Best 2021 fairway woods
Fairway woods can often be the clubs that amateur golfers most struggle to get on with. But if you find one you like, it can become a real asset that can be used on lots of different shots during the course of a round, so it pays to do your research. To give you an idea as to what might work best for you, we tested 13 of the latest 3-woods using Titleist Pro V1x balls, both on the Foresight Sports Gcquad launch monitor and on the course at Burghley Park, to see what you can expect.
Looks
You can split the clubs into three camps in terms of size. We prefer the more squashed profile and shallow face you find on models like the Taylormade SIM2 Ti, Titleist TSI2 and TSI3, Callaway Epic Speed and Ping G425 LST. Those looking for a more inviting address look may prefer the Taylormade SIM2 Max, Ping G425 Max and Callaway Epic Max, with the others fitting somewhere in between. The SIM2 Ti edged it for us. It sits flush to the ground and is very easy to align because of the white strip behind the face.
GM pick: Taylormade SIM2 Ti
Feel
The three that stood out here were the Srixon ZX, Callaway Epic Speed and Taylormade SIM2 Ti, all offering up a powerful, driver-like sensation at impact that translated into consistently long carries. But it was the Epic Speed, with its metallic sound and surprisingly explosive feel given its modest size, that won us over the most.
GM pick: Callaway Epic Speed
Performance
All the 3-woods on test performed well – there was only an eight-yard difference in average carry between the shortest (Wilson Staff D9) and the longest (Cobra Radspeed). While on distance alone the Cobra Radspeed was the obvious choice, the Titleist TSI3
“WHEN YOU FIND A FAIRWAY WOOD YOU REALLY LIKE, IT CAN BECOME A REAL ASSET” Joel Tadman, GM technical editor
was just a yard behind, gave us more ball flight control via its movable sole weight and worked well from the rough, making it our standout choice for overall performance.
GM pick: Titleist TSI3
Forgiveness
The woods with the larger heads, like the Ping G425 Max and Callaway Epic Max, provided the most stability on off-centre hits, ideal for inconsistent ball-strikers. Another notable here was the Honma TR21 Ti BIG-LB, which was consistently straight despite being slightly stronger in loft. But the Ping G425 Max was the most user-friendly for us, delivering excellent performance from a variety of strike points – especially those slightly low in the face.
GM pick: Ping G425 Max
Versatility
Here, we’re looking at whether the club can adapt to different courses or conditions and how it performs from different lies. The Mizuno ST-X stood out, cutting through longer grass with ease, as did the Ping G425 LST and Titleist TSI2. These are all adjustable for loft, too, so you can alter ball flight before you play should you want to. But it was the Cobra Radspeed that we would class as the most versatile on account of its impressive sole rails that help pop the ball out cleanly from iffy lies. The fact that it features adjustable loft and comes in four versions to cater for different player types enhances its versatility rating.
GM pick: Cobra Radspeed
Value
A no-brainer. The Cobra Radspeed was the longest model on average, the most versatile and comes in at a mere £229, which is considerably less expensive than many others on test!
GM pick: Cobra Radspeed