Golf is a sport that requires the player to swing his or her golf club in order to hit a ball into the air and then hit that ball with their other golf club. The goal of the game is to complete as many holes as possible within the time limit.
The 3 wood or 5 wood for high handicapper is a question that many golfers have. It’s important to know which club you should buy before you go out and buy one.
Buying a golf fairway wood is not an easy task for beginners. There are so many different brands and models to choose from, it can be overwhelming. In this guide, we will go over the basics of what you should consider before buying your first set of golf clubs.
The 3 wood or 5 wood for high handicapper is a question that has been asked many times before. This article will provide golfers with the information they need to make an informed decision about their next purchase.
Having fairway woods you can rely on, whatever of your skill level, makes the game a lot easier and more enjoyable. Fairway woods’ design, distance, and forgiveness have all increased as golf technology has progressed.
This means that players have a variety of choices for maximizing the ability of their fairway woods to produce long, straight shots from the tee, the fairway, the rough, and even fairway bunkers. In this post, we’ll go over what makes fairway woods special, their different components, and how to choose the best fairway woods for you.
What is a Fairway Wood and what qualities does it have?
Fairway woods have some similarities to drivers, but there are a few significant differences:
- Fairway woods vary in size from 140 to 180cc, whereas drivers have huge clubheads of 440cc or more.
- Fairway woods have a considerably shorter face than drivers, enabling you to get the ball airborne from the fairway or rough by keeping the center of gravity lower.
- Some fairway wood soles are designed to help hitting them from divots or thicker rough easier. This isn’t something you’ll find in today’s driving.
Fairway woods are a fantastic alternative to long irons since they are simpler to hit and go airborne than long irons. If you have trouble hitting long approach shots and like the appearance and form of a fairway wood, you might try replacing your 3- and 4-irons with fairway woods.
When is it appropriate to utilize a Fairway Wood?
The finest fairway woods are versatile enough to be utilized in a range of situations. Off the tee on tight or short par-4s, for long approach shots on par-5s and long par-4s, and from fairway bunkers are the most frequent uses for a fairway wood.
Fairway woods from around the greens, such as the fringe or densely mown areas, particularly those below the green’s surface, are one of the most unusual applications for fairway woods. Watch Bubba Watson hit it close in this video for a fantastic illustration of how effective fairway woods can be near the green.
If you struggle with your wedges on golf courses with collecting areas around the greens, a fairway wood is a great option for getting the ball up and down.
Their 7-wood will travel a golf ball between 175 and 190 yards depending on their swing speed. If you have a 3-wood, 5-wood, and 7-wood in your bag, each club should have a distance gap of 10-15 yards. You’ll be able to handle any approach between 180 and 240 yards without having to make half- or three-quarter swings this way.
Here are our top picks for beginner fairway woods:
Is it necessary for me to have a hybrid and a fairway wood?
Hybrid golf clubs have grown in popularity over the past ten years as a result of their flexibility and shot-making skills. Hybrids are often offered at lofts comparable to fairway woods, although they may be more difficult to launch.
The simplest method to determine if you should carry both hybrids and fairway woods is to try them out and see which one suits your game best. The proper mix of fairway woods and hybrids may make the game more manageable and enjoyable.
In my golf bag, which Fairway Woods should I have?
We’ll talk about which fairway woods you should have in your bag now that we’ve covered the fundamentals of fairway woods and loft. The solution is not as simple as it may seem.
The first question is, what kind of golf courses do you like playing? Traditional golf courses demand shots that fly higher and fall softer on the fairway and on the green, while links-style courses require shots that fly lower and run along the ground. You want as many fairway woods as your bag will allow if you play golf courses that demand softer landing shots.
Playing golf in consistently windy circumstances follows the same reasoning. Managing fairway woods in the wind may be more challenging than controlling long irons since they are intended for a high initial launch.
Because golf course conditions may change, a good rule of thumb is to always carry a 3-wood for tee shots and par-5 approaches, and at least a 5-wood depending on the weather and whatever course you’re playing.
The Most Important Characteristics of the Best Golf Fairway Woods
Now that you know the many kinds of fairway woods, how they’re classified, and which ones you should have in your bag, let’s look at the most essential question: What constitutes a great fairway wood?
You’ll know precisely what to look for when buying your next pair of fairway woods after you’ve completed this section.
Material of the Fairway Wood Head
Titanium is an excellent material for the face of the fairway wood since it is lighter than steel. Thinner faces generate greater distance than a normal steel clubface because they have a more spring-like effect. Furthermore, with less weight in the clubface, the manufacturer may put that weight below and behind the face, increasing stability and forgiveness on off-center smashes.
Fairway Woods are made of a composite material.
Despite the fact that composite materials cannot be utilized on the clubface or sole of the fairway wood, they create the lightest crown on contemporary fairway woods. The lighter a golf club’s crown can be, the more weight that can be put on the sole, which lowers the center-of-gravity, as is the case with Titanium fairway woods.
Why is it so essential for fairway woods to have a low center of gravity?
Increased initial launch with minimum spin is one of the most important aspects of having a low center of gravity. Moving as much weight as possible from the crown and clubface to the back portion of the sole is the simplest method for golf club makers to attain a low center of gravity. If you have trouble getting the ball airborne as a golfer, having fairway woods with low centers-of-gravity can greatly assist you.
This essay from ThoughtCo offers a wealth of information about COG, or center-of-gravity.
Here are our top picks for beginner fairway woods:
Length of Fairway Wood
It’s critical to have the right fairway wood length to get the greatest possible combination of trajectory, distance, and feel. Fairway wood shafts that are too long may throw off the swing weight and make them seem too light, while shafts that are too short won’t be able to generate enough speed to optimize distance.
Shafts for 3-woods should be no less than 42 inches and no longer than 43 inches. A 5-wood and a 7-wood should be about 41 and 40 inches in length, respectively. It’s critical to be properly suited before determining how long your fairway wood shafts should be.
Shafts of Fairway Wood
Steel shafts were utilized in all golf clubs, including fairway woods, throughout the duration of the twentieth century. However, most fairway woods have been marketed with graphite shafts in the past 20 years. The most significant argument for using graphite shafts instead of steel shafts in fairway woods is because lighter shafts are easier to swing quicker.
Because the typical steel shaft weighs 100 grams or more, while graphite shafts weigh 50-75 grams, graphite shafts will give you greater distance without sacrificing feel or consistency. Ladies (L), Senior (A), Regular (R), Stiff (S), and Extra-Stiff are the basic shaft flexes for both graphite and steel shafts. Another reason why a good fitting is important is that your swing speed will decide which shaft flex is ideal for you.
Adjustable Fairway Woods is a neighborhood in Fairfield, Connecticut.
When you were fitted for a fairway club in the past, you had to stay with the loft and lie angle they gave you or get another fairway wood with a different loft and lie angle. Adjustable fairway woods have grown increasingly popular in recent years, and are now the standard. Any golfer can now modify the loft, lay, and even face angle of the finest fairway woods with a simple tool.
What’s the point of adjusting your fairway woods?
The reasons for carrying adjustable fairway woods are identical to the reasons for carrying fairway woods instead of long irons or hybrids. You may wish to use a 3-wood or 5-wood with less or more loft as the weather or course circumstances vary to make it simpler to play. Rather of bringing ten different clubs for every possible situation, you may set up one club ten various ways before playing to maximize its playability on that specific day.
For a high handicapper, what is the best fairway wood?
Because the majority of high handicappers have trouble striking the ball straight and high, there are a few features they should look for when buying the finest fairway woods for their game.
- Fairway woods with greater loft and a lower center of gravity will aid high-handicap players in hitting the ball higher while reducing the amount of curvature on the golf ball.
- The moment-of-inertia is increased by a broader sole. The terminology is a bit confusing, but the key thing to remember is that a greater MOI means a more solid clubhead, which means less bending on off-center shots.
- Many fairway wood clubfaces have different thicknesses in different places, thus they aren’t all made equal. Fairway woods with variable face thickness will be even more stable and forgiving as the clubface thickness decreases towards the heel and toe, making them perfect for high handicappers.
Conclusion
Having the finest fairway woods will make your long approach shots and tee shots much simpler and more enjoyable, and I hope that this guide will assist you in finding the perfect combination of fairway woods to help you play your best golf.
Here are a few important points to keep in mind:
- The finest fairway woods are excellent for tee shots on short par-4s, striking high, soft approach shots into lengthy par-4s, and reaching par-5s in two shots.
- Extensive testing and fitting will assist you in finding the perfect combination of fairway woods with the correct loft, shaft flex, and lie angle. Even if you purchase your clubs online, being fitted is a good idea.
- You want fairway woods with a low center of gravity and a broad sole if you have a high handicap.
- Adjustability is a fantastic way to deal with a wide range of golf course and weather circumstances.
- Fairway woods may also be utilized in close-mown areas surrounding the green, giving you even more options.
You’ll be able to choose the finest golf fairway woods for your game and have more fun if you follow our advice.
Here are our top picks for beginner fairway woods:
If you are looking for a fairway wood, the 17 degree fairway wood is one of the best golf clubs on the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which fairway woods should I carry?
You should carry a 3 wood, 5 wood, or 7 wood.
When should I buy new fairway woods?
It depends on the golfer, but it is generally recommended to buy new fairway woods when they are in need of a change.
What is the most forgiving fairway wood?
The most forgiving fairway wood is the Callaway XR16 TP.
Related Tags
- fairway wood distance chart
- fairway wood loft chart
- fairway wood vs hybrid
- 5 wood vs 7 wood distance
- 7 wood golf club
The 17 degree fairway wood is a type of golf club that is designed to hit the ball over a distance. It is typically used for driving and high lofted shots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which fairway woods should I carry?
The most popular fairway woods are the Callaway XR 16, Cleveland 588 RTX, and TaylorMade R11.
When should I buy new fairway woods?
This is a difficult question to answer. The best thing you can do is to find out what type of player you are and what your budget is. If youre a beginner, its recommended that you start with the cheapest fairway wood. However, if youre an intermediate or advanced golfer, then it may be worth investing in a more expensive club.
What is the most forgiving fairway wood?
The most forgiving fairway wood is the Callaway X2 Hot Pro.
Related Tags
- fairway wood distance chart
- fairway wood loft chart
- fairway wood vs hybrid
- 5 wood vs 7 wood distance
- 7 wood golf club