As a beginning golfer or high handicapper, there may be no club any harder to hit than a fairway wood off the fairway. The tops, the skulls, the amount of sod that gets destroyed… It is no fun to watch or be a part of.
However, it could be argued that having a trusty 3 wood could be a beginners best friend. You can use it off the tee when the driver goes bad. You can use it to recover from short tee shots. You can even use it around the green. (Okay, maybe not a great idea until you can break 100.)
But the point is, you need fairway woods you can trust.
Our Choice for Top Fairway Woods for High Handicapper and Beginners
- Cleveland Launcher XL Halo Fairway Woods – Still the Best All Around Fairway Woods for High Handicappers
- Callaway Paradym X Fairway Woods – Also Very Good for High Handicapper
- Ping G430 SFT Fairway Woods – Best Fairway Wood for Slicers
- Cobra Air X Fairway Woods – Best Value Fairway Woods for Beginner / High Handicap
Not quite a beginner and looking for a workable or low spin fairway wood, move on to our review of the best fairway woods for better players.
What Should a Beginner Look for in a Fairway Wood?
- Look for the most forgiving fairway wood. Don’t worry about distance.
- Every brand on our list will get you down the fairway in good measure.
- Forgiveness, launch, spin, and adjustability differentiate golf clubs these days.
Here’s a quick rundown on each:
The Perfect Beginner’s 3 Wood
Forgiveness
No club will help if you hit three inches behind the ball, or pick your head up and top it. But, modern clubs make their living on correcting slight and moderate mishits. Of all the factors a beginner should consider when looking for fairway woods – or any club for that matter – forgiveness ranks at the top.
Launch
Many beginners find launching the ball off the fairway one the hardest things in golf. Manufacturers know this, and that’s why they make game improvement clubs differently than the clubs aimed at pros and experienced players. They do everything possible to position weight low and back in the clubhead to promote launch.
Spin
Optimally, the combination of low spin and high launch will get you the best distance. But, spin is a double edge sword. More seasoned players like some backspin because – off the tee, it gives their ball rise, and off the fairway backspin provides more stopping power on the green.
However, because spin often works against newer golfers – picture that slice that made a sharp turn about 120 yards out – fairway woods designed for high handicappers and beginners reduce spin, at least for the longer three and four woods.
Less spin also helps in the distance category thanks to more roll after landing. As you progress through the bag towards the more lofted clubs, however, spin becomes your friend. A little backspin could be the difference between a birdie putt, and rolling off the back of the green.
Center-of-Gravity Weights
CG weights will allow you to add, remove, and move weight, from one area of the club head to another.
When positioned correctly, they’ll help you to – raise or lower the ball’s launch angle, reduce any tendency to draw or slice, and get more or less spin on the ball.
CG weights aren’t magic but, they do work reasonably well when set up correctly. On the downside, most players either don’t know how to or don’t have the time it takes to configure them correctly. Plus, many CG weights come with a special tool, (which usually disappears within about a month), to take them in and out.
Some clubmakers have moved away from using CG weights because they found that players don’t use them anyway.
Adjustable Lie and Loft
Like CG weighting, an adjustable hosel will let you customize your club to fit your swing. The adjustable lie will let you raise or lower the clubs shaft at address. This, in turn, makes it more likely that you’ll be able to get comfortable and keep the sole of the club even with the ground, at the same time. The adjustable loft lets you raise or lower shot trajectory based on your swing.
If you don’t select an adjustable fairway wood, at least make sure you understand how different 3 wood lofts can affect playability.
What should a player look for who intends to use the fairway wood as a driver replacement?
Assuming you’re a beginner, consider a wood with between fifteen and eighteen degrees of loft. Usually, this means either a standard three or four wood, depending on whether the club has an adjustable hosel.
Also look for the most forgiving 3 wood that offers high launch and low spin, as this combination will get you the most distance and accuracy. Last but not least, look for a more driver-like wood with a more substantial head, deeper face, and rounder profile.
Although not necessarily for beginners, you can also look at the mini driver here.
What should a player look for who intends to use the fairway wood off the fairway more than the tee?
Woods with shallow faces have a lower center of gravity and will launch higher with more spin than those with deeper rounder faces. Also, a longer heel-to-toe profile inspires confidence and makes them perfect for beginners. For some, it may make sense to hit a 5 wood instead of a 3 wood. Read more about that here.
If hitting a 3 wood off the deck scares you to death, read our tips to crushing your 3 wood next.
I Already Have Hybrids, Why Do I Need Fairway Woods?
The average golfer feels more comfortable swinging a hybrid than a fairway wood. The hybrid has a shorter shaft which makes good contact an easier chore.
Also, the denser head and lower center of gravity that hybrids typically have, make them more forgiving on mishits and helps get the ball in the air. Most fairway woods have longer and broader soles and require cleaner contact and a more shallow approach to the ball than hybrids. But, don’t let that scare you off of carrying a wood or three.
The longer shaft and larger heads that fairway woods feature give them a considerable edge in distance over their same numbered counterpart.
Fairway woods also work better out of short rough. Plus, nothing beats a three wood at stinging a low line drive down the fairway into the wind or sliding one under a low hanging tree branch.
Many players will debate a 5 wood vs 3 hybrid. You can read our full article on that here. You may even want to consider playing a 7 wood.
Who makes the good fairway woods for beginners?
For hitting off the tee, because of their larger and rounder profiles, the Taylormade SIM Max and Callaway Mavrik Max are probably the best choices.
They both excel in the all-important categories of distance, forgiveness, launch, and spin as well. The simplicity of the SIM Max might give it a slight edge as beginners have enough to think about without complicating matters with interchangeable weights.
Off the fairway, new players and high handicappers should take a hard look at the Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo. It has all the right ingredients – a low profile, a low center-of-gravity, and significant rear weighting – to help newer players launch the ball off the turf.
But without further adieu, here are our favorites of this year’s lineup:
Beginner and High Handicap Fairway Woods Review
1. Cleveland Launcher XL Halo Fairway Woods
While Callaway, TaylorMade and Titleist take themselves very seriously in the golf world, Cleveland takes a more casual approach. They want to promote fun more than anything else when it comes to golf. Even on their website, you have to do some research to find the product specs and technology as they don’t want golfers getting bogged down in the details.
The Launcher XL Halo woods kept that theme and created an easy to hit, high launching club. I love how they promote how easy it is to hit the club. As they said on their website, “There’s nothing worse than walking up to a lush 3-Wood Shot and duffing in front of the buds. So, we fitted the Launcher XL Halo Fairway Woods with Gliderail to make high-quality contact silly-easy, even from the rough.”
They’re not wrong either, hitting a top or skull in front of your buddies is never a good feeling. Luckily, these clubs are easy to hit off the deck or off the tee so hopefully, you shouldn’t have to worry about it as much. With an XL head design, it’s their most forgiving, the highest launching club yet.
These woods also have a “Rebound frame” that helps naturally increase ball speed and get the most distance from every shot. Cleveland is also very into their “Action Mass CB” which stands for counterbalance. This is an eight gram weight that is inside the grip to make the head feel lighter and hopefully cast less to reduce your slice.
Finally, the Launcher XL woods come with a Project X Cypher 55 shaft. This is a mid-spin, high launching shaft that will also help the everyday player.
Pros
- Right and left hand models available.
- Counterbalance grips should help minimize slice.
- Accuracy build option is available. If you want to hit even more fairways, this allows you to get the club one inch shorter and helps with shot shaping.
Cons
- No adjustability.
- Only one stock shaft and three lofts.
For the casual, everyday golfer these are a great option. They’re more affordable, have no adjustability so you don’t have to worry about fine-tuning, and can just hit. If you’ve enjoyed their matching driver, you will love these clubs too.
>> You can order your new Cleveland Launcher XL Fairway Wood here or here.
2. Ping G430 SFT Fairway Wood
Let’s face it, most golfers need help when it comes to hitting fairway woods… especially off the deck. If you don’t love your driver and have little confidence with it, then you need a trusty 3W even more. The new Ping G430 SFT fairway woods might just be your next go-to club.
Here’s how Ping described their latest new forgiving fairway wood. “The SFT’s larger draw-biased head produces right-to-left shot correction, and it generates more speed, higher launch and longer carries benefiting from a new weight-saving Carbonfly Wrap composite crown that lowers the CG and elevates MOI so shots find the green.”
Let’s start with the size of this fairway wood – it’s larger than most which makes it easier to hit consistently. It also has a draw-biased head that will help with a straighter ball flight and gain more speed. Plus, the CarobonFly Wrap lowers the CG for more consistent spin while making it even more forgiving.
The club also has spinsistency which improves your mishits that are low on the face. If you hit a lot of thin shots this club can help generate more speed to make your misses a lot better.
These fairway woods are basically every golfer’s dream – high launching, forgiving, and helps you hit it straighter. Not to mention you can always adjust the hosel with eight different positions.
Plus, they have a high launching (HL) version as well. They change the grip, shaft, and clubhead to make it even lighter to help players with slower swing speeds. This will improve ball velocity and create a much higher launch profile.
Pros
- High launch option available.
- Draw-biased to help hit straighter shots.
- Two stock shafts and two upgraded shafts available.
- Available in a 3W, 5W, and 7W to replace longer irons.
- The larger head design makes it easier to hit more consistently.
Cons
- No 9W or heavenwood options available.
The new G430 SFT from Ping is a great looking club that will help moderate swing speed players. Plus, if you’re a slower swing speed golfer you can still enjoy them with the HL (high launch) model too.
Don’t forget to check the shaft profile on their website or ask a fitter if you do a club fitting session. With multiple stock options it’s easier than ever to find one that matches your ideal spin and launch.
>> Click here to purchase your new Ping G430 SFT Fairway wood.
3. Callaway Paradym X Fairway Wood
Looking for a “paradym” shift to improve your long game? Then you might need these new Paradym X fairway woods from Callaway. These are the equivalent of the Rogue ST Max D clubs from 2022 as they’re a forgiving, draw biased fairway wood.
But these are longer than ever. According to the company they are 7 yards longer than the Rogue ST series thanks to the new “batwing” technology. These woods have new A.I. jailbreak technology that allows the face to flex for even more ball speeds (which leads to more distance).
Callaway used forged carbon to redistribute the weight for maximum distance and extreme forgiveness in these woods. They also used a 25 gram piece of tungsten to move the center of gravity lower and more forward for optimal launch/spin.
Of the three models, the “X” model is by far the most forgiving and easiest to hit.
They also kept with the theme of using A.I. to make the face even more effective. According to Callaway, “The unique face pattern is customized for each model and paired with our high-strength C300 maraging steel face cup. This promotes impressive speed and consistency across the face.”
The final benefit is the design which has a more upright lie angle which helps players hit it higher and straighter. Plus, it has a built-in draw bias to help as well. Not to mention you can also adjust the hosel to dial it in to match your swing too.
Pros
- 3W high loft option.
- Multiple stock shaft options.
- Longer than the Rogue ST Max.
- High launching, easy to hit fairway woods.
- Adjustable hosel (unlike the previous model).
- Draw biased to help find more fairways (ideal for high handicappers).
Cons
- No adjustable weights.
- Only the 3W is adjustable.
Overall, this is a big upgrade from the Rogue ST Max D fairway woods. While those clubs were great, the added adjustability and design make these even hotter, straighter, and easier to hit. Plus, high launching too – a great golf club for higher handicappers.
>> Click here to grab one for yourself today.
4. Cobra Air-X Fairway Wood
Cobra has three new fairway woods in 2022 in the LTDx series. While they’re great clubs and made Golf Digest Hot List in 2022, they’re still designed for mid-handicap golfers.
Meanwhile, the Air-X fairway woods is the most forgiving option and cheaper as well. Here’s why this is such a great fit for higher handicap golfers:
- 55 gram lightweight shaft.
- Lightweight carbon design which leads to effortless distance.
- Heel weighting pairs with offset hosel leads to more consistent shots.
- The offset design helps straighten out that slice and keep the ball in the fairway.
In order to keep the weight as minimal as possible, there are no sliding weight features or adjustable hosel. But since this club is geared towards beginners, it doesn’t necessarily need them and is ready to hit, right out of the box. The offset hosel, design, and shaft all help with forgiveness and straightening out that slice.
Pros
- Available in right or left-hand models.
- High loft (3W is 16 degrees, makes it easier to get the ball airborne).
Cons
- Only one stock shaft option but it should suit most players this club is designed for.
- Only three loft options. Would love to see a 9 wood aka “heavenwood” option to help higher handicap players.
>> Order your Air X fairway woods here or here.
5. Titleist TSR1 Metal Woods
Do you want forgiveness above all else when it comes to a fairway wood? Then you’re going to love the new TSR1 from Titleist. These new fairway woods are long and this model specifically is extremely forgiving.
The new TSR drivers have four models while the fairway woods now have four to fit all types of players. Of the new models, the TSR1 is the largest and most forgiving of the bunch. This keeps with the theme of the TSR1 driver which is the lightest and most forgiving as well.
The new TSR1 is sure to be a popular club for beginners and high handicappers thanks to the lightweight design. Here’s what Titleist said about the updated design, “The optimized, lightweight configuration of Titleist TSR1 Fairways makes it easier to generate more speed. A new open hosel construction allows CG to shift lower and deeper for easier launch and more forgiveness.”
Thanks to the updated design it’s extremely easy to hit, long off the tee, and versatile so you can hit off the deck too. It’s the highest launching fairway wood in the series with a mid-spin rate and favors forgiveness over workability.
Another huge benefit to these clubs is the open hosel construction which saves weight in the hosel. It also removes unwanted weight in the heel of the club to shift the CG and make it even easier to launch high. Despite the forgiving design it’s not overly big and still has a refined, modern design.
Lastly, the biggest difference between this fairway woods and the others is the incredibly lightweight shaft. Not only is the head lighter, the shaft only weighs about 45 grams (regardless of what flex you choose). The Speedmesh shaft makes it easy to launch it high and will contribute to faster ball speeds.
These lightweight fairway wood is available in right or left-handed models in four loft choices (15, 18, 21, and 23 degrees).
Pros
- Adjustable hosel.
- Four loft options (including 9 wood).
- The lightweight shaft makes it easy to add ball speed.
- High launching, lightweight fairway wood is great for slower swing speeds.
Cons
- No sliding weight track.
- Only one stock shaft option.
Overall, these fairway woods are a great addition to your bag if you want a light, forgiving design. If you already play the TSR1 driver, these are no-brainers as you’ll have the same shaft and similar clubhead features. While they aren’t very “workable” you’ll have no issue launching it high and swinging faster than ever.
Click here to learn more now.
>> You can pick up your TSR1 metal wood here.
If you want to save a few dollars, click here to read a full review of the Tsi lineup of fairway woods. These are last year’s model and if you can find them, could save you some cash.
Read our full review of the TSR fairway metal woods lineup here.
6. Taylormade Stealth 2 HD Fairway Woods
Need a forgiving fairway wood to help you straighten out that slice? Then the new Stealth 2 HD fairway wood is just what you need!
In 2023 TaylorMade unveiled their newest drivers and fairway woods – the Stealth 2 series. One of the biggest upgrades was adding a third fairway wood to the lineup, the HD (high draw) version. With the initial Stealth launch they only had two fairway wood options so this is big for a lot of golfers.
So, how does the HD differ from the other two fairway woods? According to TaylorMade, a lot!
“A radical departure from traditional TaylorMade fairway woods, Stealth 2 HD features an ultra-high MOI construction. It combines low CG projection with an oversized 200cc head to increase confidence and playability for golfers of all skill levels.”
First, it’s the biggest clubhead (200 cc) – about 15-20cc larger than the other two models. This makes it larger, more forgiving, and easier to hit longer.
The second is the draw flight bias (the other two versions are neutral). This larger profile head helps hug the ground more at address to make it higher launching. Plus the internal weighting is more in the heel to help you not miss as many shots to the right.
Lastly, this fairway wood offers V-sole steel design (not carbon) like the previous models. This design improves turf interaction and makes it a very versatile club from almost any lie. Plus, the 22-degree model is a great alternative if you don’t like hitting hybrids or long irons too.
Pros
- High MOI makes it ultra forgiving.
- This is the highest launching option.
- V-steel head makes it easy to improve turf interaction.
- Draw bias to help hit it straighter off the tee or from the fairway.
Cons
- No 15-degree loft option.
- Only one stock shaft option.
- No adjustability thanks to the fixed hosel.
Overall, this fairway wood is great for less consistent golfers who need help with distance and accuracy. While you can’t customize it like the Plus model, it’s also more affordable too.
>> Click here to purchase your Stealth 2 HD fairway woods.
7. Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway Woods (Last Year’s Model)
If you want a forgiving, easy to hit fairway wood, you will love the new Callaway Rogue ST Max series. Since these are last year’s model you might could save a little cash if you can find these out there. At the time of product launch, these were the fastest woods Callaway had ever made and come in the normal “Max” version or “Max-D” (D stands for draw bias). Both are a mid-launching fairway wood that is ideal for the everyday golfer.
Here’s why they made the Golf Digest Gold List in 2022:
- A.I. designed face is optimized for launch and spin.
- Jailbreak frames provide tons of stability at impact for increased accuracy.
- 27 gram high density tungsten to lower spin and promote higher ball speed.
Not to mention, it’s crazy long. According to Callaway, “Our longest fairway wood ever and up to 10 yards longer claim is based on player testing across a range of player handicaps of Rogue ST Max 3W vs. Epic Max 3W.”
You can choose from a huge selection of stock shafts including:
- Project X Cypher Black: The lightest option for the Rogue ST Max woods is the Project X Cypher shaft. Choose from 40 or 50 gram options – both have a low kickpoint, meaning a high launch. These shafts are ideal for seniors and players who don’t generate as much clubhead speed naturally. Available in light or regular flex.
- Fujikura Ventus Blue: Another option for a high-quality shaft is the Ventus Blue 6 or 7. The blue is a 60 gram shaft while the 7 is a 70 gram shaft. Both are available in stiff or x-flex only as they’re designed for lower handicap players with more swing speed.
- Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue – The option is the Mitsubishi Tensei AV blue shaft. This is offered in 55 or 65 grams and is a mid-launch shaft. Available in regular or stiff flex.
- Mitsubishi Tensei AV White – The final stock graphite shaft is the Tensei AV white, which is for advanced players with higher swing speeds. Choose between a lightweight 65 gram or a heavier, 75 gram option. These are available in stiff or extra stiff flex only.
Pros
- Tons of loft options – 3W to 11W lofts.
- Massive selection of stock shafts – way more than competitors.
- The Max-D version offers a draw bias head to help straighten out slices.
Cons
- No adjustable hosel (also occurred with their past few fairway wood models).
These new Callaway fairway woods are available in tons of lofts ranging from 15 degrees (3 wood) all the way to 27 degrees (11 wood). And everything in between, including an easy to hit 20 degree heaven wood which can replace those hard to hit long irons.
>> Order your Rogue ST Max fairway woods here or here.
And the Winner is…
While all five clubs reviewed will help you launch the ball long and straight, the Cleveland Launcher XL Halo is our favorite fairway woods for most players reading this article. This is the easiest club to hit and get up into the air on the list.
With that said, the Callaway Paradym X fairway wood is not too far behind. For players trending into the intermediate range this is a really good pick. The combination of exceptional forgiveness, consistent distance, simplicity, and overall performance.
If you are a beginner or high handicap who battles a slice (that’s everyone right?), then the best fairway wood for you on this list is the Ping G430 SFT. As I said earlier, with a draw bias it will eliminate your slice and having you hitting that pretty right to left shot all day long.
Finally, the Cobra Air X should be considered for players needing to add serious swing speed to their game and looking to not unload their wallet on a 3 wood.
