WHAT IT DOES: Not all fairway-wood lofts are used in the same way. Specifically, for a lot of players, the 3-wood essentially serves as a second driver instead of a club used for approach shots. That’s why the 3-wood here is treated more like a driver. It features a larger size and an all-titanium construction. (The 5-wood and 7-wood, however, use steel for a more compact footprint.) The 3-wood incorporates the same high-strength beta-titanium alloy that gives the Mizuno drivers extra pop. A wave structure at the front of the sole on all lofts helps increase ball speed as well.

WHY WE LIKE IT: You don’t have to be a tour player to need a backup driver in your bag, but the clubs that often fill that role in the market aren’t always designed with forgiveness in mind. This more forgiving 3-wood also features a slightly heelward center of gravity. That makes it easier to square the face at impact and provides a little more draw spin for those who fight a slice. Also, whether titanium or steel, both feature a waffle pattern on the interior of the crown. This makes it thinner and lighter to allow more mass to be shifted low for reduced spin and higher launch.