The technology these days in the best fairway woods is incredible and the following products, while all trying to give us a helping hand, have a remarkable variety of approaches going on underneath the bonnet. An array of technology is present across different brands, but all fairway woods have to be versatile enough to use off the tee, from the ground and, at times, around the green. They also have to bridge the gap from the driver to the irons well.
Mid handicappers in particular often neglect to focus on this area of the bag which could cost them shots. As such, we have taken a look at some of the best models for that level of player - all of which have slightly smaller heads than the most forgiving fairway woods, and yet still offer some help to ensure consistency of strike. Here, after doing a lot of thorough testing of models from different brands, we take a look at the best fairway woods for mid handicappers. Alternatively, take a look at our other guides on the best fairway woods for high handicappers or the best women's fairway woods as well.
WATCH: We test and compare the best fairway woods on the market in 2024
The Quick List
The TaylorMade Qi10 fairway is what can only be described as a superb all-rounder. It combines forgiveness and power to create a multi-use fairway wood that performs well from the tee and the fairway.
Providing a shallow face that sits flush to the floor, the GT2 has a refined structure which produced a strong launch and ball flight. Featuring the head shape we know and love, we expect this to be extremely popular amongst all levels of players.
The Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max offers high levels of forgiveness while producing a high, powerful ball flight that will please any golfer. The striking aesthetics provide strong shelf-appeal.
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.
The Mizuno ST-Z 230 fairway looks stunning at address and inspires confidence. For the majority of golfers it offers enough speed while being very forgiving on off-center strikes.
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.
Ideal for those who are after creativity, the GT3 produces incredibly fast ball speeds off the face, whilst the aesthetics scream premium in a traditional looking head.
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.
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.
Best Fairway Woods For Mid Handicappers
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TaylorMade Qi10 Fairway Wood
In our experience TaylorMade fairway woods rarely fail to deliver and this is one of the best all around fairway woods on the market today. The TaylorMade Qi10 fairway wood has been designed with both power and forgiveness in mind and it delivers on both fronts, but then so did its predecessor, the Stealth 2.
It's in the aesthetics where we see the biggest changes as most of the trusted technology has stayed put. For example, TaylorMade has persisted with the Thru-Slot Speed-Pocket to create fast ball speeds and a powerful thud through impact, with the V-Steel sole technology continuing to offer golfers a smooth feeling through impact and the best turf interaction possible.
Overall, the performance of the TaylorMade Qi10 fairway wood was solid and produced an impressive, powerful feeling through impact. In testing, the distance was respectable, but there weren’t massive gains to be had over the previous years model, but then there didn't need to be as the previous model was one of the best fairway woods we've tested..
- Read our full TaylorMade Qi10 Fairway Wood Review
Titleist GT2 Fairway Wood
To begin with, Titleist have created a new construction in the GT2, with a Seamless Thermoform Crown made from Proprietary Matrix Polymer. Because of this, Titleist's engineers have saved weight in the crown and redistributed the weight to help the center of gravity positioning for faster ball speeds.
So, how did it perform? Well, in testing, we found it to be a high launching, low spinning monster! Producing an increase in ball speed, the high launching nature of the GT2 fairway wood meant we could still send it upwards if required, whilst the L-Cup face design provided great stability, even on miss-hits low on the face.
Aesthetically, the GT2 fairway wood has a much more shallow face, which is something that will really help inspire confidence to those who struggle with launching their fairway woods. What's more, the tour-refined shape meant there was less curvature on the heel and toe compared to previous models.
- Read our full Titleist GT2 Fairway Wood Review
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Fairway Wood
After a particularly successful 2023 with the launch of the Paradym range, Callaway has now unveiled the Paradym Ai Smoke fairway woods which feature new and improved aesthetics. Our choice for this particular category is the Ai Smoke Max, which is aimed at a broader range of golfers making it ideal for mid-handicap players.
The white and grey crushed carbon sole gives the product its ‘Smoke’ name, which is nicely highlighted in a bolt blue to really capture the attention of your playing partners. When in the sun, both the sole and the carbon crown come to life and look spectacular when this club is at address and we would class this as one of the most aesthetically pleasing clubs of 2024.
When we tested this club the thing that jumped out at us was how incredibly forgiving it was. This is largely due to the Ai Smart Face technology implemented throughout the entire Paradym Ai Smoke family. Data from thousands of golf shots has been taken and entered into Callaway's ‘super computer’ to create a face with multiple sweet spots for incredible consistency of ball flight and spin rates, regardless of strike location. This makes it a stand out as one of the most forgiving fairway woods money can buy.
- Read our full Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Fairway Wood Review
Cobra Darkspeed X Fairway Wood
Cobra continues to impress in its fairway wood game. The Darkspeed range is new for 2024 and the X fairway wood is the 'standard' model out of the three released, meaning it is the model created with the broadest range of golfers in mind.
The matte black head is a thing of beauty although it does make the head look a little more compact than other models out there. We found in our testing that the Cobra X fairway wood produced a particularly high ball flight and one that will suit golfers looking to maximize their carry distance and stopping power into greens. This won't suit the higher handicap player who needs a little help getting the ball airborne, but the Cobra Darkspeed Max fairway wood will be much more to their liking.
The feel off the face was energetic very solid, while producing a fairly loud sound to match. All in all, we would recommend the Cobra Darkspeed X to anyone who is looking for a high flight with plenty of spin from their fairway wood and who uses it much more off the deck than from the tee.
- Read our full Cobra Darkspeed X Fairway Wood Review
Mizuno ST-Z 230 Fairway
During testing, we found this club to be very versatile and it performed steadily off both the tee and the fairway. Where it really impressed though was on off-center strikes. Toe strikes remained relatively straight and on other miss-hits, the technology accommodated for poor shots and the ball still traveled well and on line.
Additionally, the Mizuno ST-Z 230 fairway wood is probably one of the most impressive looking clubs on the market right now. It features a very cool glossy black clubhead which is contrasted by an icy blue Coretech Chamber on the club's sole. At address, it looks fantastic, with the carbon fiber design on the crown giving it a premium shelf appeal.
After extensive testing we found this to be a high launching, straight biased club that offers mid-to-low spin, meaning the ST-Z 230 is suitable for mid handicap players.
- Read our full Mizuno ST-Z 230 Fairway Review
Ping G430 Max Fairway
This is a great club that actually features in several of our various guides for the best fairway woods. It appeals to such a broad range of golfers that we have it in this category for mid-handicap players, as well as in the best overall category and the most forgiving fairway woods guide too. It goes without saying that it's also among the best Ping fairway woods too.
The Ping G430 range offers several upgrades on the G425 fairway woods, the most noticeable of which are its aesthetics. At address, the carbon finish, along with the dark grey and neon green accents, give the G430 Max fairway a more premium and modern look than models before it.
The club comes in plenty of loft options, from a 3-wood all the way up to a 9-wood so there's a solution to fill any problematic slot you may have in your bag. It boasts Ping's new Facewrap Technology, designed to deliver greater stability between the sole and the crown of the club on all strikes across the face. One of the standout features of this club for us during testing was the feel, with Ping replacing the 'metallic' sounds on the G425 with a much more satisfying sensation on the G430 courtesy of a new Carbonfly Wrap across the crown.
Ultimately this club continues to deliver excellent forgiveness and ball speeds that emulate some of the longer fairway woods in the game, and we were so impressed that it made it onto our editor's choice list for 2023.
- Read our full Ping G430 Max Fairway Review
Titleist GT3 Fairway Wood
Beginning with the looks of the GT3, which are similar to that of the GT2 above. Again, it 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.
Featuring the same new Seamless Thermoform Crown design found on the GT2 fairway wood and the rest of the GT range, the real difference between the two is in terms of adjustability. 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.
In testing, we found that the taller face on the GT3 fairway wood was perfect for golfers who are slightly steeper with their angle of attack and is one of the main differences between this model and the GT2. Importantly, the difference is not that different to the GT2, something which we are very pleased about!
- Read our full Titleist GT3 Fairway Wood Review
Srixon ZX Mk II Fairway
The ZX Mk II has made some significant upgrades over its predecessor the Srixon ZX fairway, including a new Cannon Sole that has a weight pad which has been moved closer towards the front of the club behind its face. That positions the center of gravity closer to the face which increases the MOI of the club. It also comes with a step down design at the front of the crown that creates a defined leading edge that helps to frame the golf ball a little better at address.
Additionally, the notches you'll see on the sole of the club work with the higher trailing edge to create a squarer face angle at impact, which helps when you're striking the ball from the ground. We found during testing that the Mk II cuts very nicely through short grass and semi-rough an we enjoyed how fast this club was off the face due to its Rebound Frame and the Dual Flex Zones on the face
The result of all this is that the Srixon ZX Mk II fairway wood is a great option for those looking for more penetrative ball flights. Ultimately, it was a very easy club to hit and feels reassuringly stable - making it a good choice for golfers who are inconsistent with a fairway wood in their hands.
- Read our full Srixon ZX Mk II Fairway Review
Wilson Launch Pad Fairway Wood
These fairway woods are simple, uncomplicated and designed for improving golfers who want clubs that are easy to use and can help to compensate for some of their swing faults. The Wilson Launch Pad fairway wood will help reduce a slice and provide assistance for the golfer who struggles to get the ball in air from the fairway.
As you'd expect from the name, the Wilson Launch Pad fairway wood is all about providing a higher launch. That makes it one of the best fairway woods for high handicap golfers but it also merits inclusion in this list because a lot of decent level golfers have trouble with fairway woods and could use a little help.
The draw bias will also make it appealing to golfers who play to a decent standard but struggle with a slice, or even those who hit it fairly straight but would like to be able to work the ball from right to left. As with a lot of Wilson gear, it's also one of the best value products out there so it's certainly worth a look if you're looking to shake things up with your fairway woods this year.
- Read our full Wilson Launch Pad Fairway Wood Review
How do 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 our reviews 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 and see what has changed from the previous year.
After we have an understanding here, 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 premium balls and the GCQuad launch monitor. We also use TrackMan at golf facilities across the UK. We then do outdoor testing on various ranges before we then put the clubs into play out on the golf course.
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 new fairway wood
What factors do you need to consider when trying to fill the fairway wood slot in your bag? Let's take a look.
Loft - You need to know the specific gap you are trying to fill in your golf bag. How far does your driver go, and how far do your longest irons or hybrids go? Knowing this will then dictate what loft your fairway wood needs to be to fill the gap.
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 Radspeed 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. A mid-handicap player will likely look for something in the middle.
Adjustability - Most models these days come with a degree of adjustability whether it be loft, weight movement, shaft and so on. Therefore have a think about how important adjustability is to you because you can change the characteristics of a club if you want to. Alternatively you can just keep things simple with other models as well.
Versatility - Fairway woods need to be able to work off the tee, on the ground in different lies, and also occasionally around the green. If you have a model that works in only one of these ways, then there are definitely models out there to help you improve.
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 and therefore you need something that gives you confidence and makes your playing partners jealous with envy. Therefore go and pick several models and see how they look and feel in your hands.
Budget - Finally be aware of your budget. You can go for more premium models, such as the TaylorMade Qi10 from TaylorMade, or you can go for cheaper designs like the Wilson Launchpad. Wherever you fall in terms of price point, there is something for everyone.
For more buying advice for golf clubs, be sure to check out our guides on the best golf club sets for beginners, best golf drivers, or the best putters.
FAQs
What is the best brand of fairway wood?
When deciding on your next fairway wood it will be down to personal preference. Some will want a forgiving fairway wood, whilst some will want one that provides distance. There is also the matter of how good it looks at address, with some going for looks.
What do I need from a fairway wood?
A fairway wood should provide sufficient forgiveness and distance. They are arguably the toughest clubs to hit in the bag, so it's crucial that you find one that is comfortable to hit and will provide confidence at address.
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