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Why We Like It
Spring-like faces matter only if they produce fast ball speeds. That’s why these fairway woods use stiff and flexing regions immediately around the face to create better energy transfer for more distance. They also have a thin, high-strength steel alloy in the face to create more rebound at impact. The final ingredient lies inside the clubhead: A low and forward weight pad lowers the center of gravity to reduce spin.
Characteristics
- Alternating stiff and flexible regions around the face create more ball speed for center and off-center hits.
- An angled interior weight pad lowers the center of gravity for more direct energy transfer and better launch.
- The lightweight carbon-composite crown on the lower lofts pushes the CG lower and frees up more perimeter weighting.
- 13.5, 15, 18, 21 degrees (with a fixed hosel)
Highlights
- Top 10 best-rated fairway woods, low-handicaps
- Top 5 best-rated fairway woods, middle-handicaps
Price
$280
HOT LIST PLAYERS FEEDBACK
Ratings are based on players’ assessments in three key performance areas.
Reviews
1 / 3
Effortless power with a rising trajectory and high apex with no loss of distance. This 5-wood is as long as some 3-woods. Loud metal crack at impact. Little ridge on the sole really helps move it through the turf.
Gary, 36, Handicap: 132 / 3
Comforting. Not distracting to the eye at all. The sound at impact is springy, which matches the feel. It wasn't a club I had to wrestle with. Lots of punch in this thing, like you can really give it a ride.
Ryan, 48, Handicap: 103 / 3
Has a beautiful compact head and matte finish. My mis-hits aren't penalized too much, and center face hits are rewarded with a burst of speed. The perfect weight for someone who wants to swing a little bit harder.
Jamie, 50, Handicap: 5Swing Your Fairway Wood with Confidence
One of the more difficult shots amateurs face is the long approach that requires a fairway wood. Most players aren’t confident hitting a 3-wood off the ground, and they don’t practice the shot enough to build confidence. In this video, Jason Birnbaum shares his best confidence-building techniques and tips on how to make a solid contact with these long clubs.
Featured In
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1 / 23
Callaway
Paradym Ai Smoke Max
$350
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$350
The shallow face makes it easier for a broad group of players to launch shots.
A carbon-composite crown and sole save weight that is moved forward for low spin and rearward for forgiveness.
The variable-thickness face was designed with AI to optimize performance for players with a low-heel to high-toe impact pattern.
15, 16.5, 18, 20, 21, 24, 27 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
2 / 23
Callaway
Paradym Ai Smoke Max D
$350
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Golf Galaxy
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Hot List Gold
$350
The shallow face is designed with input from AI to improve ball speed and dispersion on mis-hits low on the face.
Favors players who swing out to in and add loft at impact.
Saved weight from carbon-composite crown and sole feeds back weight to increase launch.
15, 16.5, 18, 21 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
3 / 23
Callaway
Paradym Ai Smoke Max Fast
$350
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Golf Galaxy
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GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$350
The lightweight spec, including head, shaft and grip, provides more control and speed potential for moderate swing speeds.
The Max D is designed to minimize a slice through internal weighting and a more upright lie angle.
Lofts are a degree higher than standard to produce a higher launch.
16, 19, 22, 25 degrees (fixed hosel)
4 / 23
Callaway
Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond
$350
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Golf Galaxy
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GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$350
The compact head with a slightly taller face is designed for players who make consistent center contact.
The carbon-composite crown saves weight on top, and a steel plate on the sole lowers the center of gravity for a more controllable launch.
Angled sole plate features heel and toe relief for more versatility from a variety of lies.
15, 18, 21 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
5 / 23
Cobra
Darkspeed LS
$430
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$430
A multimaterial construction pairs a titanium body and face with a lightweight carbon-composite crown and heavy tungsten sole weights.
An internal bridge-like bar close to the face and just above the sole lowers the CG for distance-enhancing lower spin and higher launch.
Three interchangeable sole weights help to lower spin or tweak fades and slices.
13, 14.5, 17.5 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
6 / 23
Cobra
Darkspeed Max
$330
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Golf Galaxy
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$330
7 / 23
Cobra
Darkspeed X
$330
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GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$330
8 / 23
Mizuno
ST-G Titanium
$400
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$400
A special beta rich titanium face surrounded by a lightweight all-titanium body provides extra ball speed.
The compact head should attract better players with faster swings looking to control spin.
Nearly 90 grams of stainless steel sits near the sole to lower the center of gravity for a higher launch with less spin than other Mizuno fairway woods.
15, 18 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
9 / 23
Ping
G430 LST
$550
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$550
Titanium body and beta-rich titanium face save weight and boost ball speed.
A carbon-composite section in the crown wraps around the heel and toe to save weight.
A heavy tungsten sole plate pushes the center of gravity low to reduce spin.
15 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
10 / 23
Ping
G430 Max
$350
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$350
The high-strength steel face wraps into the crown and sole for better ball speed across the face.
A backweight provides stability on off-center hits.
The carbon-composite crown helps to produce a neutral ball flight with less spin compared to the SFT model.
15, 18, 21, 24 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
11 / 23
Ping
G430 SFT
$350
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$350
Designed to fight a slice with heel-side weighting, more upright lie angle and lighter total weight.
Should launch the ball higher and with more spin than the G430 Max thanks to 1-degree higher lofts.
Lower half of the face has less “roll” so that shots launch with less spin and more ball speed.
16, 19, 22 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
12 / 23
PXG
0311 Black Ops
$350
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$350
A new steel alloy in the face is 12.5 percent thinner for faster, higher launch with less spin.
The carbon-composite crown is one-fourth the density of titanium but just as strong, lowering the center of gravity and creating more flex in the face.
Three movable weights in the sole can provide more forgiveness and a higher flight or more slice or fade correction.
15, 17, 18, 21 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
13 / 23
TaylorMade
Qi10
$350
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$350
Designed for more forgiveness and better launch on low-face impacts.
The sole slot and a lower variable-thickness-face pattern enhance face flexibility.
The taller face and longer front-to-back measurement improve ball speed and mis-hit stability.
15, 16.5, 18, 21, 24 degrees (with fixed hosel)
14 / 23
TaylorMade
Qi10 Max
$350
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$350
Larger overall volume provides more stability on off-center hits.
A shallow face provides confidence for average golfers to get the ball in the air.
The sole slot and lower variable-thickness-face pattern increases the way the face flexes on low strikes.
16, 19, 22 degrees (with fixed hosel)
15 / 23
TaylorMade
Qi10 Tour
$450
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$450
A broad, weight-saving carbon-composite crown stretches to the top edge of the face.
Accommodates multiple launch and spin profiles through a 50-gram weight in the sole that slides in a track from front to back.
This year’s track sits lower for less spin in all settings.
15, 18 degrees (with a 12-way adjustable hosel)
16 / 23
Titleist
TSR1
$350
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$350
Though 30 grams heavier than last year, this model is still the lightest Titleist fairway wood (20 grams less than the TSR2 and TSR3).
A deep, centered weight increases stability on off-center hits and elevates launch.
Designed for naturally higher flight with mid spin.
15, 18, 20, 23 degrees (with a 16-way adjustable hosel)
17 / 23
Titleist
TSR2
$350
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$350
This model targets players with average swing speeds or faster who are looking for off-center-hit forgiveness and easier launch.
Expect this model to launch with less backspin (and more potential distance) than its predecessor, the TSi2.
A high-strength steel alloy in the face provides the potential for more distance.
15, 16.5, 18, 21 degrees (with a 16-way adjustable hosel)
18 / 23
Titleist
TSR2+
$350
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$350
The larger size and taller face make it a good driver alternative on shorter holes.
It features the deepest CG of any Titleist fairway wood for extra stability on off-center hits.
Its strong loft provides more ball speed potential than standard 3-wood lofts.
13 degrees (with a 16-way adjustable hosel)
19 / 23
Titleist
TSR3
$350
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$350
An adjustable sole weight pad lets players toggle among five settings that range from fade to neutral to draw.
More settings means more precision, but the weighting is also deeper for extra stability.
Expect slightly less spin and a flatter launch angle than with the TSR2.
13.5, 15, 16.5, 18 degrees (with a 16-way adjustable hosel)
20 / 23
Adams
Idea
$200
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$200
These shallow-faced designs feature a slot in the sole to improve the way the face flexes for more ball speed.
Weight saved from a carbon-composite crown lowers the center of gravity to optimize launch and spin.
A heel-side weight screw in the sole provides additional draw bias.
15, 18, 21 degrees (with a fixed hosel)
21 / 23
Callaway
Apex UW
$300
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$300
Compact head, angled sole design and shorter shaft lengths provide versatility for shotmaking.
High-strength steel cupface gets enhanced flexibility through an internal structure that stabilizes the frame.
A neutral center of gravity produces shots with steeper landing angle, consistent spin and less of a draw bias.
17, 19, 21 degrees (with a fixed hosel)
22 / 23
Tour Edge
Exotics C723
$330
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$330
The fast-flexing and light titanium face has rows of diamond-shaped indentations to create more flex zones at impact.
The lightweight carbon-composite crown and 75-gram steel sole plate improves energy transfer and reduces spin.
Front and rear weight ports in the sole allow for the heavier weight to reduce spin (forward) or boost forgiveness (rear).
13, 15, 18 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
23 / 23
Wilson
Dynapower
$250
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$250
The high-strength steel alloy in the face uses a variable-thickness design developed through artificial intelligence.
A centered 12-gram weight in the rear perimeter improves stability on off-center hits and boosts launch.
Tends to launch higher with slightly above-average spin.
15, 18, 21 degrees (with a fixed hosel)