Most Forgiving Fairway Woods: Quick Menu
1. The list in brief
2. Top pick
3. Best looking
4. Best wide appeal
5. Best value
6. Best off the tee
7. Best adjustability
8. Best for slicers
9. Best for simplicity
10. Best high launch
11. How we test
12. How to choose
13. FAQs
Hitting a well struck fairway wood requires skill and precision. The modern trend among club designers is to make fairway woods that are as forgiving and playable as possible for the widest cross section of golfers. The best fairway woods for forgiveness help players in specific ways using innovative technologies, from multi-material crown and face constructions to moveable weighting and loft/shaft adjustability. Club manufacturers know that most recreational golfers hit it left to right, attack steeply without enough loft on the face and struggle to get these longer clubs airborne.
WATCH: We test and compare the best fairway woods on the market in 2024
Their solution is to design fairway woods with a draw bias, slight offset and weighting technology designed to create higher launch angles. The most forgiving fairway woods tend to have larger heads than compact better player models. This gives players more confidence at address when looking down at the ball. Larger heads increase the strike zone and help with quality of contact.
Even if you’re a better and stronger player, you find useful benefits by testing some of our selection of the most forgiving fairway woods on the market today. After all, why make the game harder for ourselves? Additionally, take a look at our other guides on the best fairway woods for high handicappers or the best fairway woods for mid handicappers.
The Quick List
A strong contender for most forgiving fairway wood of the year. The TaylorMade Qi10 Max fairway looks superb and boasts a confidence-inspiring head that produces outstanding performance from various lies.
This produced solid distance from the tee, a high launching ball flight and was particularly good from the fairway and first cut of rough down to a new design feature, all while looking the part.
The Ping G430 Max is a long yet easy-to-use fairway wood and will be many golfers favorite thanks to its versatility and high launch characteristics.
Its forgiving head and high launch will benefit mid-high handicappers, but when fitted properly will act as a loyal servant in the bag of the better player.
A worthy addition to the Titleist TSR range of metalwoods. Designed to offer players extra yardage off the tee, we thought it was also easy to launch and very consistent.
The Ai Smoke Max D fairway is a really strong option for those who struggle with a slice or want to promote a high draw with their fairway woods. The additional forgiveness means mishits are far less noticeable
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The Launch Pad is one of the easiest fairway woods to hit, making it deal for higher handicappers looking for playability and value for money.
The Srixon ZX Mk II fairway was really easy to hit from a variety of lies and the generous sized head inspires confidence. Visually the step down design of the crown may not appeal to all.
This is a strong all-rounder that posses plenty of power and forgiveness to help with performance from the tee and the fairway. The sleek look adds to the overall appeal.
Most Forgiving Fairway Woods
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Top pick
We're a big fan of TaylorMade fairway woods and therefore we were really excited to see what the brand had in store for 2024. As usual, we were not disappointed.
Boasting a large 200cc footprint, the TaylorMade Qi10 Max fairway wood will have you brimming with confidence when stood over the ball and we would have no hesitation in recommending this as one of the most forgiving fairway woods on the market this year.
It is exceptionally easy to launch and our testing showed a consistently impressive carry distance. It provides plenty of spin so it will suit golfers who have a moderate swing speed and sometimes struggle to get the ball airborne.
The loft of this fairway wood is 16°, which is one degree higher than most traditional fairway woods. This extra loft combined with the technology implemented by TaylorMade contributes to the high-launching nature of this club, so the Qi10 Max is certainly worth considering if you’re one of the many golfers who struggle with fairway woods, which are notoriously one of the most difficult clubs in the bag to master.
- Read our full TaylorMade Qi10 Max Fairway Wood Review
Best looking
We think the best looking forgiving fairway wood on the market is currently the Mizuno ST-Max 230. It looks fantastic with the blue TPU insert on the sole that really pops and gives the club shelf appeal. It also blends well with the gloss black and carbon fibre crown too, overall giving a classic and yet modern aesthetic.
It also performed well during hitting sessions and out on the course as well. It felt superb off the face, produced a solid 'thud', and gave a high ball flight which will suit players who need help getting the ball in the air. From the fairway and rough the club excelled with the high ball flight continuing and the key piece of tech to mention here is the ‘Speed Bevel’ - a modification to the leading edge to improve turf interaction and maintain speed from shots struck from the fairway. This addition to the leading edge and the high MOI head design makes it one of the most forgiving fairway woods we have tested this year
Overall we think it is a very solid option on the market and not only will it suit higher handicap players, but those who just want more forgiveness in this section of the bag.
- Read our full Mizuno ST-Max 230 Fairway Wood Review
Best wide appeal
Offering an upgraded design and new performance features over its predecessor, the hugely popular G425, the Ping G430 will appeal to a broad range of players. It comes with a new Carbonfly Wrap that firstly helps to save 10g of weight in the club, but also gives it a premium finish that looks stunning at address.
Visually it is a clear upgrade over the G425. The matte black crown on the club boasts a sleek design at address but turning the club over will reveal the equally impressive sole plate that has some very cool green and white detailing. You'll also notice at the heel of the clubhead, Ping have added an adjustable weight, which is designed to push the club's center of gravity lower and further back, to help improve the forgiveness of the club and help players produce more favorable launch angles when they strike through the ball.
Then there's the Facewrap Technology which helps to deliver strong ball flights and a very stable connection on each shot. That technology also delivered faster ball speeds and solid flights on shots that were not struck out of its center. Ultimately, this club is certainly one of the best fairway woods available right now and also features prominently in our guide to the best fairway woods for mid-handicap golfers.
- Read our full Ping G430 Max Fairway Review
Best value
In our testing we were very impressed with the forgiveness offered by the Wilson Staff Dynapwr. Wilson used A.I. Technology to create the PKR2 face, which in layman's terms, means this club has varying layers of thickness across its face that results in faster and more consistent speeds on off-center hits. We certainly found that to be the case.
The Dynapwr fairway woods combine excellent visuals with solid performance and excellent playability to deliver a well rounded club that offers good versatility. On the back of the sole, Wilson have added a 12g adjustable weight that is built to deliver greater stability and a higher MOI to help players push through the golf ball and deliver higher launch angles on each shot.
We found that the turf interaction it offered was also excellent. It cut through thicker lies very easily and delivered great feel, while producing a muted 'thud' sound - great for those who don't like a metallic feel on impact.
Aesthetically they look great. The Dynapwr fairway woods come with a brilliant matte clubhead that is lit up by pops of red detailing on its head and sole. Wilson have refined the head on the club to give it a generously sized pear-shape that will inspire confidence to golfers of all abilities when they rest the club behind the golf ball.
Best off the tee
Designed as an option for those who want a fairway wood as predominantly a second driving option, the TSR2+ is described as a “longer, more forgiving, tee-biased 3-wood.” Our testing confirmed this to be the case.
The TSR2+ is only available in a 13˚ head which is a lower lost than most standard 3-woods, but it's great for hitting off the tee as well as off the turf. It has the deepest CG of any of the brand’s fairway metals and thanks to the high launch we found that off centre strikes weren't compromised, meaning there was ample forgiveness in play.
Titleist also offer the TSR2 and TSR1 which both offer high levels of forgiveness in marginally smaller head sizes compared to the TSR2+. One of the key differences is that the 190cc clubhead of the TSR2+ is 15cc bigger than the other two options, which certainly helps with forgiveness. To our eye, the differences in size and shape were small but perceptible and, what's more, the TSR2+ is a fraction longer from front to back, as well as slightly more rounded with a deeper face.
- Read our full Titleist TSR2+ 3-Wood Review
Best adjustability
Within the new Ai Smoke range from Callaway, the the Max D has been created to promote a high launch and draw-bias which makes it a forgiving option ideally suited to golfers who struggle with their fairway woods.
The Max D has a slightly more upright lie angle and larger head than the standard Max model, but despite the head looking fairly large and closed at address, we think it still looks as good as some of the best fairway woods on the market. The white and grey crushed carbon sole looks beautiful, particularly when shimmering in sunlight and would definitely turn a few heads on the golf course.
From a performance standpoint, it delivered what we would expect from a Max D model - consistent high draws through the air. This is due to the Ai Smart Face technology. Callaway collected data from thousands of golf shots to create a face with varying thicknesses, creating multiple sweet spots the whole way across the face. The result was that even our heel struck shots felt as though they had good distance and a powerful ball flight.
Where we feel the Ai Smoke Max D fairway wood excelled over the other models in the range was from the first cut of rough. The shallow face and high MOI helped the launch the ball effortlessly from the thick, wet rough, making this comfortably one of the most forgiving fairway woods we've tested.
- Read our full Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D Fairway Wood review
Best for slicers
The Wilson Launch Pad fairway wood does what the name suggests and makes a great addition to any high handicappers golf bag. Everything about the Launch Pad clubs (including drivers and hybrids) is designed to get the ball in the air and to help improving golfers get the ball airborne and compensate for some of their swing faults. It also helps to negate a slice due to the draw bias design.
This is obvious when you look down on the ball at address. You can see the face is closed and has a draw bias. This naturally benefits the golfer who slices and it will helps straighten up the ball flight for the majority of mid to high handicap golfers who come over the top on the downswing.
What's more, the Evenflow shaft is light at 55g, but adds a premium touch to a value driven product. The Launch Pad inevitably flies high but has plenty of forward momentum and good carry distance, making it a great option for any golfer who finds it tough to consistently hit good shots from the fairway.
- Read our full Wilson Launch Pad Fairway Wood Review
Best for simplicity
This is one of our favorite fairway woods as it is easy to hit from a variety of lies. The Srixon ZX Mk II is a fantastic club that will appeal to a range of golfers and as well featuring in this guide to the most forgiving fairway woods, it also features in many of our other guides too, including the best fairway woods as well as the best fairway woods for mid-handicap golfers and best fairway woods for high handicap golfers.
It boasts a new Cannon Sole that shifts the weight more towards the front of the club to improve the center of gravity and provide extra forgiveness, while a Rebound Frame and Dual Flex Zones on the face of the club help to promote faster ball speeds. The Mk II comes with several contours on its sole plate, which have been redesigned to center the weight and work with the club's higher trailing edge to create a squarer face angle at impact. That helps to generate straighter ball flights and get the ball up from difficult lies on the course.
During testing, we really enjoyed the forgiveness and speed the face offered. In our view, we think inconsistent golfers will really benefit from the consistency this club offers, delivering great accuracy to attack greens on longer par fours and par fives.
- Read our full Srixon ZX Mk II Fairway Review
Best high launch
We were big fans of the Cobra AeroJet fairway woods and the brand's 2024 range, Darkspeed, looks like it has taken a great thing and made it even better. Featuring three models, the Max head has been designed with ultimate forgiveness in mind and to promote a draw-biased shot shape. This obviously appeals to golfers who need a little help with their fairway wood game.
Cobra has done an excellent job in making the Max fairway wood look every bit as premium and sleek as the Darkspeed X, which is not always easy to achieve. The aesthetic looks great as does the matte carbon crown but they do make the head appear a little more compact than it actually is.
During testing it performed well and we were particularly impressed with the feel and acoustics. It felt hot and fast off the face with an extremely high launch, from both the fairway and rough, two things that golfers struggling with their fairway woods will appreciate. Overall the Cobra Darkspeed Max fairway wood is an excellent option for those seeking forgiveness and carry distance with their fairway woods, or for those who struggle with a slice.
- Read our full Cobra Darkspeed Max Fairway Wood Review
How we test fairway woods
When it comes to Golf Monthly's testing procedure, we use the same ethos and methodology for all golf products to make sure they are as insightful, honest and comprehensive as possible. When it comes to golf clubs, we usually attend product launches so we can meet with the manufacturer’s R&D experts to understand the new technology.
After we have an understanding of the technology, our next port of call is the indoor simulator at Foresight Sports, where the team can test in a controlled environment using premium balls and the GCQuad launch monitor. We also use TrackMan at golf facilities across the UK. We then do outdoor testing, usually on ranges at West Hill Golf Club, Surrey, The Wynyard Club in Teesside and at Brancepeth Castle Golf Club in Durham. We then put the clubs into play out on these golf courses.
Specifically for fairway woods, product testing is headed up by Sam De'Ath, supported by technical editor Joel Tadman.. Sam has experience of playing professionally on both the EuroPro Tour and Clutch Pro Tour. Sam also has extensive knowledge of golf equipment and what works for different types of golfer.
Both Sam and Joel are competitive low handicap golfers, able to efficiently test the biggest product releases and successfully communicate equipment technology and product features to a wide golfing audience.
How to choose a fairway wood
There are a lot of things to consider when purchasing a new fairway wood, and that can make getting the right clubs for you a sometimes overwhelming and confusing decision. But don't fret. That's where we come in. Below I've set out a list of key considerations you should bear in mind when purchasing your next fairway woods.
1. Loft
Figure out the specific gap to be filled in your golf bag. Ask yourself how far does my driver go, and how far do your longest irons or hybrids go? Knowing this will dictate the ideal loft for your fairway wood.
2. Forgiveness
Some fairway woods are more forgiving than others, especially because many manufacturers create different models for different levels of player. For example, there are four different Cobra LTDx fairways with different head sizes, shapes and they are designed for different golfers. If you need as much help as possible, a larger head will work for you, whilst if you are a better player and strike is more consistent, then forgiveness may not be a key factor for you.
3. Adjustability
Most modern fairway woods come with a degree of adjustability, whether that’s loft, moveable weights or shaft fittings. Think about how important adjustability is to you, because you can change the characteristics of a club’s performance with a turn of a wrench. Or, you can keep things simple and opt for a non-adjustable model with a stock shaft you hit well.
4. Versatility
Fairway woods must work well off the tee, on the ground from different lies and even around the green. If you have a model that works in only one of these areas, then there may be plenty of improvement and flexibility in upgrading your fairway woods.
5. Looks
You have to like how a golf club looks, especially when looking down on the golf ball. The fairway wood is one of the most difficult clubs to hit, which is why you need something that gives you confidence and may even spark a pang of jealousy in your playing partners. Our advice is go and pick several models, see how they look and feel in your hands and test them in a variety of situations and lies.
6. Budget
Be aware of your budget. You can go for more premium models, such as the TaylorMade Stealth Plus or Callaway Rogue ST LS or you can opt for cheaper designs like the Wilson Launch Pad. Wherever you fall in budget, our guides will present you with good advice on buying a new fairway wood.
For more advice on the best fairway woods on the market right now, why not also take a look at our guides on the best fairway woods for high handicappers, best fairway woods for mid-handicappers and the best TaylorMade fairway woods guide.
FAQs
What are fairway woods?
Fairway woods are versatile distance clubs that are designed to be hit from the tee, off the fairway and even from light rough, similar to a mini or small headed driver but with slightly more loft and a shallower face.
Traditionally, the size of a driver head ranges from roughly 440cc to 460cc, whereas a fairway wood often is from 140cc to 180cc. Fairway woods look similar in appearance to drivers but have smaller heads.
Fairway wood faces are much shallower than a driver, which keeps the COG (centre of gravity) lower, helping you to get the ball airborne.
Fairway woods are more forgiving than long irons and almost every Tour player puts one or two fairway woods in the bag.
What fairway woods should I carry?
This depends on three factors.
First, what ability level are you? Fairway woods are more forgiving than long irons, so if you are a beginner or a high handicap player we’d recommend putting as many fairway woods in the bag as possible, providing the lofts and gapping are correct. If you are a better player, then which woods you carry will depend on the following two factors.
Loft and gapping is the next point to mention. Fairway woods have to be able to fill the gap in the bag from the driver to your irons. Therefore, knowing how far you hit each club gives you insight into which yardages you need to fill with fairway woods. The best way of doing this is on a launch monitor with an experienced PGA professional or custom-fitter.
The final factor is the type of golf course do you play on? If you play a lot of links golf, then you’ll likely need to hit lower penetrating shots, whereas inland or parkland golf requires you to hit shots that fly higher and land softer on the fairway or green. Fairway woods are definitely more suited to target parkland golf rather than fast-running firm linksland golf.
The same logic applies to playing golf in windy conditions. Fairway woods are usually designed to give higher launch which makes them difficult to control in the wind, especially when compared to long irons or driving and utility irons.
What loft should a fairway wood be?
Manufacturers offer a range of fairway wood head styles and lofts, ranging from super-strong three woods at 13.5° to 7,9 or 11-woods which are designed for golfers who struggle to launch mid and long irons and want more confidence inspiring equipment to hit the ball further.
Each golfer is different, in their physical fitness, ability and approach to the game. A wide range of fairway wood lofts can provide options for senior players, women and juniors who want alternatives to hitting longer irons. Many established Tour winners have carried 7-woods when course conditions required high flying soft-landing ball flights on key par-5 holes and at long par-3’s.
If you enjoyed our guide to the most forgiving fairway woods, check out the rest of the Golf Monthly website.
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