distance gap between your driver and irons.
Personally, we would recommend a fitting at your local pro shop to really explore what yardage area you are wanting to cover. Once you determine that aspect then it all comes down to hitting a few fairway woods that are of different lofts.
On average, your driver should be around 20-30 yards further than your 3-wood so, with that in mind, you will need to find out how long the driver goes first before experimenting with different degrees of fairway woods.
When should I use my fairway woods?
You can, generally speaking, use your fairway woods anywhere around the course. Ideally, they are designed to be used off the fairway (hence the name) but can also be used off the tee and from the rough. Although a hybrid would be a better option if you're hitting from the second or third cut.
What are 3 and 5 fairway woods equivalent to?
A three wood, generally speaking, provides a more forgiving alternative to a 1 iron that can pack a little more distance. A 5 wood, meanwhile, normally sits at around 20º and 22º in loft which means it replaces either a 1 or 2 iron in your bag.
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