Fairway Woods For High Handicappers

Fairway woods are an important club for any golfer, but for high handicappers, the fair wood tends to be even more important. High handicappers often struggle off the tee, and because of that, a great fairway wood can be a lifesaver.

You can use a fairway wood as an alternative to a driver, or you can use it from the fairway when your drive doesn’t travel as far as you would like. The bottom line is that high handicappers need at least one fairway wood in their bag. We have pulled together some of the best fairway woods on the market so that you can have a better idea of the best fairway wood for your game.

11 Best Fairway Woods For High Handicappers

Cobra Radspeed Fairway

It should come as no surprise that the Cobra name comes up so many times on our list of the best fairway woods for high handicappers. Cobra knows precisely what high handicappers need, and every new release has more and more helpful technology for these players. The brand new Cobra Radspeed Fairway is a great choice for those looking for adjustability and playability in a golf fairway wood.

The new Radspeed has a strategically placed center of gravity for maximum speed and forgiveness. In addition, the new CNC infinity face ensures that regardless of where you hit the ball on the clubface, you will still see some impressive performance.

Cobra has always done such a great job with turf interaction on their hybrids and fairway woods, and the Radspeed is no exception. Be prepared to have a very easy time getting the ball out of the rough and launching it from the fairway. This is a golf club you will be able to keep in your bag, even when your handicap starts to drop.

Pros

• Hollow split rails for better turf interaction
• Lightweight and forgiving design
• Adjustability to ensure that it is always a good fit

Cons

• It can be difficult to figure out the initial settings

Callaway Big Bertha B21 Fairway

The Callaway Big Bertha B21 is one of the most forgiving fairway woods that the company has ever released. If you struggle to get your fairway wood to launch and get the proper distance, the B21 is a perfect fairway wood to consider. Callaway used their AI technology to improve the overall performance of this golf fairway wood.

The Jailbreak bars that Callaway has been using in their fairway woods and drivers have been continued in the new B21 fairway. The jailbreak technology helps the club face act almost like a trampoline for the ball to launch.

Callaway packed a ton of technology into this fairway wood, and the entire time they kept the high handicap golfer in mind. Don’t let this season pass you by without trying out this impressive fairway wood.

Pros

• Oversized golf club head shape
• Low center of gravity
• Impressive shaft options
• Lightweight and forgiving design

Cons

• The large clubhead is challenging to get used to

Cleveland Launcher XL Halo Hy-Wood

Although this list features our favorite fairway woods for high handicappers, we had to include this brand new option from Cleveland Golf, referred to as a Hy-Wood. The Hy-Wood design is a mix between hybrid and fairway wood. This club was made for higher handicappers that need more distance and stability in their club head.

The new Cleveland technology puts an eight-gram weight in the grip end of the golf club. This idea is to ensure that golfers have better control and balance when they swing the club. In addition, the center of gravity dropped to help increase launch.

If you have ever been a player that felt fairway woods were a bit too difficult to hit because of their size, the new Cleveland Launcher XL Halo Hy-Wood is a perfect golf club to consider getting. The new Hibore crown makes performance from the rough just as easy as it is from the fairway.

Pros

• Very easy to hit a golf fairway wood
• Improved face flexibility
• Higher launching

Cons

• Brand new technology is priced a little higher

TaylorMade SiM 2 Max Draw Fairway

The TaylorMade SIM 2 Max Draw Fairway is the best fairway wood for high handicappers. Beginners and high handicappers are typically always looking for extra ball speed and better ball flight; the SIM 2 Max Draw can produce both.

The new V Steel sole really helps to promote better turf interaction regardless of a golfers swing speed. When hitting out of the rough or the fairway, the center of gravity is perfectly positioned to help fight against miss-hits.

The C300 Steel Twist face is what helps give golfers explosive ball speeds even if the center of the clubface is missed. The fact that the SIM 2 Max Draw is a draw bias model means that this is a fairway wood best known for fighting off slice sidespin that many high handicappers put on a ball.

Pros

• Speed pocket technology for extra distance
• Low center of gravity
• Draw bias design to help straighten out a slice
• One of the best woods for high handicappers looking for distance

Cons

• If you don’t slice the ball, the draw bias design can overcorrect your shots

Callaway Golf Mavrik Max Fairway Wood

As soon as Callaway started using AI to create the best fairway woods for high handicappers and beginners, the game really changed. Essentially using computer technology, Callaway perfectly placed the center of gravity, improved the ball flight, and maximized ball speed in this new Callaway Mavrik Max.

The Mavrik Max has unique weighting options that allow you to set this fairway wood up to feel like a custom golf club. IN addition to being forgiving and having a slight draw bias, the club has a high MOI and lots of ball speed. The Mavrik Max fairway wood has one of the larger club heads on the market, which can be a good thing for high handicappers.

Pros

• Slight draw bias in the clubhead
• Very high ball speed
• So much more performance than the rogue fairway wood

Cons

• Very large clubhead takes a bit to get used to

Cleveland Golf Launcher HB Turbo Fairway Wood

Golf fairway woods for high handicappers come with lots of bells and whistles and adjustability. However, the Cleveland Golf Launcher HB Turbo Fairway brings things back to the basics. With this fairway wood, there is no adjustability; instead, you get a turbocharged cup face, very high ball speed, and very lightweight and easy-to-hit fairway wood.

The Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Fairway is a fairly priced wood that helps players who struggle to get the proper ball flight with a slower swing speed. The specially designed Miyazaki shaft helps produce optimal launch conditions and faster swing speeds.

Pros

• Effortless fairway wood to hit
• Higher launch and lighter overall weight
• No adjustability saves weight in the hosel

Cons

• Without the adjustability, ensure that you spend a bit more time choosing the proper loft

Cobra King Speedzone Fairway

Where the Cleveland Launcher took adjustability completely out of their fairway wood, Cobra made sure to add even more. We love this fairway wood for the golfer that is looking to improve their game. As your game progresses, the Cobra Speedzone Fairway can be adjusted to work along with you.

Cobra designed these high-performing fairway woods to have a flexible face, impressive stability regardless of the lie, a higher launch, and a carbon fiber crown for a deep center of gravity. The result is a highly adjustable fairway wood with a lightweight feel, impressive distance, and plenty of forgiveness for the high handicapper.

Pros

• Lots of adjustability
• Good for both low and high swing speed
• Good value for money
• High launch golf club

Cons

• Can be difficult initially to set the driver to your needs

Callaway Golf 2021 Epic Speed Fairway Wood

When you find forgiving fairway woods that allow for a very long distance, it’s important to get something that has several different lofts. With the new Callaway Epic Speed, you will have access to plenty of different lofts and the latest and greatest in forgiving fairway wood technology.

The Epic Speed 2021 features a brand new jailbreak technology called Velocity Blades; essentially, you can get low spin and high MOI from the golf shots you hit with this fairway wood. In addition, high handicap players will enjoy the large sweet spot and the continuation of the impressive face cup technology. This fairway wood is packed with impressive technology for mid to high handicap golfers.

Pros

• Easier to launch the ball from any lie
• Clubhead speed is faster
• Lots of protection against off-center hits
• Feel and speed improvements from the Epic Flash fairway wood

Cons

• Pricing is high, especially if putting 3 wood, 5 wood, 7 wood combo in the bag

Tour Edge Hot Launch E521 Fairway Wood

The Tour Edge Hot Launch E521 is referred to as an extreme game improvement fairway wood for the high handicapper. This means that everything about this golf fairway wood was designed to give players distance, forgiveness, and consistency, something that all players can benefit from. The E521 is a brand new release from Tour Edge, and it packs some impressive technology.

The new Houdini Sole was combined with a very shallow face and an offset clubhead. The combination allows high handicappers to hit a fairway that will help straighten out any ball flight issues. Draw bias, higher ball speed, and a low spin make this one of the best fairway woods for beginners as well. Tour Edge always puts fair priced woods on the market for those that are concerned with price.

Pros

• One of the better value fairway woods for beginners
• Consistently high launch from one swing to the next
• Offset design to help fight against a slice

Cons

• It does not have the same pure feel as something like an Epic Speed from Callaway

Wilson Staff LaunchPad Men’s Golf Fairway Wood

In order to hit a fairway wood from the fairway and hit it well, you will need a lightweight golf club design. The Wilson Staff LaunchPad is one of the lightweight golf clubs on the market with a very large sweet spot. The idea behind the LaunchPad is that you can get more clubhead speed and higher launch angles regardless of your swing speed.

The Wilson Staff LaunchPad is an easier to hit club than many of the others on the market. If you want to hit the ball consistently higher and get the ball out of the rough, this could be a good golf club to consider. When you hit fairway woods with a slower swing speed, there can be quite a bit of dispersion; the LaunchPad helps to control some of that.

Pros

• Slightly offset hosel for added forgiveness
• Large sweet spot
• High launching option for high handicappers

Cons

• Distance will not be quite as long as some other fairway woods on the market

Cobra Golf Airspeed Fairway 3W

Cobra makes another appearance on our list of the best fairway woods for high handicappers. The Cobra F Max series has continually been known for the forgiveness that it offers players. If you are a golfer that struggles to get the ball up off the ground and headed down the fairway, the 2020 Airspeed can do the trick.

The Cobra Airspeed fairway was made with a carbon crown to help save a tremendous amount of weight in the clubhead. In addition, the lighter shaft and grip have helped players generate higher ball speeds and impressive overall forgiveness. This is an offset club head, so there is some protection against a slice as well.

Pros

• Very lightweight golf club head
• Impressive ball speed with the carbon crown
• Offset design helps to straighten out shots

Cons

• It tends to be a bit bulkier than other Cobra models on the market.

Best

Additional reviews by AEC Info for fairway woods:

• • Off the tee
  • High handicap 3 wood
  • Fairway wood
  • 3 wood
  • 5 wood
  • 7 wood

Buyers Guide

Hopefully, these fairway woods help to give you a better idea of the technology available to the high handicapper. As you can see, there are many great choices out there from several manufacturers. Before you decide on which of these fairway woods will be best for your game, let’s take a look at a few of the most important features to consider.

Loft

Fairway woods are available in a variety of different lofts. If you need a 3 wood, you will notice many will be around 15 or 16 degrees. IF you put more than one fairway wood in your golf bag, make sure that you vary the lofts you choose.

Shaft

All fairway woods for high handicappers are going to have graphite shafts in them. For the most part, the stock shaft offered is going to be the best choice out there; however, there are other options that you can consider. Be sure to match the flex of the shaft with your swing speed. If you tend to swing your woods very fast, don’t be afraid to put a slightly stiffer shaft in your woods.

Adjustability

Adjustability can help if you want to make sure that the club feels like a custom fit for your game. Many golfers enjoy the fact that an adjustable club head can be changed as their game improves. Most players like adjustability, but if you are looking for a lightweight weight golf club on the market, the adjustability will have to go.

Offset

An offset fairway wood helps to protect against a slice. If you are known for slicing the golf ball, make sure to get an offset clubhead. The clubhead needs to be offset to help to deliver the clubface at a square angle. Many high handicappers struggle with a slice, and sometimes, this little bit of offset can help to fix the issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fairway woods are typically a club that golfers choose and then hold on to for a long time. This means that the questions associated with this purchase tend to add up rather quickly. Here are a few that we are asked most often.

Should High Handicappers Use Fairway Woods?

High handicappers should have at least one fairway wood in their golf bag. The fairway wood is a perfect alternative to a driver on the days that you may be struggling from the tee.

In addition, fairway woods can help to save a hole where a drive went bag. Fairway woods serve a purpose, and to ensure that your golf game is properly established, you should be using fairway woods in your golf bag.

What Fairway Wood Is The Easiest To Hit?

The 7 wood tends to be the easiest fairway wood to hit. This goes back to the importance of loft in your golf bag. The higher lofted golf clubs are always going to bring more impressive performance and ball flight.

Golfers with slower swing speeds will find that the 7 wood becomes one of their favorite clubs in the golf bag.

How Many Fairway Woods Do I Need In My Bag?

Most golfers will have one or two fairway woods in their bags. The standard number in the past was 3 fairway woods, but with the addition of golf hybrids, players need room for other clubs in their bags. It is common to have both a 3 wood and a 5 wood in the bag to help support the driver in the long game.

As a higher handicap golfer, your goal should be to have the easiest and most reliable golf clubs in your bag. This includes everything from your Driver, to your fairway woods and hybrids, to your irons and wedges. Hitting your clubs consistently is the easiest way to shooting lower scores.