Best Fairway Woods 2025

When it comes to the fairway wood, we believe it is an under-rated club in terms of importance, especially as it can also be one of the hardest slots to fill in your golf bag due to the difficulty some golfers have hitting them. Although we don’t use them as much as irons, drivers, wedges and putters, when we do pull the headcover off they really have to step up and perform, either off the tee or on those longer fairway shots into par 5s or monster par 4s.

Crucially, these clubs can be used all around the course, likes areas from the rough, to those little bump and runs on the greens. What's more, unlike wedges and drivers which are usually replaced every few years, fairway woods typically stay in the bag considerably longer, due to the fact we don’t tend to hit them as much in practice. This means that finding the right one can really help knock shots off your score.

The good news is that evolutions in multi-material construction and the use of A.I (artificial intelligence) in face design, means that the best fairway woods now deliver more distance and consistency off the tee than ever before. In addition, they are also easier to pick up off the fairway, can be hit well out of rough and, with practice, can even be used around the green from collar rough or mown aprons.

At Golf Monthly, we test all manner of fairway woods on course, at the range and indoors and, in this guide, we have listed what we think are the best fairway woods that money can buy right now. However, if you are looking to really hone in your focus on a specific area, you can also check out our guides on the most forgiving fairway woods, best fairway woods for mid handicappers and the best women's fairway woods.

The Quick List

Best Fairway Woods - Best 3 Woods and Best 5 Woods

Top pick

Given how well the Qi10 fairway woods performed last year, I was excited to compare the performance of the new Qi35 models. The first thing I noticed were the aesthetic changes TaylorMade made, chief among which is the new carbon-fiber finish which looks fantastic. This combines with the multi-material construction to give a really eye-catching look which certainly adds to the experience.

Indeed the standard head I picked here looks excellent behind the ball, confidence-inspiring but not so large that better players will be put off - it will suit the eye of a wide range of players. The head sits flush on the ground and is complimented by the fairly shallow face. The detailing at the back of the crown really emphasizes the roundness of the head as well, which I loved.

Performance wise the numbers were very impressive, especially in terms of ball speed, carry and spin. The feel was the same muted, yet powerful sensation I loved from the Qi10 fairway wood range. It's hard to beat the looks from this family of fairway woods and you'll be pressed to find as club that is head and above in terms of performance, too.

• Read our full Taylormade Qi35 Fairway Wood Review

Best for high launch

Our first selection is the PXG Black Ops fairway wood, which we think offers close to a perfect combination of aesthetics, performance and playability. To begin with, it offers some serious shelf appeal thanks to the black and silver tones sitting alongside the carbon fiber crown. Personally, we feel that this is one of those clubs that delivers a real wow factor when you remove the headcover and look down on it.

Performance-wise, the Black Ops performed just as well when struck from the deck as it did off the tee, which is testament to how forgiving and easy this club is to use. What stood out is the simplicity of just the one model that can be fine-tuned for different players, something which we explain below...

Over-time, PXG have always been excellent at providing customisation options for their clubs and, with this fairway wood, it's no different, as there are three weight ports that can be chosen individually when custom-ordering the club. This should ensure that you get the exact ball flight you desire, with the Black Ops comfortably one of the most forgiving fairway woods money can buy, whilst still maintaining a strong, powerful feel.

• Read our full PXG Black Ops Fairway Wood Review

Most underrated

Wilson may not be the sexiest brand making clubs on the market but they tick every box in the looks department when it comes to their latest Dynapwr Carbon fairway wood. It delivers a far superior visual to the standard model, most notably via the glossy carbon crown. The black and red accents continue on from last year's model, providing a stealth aesthetic with minimal color tones.

Wilson's aim with the Dynapwr Carbon fairway wood was to lower the flight, spin and launch to produce tour-inspired performance. I set out in testing to see if they've achieved their objective and was pleasantly surprised at the results. I saw spin rates fall with the Carbon to 3633rpm compared to the standard model coming in at 4183rpm. This resulted in the Carbon achieving a 10-yard longer carry distance on average at 251 yards.

While the ball flight and power was particularly impressive, it was the improved sound and feel with the Dynapwr Carbon that really impressed. Coming in at a slightly cheaper price point than other models on this list, this is a fairway wood really worth considering.

• Read our full Wilson Dynapwr Carbon Fairway Wood Review

Best sound

Featuring the same new Seamless Thermoform Crown design found on the GT2 fairway wood and the rest of the GT range, the GT3 has a new weight-track system on the sole that has been brought closer to the face, with the concentrated CG placement meaning more control and ball speed.

Looks-wise, the GT3 has a pear-shaped, tour-influenced design that will appeal to a large number of golfers and, when behind the ball, the lack of curvature in the heel and sole means it is incredibly inviting. Finally, because the head sits completely flush to the ground, it looks superb.

As you may have noticed, the GT3 is the best for adjustability because of the weight-track system and, because of the taller face, it helps those who are slightly steeper with their angle of attack. Finally, thanks to the new L-Cup face design and VFT (Varaiable Face Thickness), we noticed that there was very little drop off in ball speed compared to shots struck from the middle.

• Read our full Titleist GT3 Fairway Wood Review

Most forgiving

Given how much I loved the Ping G430 fairway wood in 2024, it was going to take a mammoth effort from Ping to deliver something special enough to come in and replace it. Enter the G440.

Ping started with the looks and I think they've made some tangible improvements to the aesthetic. This is mainly thanks to the new Carbonfly Wrap featured on all of the G440 family of drivers and woods - this was previously only reserved for the LST from the G430 range. I'm less keen on the sole of the club which sports a black and blue colorway, a nod to the original G series family released almost a decade ago. Of course looks is a subjective point though so many will like this new design.

When focusing on performance, it surprised to find that during testing my carry numbers were lagging short of other models I've tested so far in 2025 despite ball speed numbers remaining pretty high and consistent. This is likely due to the fairly low launch and high spin this wood promotes. This resulted in a fairly underwhelming carry average, falling short of competitors like the TaylorMade Qi35 fairway wood and Callaway Elyte fairway wood. However I did love the 4-wood performance as it offered that higher flight which many golfers will enjoy.

Overall the G440 has kept much of what made the G430 so great but from my testing I struggled to find an area in which their were any significant improvements. Nevertheless, it still remains a great option to consider when shopping in the fairway woods market.

• Read our full Ping G440 Max Fairway Wood Review

Best feel

It was always going to be difficult to back up the beautiful Ai Smoke family of woods, but what the Elyte lacks in looks it makes up for in performance. My first impression in testing was very good indeed - there was a nice turf interaction thanks to the Step Sole design which minimized digging and as a result the club glided over turf nicely.

Additionally I loved the flight and feel of this club. It produced a high, towering ball flight which felt very easy to turn over right to left, and through impact the AI-designed face felt powerful through impact. Additionally the Speed Wave technology and the new Ai 10x face worked wonders on low mishits, which tends to be the most common one with fairway woods.

While Callaway has arguably taken a small step back in regards to the aesthetics of the new Elyte fairway wood range, and once again this is a subjective point, the performance certainly does the talking. New technology across the clubhead has resulted in what I feel is a more consistent and well-rounded performer compared to last year's model.

• Read our full Callaway Elyte Fairway Wood Review

Best adjustability

The DS-ADAPT X fairway wood is the model in the range that has been designed to suit the widest range of golfers. As a result, in my testing it was very easy to launch and distance numbers were solid. This is thanks to the Pwr-Bridge technology that was also used in the Darkspeed range which I really enjoyed testing back in 2024. The X model here has this bridge positioned just slightly forward of the middle of the head to help reduce a little spin and increase playability to those that want it.

However the main tech story to talk about here is the FutureFit33 hosel, which features 33 different settings. This can feel a little overwhelming but there is a handy QR code etched onto the neck of the club that you can scan and it will bring up a graph showing all of the different settings and how they will affect the flight. I can’t help but feel the QR code stands out a little too much and slightly weakens the look of the club.That being said I enjoyed the fairly symmetrical shape when looking down at address and I love how the face is beautifully highlighted by the contrasting white score lines running horizontally across it.

Overall though, I am confident the X will be popular with a wide range of players thanks to the slick looks and all-round performance. The high launch and speed make it a model well worth considering if you need a new model.

• Read our full Cobra DS-ADAPT X Fairway Wood Review

Best from the tee

Another worthy inclusion on this list of the best fairway woods is the ZXi from Srixon. It looks absolutely stunning in the black finish and whilst the head looks slightly smaller compared to others on this list, it frames the ball beautifully at address. The top of the crown helped me align correctly and square up that club face before the strike as well.

During our testing we noticed distance numbers have taken a hike when compared to the older ZX5 Mk II fairway wood. This distance is complimented with a really tight dispersion, similar to that when I tested the TaylorMade Qi35 fairway woods. Additionally I loved the feel of the club, the change from a full titanium structure dampened the acoustics and vibration, although the sound is still much louder than the likes of the Callaway Elyte.

As you can see, and if you read a bit more in the in-depth review below, I loved just about every element of this ZXi fairway wood and I think it will be a serious contender in the metal-wood department this year.

• Read our full Srixon ZXi Fairway Review

Best looking

Our final fairway wood is the ST-Max 230 from Mizuno, taking the crown of the best looking fairway wood on this list. This fairway wood looks superb and the return of the bright blue Cortech Chamber TPU insert on the sole really gives this club some shelf appeal, whilst the carbon-fibre crown looks like something from the inside of a supercar.

It's not just a good looking club, but a top-performing one too. It produced solid distance from the tee, a high launching ball flight and was particularly good from the fairway and first cut of rough down.

We felt that the forgiveness was fine but not amazing for a club of this nature and mis-hits suffered more in terms of distance than dispersion. All of this makes it more suited to the better player, so higher handicap golfers, or those with slower swing speeds, should realistically look elsewhere.

• Read our full Mizuno ST-Max 240 Fairway Wood Review

How we test the best 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 our reviews are as insightful, honest and comprehensive as possible. We like to attend product launches whenever possible so we can meet with the manufacturer’s R&D experts and therefore get a better understanding of the new technology.

After we have that understanding, our first port of call when hitting clubs is usually the indoor simulator at Foresight Sports, where the team can test in a controlled environment using the best premium golf balls and the GCQuad launch monitor. We also use TrackMan at golf facilities across the UK. We then follow that up with outdoor testing, usually on ranges at West Hill Golf Club, Surrey, along with North Hants Golf Club in Hampshire. Finally, after getting all the data we need we head out to the golf course to get a feel for how the clubs perform in actual golf situations.

Specifically for fairway woods, product testing is headed up by Sam De'Ath, who is a former competitor on the EuroPro Tour and Clutch Pro Tours. Sam is supported by our technical editor Joel Tadman. Both Sam and Joel are competitive low handicap golfers who are 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

If you are thinking about upgrading your metal woods then it is probably a wise decision, as there being plenty of new and exciting options on the market right now. When it comes to fairway woods you ideally want the perfect balance between forgiveness and distance, as one without the other is not going to help you much. The good news is that brands are constantly innovating the design producing new golf clubs that are designed to help you swing through the golf ball with more power and precision and the advancements made in technology have made striking from the fairway with a wood easier than ever before.

However, there are so many excellent models on the market right now it can sometimes be very difficult to decide which one is best for your specific needs. So to help, we've set out a few important considerations below that you're going to want to think about when choosing your next metal wood.

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. You may want to carry both a 3 wood and a 5 wood, or perhaps you will compromise and go with a 4 wood. Efficient gapping is vitally important because it can save space in your bag which can be used for an extra wedge.

2. Forgiveness

Some fairway woods are more forgiving than others and that is often by design. A tour pro is not likely to use a fairway wood designed for a high handicap player and therefore a high handicap player should not be trying to use something that is in the bag of a tour pro. Know your skill level and shop accordingly. Most manufacturers nowadays create different models for different levels of player. For example, there are three different Cobra fairways right now with different head sizes/shapes which are designed for golfers who require different things. A higher handicap golfer may need help getting the ball in the air while a more accomplished player will be looking for a lower spinning version. A good rule of thumb is that if you need as much help as possible then a larger head will work for you, whilst if you are a better player and a more consistent ball striker, strike is more consistent, then forgiveness is not going to be your main requirement.

3. Versatility

Fairway woods perform different roles and therefore need to be versatile. Ideally you will want one that you can rely on off the tee but that you are also comfortable hitting off the deck from different lies. You might even want to use it for bump and run shots around the green. If you have a model that works in only one of these areas, then it is probably worth shopping around to find something with more versatility as it will help to lower your scores.

4. Looks

Non golfers might see this as a little superficial, but you have to like how a golf club looks and it isn't just for vanity reasons, there are practical benefits to having a club that is aesthetically pleasing. If you like how a club looks when you are stood over the golf ball it will promote confidence in your ability to hit a nice shot. If it doesn't look good behind the ball the reverse is true. 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 then if possible test them in a variety of situations and lies.

5. Adjustability

Many 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. That won't appeal to everybody though so if you are one of those who like to keep things simple then look for a non-adjustable model with a stock shaft that you hit well.

For more excellent fairway wood options, be sure to check out our guides on the best fairway woods for high handicappers and most forgiving fairway woods.

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