Callaway Quantum Max Fairway Wood Review: The Perfect Blend Of Speed And Forgiveness

Callaway has long been a dominant force in the fairway wood market, consistently delivering clubs that balance speed with playability. There are three models in the Quantum fairway wood lineup, and while the Triple Diamond model will inevitably draw the attention of the better players, I was eager to see if the Quantum Max could deliver solid distance while remaining user-friendly for those wanting a little margin for error on strike.

Down behind the ball, the Quantum Max boasts a shallow-looking face that I really like and is something I think will particularly appeal to those who regularly hit their 3-wood from the deck. The sole sits flush to the turf like some of the most forgiving fairway woods and genuinely makes you feel like you can pinch the ball from the turf with ease.

However, while I like the overall head shape, it’s not a complete home run in the aesthetics department for me. I found myself wishing they had kept the same score lines across the face and clean crown look that the Triple Diamond model offers.

The Max features a slightly busier face design and a Callaway chevron on the crown. I can see how these cues help with alignment and promote center contact, however, I prefer the cleaner, more classic look.

I conducted my testing inside the Golf Monthly Performance Lab using a Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor, and the numbers really highlight the efficiency of the Quantum Max fairway wood. With a club speed of 109.1 mph, I was able to generate a ball speed of 156.6 mph, resulting in a very healthy carry distance of 257 yards.

While the low-spin Triple Diamond model did edge it out slightly with a 259-yard carry, the difference is pretty much negligible considering the extra forgiveness on offer here. The Max sat perfectly in the middle of the family when it came to speed (155.4 mph), but what really impressed me was the consistency in trajectory it produced. The Quantum Max launched at 12.1° with a spin rate of 3198 rpm, which is exactly where I like to see those numbers when it comes to a 3-wood.

It produced a peak height of 124 feet, which is extremely high and therefore I had no trouble when it came to testing outside and trying to hold the green when hitting into the par 5s in two.

The Quantum Max features the new Speed Wave 2.0 (a weighting system behind the face) that is also used in the other models in the range. Callaway has positioned a significant amount of tungsten low and forward in the head, which is designed to optimise launch while maintaining ball speed on low-face strikes, and that was noticeable, more so when hitting from the fairway than a tee.

The Step Sole Design also played a huge role in turf interaction, allowing the head to glide in and out of the turf quickly, helping the ball speed remain as high as possible. I found this to help when I tested this club out of the rough as well, cutting through the first cut and making it really easy to advance the ball down the hole.

The Callaway Quantum Max is a fairway wood that I think will appeal to the masses due to the fact that it offers a little bit of everything. If you can look past the slightly busier crown design and appreciate the shallow face for the forgiveness it offers, this should be a serious contender for your bag in 2026.