Fairway Woods Buyers Guide

Which Loft/Number Should I Choose?

Getting the correct loft and gapping in your fairway woods is vital. The majority of golfers will choose a 3 wood as this can be used as a safety club from the tee or it is a club that can be used for a long second shot. If you have a moderate to high swing speed a 15 degree 3 wood will be perfect. If you are a very strong hitter you may find that a stronger 3+ (13 degree) would suit better.

For some golfers with a slower swing speed a 3 wood from the fairway just doesn’t get into the air and for those players please look at a 5 or 7 wood as these can actually go further for those with slower swing speeds.

Most golfers would generally carry two fairway woods and we would suggest that you choose your secondary fairway wood by pitching it in between your longest fairway club and your longest rescue club. In fact you may find that just one fairway club is enough and this is fine.

Here is a brief guide to the lofts

• 13 to 14 degrees – This is termed as a strong 3 wood and will have a lower trajectory than a standard 3 wood.
• 15 to 16 degrees – This is were your standard/classic 3 wood will sit.
• 16 to 17 degrees – This is were the modern 4 wood will be positioned. It will be a strong 4 and a good alternative if you struggle with a 3 wood.
• 17 to 19 Degrees – A few years ago you would have classed this as a 4 wood but with modern day technology we would say this is a 5 wood and for many ladies this would be the three wood loft.
• 19 to 21 – This is the old loft of a 5 wood but this would be classed as a 7 wood these days. It is a good safety club from the fairway or nice when you are just of the edge of the fairway.
• 22 and above – The higher lofts like these are up to a number 13 wood (yes we have seen 13 woods) but with the introduction of the hybrid style clubs these lofted would are quite rare these days

Although the number of the club is important you must always be aware of the loft as you could purchase a 16 degree 3 wood and an 18 degree 5 wood and you will hardly notice any difference between the two.

What about the length of club?

To get the most out of your fairway wood we would suggest that you stick with the standard length of club. We would not recommend that you ever make it any longer as this will make the club very difficult to control however if you do struggle with a fairway wood it might help to have it made a little shorter as this may well help you strike it better and in effect get more distance.

Is the lie angle important?

Lie angle in all clubs is very important and if this is incorrect it will cause you to hit wayward shots. However with the majority of fairway woods you cannot alter the lie angle but in the main this is fine as they tend to have a rounded sole which does not dig into the ground and when you play from the fairway you do not take much of a divot. The good news is that many top brands now have adjustable club heads and you can make it flatter or more upright.

What shaft flex should I choose?

The majority of clubs will have the option of ladies, lite, regular and stiff flex and choosing the correct flex is really important. The vast majority of golfers (men) would not go to far wrong with a regular shaft and as long as you swing speed is between 80 and 95 mph this should suit you nicely.

If you have a faster swing and perhaps a single figure handicap you could look towards a stiff flex but remember a stiffer flex is usually a bit heavier in it’s feel and a touch harder to get into the air.

A player with a slow swing speed (under 80 mph) should really choose a lighter shaft (lite) as they will be able to generate extra speed and gain more distance with this type of shaft

What about the head size?

The majority of fairway woods are similar in size so you do not get the big heads like the drivers. That being said you do get some manufactures that will give you some variations. As a guide if you find a fairway wood that is shallower in design you will generally find that this will lift the ball into the air a touch quicker. On the flip size when you have a fairway wood that has a deeper head shape this will often keep the shot on a lower flight.

Titanium or Steel – A few years ago you could find a few manufactures that made titanium headed clubs but they never really got the balance quite right. Due to the fact that a fairway wood is smaller in size the majority are steel heads. That being said we have seen one or two brands make some titanium heads and they have been very good but you do not get much of a choice in this area.

Graphite or Steel Shaft?

We would recommend that the majority of golfers choose a graphite shaft. This is lighter and the quality of the modern graphite shaft is exceptional. Tiger Woods used to use a steel shaft and a lot of players thought it still had some merit but you do not see many golfers using steel shafts these days. Stick to graphite.

Should I Use a headcover? We say yes. It is not in the rules and a metal headed club can take a bashing but let’s face it it’s nice to look down at a good looking shiny club head. Also the resale value will be higher if you keep a cover on it.

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