Top rated 5 woods

Choosing a 5 wood can be difficult for a golfer in 2023. The reason is that this fairway wood technology keeps getting better. If this is your first five wood or you think it may be time to upgrade, we have you covered with our top five favorite 5 woods for 2023 We made sure to put an option on our list for all handicap and player types.

TaylorMade SIM Max

Cobra Speedzone

Callaway Mavrik

Best 5 wood for 2022

Callaway Big Bertha B21 Fairway

The Callaway Big Bertha B21 is a very forgiving and easy to launch fairway wood. The overall design of the B21 is to help players get more distance from their shots. The B21 is going to appeal a bit more to the golfer with a higher handicap that needs help with getting a fairway wood shot up off the ground.

For those that struggle with a driver off the tee, the Callaway Big Bertha B21 is an excellent alternative to a driver. It has quite a bit of offset, which will help to reduce a slice and get players to hit a bit more of a draw vs. fade.

The B21 was designed using Callaway’s advanced artificial intelligence system. This helped Callaway to give golfers higher ball speeds for each individual fairway wood. As we have mentioned in the past, 5 wood shots off the fairway can be difficult for some lower swing speed players. Luckily with the enhanced ball speed and the easy launch, the B21 can get you the performance that you need.

Pros

• High launching
• Offset for slice reduction
• High ball speeds across the entire face

Cons

• A bit on the large side for a lower handicap golfer

Cobra Golf 2021 RADSPEED

The 2021 Cobra Radspeed is one of the newest fairway woods to hit the market. The Cobra Speedzone is our favorite overall fairway wood, so the Radspeed had quite a bit to live up to. You will notice right away that the CNC milled face and the Carbon Crown were continued on from the Speedzone design of last year.

In addition, the Hollow Split Rails that Cobra has incorporated into its long game technology are continuing with this new Radspeed release. Essentially what Cobra did with the Radspeed is they analyzed the materials used in the last few fairway wood releases, and they optimized them all.

This allows golfers to have a larger sweet spot, more ball speed, and increased forgiveness. The Radspeed is one of those drivers that will feel good from the tee and will also work from the fairway. With the ball speed and launch you can get with the Radspeed, it is a tool you will want in your bag.

Since the Radspeed is so adjustable, it can work for a wide range of handicaps.

Pros

• CNC Milled face
• Cobra connect technology
• Hollow Split rail for easy release from the rough

Cons

• New technology tends to be a bit expensive

TaylorMade SiM 2 Max Fairway

If you thought the SIM was the fastest 5 wood you have ever seen, then the Sim 2 Max Fairway is undoubtedly worth taking a look at. The head on the Sim 2 Max got even more extensive than the previous model, therefore making it a bit tougher to miss your next shot.

The center of gravity placement in the Sim 2 Max fairway is lower and ideal for the amateur player. Therefore the launch is higher, and the forgiveness is a bit better as well. Overall, you will notice that your misses will be considerably better when playing with the Sim 2 Max Fairway.

The same V Steel Design and Speed Pocket Technology have transferred to the new model. The differences you will notice will be the slightly higher ball speed and a different shape to the clubhead itself. The new body gives a somewhat more aerodynamic feel and a few more yards of distance.

Pros

• Very high ball speeds
• Good forgiveness regardless of the lie the ball is in
• Twist Face technology for better miss-hits

Cons

• Not all that much difference between the Sim and the Sim 2
• Probably not worth the upgrade if you already play the Sim Fairway

Cobra Speedzone

At the top of our list, as the best 5 wood, is the brand new release Cobra Speedzone. This is an improvement from the Cobra F8 driver of last year. It has seen some serious technological improvements. Golfers are finding that the split rail technology combined with the dual baffler rails and the CNC milled face helps to make the Cobra Speedzone stand out from the crowd.

The baffler rail technology helps golfers to get out of a less than ideal lie. This is very important when choosing a five wood. Most golfers will be more likely to hit a 5 wood out of the rough than a 3 wood. This is because of the increased loft in a five wood. With the lightweight carbon fiber crown and the rails, you can get this club though some pretty ugly lies.

Another reason we love the Speedzone is that the club is highly adjustable. You can change the loft or the face angle to make this fairway wood feel like a custom fit for you each time you head out to play. Even better than the adjustability, you can use the Cobra Connect technology to see how your game is progressing. A wide range of handicaps will find success with this 5 wood in their bag.

Pros

• Low spin
• Highly adjustable
• Easy to hit from rough

Cons

• Slightly smaller profile than other options on the market

TaylorMade SIM Max

TaylorMade has a way of helping the average golfer obtain very impressive ball speeds. With the TaylorMade SIM Max 5 wood in your hands, you will have the ability to create some very high clubhead speeds and get the ball headed a long way down the fairway.

If you feel as though a 5 wood in your bag would help you reach more long par fours and par fives, this is a great club to choose. The V Steel Sole on the SIM Max helps to improve turf interaction if you are hitting a shot out of the rough or from the fairway.

The SIM Max also has twist face technology, so you will have no issues keeping the ball straight with this club in your hand. Part of what helps the SIM Max get so much distance is the C300 steel face. The face is very strong, and the ball truly explodes from the face.

Pros

• Speed pocket technology
• Strong and hot face
• Tons of distance
• High ball speeds

Cons

• Expensive

Callaway Mavrik

The new Callaway Mavrik fairway woods are well known for being forgiving. These clubs were created using artificial intelligence, and they have a very large and high performing clubface. The clubface is made with a Flash Face SS20 technology, and it helps to get players some incredible ball speeds and very low dispersion.

The leading edge of the Mavrik is designed to help players achieve easy launch and higher ball flight. With a 5 wood in your hand, you will want to hit the ball a bit higher than a 3 wood. With a 5 wood, you may be hitting shots into the green that you will need to stop and hold their position.

The Mavrik is an adjustable golf club as well, so you can set the club to work well for your individual needs. If you have struggled with your long game for some time, the Callaway Mavrik could help make a significant difference.

Pros

• High ball speed
• Low spin
• High launch
• Adjustable

Cons

• Very large club head

Wilson Staff C300

Sometimes your golf game needs a new club, but the budget is not there. If that is the case, the Wilson Staff C300 is a great choice to consider. This club is very high performing, has a modern design, and it costs a fraction of what some of the other fairway woods in this category will cost.

Wilson Staff doesn’t get that much recognition for their fairway woods, but this club has all the features that the big name manufacturers have. Similar to the Speed Pocket in the TaylorMade gear, the Wilson Staff has their Power Hole Technology. This is used to get golfers lots of extra speed.

The C300 also has a large sweet spot constructed with 455 stainless steel. You will feel the ball jump off the face, and the ball speed results are impressive. If the look of the club matters to you, the red finish on the Wilson Staff will undoubtedly stand out.

Pros

• Interchangeable weights
• Power Hole technology
• Great ball speed
• Affordable

Cons

• Does not have the same feel as something like the Speedzone

Cleveland HB Fairway Wood

For the higher handicap player looking for forgiving and easy to hit fairway woods, we love the Cleveland HB. This is not the newest release from Cleveland, so it is offered at a very fair price, and it packs a ton of performance for players in the higher handicap range.

The Cleveland HB features the traditional HiBore Crown, allowing the center of gravity on this club to be lower. The low center of gravity helps players get a much higher launch even when the ball is in a tough lie. The Cleveland Launch Cup Face will help golfers get the forgiveness they need as well.

This fairway wood has an overall lightweight design that helps to make it an excellent club for those that struggle with their driver off the tee. If you want to keep the ball in the fairway and use a club that is remarkably consistent, the HB fairway wood is a great choice.

Pros

• Low pricing
• Low center of gravity
• Simple design, easy to launch

Cons

• Not as long as some other options

And The Winner Is…

Additional reviews on AEC:

• Off tee
• High handicap 3 wood
• 5 wood
• 3 wood Versus 5 wood
• Seven wood
• Fairway wood high handicap
• Fairway wood

Buyers Guide

Now that we have shared our insider info on the best 5 wood of 2021, it’s time for you to choose which is the right one for your game. Here are some helpful tips that may help you narrow down the selection.

What Loft Should A 5 Wood Be?

A five wood will have between 18 and 21 degrees of loft. Some manufacturers will only offer the 5 wood in one particular loft, so you won’t have much flexibility as to the one you choose. You will want to make sure that you have a gap between your 3 woods and 5 wood.

For instance, if your 3 wood is 16 degrees, it doesn’t make much sense to go with an 18 degree 5. You are better off choosing something that is 19 or 20 degrees. If you can’t find a standard fairway wood available in the loft that you need, look for one that has adjustability. With the adjustable loft, you can set the club to work perfectly with your set.

Can You Hit A 5 Wood Out Of The Rough?

Hitting a fairway wood out of the rough can be a bit difficult. Hybrids are the better choice out of the rough, but if you need to use a fairway from the rough, the 5 is a better choice than the 3. When hitting out of the rough, you want a club that has more loft. Loft usually equates to forgiveness. Choosing 5 woods with some type of technology to get you through a tough lie (i.e. Baffler Rail, V Steel Sole) is a smart idea.

Is A 5 Wood Easy to Hit?

If you are a golfer who struggles to hit a fairway wood, the 5 is a great club to introduce to your game. A 5 wood has just the right amount of loft and launch to get players the performance they need from both the fairway and tee. Many golfers choose a 5 over a 3 because of the increased loft and the ability to hit a 5 wood out of the rough at times.