Best Men's Fairway Woods
From Callaway to Cobra, our fairway reviews are designed to help you weigh tradeoffs to find the best fit. We collaborate with players and gear experts to review each fairway wood based on accuracy/control (the ability to hit the ball straight and true), forgiveness (the ability to mitigate negative effects of off-center hits), and distance (potential distance with a well-struck shot). Rankings are updated weekly based on SidelineSwap sales data.
Meet Our Experts
Jonathan is the founder of Warrior Golf Academy, where he offers free golf fittings, clubs, lessons, and caddie training for veterans, helping them find solace and camaraderie on the green.
Owen has spent his whole life golfing and previously managed operations for the New England PGA, Junior Golf Tournaments.
The TaylorMade RocketBallz Fairway Woods are designed for maximum speed and distance. The advanced Speed Pocket technology dramatically increases ball speed, while the thick-thin crown design and low/forward CG promote a higher launch and lower spin. The lightweight shaft and grip enhance swing speed, and the matte-white finish and larger head make alignment easy and eliminate glare. With RocketBallz, golfers can experience extra distance and power.
The RocketBallz Fairway Woods bring a fun combo of distance and forgiveness to the table. With their deep undercut sole design, these clubs reduce turf interaction and give you that extra launch angle you’ve been chasing. The tech is all about boosting ball speed with a larger sweet spot. Now, while these may not be the most forgiving woods out there, when you square one up, the distance gains are no joke. Perfect for strong hitters looking to add some serious yardage to their game.
Jonathan Sessa
The TaylorMade Stealth 2 Fairway Wood combines advanced technologies for longer, playable shots. Its 3D Carbon Crown reduces weight for a lower center of gravity, promoting higher launch angles and improved forgiveness on off-center hits. The V Steel Sole technology features a curved leading edge that helps the clubhead glide smoothly through various lies, including thick, rough, and wet fairways.
The Stealth 2 is a forgiving club. It's made for the average golfer or beginner who has money to spend on a quality club. The focus on forgiveness and playability makes the Stealth 2 a good option for golfers with a developing swing who may not always hit the center of the fairway wood. So yeah, it's super easy to hit off the deck, penetrating flight, and has a great launch.
Owen Harding
The Callaway Paradym Fairway Wood features a progressive design suitable for various golfers. Its key components include Jailbreak with Batwing Technology, which stiffens the body while allowing face flex for enhanced ball speed and distance. The Forged Carbon sole ensures excellent weight redistribution for increased forgiveness on off-center hits. Additionally, the technology boosts accuracy, promoting a stable ball flight that performs well in windy conditions.
The Paradym is super versatile from the tee or off the grass. It's harder to hit as the shape is more compact with a smaller overall sweet spot. It has a high launch, low spin, and neutral flight. More experienced golfers who want more distance will love this club. It also has the largest variety of options: three, five, seven, nine, and even an 11-wood…which is unusual.
Owen Harding
The TaylorMade M2 Fairway Woods offer exceptional distance, forgiveness, and playability. The recessed 6-layer carbon composite crown, Inverted Cone Technology, and Geocoustic sole design combine to create a low CG, fast ball speeds, and an incredibly long, high-launching, and low-spinning fairway. Geocoustic engineering ensures best-in-class sound and feel, while the additional key technologies provide added distance and forgiveness.
Mizuno ST Fairway Woods comes in two different models, the ST-Z and ST-G, which are designed for different golfer profiles. The ST-Z is particularly well-suited for golfers who are looking for a low-spinning, high-launching club. It features a MAS1C steel face that is designed to generate maximum ball speed, as well as an adjustable hosel that allows you to fine-tune the loft and lie angle of the club to fit your swing. The ST-G is designed for better golfers who are looking for a low-spinning, all-titanium power fairway wood. It is built upon the ball speed platform of Mizuno's CORTECH Chamber and features a forged SATIN finish on the face for increased ball speed and distance.
Mizunos are not for beginners. They're hard to hit, and you must have a high-speed swing and accurate ball striking. It comes equipped with an adjustable hosel that lets you fine-tune your launch angle as well as control your trajectory. For example, a higher launch angle might lead to a more penetrating ball flight with less roll, while a lower launch could result in a flatter trajectory with more roll. This club is for better golfers who want adjustability.
Owen Harding
The Callaway Big Bertha Golf Fairway Woods are designed for golfers seeking forgiveness and easy launch. Their oversized profile and shallow face inspire confidence, while the Jailbreak with Batwing Technology and A.I.-designed face enhance power and ball speed. The lightweight construction and adjustable features make them easy to swing and launch, providing consistent contact and improved distance.
Big Bertha is all about forgiveness and user-friendliness. These clubs feature a large sweet spot and a draw-biased design, making them suitable for a wide range of skill levels. They offer excellent distance and accuracy, especially for higher handicappers. The Big Berthas are ideal for golfers seeking a forgiving, easy-to-hit option that won't sacrifice too much distance. They consistently deliver reliable results.
Jonathan Sessa
The TaylorMade Burner Fairway Wood has a mid-face height and forward CG providing a more controllable trajectory. The SuperFast crown alignment ensures easy alignment and squaring up through impact. The Burner combines the latest TaylorMade tech, including SuperFast for an easy launch, steel pull face construction for increased distance, and a shallow clubface for a high launch. This fairway wood offers exceptional performance and value for golfers looking to enhance their game.
Callaway Rogue fairway woods are designed to deliver long distance and forgiveness for a wider range of golfers. They feature Callaway’s Jailbreak technology, which uses two internal bars to stiffen the clubhead at impact, transferring more energy to the ball for increased ball speed and distance. Additionally, a large, deep Face Cup creates a larger sweet spot and promotes higher ball speeds on off-center hits, making the Rogue fairway woods more forgiving on mishits. This club is a good option for golfers who want more distance and forgiveness from their fairway woods, with a focus on a larger sweet spot for improved performance on mishits.
The Callaway Rogue comes in three models: The ST LS, which is good for golfers with faster swing speeds who want forgiveness without sacrificing shot shaping; the ST Max, which is a long and forgiving club with a mid-launch and a slight draw bias; and the ST Max D, which is good for golfers who want to increase their launch and hit the ball further and straighter. Overall, the Callaway Rogue is good for golfers who want a versatile club that offers distance, forgiveness, and an easy launch.
Owen Harding
The Stealth Fairway Wood offers distance and forgiveness with a high launch, making it ideal for golfers looking to enhance their fairway game. Available in various lofts, it features a pear-shaped head and a 3D carbon crown for weight redistribution, promoting forgiveness on off-center hits. With its ease of use and strong performance, the Stealth Fairway Wood is a popular choice for golfers of all skill levels.
The Stealth is a distance club. It's incredibly forgiving with a larger-than-average clubface. Just because of the clubface, it's easier to hit than many of the other Stealth models. It's best for mid to low-handicap golfers with fast swing speeds and who want to gain a little more distance. I will say it's challenging to shot-shape and hits very straight. If you've got the money to spend, this club will perform.
Owen Harding
Callaway XR fairway woods are designed for distance and forgiveness, featuring a larger sweet spot and Hyper Speed Face Cup technology for increased ball speed on off-center hits. With a shallower face design, these clubs promote a higher launch angle, making it easier to get the ball airborne for better performance.
There's less tech in the XR than in other models. It's a pretty affordable club that is high-launch. For golfers who have quick tempo, there are a couple different options you can buy in terms of loft. There's one that that's 14 degrees. If you struggle to hit your driver, having a three wood that's 14 degrees will help you get a little bit more distance. Three woods are typically a lot easier to hit than drivers, so an option like this will still get you the distance off the tee that you're looking for if you struggle to hit your driver, and it's easier.
Owen Harding
Designed for maximum forgiveness, the G430 Max Fairway Wood features a composite Carbonfly Wrap that allows weight to be repositioned for higher launch and longer distance. It also has a fixed tungsten backweight to ensure forgiveness on off-center hits. With its distance-boosting technology and forgiving design, the G430 Max is a great choice for golfers of all skill levels looking to add some extra yards to their game.
Ping coined the word "spinsistency" in its marketing, which describes the attempt to minimize the variation in spin rate depending on where you hit the ball on the face. Players who want more consistent distance control and predictable spin will love the G420 Max. This club also comes in an LST and SFT model. The 3-wood is great off the tee and the 5-wood is easy off the fairway. I’d recommend this club to mid to high-handicappers with a developing swing.
Owen Harding
Targeting golfers seeking distance and forgiveness, the Ping G425 MAX Fairway Wood features a combination of technologies. Its signature maraging steel Facewrap technology creates a larger sweet spot and flexes at impact, maximizing ball speed for longer shots on both center and off-center hits. Additionally, a low center of gravity design promotes a higher launch angle, making it easier to get the ball airborne for more distance and overall forgiveness on mishits.
The Ping G425 Max is the base model and the easiest one to hit. There is also the LST model, which stands for lower spin tech. It will be smaller and harder to hit, but for golfers with plenty of swing speed and accuracy in their ball striking, the LST will put out a lot more distance. The SFT model is for the higher handicapped golfers because it helps prevent slicing. Good clubs all around.
Owen Harding
The M1 fairway woods are known for their distance and adjustability. They boast a multi-material construction with a lightweight carbon composite crown, allowing for weight to be redistributed lower in the clubhead for a lower center of gravity which promotes a higher launch. Additionally, the M1 fairway woods feature a sliding weight track system that lets golfers adjust the clubface for a draw or fade bias, or promote a more neutral shot shape, giving golfers more control over ball flight. This club is a good option for golfers who want more distance and control over their fairway wood shots.
The M1 was designed for golfers with a more consistent swing who are accurate and good ball strikers. Beginners or high-handicappers might find the M1 less forgiving. One great feature of this club is the sliding weight track. It allows golfers to adjust the weight position to tune ball flight (higher or lower launch) and trajectory (draw or fade bias). So, if you're a golfer who likes to play different courses or conditions, this club offers more customization and a focus on power.
Owen Harding
The Callaway Mavrik Fairway Woods are designed for maximum confidence and distance. With their expansive hitting area and optimized weighting, these woods deliver high launch and flat trajectories. Featuring a single fixed weight positioned low and back in the sole, the Mavrik promotes easy launch and performance from any lie. The innovative Flash Face SS20, Jailbreak Technology, Face Cup, and T2C Carbon Crown combine to deliver unmatched ball speed, forgiveness, and distance, making the Mavrik a top choice for golfers seeking to elevate their game.
The Callaway Mavrik fairway woods represent the latest technology from Callaway. These clubs boast a large, forgiving head design combined with advanced AI-powered technology for optimal ball flight. They deliver impressive distance gains while maintaining excellent accuracy. The Mavriks are perfect for golfers seeking maximum forgiveness and length, especially those with slower swing speeds. However, they may feel less precise for more skilled players.
Jonathan Sessa
The Callaway Rogue ST LS Fairway Wood is a high-performance club designed for better players seeking optimal launch and distance. Its deeper face and compact footprint promote a low spin and fade-friendly trajectory. The Tungsten Speed Cartridge and forward weight screw further enhance launch and distance, while the redesigned Jailbreak system and C300 Maraging Steel with Flash Face Cup ensure explosive ball speeds and consistent spin.
The Callaway Rogue ST LS Fairway Wood stands out with its unique offset design aimed at reducing slice. If you’re prone to sending shots way off course, this one might be the cure, offering draw tendencies. The lightweight design contributes to faster swing speeds, potentially increasing overall distance on pure strikes. While not the longest fairway wood available, it excels in accuracy and control. The Rogue ST LS is perfect for players looking to combat slicing issues and maintain a straighter ball flight.
Jonathan Sessa