Last Update: 14 Jan 2021
10 Best Fairway Woods for High Handicappers Review
TaylorMade M4 Fairway Wood
5/5
Best Choice
Vixa V12 Fairway Wood Golf
5/5
Best Value
Taylor Made Men's Fairway
5/5
Premium Pick
Table of Contents
Overtime, fairway woods have been regarded among the professionals as a notorious club that is hard to hit. Most experts recommend it as one of the best clubs for amateurs and high-handicappers. But, although the best fairway woods for high handicappers is a very useful club for golfers, most golfers don’t know where to start.
So we have a contrast. Improvement in technologies and modern golfing engineering has revolutionized fairway woods. It has made it one of the best woods for handicappers. Forgiveness, distance, and ball flight are few of the features that characterize fairway woods.
We will walk you through important information about the best fairy woods. Not this, we will show you how to buy them and answer some of your questions.
Top 10 Best Fairway Woods for High Handicappers Review
1
TaylorMade M4 Fairway Wood
Our very first product on our review of the best fairway woods is the TaylorMade M4 Fairway Wood. It’s a little surprise coming from a brand that has been around since 1979.
Shaped for optimal playability…
The latest innovations and quality engineering make the M4 Fairway wood one of the best game improvement fairway woods. For ultimate forgiveness, the wood features lighter carbon materials in the head and sole. By strategically repositioning the materials to save weight, it creates a lower center of gravity.
Split weight mass pads also distribute weight to the perimeter of the head for more stable use. Plus, an advanced speed pocket boosts ball speed across the clubhead for more forgiveness and distance. As a result, any golf player can use the fairway wood.
Geocoustic technology…
This refers to low profile shape and a large footprint that lets you use the club easily for an easier launch. This affects the sole and improves sound and feel during use. The technology optimizes sound and playability in a larger footprint. More than this, a flouted hosel improves the feel and sound without shifting the location of the center of gravity.
Key Features:
- Low profile shape and large footprint lets you launch the ball easily
- 5-layer carbon crown creates a lower center of gravity by saving up to 8-grams for a higher launch and reduced spin
- Split weight mass pads on the club increase perimeter weight distribution and moment of inertia
- Fluted hosels improved the sound and feel for optimal playability
Specification:
- Brand: TaylorMade
- Hand orientation: Right
- Shaft material: Graphite
- Flex: Regular
- Advantage
- New geocoustic technology
- 5-layer carbon crown
- More distance and forgiveness
- Headcover
- Flexible shaft
- Disadvantage
- Some users didn’t find much forgiveness on off-centered hits
- Headcover didn’t come with some products
2
Vixa V12 Fairway Wood Golf Club
Finally, a product to disrupt the reign by TaylorMade clubs. The Vixa V12 Fairway lets men and women hit the ball with more confidence and accuracy.
Combine ultra-tight with more distance…
In most cases, ultra-tight wood clubs don’t give much distance. However, the Vixa V12 Fairway Wood Golf Club gives ultra-tight performance without sacrificing distance. The clubhead measures 1.4 inches from the top to bottom, a measure that we consider slim by fairway wood standards.
As a result, it places the center of the ball below the equatorso. This way, you catch the ball high on the face. Its metal and slender profile also allow you to get the ball off and up the deck easily. Since it is slim, there is less space between the back and the edge of the club. As a result, it moves the center of gravity forwards.
Heat-treated clubface…
The engineering of the Vixa V12 Fairway Wood Golf Club features outrageous heat treatment. This stretches the face thin while maintaining the durability of the wood. By using steel instead of titanium, the club is more flexible and offers more forgiveness on off-center strikes.
Key Features:
- The design of the club conforms to the legal rules for tournament play
- Smooth gliding sole on the wood gets under the ball and its dynamic loft lets you pick the ball easily
- Heat-treated surface lets you hit high-launching and long-carrying shots
- Low-profile design allows extra control and more accuracy
Specification:
- Brand: Autopilot
- Hand orientation: Right
- Shaft material: Graphite shaft with SS clubface
- Flex: Ladies
- Advantage
- Perfect for men and women
- Flexible stainless steel
- Legal for all tournaments
- Easy to swing
- High launches
- Disadvantage
- A bit hard to use at first
- Some golfers don’t enjoy the ladies shaft
3
Taylor Made Men's RBZ Fairway
The Taylor Made Men’s lets you improve your golf game. The TaylorMade Men’s RBZ Fairway is a part of the new generation of RBZ. The clubhead features powerful performance and aggressive styling. This updated version features a revolutionary speed pocket that lets you launch the ball higher.
New generation, new design…
It also increases your distance. Designed with a shallower profile, a lowered center of gravity enhances playability. The mass pad is also strategically positioned to optimize sound, feel, and launch on every shot. Combine all of these features and you have a new generation of the clubhead with an improved design.
Improved appearance…
More than improved performance, the club has an improved appearance. New satin black finish and details on the crown improve the appearance and alignment of the product. Sold with a headcover, the clubhead weights 43g grams.
The speed pocket design plus groundbreaking design by the brand sets quality build as the threshold for measuring performance. The shape of the head is less triangular and offers more forgiveness. All of these features make it one of the easy to hit fairway woods.
Key Features:
- The improved speed pocket design creates a higher launch for more carry distance
- The mass pad is strategically positioned for optimal feel, launch, and sound
- New satin black finish gives it an elegant detail and a conspicuous appearance
- Shallow profile increases playability by lowering the center of gravity
Specification:
- Brand: TaylorMade
- Hand orientation: Right
- Shaft material: RocketFuel 65 graphite
- Flex: Stiff
- Advantage
- Solid flex face
- Easy to hit
- Long-distance
- Great feel and balance
- Lightweight
- Disadvantage
- The headcover looks cheap
- The grip appears thinner for golfers with large hands
4
MW8 Moon Wood
Another product by Autopilot, the MW8 Moon Fairway Wood lets you hit the green from a long distance. It comes in especially handy for recreational golfers that struggle to get a high launch and long distance on the ball.
More control with a shorter length…
One of the major advantages of having a short wood is that it allows more control than the very long ones. Interestingly, the MW8 Moon Fairway Wood combines mid-irons, woods, and hybrids for more launch height and accurate shots over a long distance.
The combination of all three materials gives a higher launch than an average mid-iron or fairway wood. Ultra-low face design also helps to improve your shot, a feature that comes in handy for young and senior players.
Higher and legal…
The club is legal for use in a legal golf tournament as it conforms to the rules of golf. Since it is shorter than most hybrid clubs, it is easier to control and more comfortable. It also allows more upright and consistent swings. Low center of gravity and wide curved sole increases your trajectory and ensures minimal resistance on turf contact.
Key Features:
- The wood is reliable as it conforms to the legal rules of the golf tournament
- It ranks among the easy to hit fairway woods with its short shaft
- More upright swing for a clean and center contact
- Curved extra-wide sole lets it glide through cleaning for minimal resistance on turf contact
Specification:
- Brand: AutoPilot
- Hand orientation: Right
- Shaft material: Graphite shaft with stainless steel
- Flex: Senior
- Advantage
- Cleaner turf contact
- High flight
- Easy to control
- Legal for tournament
- Quick launch and long-distance
- Disadvantage
- Some users don’t like the senior flex
- For right-handed users only
5
2018 Cobra Golf Men's
Designed by Cobra Golf, the 2018 Cobra Golf Men’s is another golf club that promises excellent performance. Among its many exciting features, dual rail system and ultralight carbon fiber crown stand out.
What’s with the fiber crown…
The 2018 Cobra Golf Men’s King F8 Fairway features a lighter 4-ply carbon fiber crown. This saves discretionary weight by moving the center of gravity lower and deeper. This results in increased forgiveness and a higher trajectory. Plus, it features a progressive baffler dual rail system design that utilizes steeper or shallower rails.
Although it depends on the angle of attack and loft, it improves forgiveness and versatility from any lie. There is a fixed and interchangeable weight in the lower back. Thanks to this, there is a high towering ball flight for more carry distance. This places it among the rank of the most forgiving fairway woods.
Strong stainless…
All of the above-mentioned features, when combined with a forged E9 475 stainless steel face insert, promise durable performance. The forged stainless steel maximizes the flex for more distance and increased ball speed across the face of the club.
Key Features:
- Steeper and shallower rails improve versatility and forgiveness on the club from any lie
- Ultralight 5-ply carbon fiber crown moves the center of gravity for more forgiveness and higher trajectories
- 360 aero-innovative polymer around the perimeter improves drag reduction face-on through the downswing for maximum speed
- Smart rail-8 with My Fly8 easily adjustable loft settings lets you manage trajectory and fine-tune the launch conditions for more distance
Specification:
- Brand: Cobra Golf
- Hand orientation: Right
- Shaft material: Graphite
- Flex: Regular
- Advantage
- Adjustable loft settings
- Higher trajectories
- Improve drag reduction
- Versatile from any lie
- Thick stainless steel face
- Disadvantage
- Some customers didn’t receive the tool to adjust the loft with the package
- A bit heavy for a 60-year old user
6
Callaway Golf 2020 Mavrik Max Fairway Wood
Jailbreak technology and triaxial carbon crown give the Callaway Golf 2020 Mavrik Max Fairway Wood more flight and forgiveness.
Jailbreak technology…
The Callaway Golf 2020 Mavrik Max Fairway Wood features improved Jailbreak technology. This includes two Jailbreak bars that harden the entire body of the club. As a result, it places more influence load upon the face. The result is more distance and enlarged ball speed.
Another one like it is the triaxial carbon crown composite material that is stronger and lighter than steel. There is also a fixed hosel that, combined with the saved weight of the carbon crown, reduces the weight of the club. This makes it easy to pull the center of gravity lower for an easy launch.
Boeing Aero packaging…
The package of the club is such that it allows better airflow and speed. This is possible through a refined shape, position, and size of the speed step. There is an internal standing wave technology that positions the center of gravity with precision.
Key Features:
- The proprietary triaxial carbon material is lighter and stronger than steel, hence it increases the moment of inertia
- Jailbreak Technology stiffens the body of the wood to place more impact load on the face for more ball distance
- Internal standing wave technology positions the center of gravity low and forward for a higher launch and low spin
- Refined industry-leading aero package positions the speed step for better airflow and club speed
Specification:
- Brand: Callaway
- Shaft Material: Graphite
- Flex: regular
- Spin: Low
- Advantage
- Not overly flexible
- Great distance and forgiveness
- Generic Callaway headcover
- Low profile and a great feel
- Easy to hit
- Disadvantage
- No tool or additional weight in the product package
- There are reports of dirt with smudges on the bottom of the shaft and head
7
Founders Club Fresh Metal
Half cord grip on the Founders Club Fresh Metal gives more control and makes it easier to hit.
Confidence for a consistent hit…
Designed to give confidence for a more consistent hit, the wood gives more accurate and high shots from the fairway. The offset also helps to cure the common slice. It does this by promoting high-ball flight for more control and increased distance.
Like other products by Founders club, the wood features the famous Founders Club rails and easy lie sole. This gives more confidence to your shot. The traditional rails on the sole give more stability as it raises the center of gravity. This way, you can play with the club from any lie. The high center of gravity also produces piercing ball flight for more distance on every shot.
Stylish design…
The grip on the club is stylish and fitted with a dual material half cord grip. There is also a matching headcover that is easily distinguishable from others. Plus, the wood is available with low torque graphite shafts in senior and regular flex.
Key Features:
- The clubhead is compact and solid on contact to give ball penetrating flight and distance
- Traditional rails raise the center of gravity on the sole for use on varieties of lies
- Stainless steel construction with mid-size profile head comes in handy for golfers that prefer small traditional size clubhead
- Half cord grips let you control the club for more efficiency
Specification:
- Brand: Founders Club
- Loft: 33.0 Degree
- Hand Orientation: Right
- Flex: Senio
- Advantage
- Sturdy design
- Free headcover
- Straight ball flight
- Good weighting
- Solid swing
- Disadvantage
- Not for left-handed golfers
- You might have to re-grip it if you prefer a larger grip
8
Callaway Men's Steelhead XR Fairway Wood
The second product by Callaway to make our list, the Callaway Men’s Fairway Wood gives an easy launch.
Iconic versatility…
The steelhead design of the Callaway Men’s Steelhead XR Fairway Wood combines beautiful shape and innovative Hawkeye sole. This enhances versatility by providing smooth turf interaction. This way, there is solid contact from any lie.
The shape of the head also lets you launch ball easily and makes the head more forgiving. The refined sole increases playability, and it is super-charged to promote more distance. Hyperspeed face cup design is efficient at delivering more distance and fast ball speed across the entire surface. This feature is handy, especially on mis-hits.
More forgiveness…
Engineered from direct input from aerospace experts, the speed step design improves aerodynamics for faster swing speed and ball distance. The Lightweight J-36 carbon crown also saves more space by repositioning the perimeter for an easier launch. It also allows more forgiveness, lower spin, and more power. Plus, the shorter hosel frees the weight in the head for an appealing look.
Key Features:
- The classic shape and modern sole design creates a versatile head that is easy to launch and inspires confidence
- Next-generation hyper speed face cup delivers more distance and fast ball speed across the entire face and on mis-hits
- Lightweight carbon crown provides extreme forgiveness and lets you launch the ball with more power and low spin
- Aerospace speed step design and shorter hosel lets you swing faster and frees up weight in the head
Specification:
- Brand: Callaway
- Hand Orientation: Left
- Shaft Material: Graphite
- Flex: Senior
- Advantage
- Premium stock shaft
- Fast head speed
- Fastball speed
- Very forgiving with good distance
- Ball travels straight
- Disadvantage
- Shaft came cracked for some customers
- Some users complained that the shaft had flakes and a large amount of sticker residue
9
Callaway Golf 2019 Epic Flash Fairway Wood
The 2019 Epic Flash lets all golfers get more ball distance and speed with its flash face technology. Not just this, Jailbreak technology, steel face cup, and an improved optifit hosel gives superior performance.
Artificial intelligence for more ball speed…
The Flash face technology offers a revolutionary ball speed package that lets golfers of all level swing for more ball speed and distance. This is possible by using machine learning in drivers and artificial intelligence. Innovative jailbreak technology combines two internal bars to place more impact on the face.
Since it stiffens the body, it gives fastball speed. A forged 455 carpenter steel construction combined with the two earlier mentioned features lets you hit the ball faster across the face. This also works for off-center and on-center hits.
Redesigned hosel system…
The Callaway Golf 2019 Epic Flash Fairway Wood features a redesigned hosel system that is lighter and shorter. The saved weight on the design positions the center of gravity for a high and long carrying flight, and an easy flight.
Key Features:
- The flash face design promotes ball speed for a longer distance for all golfers
- Carpenter steel construction with the face cup technology lets you get more distance and speed on off-and on-center hits
- Jailbreak technology with two internal bars places more load on the impact load on the face for more ball speed
- The hosel is lighter and shorter for easy launch and higher flight
Specification:
- Brand: Callaway
- Hand orientation: Right
- Flex: Regular
- Golf club loft: 15 degrees
- Advantage
- More impact load on the face
- Easy launch
- High long-carrying flight
- Flash face cup technology
- Strong carpenter steel construction
- Disadvantage
- Some customers didn’t receive the wrench with the package
- Not for lefties
10
Callaway Golf 2018 Rogue Fairway Wood
The Callaway Golf 2018 Fairway Wood place last on our list of the best fairway woods. If one thing is sure, it is that the brand has established itself as a force to reckon with in the golf business. Like most of its counterparts, the wood features renowned face cup technology and jailbreak technology. This makes the rogue one of the most powerful fairway wood by Callaway.
More than face cup technology…
The product features ultra-thing face technology that is extremely fast by itself. This plus the face cup technology promotes more speed. The combined effect of these technologies helps you to achieve long distances and faster ball speed.
Not only on center-face hits, but the wood also lets you score on off-center hits. The Rogue club also features internal standing wave technology in the iron that positions the center of gravity for tremendous accuracy. It also combines high launch and low spin for more distance.
Better packaging…
Callaway Rogue club features an industry-leading aero package that refines and positions the speed step to promote more airflow. It also gives the club more speed.
Key Features:
- The jailbreak effect on the wood is powerful and gives more forgiveness by placing more impact on the face load
- Ultra-thin face and face cup design makes the rogue faster to help golfers achieve fast ball speed on different hits
- Internal standing wave technology lowers the center of gravity and combines low spin and high launch for more distance
- Boeing aero package and an industry-leading selection of weight, shaft, and loft options
Specification:
- Brand: Callaway
- Hand orientation: Right
- Shaft material: Synergy, 60G
- Flex: Stiff
- Advantage
- Greater accuracy
- Easy to hit
- More forgiveness
- Right for the average golfer
- Straight and long
- Disadvantage
- Most users had to swap out the grip
- No weight adjustment tool
Things to Consider When Buying Fairway Woods for High Handicappers
1. Head Materials
Fairway woods feature different types of material. This includes steel, titanium, and a combination of more than one material. Steel clubs are not expensive and are durable. The durability of the material makes the wood forgiving and robust. Titanium clubs are not as heavy as steel clubs.
As expected, the lightweight feature comes in handy as it pushes the center of gravity lower. This allows you to get the ball into the air easily for more distance. Multi-material clubs, on the other hand, combine steel, carbon, titanium, and other types of material.
The combination of all of these materials reduces twisting on off-center hits and provides a better launch. For a decent buy, we recommend that you choose a golf club that features premium materials and quality engineering.
2. Shaft Material
Steel is the commonest shaft materials used for a fairway wood. This is because it offers more and lower penetrating ball flight. Plus, it is also more accurate than irons. However, flexible graphite is another material that high handicappers will appreciate. For players that don’t perform well with the steel shafts, the graphite shaft is a good option to consider.
Since it is available in multiple lengths and flexes, you can always find the right one for you. If you want, you can custom-fit it to suit your needs. We recommend that you check the weight, spin, and launch specifications on each shaft from the performance guide by the manufacturer. This way, you can perform a comparison for additional information.
3. Launch
High handicappers most times, find it difficult to get the ball into the air. Most fairway woods, especially the ones we have reviewed have a low center of gravity. Low and back weight positioning lets you optimize your launch. You should also look for a club with a lower loft since it allows for more distance. Hence, look for a club with a low and back center of gravity and a lower loft.
4. Adjustability
Although professional golfers appreciate the importance of an adjustable club, amateurs don’t often know its importance. Woods that lets you adjust the lie and loft come in handy to improve the overall quality of your play.
You can use this feature to improve your swing and correct your flaws to minimize miss. We recommend that you check for adjustment features in your club before buying. Not just to have it, you need to understand how to use the feature for optimal efficiency.
5. Distance
Improvement in technology and quality engineering affects how much distance your fairway wood provides. Since playing is pointless if you can’t get a good distance on your ball, you need a wood that can help you achieve a good distance.
Look for clubs that offer a good moment of inertia and lower spin. This lets you maximize the distance even on a slow swing. By twisting less on impact, you get more distance on your shots.
6. Forgiveness
Since you are not a professional, chances are that you won’t always strike the ball in the center. Hence, the need for forgiveness. The combination of all the earlier mentioned features directly affects how much forgiveness your club offers. In some clubs, the attempt to increase forgiveness means less distance or accuracy.
You need to balance forgiveness, distance, and accuracy. We recommend that you look for the most forgiving fairway wood that lets you offer more forgiveness without cutting down on the distance and accuracy.
7. Price Quality Ratio
Desirable fairway woods are durable and offer value for every purchase. Although golf clubs are expensive due to increasing demand, build quality and durable craftsmanship is important. The club should be sturdy to withstand years of usage without falling apart.
Expensive golfs clubs are not always the best except in cases where it hits twice as much as the one that is next to it. That is to say that you should avoid buying overly expensive clubs that don’t promise value. We recommend that you stay true to your budget and find a club that fits the range. If it is not worth the extra cash, do not buy it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are fairway woods any good?
Ans: Fairway woods give more distance and forgiveness on off-centered hits. So yes, they are good, provided that you intend to play golf with the club. Fairway woods provide enough forgiveness by moving the weight of the perimeter down the club. This gives a bigger sweet spot that makes it easy to launch with extreme forgiveness. All things considered, this type of club is best for high-handicappers.
Can a beginner use a fairway wood?
Ans: Fairway woods are in fact, one of the best woods for beginners. Since they are not hard to hit, it lets you maximize the distance where you need it. Two traits set the fairway wood apart from other clubs, and these are maximum forgiveness and high launch.
Although manufacturers present the qualities in different forms, they are handy for beginners. They are also light enough for more swing and ball speed. All of these features make it easier to get the ball in the air.
What brand of fairway wood should I look for?
Ans: Without any information, the question of which brand to look for is difficult. This is because many brands offer competitive products. As a result, it is difficult to pin down a particular brand as the best out of the many brands out there. The best brands are those that offer quality clubs that inspire confidence with usage.
More than your personal preference, we recommend that you go through the review for the best brands. Brands like TaylorMade, Callaway, Founders Club, and Cobra are giants in the golf accessories market. Pick a brand out of our review to make your purchase worth it. Read till the end to find our top two picks of the best out of the bunch.
How many fairway woods should I play with?
Ans: The ultimate decision of how many woods should you carry in your bag is a personal choice. If you ask us, three to five should be enough, provided that you are comfortable with it. You can experiment with different numbers until you find the right club that inspires confidence.
Hybrid vs Fairway wood?
Ans: Hybrid woods, although popular, are difficult to get into the air. However, we recommend that you test both types to find the best wood that suits your game. You can also combine the two types. However, remember to test them both for a comfortable fit.
Our Top Picks
Best Choice: TaylorMade M4 Fairway Wood
The TaylorMade M4 Fairway Wood Emerge as our top pick of the best fairway woods for handicappers in 2020. Advanced speed pocket design combined with inverted cone technology gives more forgiveness and more ball speed. It also gives a larger sweet spot for optimal performance.
The M4 features split internal weights that also promotes more ball speed and increases forgiveness across the face. As a result, golfers can find the center cut with more consistency. There is also the geocoustic technology that is a blend of acoustical and geometric engineering. This gives the club a superior feel and playability. Combine all of these features with the new 5-layer carbon crown and you have one of the best fairway wood.
Premium Pick: Taylor Made Men’s
Another feather in the cap for Taylormade, the TaylorMade Men’s RBZ Fairway, Black places second on our review. Like its M4 counterpart, the RBZ fairway features a strategically positioned mass that improves the feel and sound at impact. It also has a lower center of gravity that increases playability. Lightweight and compact, the clubhead is easy to swing.
Lightweight 55 RocketFuel shaft increases the speed on the product wood for more distance. Improved alignment and elegant detailing also add style to the build and appearance of the wood. Besides, it represents a powerful performance and aggressive style, an upgrade from the previous model. This and many more features make the Taylor Made Men’s RBZ Fairway our premium choice fairway wood of 2020.
Best Value: Vixa V12 Fairway Wood
The Vixa V12 for Men & Women is our best value pick on our list of the best fairway woods in 2020. It owes much of this to its amateur-friendly design for mid-to-high handicappers. This makes it one of the best game improvement fairway woods for amateurs.
It also doubles off the tee for a slight descending or a level blow. What this means is that it is accurate and easy to control even on ultra-tight fairways. Slim design gives little space between the edge and back of the wood.
By moving the center of gravity forward, it decreases the spin off the tee. This comes in handy for more yardage and added roll when the ball lands. The club has a low-profile and lets you get the ball up easily.
Bottom Line
Our review of the best fairway woods for high handicappers should provide some insight into how to buy the best golf clubs in the market. No product in the market can rival the performance of any of the products listed above. Although it looks like we have reviewed a few, they are the best fairway woods that money can buy.
These products offer extreme forgiveness and are easy to launch. The feel and sound are also unique and are extremely useful in a poor lie. All of the information above is important to make an informed decision. However, we recommend that you highlight your need and skill level to know the one that is best for you.
The TaylorMade M4 Fairway Wood and TaylorMade Men’s RBZ Fairway are our top picks of the bunch. Guess this is an answer to the question of the best brand since both products are by the same brand.
John Delrio
John Delrio and his team will share their wealth of golfing knowledge. John Delrio is a professional writer and golfing expert.
Trending Today
