Fairways

How to choose a fairway wood

Pick the number before the brand. A 3 wood is around 15 degrees, a 5 wood around 18, a 7 wood around 21. Higher number means more loft, a shorter shaft and an easier club to hit. As a rule of thumb, take a 3 wood if you carry your driver more than 220 metres and a 5 wood if you do not.

Off the tee or off the deck. Most golfers buy a 3 wood for tee shots on tight holes and then discover they cannot hit it off the fairway. If the second shot is what you want it for, go up a number. A 5 wood you can hit off the deck is worth more strokes than a 3 wood you cannot.

Consider a mini driver instead. If you only want a club for tight tee shots, a mini driver does that job better than a 3 wood and is easier to hit. If you want a club for long second shots, it does not.

Which fairway wood is for you

• 3 woods, around 15 degrees. The longest fairway wood and the hardest to hit off the deck. Best off a tee, or for golfers with enough speed to get it airborne from the fairway.
• 5 woods, around 18 degrees. The one most golfers get more out of. Shorter shaft, more loft, far easier from the fairway and still long enough to matter on a par five.
• 7 woods and higher. Around 21 degrees and up. Launch high, land soft and are easier to hit than a long iron or even a hybrid for some golfers. A growing part of the category and worth trying if long irons have never worked for you.
• Mini drivers. Titleist GT280, PXG Secret Weapon, Callaway Quantum Mini, Tour Edge Exotics Mini. Bigger than a 3 wood and smaller than a driver, built for tee shots on holes where a driver is too much.
• High launch and lighter builds. XXIO and the ladies and seniors specifications across most brands. Lighter heads and softer shafts to help slower swings get the ball up.

Our take on fairway woods

If you are between a 3 wood and a 5 wood, take the 5. Almost nobody regrets it, and the golfers who tell you they hit their 3 wood well are usually talking about tee shots. The extra loft costs you very little carry and buys you a club you will actually use from the fairway.

Common questions

Should I buy a 3 wood or a 5 wood?

A 3 wood if you carry your driver more than about 220 metres and mostly want a tee club. A 5 wood if you want something you can hit off the fairway. Most club golfers are better served by the 5.

What is the difference between a fairway wood and a hybrid?

A fairway wood has a longer shaft and a shallower face, and it hits the ball further. A hybrid is shorter, easier to control and much better from the rough. Many bags carry both.

Can a 7 wood replace a long iron?

Yes, and for a lot of golfers it should. A 7 wood launches higher and lands softer than a 4 iron, which matters when you are trying to hold a green from distance.

You may also like

• All golf clubs
• Golf drivers
• Hybrids and utilities
• Golf irons
• TaylorMade clubs
• Callaway clubs
• Tour Edge clubs

Not sure which is right for your game? Every Drummond Golf store offers free MiMatch custom fitting. Our team analyses your swing and matches you to the right specs, at no cost and with no obligation to buy. Find your local store and book a fitting.