Updated July 30, 2024. This article was thoroughly audited by multiple golf experts and coaches for its accuracy. You can read more about our rigorous testing protocol here.
The best 5 wood on the market delivers a combination of extended carry, long distance, and accurate shotmaking from the fairway and light rough.
With rounded soles that pick the ball right up off the short grass, the top 5 woods offer premium turf interaction.
Great for golfers who need more accuracy and reliability from outside 200 yards, the best 5 woods are absolute weapons when it comes to attacking the course.
In this review of the best 5 woods available to amateurs, we’ll take a deeper look at some of the best fairway woods that deliver distance, accuracy, and high launch.
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Last updated on 2024-09-01. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.
Table of Contents
Best 5 Woods 2024
TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Fairway Wood
Best All-Around 5-wood
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Specifications
- Loft: 18°
- Lie: 57.5°-61.5°
- Shaft Length: 42.25”
- Swing Weight: D3
Pros
- 4-degree loft sleeve for customization
- Very forgiving face on off-center strikes
- High ball speed across the entire face
Cons
- Smaller head shape than comparable 5-woods
TaylorMade’s impressive Qi10 Tour 5-wood offers tour-inspired shot shaping in a powerful, compact package.
The smaller 170cc clubhead delivers consistent, reliable ball flight for advanced golfers who want premium performance coupled with their workability.
Our favorite feature of this 5-wood is the 50-gram weight that can move toward the face for lower flight or back toward the rear for higher launch. Coupled with the 4-degree loft sleeve, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more versatile 5-wood today.
On the range, we loved the penetrating flight of the 5-wood.
The face utilizes the company’s Twist Face Technology, which redirects off-center strikes toward the target. Dispersion remains incredibly tight with the Qi10 Tour Fairway.
Regarding bread-and-butter benefits such as distance and extended carry, the Qi10 Tour delivers with style, similar to last year’s Stealth 2 Plus Fairway. In contrast, the Qi10 Tour is sleeker and more agile than the Stealth 2 Plus.
Great for low handicappers and experienced golfers, the TaylorMade Qi10 Tour 5-wood delivers exceptional all-around performance.
Check our honest TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Fairway Wood Review
Ping G430 Max Fairway Wood
Most Forgiving 5-wood
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Specifications
- Loft: 18°
- Lie: 57.5°-61.5°
- Shaft Length: 42.5”
- Swing Weight: D1
Pros
- Lightweight and agile
- Impressive ball speed
- Low, deep CG boosts ball height
Cons
- Doesn’t offer much workability
Ping’s exciting G430 Max Fairway is a versatile 5-wood that produces distance with impressive accuracy and tight dispersion.
It features a unique club head shape that reduces drag and improves swing speed, and it also reduces spin to increase distance.
Once we got the G430 Max Fairway to the range, we found feel and responsiveness that were off the charts. The ball jumps off the face effortlessly and quickly gets skyward to produce that extended carry golfers need for their mid-range game.
A tungsten back weight improves launch, while the eight-position hosel sleeve can increase or decrease loft, plus offer three degrees of adjustment of lie angle.
The adjustability makes this 5-wood one of the best for golfers who want to grow into their clubs.
Forgiveness also ranked high during our evaluation, which contrasted nicely with the previous G425 Fairway, as it was better for distance than workability.
The Ping G430 Max Fairway is an excellent option for mid-handicappers looking to improve their mid-range game on par 5s and increase accuracy on tight par 4s. It offers terrific all-around performance for any handicapper.
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Fairway Wood
Best 5-wood for Distance
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Specifications
- Loft: 18°
- Lie: 56.5°
- Shaft Length: 42.75”
- Swing Weight: D2
Pros
- Impressive adjustability to customize shot shape
- High launch with premium turf interaction
- Exceptional forgiveness
Cons
- Lacks sophisticated shotmaking
Callaway’s Paradym Ai Smoke Max Fairway delivers impressive muscle to the golf ball, boosting launch angle and extending carry and total distance.
Great for mid and low handicappers, the Ai Smoke Max 5-wood offers tremendous balance with high MOI through the impact zone.
Featuring a low profile that helps get the face squarely on the golf ball, the 5-wood offers maximum speed throughout the face, helping increase forgiveness.
One of the biggest reasons we like this 5-wood over the previous Paradym model is the improved turf interaction. The rounded sole moves the club head smoothly over the grass without snagging or catching to create that ball-first contact you want for your game.
From inside 200 yards, we found this Callaway 5-wood offered a nice spin that can easily hold the green. The wood works extremely well if you have trouble holding the green on longer par 4s and 5s.
The Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Fairway is a capable 5-wood that delivers stellar performance for golfers of all ages and handicaps. Due to its design and club head shape, it is a cut above comparable 5-woods.
Check our full Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Fairway Review
TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus+ Fairway Wood
Best 5-wood for Low Handicappers
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Specifications
- Loft: 18°
- Lie: 57.5°-61.5°
- Shaft Length: 42.25”
- Swing Weight: D3
Pros
- Delivers impressive distance and accuracy
- Adjustable sole weight offers outstanding shot customization
- Excellent alignment guide offers superb contrast
Cons
- Very sophisticated, not ideal for inexperienced golfers
The TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus 5 wood offers the best customization of any fairway wood created. Powered by a 50-gram sliding weight, the Stealth 2 Plus offers ideal shot shape, ball flight, and maximum stability.
The 5 wood also comes with a 2-degree loft sleeve that can raise or lower your shot height, adding even further customization.
All of TaylorMade’s top features carry over to this fairway wood, including the ball speed boosting Thru-Slot Speed Pocket. The feature also improves forgiveness on strikes that impact low on the face.
What we love most about this fairway wood is how capable it is from the tee box or fairway. This golf club can do everything, making it one of the best additions to your golf bag that you could possibly make to improve your long range game.
Ideal for low and mid handicappers, the Taylormade Stealth 2 Plus Fairway Woods offers the best overall experience for those looking for a first-rate 5 wood.
Check our full TaylorMade Stealth 2 Fairway Review
Callaway Paradym Fairway Wood
Best 5-wood for Mid Handicappers
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Specifications
- Loft: 18°
- Lie: 56.5°
- Shaft Length: 42.75”
- Swing Weight: D3
Pros
- Muscular power with high, soaring flight
- Outstanding stability with sturdy club head
- Pure feel with immediate responsiveness
Cons
- Does offer a stiffer feel, lacks softness
Callaway’s Paradym 5-wood offers a significant power upgrade for golfers that want a weapon off the tee box.
Although the 5-wood performs beautifully from the fairway, it’s true strength comes from using it to start a hole due to its excessively long distance and outstanding accuracy.
All of Callaway’s top features are here with the Paradym, including Jailbreak technology that stiffens the club head, plus the OptiFit hosel sleeve that adds shot height customization.
If we had a top complaint about the Paradym 5-wood, it centers around the stiffer club head. If you like a firmer feel with your woods, then this is actually a benefit, but for those of us that like a little softness, the Paradym probably isn’t for you.
Great for mid handicappers, the Paradym Fairway Woods provides a solid array of features, including improved distance, precise ball flight, and quick, smooth launch that extends carry.
Check our full Callaway Paradym Fairway Wood Review
Cobra Aerojet LS Fairway Wood
Best 5-wood for High Handicappers
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Specifications
- Loft: 18°
- Lie: 56.2°
- Shaft Length: 42.25”
- Swing Weight: D2.5
Pros
- Low spin with lower penetrating flight
- Excellent workability for total shot shaping from the tee box and fairway
- Adjustable hosel and weighting provide further customization
Cons
- Better for experienced players that want workability
Cobra’s exciting Aerojet LS series adds a top-tier 5-wood for low handicap golfers that want total control over their fairway wood.
The Aerojet LS delivers low spin, making it a weapon from the tee box. Off the short grass, the Aerojet LS 5-wood provides a lightweight but incredibly strong club head that delivers power and finesse to your shots.
Two interchangeable weights sit in the sole of the club head, allowing you to customize your shot shape to either a neutral or fade setting. The hosel sleeve offers up to 1.5 degrees of adjustment to the face.
The Cobra Aerojet LS Fairway Woods is best for advanced players and offers premium, tour-level performance with a lethal combination of workability, distance, and low spin.
Check our full Cobra Aerojet Fairway Review
Wilson Dynapower Fairway Wood
Best Value 5-wood
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Specifications
- Loft: 18°
- Lie: 58°
- Shaft Length: 42.5”
- Swing Weight: D2
Pros
- Excellent stability with high launch
- Streamlined, aerodynamic shape offers high swing speed
- High MOI keeps the face square through the impact zone
Cons
- Doesn’t have adjustable features for shot customization
Wilson’s Dynapower 5 -wood clocks in at 18 degrees of loft to help boost ball height and extend distance. While it doesn’t have adjustable features like most modern 5-woods, the Dynapower does offer stability for high handicappers.
Featuring a stationary weight to the rear of the sole of the 5-wood, the Dynapower fairway quickly increases launch that translates to more length from the tee box or short grass.
What we enjoyed most about this club remains the ease of use. While we don’t feel the club generates jaw-dropping distance or even accuracy like other premium 5-woods, we do like the predictability of this wood, something high handicappers desperately need for their game.
The Wilson Dynapower Fairway Woods, a nice, affordable 5 wood, provides clean, effective power on the downswing with effective results.
Check our full Wilson Dynapower Fairway Woods Review
Callaway Steelhead XR Fairway Wood
Best 5-wood for Senior Golfers
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Specifications
- Loft: 18°
- Lie: 59.5°
- Shaft Length: 42.25”
- Swing Weight: D3
Pros
- Easy high launch with extended carry
- Aerodynamic club head boosts swing speed for more distance
- Outstanding forgiveness with low spin
Cons
- Fixed hosel and no adjustable weighting limits workability
When adding golf clubs to the bag, they must help the golfer get better. The Callaway Steelhead XR Fairway Woods provides that boost to inexperienced golfers who need to make the game easier with additional ball speed and distance.
At 18 degrees, the Steelhead XR offers an aerodynamic head that reduces drag on the downswing plus extreme forgiveness with Face Cup technology. The club shines for beginners that need more reliability from each swing, and the wood is terrific off the tee box.
A great golf club built to increase ball speed and distance, the Steelhead XR offers great turf interaction with the club’s modern Hawkeye sole. From even the light rough, this wood offers power with tall shot height.
Although advanced golfers may be better off getting a Callaway wood like the Epic Flash, for beginners and high handicappers, the Callaway Steelhead XR is absolutely perfect for what their game needs.
How We Tested the 5 Woods
Before we even take a swing with a 5-wood, we get all of the considered nominees in the office and gather information about their specifications.
We want to know details about each club, such as loft options, shaft type, adjustable features, and club head volume.
After gathering that specific information about each club, it’s time to take each one out for testing.
First, we take each 5-wood to an indoor simulator to record data on a launch monitor. We want to get a sense of spin rate, total distance, dispersion, and other important data for golfers of all handicaps.
Once the indoor session is over, we move to the outdoor range, hit a few dozen shots, and compare and contrast both data sets. We also look to get more outdoor swings to gauge workability and differing ball flight.
After evaluating all the potential nominees, we return to the lab to analyze them and decide which five woods make the list. We also hand out a series of awards listed under each club’s name in the review.
How to Choose the Best 5 Wood
Loft
The loft of a 5 wood is the angle of the face from the top to the bottom of the club. Imagine walking up an incline, and that is similar to the loft of a fairway wood. The 5 wood has a higher loft because it has a specific job.
Unlike the driver or the 3 wood, the 5 wood is made for longer shots with moderate distances.
Golfers need more finesse when they use a higher lofted club and the 5 wood still allows them to reach long yardage but with more spin and stopping power if the ball lands on the green.
A new club with this loft will offer outstanding sound and feel to go along with the correct shot shape.
Tour vs Standard
Most golfers use standard, off the shelf clubs, while professional golfers will take tour-level clubs to the course.
Standard fairway woods will have bigger sweet spot areas, perhaps a draw bias to correct swing flaws, and a high launch and low spin.
Tour woods will offer sophistication with lower spinning shots that maximize ball speeds with a lower, deeper center of gravity.
For amateur golfers with handicaps over 10, the best fairway wood is more than capable of doing the job on the links. But if you own a single-digit handicap and are considered a low handicapper, then a tour 5 wood will be more beneficial to your game.
Shaft
The shaft of a fairway wood allows the golfer to maximize their swing speed and creates the kind of accuracy that all golfers dream about on golf courses around the world. A really good shaft has a flex rating that corresponds with the swing speed of a golfer.
For first time buyers of a club like this, the benefits of a new shaft will be easily available through a company’s literature. The shaft’s features will help you better understand what that shaft will bring to your game.
Also, the quality of a shaft is much like name brand woods you can find from manufacturers such as TaylorMade, Callaway Golf, Ping, Cobra, and in clubs like the Titleist TS3 and Ping G410 Fairway (used by Cameron Champ).
All of these companies produce high-quality stock shafts in their clubs for amateurs.
Adjustability
Adjustability offers golfers the opportunity to fine-tune the 5 wood to shape shots as they see fit.
Rather than using a fixed hosel that keeps the club stationary, a 5 wood with adjustable features helps create a higher launch and also helps provide a means to boost distance.
Adjustable hosel and loft sleeve that tailors the face of the club will also improve speed and distance.
For players who want more forgiveness from their fairway woods, adjustability helps lift the loft of the face while also reducing sidespin.
Great equipment in the modern era relies heavily on innovative technology and with the best 5 woods, you can expect to see premium head and shaft features that allow for maximum flexibility.
Price
A 5 wood’s price is important for creating value for your club collection, especially if you are on a budget.
Since all golfers need their 5 wood to perform specific tasks, it is crucial for golfers to compare between models.
Some woods will offer distance, higher ball flight, lower sidespin, adjustable loft, with custom launch conditions.
If you want a shaft other than the stock shaft the wood comes with, then you’ll need to contrast the benefit with the extra price.
The cost and value of a 5 wood must be held in comparison with the improvements the club will make to your game.
By finding a low price on your preferred fairway club, you can shuffle more money to improve other equipment areas to help you play your best golf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Tiger Woods use a 5-wood?
Yes, Tiger Woods carries an older TaylorMade M3 5-wood.
With a loft of 19 degrees, the M3 fairway wood doesn’t offer much adjustable features, but that’s what appeals to Tiger. The 5-wood carries a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX shaft with an extra-stiff flex rating.
What is the easiest fairway wood to hit?
While the 5-wood is very easy to hit, the easiest fairway wood is the 7-wood due to its higher loft. The shorter shaft and a more forgiving hitting area also help make the 7-wood easier to hit.
Especially for golfers with slower swing speeds, the 7-wood offers the forgiveness and launch that helps maximize distance and carry.
Is it worth getting a 5-wood?
A 5-wood can offer a better alternative to a similarly lofted hybrid due to its larger club head size and broader hitting area if you are a mid or high handicapper.
For casual golfers, the 5-wood also delivers a far more pleasing experience than trying to hit long irons consistently.
Is a 5-wood easier to hit than a 3-wood?
Yes, a 5-wood is easier to hit than a 3-wood due to its higher loft angle and lower profile. The 5-wood can maximize carry and increase distance for golfers with slower swing speeds.
The 5-wood also reduces side spin to help keep shots on target.
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