This fairway wood forms part of the new range of XXIO 14 women’s clubs from the Japanese brand that follow the theme ‘Crafted for Effortless Play,’ Fairway woods are not always a female golfer’s favourite club, so I was looking forward to finding out if I could validate the claims by sweeping the ball off the fairway with minimal effort.

This fairway wood comes in five options, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9. In the US, XXIO has collaborated with luxury brand Vessel and you can purchase a XXIO 14 package set that includes a 5 and 7-wood and it comes with a beautiful white golf bag. There’s also a putter option to accompany the set, so women have every club they need straight away.

First impression of the 20 degree 5-wood, I like the blue aesthetic, which is not too dissimilar to its predecessor, XXIO 13, but a slightly lighter blue. The clubhead is complemented by a silvery colored shaft that has an abstract flowery pattern, which adds a feminine touch.

Like the XXIO 14 driver and XXIO 14 irons, the fairway woods incorporate the same ULTIFLEX technology. This brand new titanium alloy is stronger and thinner and this is the key ingredient that helps to maximise ball speed with minimal effort for women with a slower swing speed.

I’m not a regular 5-wood user, probably as a result of the gap between my ears, a few bad shots and it’s stayed in the bag. I prefer using a 3-wood when the lie allows, however, when I addressed the ball, it did instill confidence, as I felt comfortable with the slightly tacky-feeling grip and I like the look of the compact head shape. I’m also a fan of an alignment aid and I wasn’t disappointed, as there’s a small accent on top of the crown.

This club is very lightweight so I was able to make a smooth takeaway, and I was really impressed how responsive and stable it felt through my swing for a solid impact. I congratulate XXIO’s ActivWing technology that has refined steps on the crown and a new, larger step on the sole. It’s these that harness aerodynamic forces that stabilise the clubhead during the downswing for consistent results. I definitely found the sweet spot more often than not!

I can honestly say that it was effortless to get the ball airborne using this club, which can often be a struggle for some female golfers when using a fairway wood. The secret of XXIO 14 is the hollowed out design of the Cannon Sole with its floating weight pad, as this provides more face flex and a lower centre of gravity for a higher launch. I should also add that even in wet conditions and from light rough - the lies that you question whether you should use a fairway wood - I was pleasantly surprised by the launch, carry and distance.

I found renewed confidence with this 5-wood in my hands, so I would definitely add it to my list as one of the best women's fairway woods. It’s difficult to fault as it provides everything you need in a club to effortlessly get the ball up and away for long fairway shots.

Known for lightweight clubs that boost distance for moderate swing speeds, Japanese brand XXIO has introduced the new XXIO 14 range of clubs. Woods and irons are built with revolutionary materials and follow the theme ‘Crafted for Effortless Play,’ aiming to help women gain speed, accuracy, and enjoyment.

For US buyers, a premium package set is available through a collaboration with Vessel, featuring a standout white golf bag and the option to add a putter, providing a complete, ready-to-play set.

I tested XXIO 14's predecessor, the XXIO 13 iron and there are subtle differences. The latest model incorporates the same ULTIFLEX technology found in the XXIO 14 driver and fairway woods, which is a world first titanium alloy that is stronger and thinner for maximising ball speed with minimal effort. These irons also feature a thinner, lower face, which helps to get the ball airborne.

XXIO’s Rebound Frame technology isn’t new. It creates a face that acts like a spring within a spring to help deliver increased ball speed and distance. But this rebound frame now has an L-Groove that’s positioned lower than the previous model for greater flexibility.

I like the new modern, streamlined look of the cavity back with a splash of light blue, and unlike some irons, they don’t look too chunky at address. Some women might prefer a more subdued shaft colorway, but the silvery color with a delicate flowery pattern suited me, it’s not off-putting.

They’ve got a very nice feel, and with high expectations, I was not disappointed. It was easy to lift the ball with a high trajectory and power with notable distance. I felt well balanced through my swing and the flight was consistent, so they definitely provided me with confidence, as my iron play is not the strongest part of my game.

The acoustics have been tuned for the graceful tempo of women’s swing speeds and I have to say, that’s one of the big differences I noticed with the new XXIO 14. When you hit an iron, especially when you really nail the sweet spot, the sound is amazing. This includes the short irons as well. I felt particularly relaxed around the green with the pitching wedge in my hand and made consistently good and positive contact.

These are some of the best golf irons for women, as they deliver effortless power, forgiveness and a sound that makes you feel great!

XXIO is the Japanese brand renowned for crafting lightweight golf clubs specifically for moderate swing speeds, designed to boost distance. Their newly launched XXIO 14 range of woods and irons are engineered under the theme ‘Crafted for Effortless Play’ and use revolutionary materials that, the company says, make it easier than ever for women to swing faster, hit straighter, and enjoy the game more.

In the US, XXIO has collaborated with luxury brand Vessel and you can purchase a XXIO 14 package set that comes with a beautiful white golf bag. There’s also a putter option to accompany the set, so women have every club they need to hit the golf course straight away.

As I was impressed with the previous generation, XXIO 13 driver, I was keen to see how XXIO 14 performs against its predecessor and if this new model still contends as one of the best golf drivers for women.

First off, let’s talk about aesthetics. I’m biased as my favorite color is blue, so I’m pleased that XXIO has stuck with this colorway. However, compared with the XXIO 13 driver, which has a deep blue crown, I would describe XXIO 14 as an attractive light blue, in fact a little purplish, and complemented with a silvery color shaft that has a flowery pattern at the top half.

In fairness, the differences between XXIO 13 and XXIO 14 are very subtle, but they are there if you look closely. The clubhead is more rounded, slightly less bulbous, and the shape does instil confidence when you address the ball. It has a small alignment aid on top of the crown, and if I’m being really picky, it isn't always easy to see, especially in bright sunlight.

There’s a couple of ridges on top of the crown, which are more obvious on this model than XXIO 13, and reminds me of the Ping’s G Le3 driver, designed in this way to improve the way air flows around the clubhead to help deliver faster ball speeds.

One of XXIO’s biggest advancements in technology for this new range is ULTIFLEX, which is powered by a VR-Titanium. This is a world first, a titanium alloy that is stronger and thinner for maximising ball speed with minimal effort.

I must admit, I often try to hit the ball harder when I want to gain more distance, and it usually goes wrong! I found that I didn’t have to think too much about how hard I was swinging the club, I kept my natural rhythm.

I wouldn’t say that I noticed massive distance gains, but compared with XXIO 13, my overall carry and distance was more consistent with minimal effort. It’s worth mentioning that the XXIO 14 driver I tested has a 12.5 degree loft, although 10.5, 11.5 and 13.5 is available. I’m used to a lower loft (11.5), so I was genuinely surprised how well I hit this drive with a pleasing ball flight.

This latest model is weighted perfectly. It’s light, but compared with XXIO 13, somehow it feels more substantial, not quite as whippy. This is probably due to XXIO’s signature ActivWing technology, which helps to guide the clubface in the optimal strike position at impact.

It has been refined for XXIO 14 and works in harmony with Ultiflex, so all-in-all, from being able to maintain a smooth takeaway, through to impact, I felt completely in control of my drives.

It’s also one of the most forgiving drivers, as even mishits weren’t disastrous, thanks to the draw-bias design that helps to keep the ball flying on its intended line.

On the bottom of the sole, it says, “Experience the Difference”, and XXIO’s theme for ‘Crafted for Effortless Play’ stands true. This is a luxurious driver, but for moderate-speed female golfers, to enjoy an easy swing with pleasing results is priceless.

Golfers with typically slower swing speeds, be it senior players or women golfers, often struggle to get the appropriate launch and power from traditional golf clubs. This is where specialist brand XXIO comes in - it has been building clubs especially for force-limited golfers for a number of years now and the XXIO 14 family is the latest iteration of lightweight clubs that should maximise distance through the bag.

Designed with cutting-edge materials and incorporating never-seen-before innovations, XXIO 14 combines ultralightweight engineering with elegant precision to unlock effortless power and a confident, consistent ball-striking experience.

“XXIO 14 represents a true shift of where we are taking this brand,” says Chuck Thiry, XXIO Vice President. “We’ve moved beyond incremental improvements to deliver something completely new, making it easier than ever for women and seniors to swing faster, hit straighter, and enjoy the game even more.”

Headlining the range is the XXIO 14 driver, which features a newly-developed titanium alloy called VR-Titanium, which is stronger, thinner, and increases durability. XXIO 14 is the first product globally to use this material, resulting in maximizing ball speeds with minimal effort. Additionally, the driver along with every club in the XXIO 14 set is precision-weighted for seamless tempo and smooth energy transfer to the golf ball.

XXIO’s signature ActivWing technology has been refined for XXIO 14, thoughtfully positioned to guide the clubhead through the downswing in a more connected fashion. To help with off-center strikes, a new High-Grip Milled Pattern on the heel and toe helps keep distance and direction on track.

For the first time, XXIO brings adjustability to its men’s driver via the quick-tune hosel that preserves the ultralight feel while giving golfers control over loft by ±1.5 degrees.

The same Ultiflex technology found in the metalwoods features in the irons, working together with a new titanium face to create a lively, responsive feel at impact. By saving weight in the face and repositioning it lower, XXIO engineers made an iron that naturally wants to launch the ball higher, without asking golfers to swing harder.

Subtle changes throughout the head, including a thinner neck and high-density tungsten in the sole, help center the club’s energy for greater distance. A newly designed L-Groove sits lower in the face, unlocking even more flexibility. Combined with XXIO’s Rebound Frame effect, it delivers greater ball speed across the hitting area.

The XXIO 14 Ladies line carries all the same innovations as the men’s model but in a way that meets the needs and feel of women’s swings. For the long game, a welcoming, rounded head shape inspires confidence at address, while a draw-bias design helps counter common misses and keeps the ball flying on its intended line.

Read our full XXIO 14 Ladies driver review

Additionally, from the long game to the scoring clubs, every detail is considered. Woods are optimized for smoother, slower swings, while the irons feature a thinner, lower face to help the ball launch higher. Even the acoustics have been tuned to women’s swing speeds, creating a higher, longer pitch at impact that reflects the lightweight performance and graceful tempo of the XXIO 14 Ladies experience.

Read our full XXIO 14 Ladies irons review

Complementing the standard XXIO 14 line, XXIO 14+ is designed for golfers with swing speeds around 90-100 mph and is available exclusively through select fitters and dealers. Like the core XXIO 14 model, XXIO 14+ features the same technologies, but with a more traditional look and feel.

The woods feature a matte finish with darker faces for a premium aesthetic, while the Irons offer classic shaping with a V-Sole design and reduced offset for added workability. Offered only through custom fitting, XXIO 14+ ensures golfers get equipment tailored to their game.

Pricing & Availability

The XXIO 14 ranges are available now with the following RRPs:

Driver: $799.99/£749
Fairway: $449.99/£499
Hybrid: $349.99/£349
Single Irons: $239.99/£240 (graphite), £220 (steel)
5-Piece Set: $1,199.99/£1,199 (graphite), £999 steel, 7PC: $1,679.99 (graphite, mens only)