Best Fairway Woods for Beginners

Fairway woods can be difficult to hit, especially from the rough and fairways. Beginning golfers and high handicappers can use them to their advantages however by using them off the tee to keep their shots in play. Higher lofts than driver mean you may be able to keep your fairway wood shots straighter for longer. Beginners and high handicappers fairways are often more forgiving and offer more distance. This list is built top-to-bottom with some of the easiest-to-hit top fairway woods on the market.

We golf course tested and fully reviewed all of the best fairway woods in these guides, and wrote them just for you. Please take a look and let us know what you think!

9.6
Tour Edge Exotics C721 Fairway Wood

Tour Edge Exotics C721 Fairway Wood

Dual Carbon wings help optimize CG for an extremely high M.O.I. that increases stability on impact. 10g adjustable ...
$138.99
9.8
Srixon ZX Fairway

Srixon ZX Fairway

In the long run, versatility is priceless. In terms of distance and speed, ZX Fairway Woods are unbeatable, providing ...
$149.99
9.6
TaylorMade Sim2 Max D Fairway Wood

TaylorMade Sim2 Max D Fairway Wood

Designed to improve turf interaction through reduced friction and provides additional versatility when playing from ...
$176.24
9.6
Titleist TSI3 Fairway Wood

Titleist TSI3 Fairway Wood

Players looking for more workability, CG adjustability, a deeper face and a smaller profile should look no further than ...
$219.99
9.5
Titleist TSI2 Fairway Wood

Titleist TSI2 Fairway Wood

The TSi2 Fairway Wood brings high launch, incredible speed, and forgiveness to the course. It features faster ball ...
$279.99

Top 10 Best Fairway Woods for Beginners

Tour Edge Exotics C721 Fairway Wood

For those who want more accurate flight control and amazing speed. The new SureFit CG Track Technology allows for improved CG adjustability, as well as the new Active Recoil Channel 4.0, which produces a consistently higher, faster launch. I recommend the Tour Edge Exotics C721 fairway to everyone who believes in technology and wants to improve their game off the tee.

9.6/10 Read review
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Srixon ZX Fairway

The ZX Woods were created with one goal in mind: to be fast. Srixon’s innovative Rebound Frame Technology helps the ZX Woods create greater speed and distance. Rebound Frame Technology works by overlaying alternate zones of flexibility and rigidity that work together to concentrate more energy into the ball when it hits the ground. As a result, ball speed and distance off the tee have risen.  By focusing more energy into the golf ball, Rebound Frame’s unique structure increases ball speed and distance on every shot, especially center-face impacts.

9.8/10 Read review
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TaylorMade Sim2 Max D Fairway Wood

With the TaylorMade SIM Max-D Fairway, you can get a combination of explosive distance and forgiveness. The V SteelTM sole has been redesigned to provide precise and consistent turf engagement while also increasing versatility from any lie. The SIM Max-D, which comes with draw-biased technology, uses revolutionary face curvature with corrective face angle on off-center blows to reduce side spin and improve accuracy. At impact, a Speed Pocket flexes, generating amazing ball speed off the face for improved player performance.

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Titleist TSI3 Fairway Wood

titleist tsi3 fairway wood

Titleist TSi3 Fairway for superior speed-tuned performance, the CG Track Design can be adjusted. The ATI 425 Aerospace Titanium in face produces a driver that is long, straight, elegant, and has amazing sound. At every point of contact, the face accelerates the ball. Increased speed due to improved aerodynamics. Increased speed and a tighter speed range up and down the face thanks to multi-dimensional stability. Features that allow you to fine-tune your performance.

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Titleist TSI2 Fairway Wood

Titleist TSI2 Fairway Wood

The Titleist TSi2 fairway delivers a superb combination of distance and forgiveness that players of all handicap levels should consider.Steady performance to be reassuring, and the appearance to be unbeatable. 

ATI 425 Aerospace Titanium in face creates a long, straight, stylish and incredible sounding driver. Face delivers higher ball speed at every point of contact

9.5/10 Read review
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TaylorMade Sim2 Titanium Fairway Wood

For easier workability, better players prefer a compact fairway wood. The TaylorMade Sim2 uses a rare titanium alloy designed particularly for TaylorMade’s use in this tour-shape variant, which is 11% smaller than the SIM2 Max.

The V-shaped steel weight pad runs the length of the sole and links to an additional weight screw, giving the small frame a higher moment of inertia.

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Cobra Radspeed Tour Fairway

The RADSPEED Tour Fairway Wood features a compact profile with extreme front-biased Radial Weighting for low spin, launch and maximum workability. The extreme front-biased weighting system delivers the lowest CG and ultra low spin for extremely fast ball speeds in a lower, penetrating trajectory. New carbon fiber material in the crown construction is 30% thinner and 6g lighter, allowing for more flexibility to push weight towards the front for lower spin and fast ball speed. The CNC milled face is nearly 5x more precise and produces the most consistent face thickness.

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Callaway Epic Max Fairway

The Epic MAX features an oversized head shape with a shallower face and lower leading edge to make this Fairway Wood easy to launch. A new Jailbreak A.I. Velocity Blades system not only stiffens the body, but increases stability in the horizontal and torsional directions for higher ball speeds and easier launch. High strength C300 Maraging Steel offers exceptional strength and flexibility, and is paired with Face Cup technology for speed and consistency. Every model and face is uniquely designed using advanced A.I., a technique proven to enhance ball speed on center and off-center hits.

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Callaway Big Bertha B21 Fairway

Callaway’s Big Bertha B21 Fairway Woods feature a shallower face, progressive lengths and an oversized Bertha shape to promote consistent contact and smoother turf interaction. The increased offset cuts down on your slices and promotes straighter ball flight. The advanced A.I. designed Flash Face SS21 delivers faster ball speeds across a wider face area.Jailbreak bars connect the crown and sole, increasing stiffness and promoting more speed. Shallower face, progressive lenghts, and oversized Bertha shape make club easier to hit. New RCH shaft and Active Tip Flag section for easy launch.

Cobra Radspeed Big Tour Fairway

The RADSPEED Big Tour Fairway Wood is constructed with a slightly oversize club design, front-biased internal weighting and external RADIAL weighting for low CG, spin and faster ball speeds. An extremely front weighted club featuring 16g of weight in the front and 7g in the back to create ultra low spin, faster ball speeds and low CG for a low, penetrating ball flight. New carbon fiber material in the crown is 30% thinner and 6g lighter for more flexibility to move weight towards the front, lowering spin and increasing speed. The CNC milled face is nearly 5 times more precise and produces more consistent face thickness.

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When Do You Use A Fairway Wood?

when to use a fairway wood

Fairway woods are some of the most versatile clubs in players bags. Their curved soles and club head help them to be forgiving off the tee and from the ground. Many golfers will use their fairway woods when the driver is going to fly too far or if there is danger with an errant tee shots. Due to the increased loft, fairways offer easy to hit the ball and easier to keep in play. They have low spin and high launch and straighter ball flight. Golfers also use their woods to position themselves or reach the green on longer par-5 holes and for more speed and distance. 

Finding the Best Fairway Woods for Your Golf Game

Several factors help make a fairway wood tailormade for your game. The loft, the length of the shaft, your swing speed and the center of gravity designs can all influence how a fairway woods performs. Getting the right game improvement fairway woods for your swing speed type and style is a blend of each component. 

head shape
There many head sizes. Source 2ndswing.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Fairway woods are some of the hardest golf clubs to fit in the entire golf bag. Because of this, many questions arise when they are discussed. We have provided some of the most common for your quick reference. 

Q: Driver vs Woods: What is the Difference?

A: The largest differences between drivers and woods are their club head shapes, sizes, center of gravity, sweet spot, low spin and intended use. Drivers are built for distance and forgiveness when the golf ball is struck while resting on a tee. Drivers get the ball longer ball flight and keep the ball in the air more. Fairway woods, on the other hand, are built easier to hit from the tee and the ground and off-center hits with different swing speed. This versatility is what makes fairway woods unique and complex. Although these clubs may have similar names and lofts, the game improvement roles they play in the golf bag are not always overlapping. 

Q: What is the Difference Between a 3 Wood and a 5 Wood (3 Wood vs 5 Wood)?

A: 3-woods and 5-woods typically differ in their lofts, club head sizes, and lengths. Although both 3 and 5 wood golf clubs can be custom fit to any length and a variety of lofts, 3-woods are usually longer and lower in loft than higher numbered woods. Both often have steel or graphite shafts and are great for slower swing beginners and high handicappers. 

Q: What is the Difference Between a Fairway Wood and a Hybrid? (Fairway Wood vs Hybrid)?

A: Hybrids are designed to play more similarity to golf irons. The smaller cub head sizes and iron-like faces of hybrids help them to be more versatile coming from thick rough or hazard areas. Given the same swing speed conditions, hybrids tend to fly lower and spin less than fairway woods of the same loft. Fairway woods can offer more forgiveness depending on the situation around the golf course. It is often the case that a golfers bag will have both fairway woods and hybrids. 

Q: How Do I Hit a Fairway Wood?

A: Hitting a fairway wood from the ground is difficult. Because it is often the longest golf club you will try and hit from the non-teeing area. Many players find hitting a fairway wood is easier by moving it up in their stance and sweeping along the surface of the ground. Do not be discouraged if you struggle easy to hit your fairway wood and consider adding loft as this can make them easier to launch and produce great distance from a better contact. High handicap golfers will need more training.

What Fairway Wood Should You Buy?

Choosing from all the different fairway woods can be a difficult task. The most effective way to decide which is the best fairway to buy is based on what you value most and your unique skills and areas you can improve your game. Fairway woods can fit several different roles between golfers. Some players will use their fairway woods from both lies. The nature of how you plan to use your best fairway wood(s) can influence what setup you ultimately decide to go with. Some want shorter shaft while others longer. It is important to try more woods to get the long par some will get it with 7 wood some with other.

Fairway wood technology progresses less rapidly than drivers and great products can be found in prior generation or used models.
Understanding what you need from a fairway woods and building something for your swing can help you play better golf instantly and find the right one for you. Thanks so much for reading. Happy testing our top picks!

 

Paul Liberatore
Paul Liberatore

As the Founder of Golfers Authority Paul Liberatore Esq. has spent the last 7+ years writing about the best golf equipment or instruction from the top golf instructors in the world. He has been a contributing writer for Sports Illustrated Golf and GolfWRX. After graduating with honors from Purdue University, he realized that he had a passion for the golf business and the law. When he's not practicing law, or creating golf content on YouTube, he can be found on his syndicated Behind the Golf Brand podcast both on Apple and Spotify talking with the most prolific leaders in the golf industry. 

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