Best Golf Fairway Woods of 2026

Jason Kiser Avatar
Jason Kiser
Last Updated: Jan 8, 2026

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Golf fairway woods are essential clubs for any golfer's bag. Designed to hit long, accurate shots from the fairway or rough, they are typically used for approach shots to the green. Modern fairway woods feature advanced technology such as adjustable weights and loft settings, which allow golfers to fine-tune their shots for maximum distance and accuracy. They are available in a variety of materials, including titanium and steel, and come in a range of lofts to suit players of all skill levels. With their versatility and power, fairway woods are a valuable addition to any golfer's game.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

TaylorMade SiM 2 Max Steel Fairway 3 Wood Cover #TOP 1
TaylorMade SiM 2 Max Steel Fairway 3 Wood
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max Fairway Wood Cover #TOP 2
Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max Fairway Wood
ftb score rating icon 9.8
TaylorMade Stealth 2 #3 Fairway Wood Cover #TOP 3
TaylorMade Stealth 2 #3 Fairway Wood
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Golf Fairway Woods

#TOP 1

TaylorMade SiM 2 Max Steel Fairway 3 Wood

N7361407
Black/Light Grey
Large
TaylorMade SiM 2 Max Steel Fairway 3 Wood Cover
TaylorMade Golf SIM 2 MAX STEEL FAIRWAY MENS RIGHT HAND GRAPHITE REGULAR 3 WOOD , BLACK/LIGHT GREY

The TaylorMade SiM 2 Max Steel Fairway 3 Wood features a multi-material construction with a larger 190cc head design for explosive distance, enhanced forgiveness, and high launch. Its updated V Steel design and depressed heel and toe minimize sole area, enhancing forgiveness and maintaining low CG properties for versatile turf interaction. The C300 Steel Twist Face technology allows for a strong, fast face engineered for explosive ball speeds and straighter shots. Additionally, the Thru-Slot Speed Pocket provides increased face flexibility, ball speed and distance, especially on low face strikes.

What We Like
Multi-material construction for explosive distance, enhanced forgiveness, and high launch
Updated V Steel design for versatile turf interaction and forgiveness
C300 Steel Twist Face technology for explosive ball speeds and straighter shots
#TOP 2

Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max Fairway Wood

Paradym Ai Smoke MAX
Black
3 Wood
Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max Fairway Wood Cover
Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max, Fairway 3 Wood, Graphite, Regular

The Callaway Paradym Fairway Wood features innovative technology designed to enhance your game. Its AI Smart Face provides exceptional performance by optimizing ball speed and launch, making it easier for you to achieve distance. The lighter and stronger carbon chassis offers a significant improvement in feel and control, allowing you to swing with confidence. Additionally, the Tungsten Speed Cartridge is engineered to deliver high speed and optimal launch conditions, ensuring that you get the most out of each shot. With refined shaping and adjustability, this fairway wood provides versatility, enabling you to adapt to different course conditions.

What We Like
AI technology for better performance
Lightweight, strong carbon construction
High speed and optimal launch
Versatile and adjustable design
#TOP 3

TaylorMade Stealth 2 #3 Fairway Wood

Black
TaylorMade Stealth 2 #3 Fairway Wood Cover
TaylorMade Stealth 2#3 Fairway, Ventus Extra Stiff Flex

The TaylorMade Stealth Fairway is designed to improve your game with its 15-degree loft, which helps you get the ball airborne easily and achieve a good distance. Its extra stiff flex shaft is perfect if you have a faster swing speed, providing you with more control and accuracy. The club comes with a TaylorMade headcover to protect your fairway wood when not in use, although the adjustment tool is not included. This fairway wood is a solid choice if you want a reliable club that combines power and precision on the course.

What We Like
15-degree loft for easy launch
Extra stiff flex for control
Protective headcover included
Designed for fairway shots
#TOP 4

TaylorMade Qi35 Fairway Wood

M1450809
Matte Grey
Standard
TaylorMade Qi35 Fairway Wood Cover
TaylorMade Golf Qi35 Fairway 15 Degree Stiff Right Handed

The TaylorMade Qi35 Fairway offers a smart design that blends different materials like chromium carbon, steel, and aluminum to give you a smooth performance no matter the lie or condition. It includes a 4° adjustable loft sleeve so you can easily fine-tune your shot distance, ball flight, and face angle to fit your style. You'll also appreciate the confidence from its well-shaped address position, paired with Twist Face technology and a Thru-Slot Speed Pocket that help improve your ball speed and accuracy. Plus, the new TSS weighting system lets you adjust swing weight precisely, providing better control and feel during your game.

What We Like
Multi-material construction
Adjustable loft sleeve
Twist Face technology
Thru-Slot Speed Pocket
TSS weighting system
#TOP 5

COBRA DARKSPEED X Fairway Wood

Darkspeed X
Black
4 1/4"
COBRA DARKSPEED X Fairway Wood Cover
Cobra Golf DARKSPEED X Fairway

The COBRA DARKSPEED X is designed to help you improve your game with advanced technology. Its sleek shape reduces air resistance, allowing you to swing faster and more smoothly. The club's design takes inspiration from professional tours, giving you a feel of high-level performance. The larger PWRShell combined with an AI-engineered H.O.T. face helps you achieve quicker ball speed, which can lead to longer and more consistent shots. With these features, the COBRA DARKSPEED X offers a great balance of speed and control, making it easier for you to hit powerful and accurate fairway shots.

What We Like
Improved aerodynamics
Tour-inspired design
AI-designed face technology
Enhanced ball speed
#TOP 6

TaylorMade Qi35 Max Fairway Wood

M1452607
Matte Grey
Standard
TaylorMade Qi35 Max Fairway Wood Cover
TaylorMade Golf Qi35 Max Fairway 15.5 Degree Regular Right Handed

The TaylorMade Qi35 Max offers a smart design with advanced materials like chromium carbon, steel, and aluminum working together to give you a club that's both strong and lightweight. Its large head shape makes it easy to launch the ball and forgiving on off-center hits, helping you get better results even if your swing isn’t perfect. The new swing weight system lets you adjust the feel of the club to match your style, giving you more control. Plus, the improved center of gravity and refined head design deliver more energy to the ball and versatile performance on different shots. The TaylorMade Qi35 Max is built to help you play with confidence.

What We Like
Advanced multi-material build
Large, forgiving clubhead
Adjustable swing weight
Improved energy transfer
#TOP 7

Orlimar Golf Escape Fairway Wood

OR023761
Black
41.5"
Orlimar Golf Escape Fairway Wood Cover
Orlimar Escape #9 Fairway Wood Golf Club for Men, Right Hand, Regular Flex Graphite Shaft

The Orlimar Escape Fairway Wood is a specialty club with a wide range of lofts, from a 3-wood to a 15-wood. It has a shallow face height that promotes accuracy and confidence for those not comfortable with hybrids or irons. The low center of gravity allows for a high launch and soft landing on the green. It is sold individually and comes with a matching head cover. The #9 wood has a 26-degree loft, a square face angle, regular flex, and a custom grip.

What We Like
Wide range of lofts
Shallow face height for accuracy and confidence
Low center of gravity for high launch and soft landing
#TOP 8

Wilson Ultra BLK Fairway Wood Right Hand

Black/Silver
Fairway Wood
Wilson Ultra BLK Fairway Wood Right Hand Cover
Wilson Men's Ultra BLK Fairway Wood - Right Hand

The Wilson Ultra BLK Wood is designed to help improve your golf game with a low center of gravity that makes it easier to get the ball airborne and achieve better control. Its lightweight graphite shaft provides a smooth swing without tiring your arms, while the aluminum head’s compact design offers precise lift for more accurate shots. You’ll also appreciate the large sweet spot, which helps you hit the ball cleanly and reach the ideal launch height more consistently. This club is a great choice if you want a combination of power, control, and ease of use on the fairway.

What We Like
Low center of gravity
Lightweight graphite shaft
Compact aluminum head
Large sweet spot
#TOP 9

COBRA Aerojet MAX Fairway Wood

F7621RGL3
BLACK
COBRA Aerojet MAX Fairway Wood Cover
Aerojet MAX Women's Fairway

The COBRA Aerojet Fairway is designed to help you get more distance and control on your shots. Its unique suspended bridge weighting allows the clubface and sole to flex freely, giving you faster ball speed. The forged PWRSHELL face insert, combined with an AI-designed variable thickness pattern, helps launch the ball higher and faster, improving your overall performance. The carbon fiber crown lowers the center of gravity, making it easier to hit higher shots with more forgiveness. This means you get a club that is both powerful and forgiving, helping you play better on the course.

What We Like
Suspended bridge weighting
Forged PWRSHELL face
AI-designed face pattern
Carbon fiber crown
#TOP 10

Callaway GBB 2023 Fairway Wood

Great Big Bertha 23
Black/Charcoal
Standard
Callaway GBB 2023 Fairway Wood Cover
Callaway 2023 GBB, Fairway 3 Wood, Graphite, Regular

The Callaway GBB Fairway Wood is designed to help you get more power in your shots with its advanced titanium build. This material makes the club strong yet lightweight, allowing you to swing faster and hit the ball farther. It also features a Forged Carbon sole, which improves the club’s durability and feel, giving you better control. Additionally, the club uses multi-material weighting, which helps increase ball speed and makes it easier to get consistent, forgiving shots even if you don’t hit the ball perfectly every time. Overall, this wood is built to boost your game with speed and accuracy.

What We Like
Powerful titanium construction
Forged Carbon sole
Multi-material weighting
Increased ball speed
Improved forgiveness
Buying Guide Image

The Best Golf Fairway Woods to Buy Right Now

Consider Your Skill Level

When choosing golf fairway woods, it's important to consider your skill level. Beginner golfers may want to opt for fairway woods with a larger club head, which can help to increase the size of the sweet spot and make the club more forgiving on off-center hits. More advanced golfers, on the other hand, may prefer a smaller club head for greater control and accuracy.

Take a Test Swing

Before purchasing a fairway wood, it's a good idea to take a test swing with the club to see how it feels. Pay attention to the weight of the club and how well balanced it feels in your hands. The right fairway wood should feel comfortable and easy to swing, allowing you to generate a smooth, powerful swing.

Look at the Club Head

When choosing a fairway wood, it's important to pay attention to the club head. The club head should be made of a durable material, such as stainless steel, and should have a sleek, aerodynamic design to help reduce drag and improve club head speed. In addition, the club head should have a shallow face to help you launch the ball high into the air.

Consider the Shaft

The shaft of the fairway wood is another important factor to consider. The shaft should be made of a high-quality material, such as graphite or steel, and should have the right flex to match your swing speed. For example, a golfer with a slower swing speed may want to choose a shaft with a higher flex, while a golfer with a faster swing speed may prefer a shaft with a lower flex.

Choose the Right Loft

The loft of the fairway wood is also an important factor to consider. The loft of the club determines the angle of the face, and therefore the trajectory of the ball. Fairway woods typically have lofts ranging from 13 to 25 degrees, with lower lofts producing a lower, more penetrating ball flight and higher lofts producing a higher, more lofted shot. It's important to choose the right loft for your game, based on the shots you typically hit and the distances you want to achieve.

Conclusion

In conclusion, choosing the right golf fairway woods involves considering your skill level, taking a test swing, looking at the club head, considering the shaft, and choosing the right loft. By considering these factors, you can find fairway woods that will help you hit longer, straighter shots and improve your overall golf game.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I choose a golf fairway wood?

When choosing a golf fairway wood, consider the spin levels. Higher spin levels are suitable for golfers with slower swing speeds or those who want the ball to stop quickly upon impact. Lower spin levels are preferred by players with fast swing speeds.

2. Does a 7 wood go further than a 3 hybrid?

The distance of a 7 wood and a 3 hybrid can be similar. Although the 7 wood has a longer shaft, its weaker loft compensates for the distance, resulting in comparable distances to the 3 hybrid.

3. What's easier to hit, a fairway wood or a hybrid?

Hybrids are generally easier to hit compared to fairway woods. They offer better accuracy and are easier to hit in general. While fairway woods are great for tee shots and distance, hybrids are more suitable for second and third shots on long holes.

4. What is easier to hit, a 3 hybrid or a 5 wood?

If you need versatility and the ability to hit from various lies, a 3 hybrid (rescue club) is recommended. Hybrid clubs are easier to hit from rough or thin lies, making them more versatile in different situations.

5. What is easier to hit, a 7 wood or a 4 hybrid?

Both a 7 wood and a 4 hybrid can provide a high trajectory and similar distances. However, the 4 hybrid is generally easier to control and more versatile in different playing conditions. Golfers with high swing speeds may find the 7 wood offers more distance.

Editor's Notes

During our golf fairway wood research, we found 24 golf fairway wood products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 7,841 customer reviews through our big data system to write the golf fairway woods list. We found that most customers choose golf fairway woods with an average price of $223.10.

The golf fairway woods are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of golf fairway woods, including TaylorMade, Callaway, COBRA, Orlimar, WILSON. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 183 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.

Written by
Jason Kiser Avatar

Jason Kiser is an editor who lives in California, he previously worked in a travel agency for ten years, which enabled him to travel a number of interesting countries and experience several different cultures along the way. His range of job and travel experiences grant him expertise in hiking, camping, outdoors and fitness.