Updated January 5, 2023. 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 Rundown:
Best Overall: TaylorMade Stealth Fairway Wood
“The Stealth ranked highly in ball speeds, low spin off the face, and creating that mid launch ball flight with an explosive distance that powerfully extended carry.”
Most Versatile: Ping G425 Max Fairway Wood
“The G425 Max delivers pure muscle that provides the added distance you need for the second shot of a long par 5. It features an eight-position loft sleeve allowing you to create the shot shape your game needs.“
Best Budget: Callaway Mavrik Fairway Wood
“All the top features are back in the Mavrik, including our favorite, the Jailbreak bars that stiffen the head and rest right behind the sweet spot. You get a dynamic feel and responsiveness without breaking the bank.”
The best fairway woods for mid handicappers all share the ability to improve your golf game through a combination of power, forgiveness, accuracy, and easy launch.
If you find a distance gap between your driver and hybrids that could use help, any of these eight fairway woods can help you increase ball speed, improve your shot dispersion, and provide you with a precise shotmaking weapon on the tee box.
In this review of the best fairway woods for mid handicappers, we’ll deep dive into what makes these vitally important clubs work so well for your game.
Table of Contents
What to Look for When Buying Fairway Woods for Mid Handicappers
Construction
When evaluating the construction and design of a fairway wood, you need to look at all aspects of the club, from grip to shaft to the club head.
Since most golfers look immediately at the head, you’ll want to consider the size, shape, location of weighting or adjustable options, and of course, how the club feels in your hands.
Chances are high that if you like how the club looks and feels, you’ll appreciate how it hits the golf ball. As ridiculous as it may sound, finding clubs that instill confidence in your swing helps shave strokes.
While the club head is undoubtedly the most important aspect of the club’s performance, evaluating the quality of the grip and stock shaft also plays a huge part in how the club will work your game.
Most manufacturers offer custom shafts on the store’s site, allowing you to make changes on the fly when purchasing.
Head Sizes
Most golfers prefer a fairway wood to a hybrid because of its low profile and higher loft setting.
With the better ball speeds provided by the fairway wood, golfers can gain more distance, allowing them to attack the greens on long par 5s while finding the fairway with extended carry on tight par 4s.
The smaller head size also provides a lightweight feel, especially when compared to the larger head of a driver.
Mid handicappers can utilize fairway woods as a weapon from the fairway and as a new tool in hitting more fairways and playing conservatively when the course calls for restraint.
Loft Setting
The best fairway woods for mid handicappers utilize the loft setting to generate faster ball speeds and cover the gap left between driver and hybrids or an iron set.
Amateur golfers can typically get almost 85-90% of their average yardage with a 3 wood with a loft of 15 degrees on the face.
The best fairway woods for your golf bag are designed to provide ultra low spin along with the shallow loft that helps push distance while keeping the ball in a tight shot dispersion, much like you’d expect from an iron.
Price
The best fairway woods for mid handicappers typically run anywhere from $150-$350 in price.
For an established company’s latest 3 wood, for example, you should expect to pay at the upper tier of that cost, while the top fairway woods from last year will cost at the lower end of that pricing spectrum.
Best Fairway Woods for Mid Handicappers
- Best Overall: TaylorMade Stealth
- Best Distance: Callaway Rogue ST Max
- Most Versatile: Ping G425 Max
- Most Accurate: Titleist TSi3
- Most Consistent: TaylorMade SIM2 Max
- Best Budget: Callaway Mavrik
- Best Adjustable Features: Cobra LTDx
- Best Value: TourEdge Exotics C721
TaylorMade Stealth Fairway Wood
Best Overall Fairway Wood for Midhandicappers
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Pros
- Innovative design that stands out in the bag
- Exceptional feel that carries throughout the swing
- Boost in distance and accuracy
Cons
- Expensive price point
TaylorMade’s Stealth Fairway Wood tops our list as the best fairway woods for mid handicappers.
Cloaked in a sleek black and red color palette, the Stealth looks like an F1 racecar ready to pound drives down the fairway.
During our testing, the Stealth ranked highly when it came to ball speeds, low spin off the face, and creating that mid launch ball flight with an explosive distance that powerfully extended carry.
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We also loved how the Stealth easily lifted the ball with high MOI and the club’s Speed Pocket feature, located directly behind the face, increased forgiveness and dramatically improved feel.
Even on off-center strikes, the Stealth maintains ball speed and target line, allowing you to hit more greens from the fairway and more fairways from the tee box. The Stealth also carries a lightweight feel, providing confidence if you want to ramp up the MPH on your swing.
For mid handicappers, the Stealth might set you back a few dollars, but when it comes to overall performance, nothing can beat this series of well-made fairway woods.
Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway Wood
Best Distance Fairway Wood for Mid Handicappers
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Pros
- Jailbreak ST provides stability and speed
- Exceptional strength with smooth feel and responsiveness
- Optimized for maximum distance and ball speed
Cons
- No adjustable weights
Callaway’s Rogue ST Max offers premium performance, especially for mid handicappers with a faster swing speed. Touted by the company as one of the best fairway woods for distance, the Rogue ST Max delivers jaw-dropping length.
Another highlight of this fairway wood is the inclusion of Callaway’s Artificial Intelligence-designed Flash Face Cup technology. Placed along the sweet spot, the Face Cup technology provides more muscle to the ball and a healthy bit of forgiveness on off-center strikes.
During our time with the Callaway fairway wood, we were blown away by the sheer power the club generates with its moderate club head size.
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In a controlled environment, the Rogue ST Max also delivers exceptional accuracy, a great benefit when using the fairway wood on the tee box.
For golfers in the mid handicap range or even regular players with a low handicap looking to add more power to their game, the Rogue ST Max offers a fairway wood ready to do some serious heavy lifting.
Check our in-depth Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway Wood review.
Ping G425 Max Fairway Wood
Most Versatile Fairway Wood for Mid Handicappers
Pros
- Outstanding feel with premium responsiveness
- Low, deep CG easily lifts the ball for extended carry
- Great for golfers that swing with moderate speeds
Cons
- Expensive price point
When you are putting together a list of the best fairway woods for mid handicappers, you better include the new fairway woods from the good people at Ping.
Their latest creation, the G425 Max is a marvel, delivering pure muscle that provides the added distance you need for the second shot of a long par 5.
The Ping fairway wood also comes with an eight-position loft sleeve allowing you to create the shot shape your game needs.
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For our amateur testers fighting a slice, the draw bias setting delivered more control and far less side spin for straighter shots that found the short grass.
If you are looking for a smooth golf club, anything by Ping certainly fits the bill. For fairway woods, the G425 Max delivers crisp, effortless power that absolutely cuts through the sky.
Built with the same unique Ping design we’ve all grown to love, the G425 Max helps a mid handicapper by providing distance, accuracy, and exceptional launch.
We can attest that the ball jumps off the face, making this best fairway wood selection an absolute blast to play.
Check our in-depth Ping G425 Max Fairway Wood review.
Titleist TSi3 Fairway Wood
Most Accurate Fairway Wood for Mid Handicappers
Pros
- SureFit CG track technology creates shot shape easily
- Outstanding forgiveness across the entire face
- Exceptional shaft options for customizing feel
Cons
- Needs time to find the right adjustable settings for your golf game
A favorite of PGA Tour professionals, the Titleist TSi3 offers total control over your fairway wood game on the golf course. Featuring a host of innovative features, the TSi3 produces the distance and launch you need to lower your scores.
Our favorite feature with the Titleist wood is the SureFit CG technology. With the simple twist of a wrench, you can create a draw, fade, or neutral bias, which no other club can easily do.
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During our time on the range with the club, our testers loved how balanced the TSi3 felt throughout the swing. Even when reaching back and trying to find some extra power, the TSi3 never felt out of sync.
At impact, the wood also provides golfers immediate feedback, helping them craft future shots with the club.
A golf club like this doesn’t come around often, but when it does, mid handicappers should take note of the outrageously first-rate performance of the Titleist TSi3.
Check our in-depth Titleist TSi3 Fairway Wood review.
TaylorMade SIM2 Max Fairway Wood
Most Consistent Fairway Wood for Mid Handicapper
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Pros
- Twist Face offers plenty of forgiveness
- Impressive turf interaction provides clean contact
- Explosive power with help from Speed Pocket
Cons
- Fixed hosel could use adjustability
TaylorMade’s SIM2 Max offers mid handicappers an exciting option if they are looking for one of the most consistent golf products on the market.
The Sim Max series has long been a favorite of pros, and the newest version delivers a huge next step for the product line.
The Sim2 Max provides a wealth of forgiveness when you hit the ball off the toe.
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Instead of losing precious MPH, the Twist Face technology maintains speed while dramatically reducing side spin. Instead of finding your ball in the deep rough, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see you are hitting from the fairway.
The V Steel sole offers impressive turf interaction, something our testers noted right away with their first few swings with the latest fairway wood in the Sim Max series.
Excellent from the fairway or the tee box, the TaylorMade SIM2 Max promotes consistency alongside its stunning distance.
Callaway Mavrik Fairway Wood
Best Budget Fairway Wood for Mid Handicappers
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Pros
- Extremely consistent shot quality
- Incredibly solid throughout the head
- Dynamic feel and responsiveness
Cons
- Feels plain when compared to other top-tier fairway woods
The company has updated Callaway’s Mavrik Fairway for the current golfing season and the tried and true formula carries over in the latest iteration of the popular wood.
All the top features are back in the Mavrik, including our favorite, the Jailbreak bars that stiffen the head and rest right behind the sweet spot.
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If you hit the ball on the screws anchored by the company’s Flash Face technology, you immediately know it with the Mavrik, one of the reasons our testers absolutely adored this series of fairway woods.
For the mid handicapper that wants a lightweight fairway wood for the golf course that delivers distance and finds the short grass regularly, the Callaway Mavrik remains one of the most dependable on the market.
Check our in-depth Callaway Mavrik Fairway Wood review.
Cobra LTDx Fairway Wood
Best Fairway Wood with Adjustable Features
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Pros
- Rear weight lowers CG for an explosive launch
- Progressive rails move swiftly through turf for clean contact
- Lightweight build increases swing speed
Cons
- Compact head makes consistency tough at times
Cobra’s LTDx Fairway Wood, our choice for the best adjustable features golf club in this category, offers similar characteristics to the company’s previous wood releases.
You’ll find all your favorites here, including the baffler rails along the sole that helps guide the head through the turf.
Cobra’s longtime CNC Milled Face technology has been replaced with a new proprietary H.O.T Forged Face design, improving ball speed across the entire face of these golf clubs.
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The LTDx also features an adjustable loft sleeve that helps dial the ideal shot shape for your game.
A marvelous wood for mid handicappers looking to lower their golf scores, the Cobra LTDx Fairway offers exciting performance.
Check our in-depth Cobra LTDx Fairway Wood review.
Tour Edge Exotics C721 Fairway Wood
Best Value Fairway Wood for Mid Handicapper
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Pros
- Top-tier forgiveness on off-center hits
- Low, deep CG offers high launch
- Compact head produces a high swing speed
Cons
- Not as flashy as top-tier fairway woods
The quality of TourEdge golf gear has long been one of the best-kept secrets among weekend warriors.
Their latest fairway wood, the Exotics C721, continues the company’s tradition of creating solid mid-tier clubs that won’t dent your wallet but will improve your game.
The best feature of the Exotics C721 is the TourEdge’s patented Ridgeback Technology. The innovation braces the head with the help of the Carbon Fiber crown, stiffening the hitting area to direct more energy straight to the golf ball.
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As a result, our testers noted how pleasingly consistent the mid-penetrating ball flight was on swing after swing with the C721 wood.
Also worth noting, the C721’s rear weight delivers low, deep CG that easily lifts the ball from the fairway grass.
While the Exotics C721 might not dazzle in the appearance department, the fairway wood delivers on the course.
Not only does the TourEdge wood display impressive ball speed for mid handicappers, but the club produces lower spin than comparable fairway woods at this price point.
Check our in-depth Tour Edge Exotics C721 Fairway Wood review.
Frequently Asked Questions
What woods should a mid handicapper carry?
A mid handicapper should carry 3 wood and 5 wood to bridge the yardage gap between his hybrids and driver.
Not only are fairway woods incredibly easy to hit, but they also offer options to use on the tee box when facing a short par 4 or tight fairway landing.
What is the easiest fairway 3 wood to hit?
Due to its unique design and innovative technology, the Ping G425 Max Fairway Wood is the easiest fairway 3 wood to hit.
With a low profile and a long, forgiving sweet spot, it offers smooth shotmaking that produces the shot height and carries that mid handicappers need for their game.
What is the difference between a 3 wood and 5 wood?
The difference between a 3 wood and 5 wood comes from the loft of the face on each club. A 3 wood typically carries a loft of 15-16 degrees, while a 5 wood offers a loft of anywhere between 20-22 degrees.
Here’s a video to show you the difference:
Conclusion
The TaylorMade Stealth Fairway is the best fairway wood for mid handicappers because of its dynamic performance and outstanding innovation.
Featuring several longtime TaylorMade club features with a new and exciting twist, the Stealth Fairway delivers precise energy to the golf ball, making it easy to lift and grab that extended carry that makes jaws drop on the links.
The Stealth Fairway offers pure shotmaking power as an absolute weapon for a mid handicap golfer looking to jump to the next level.
In case you still don’t know your handicap, check this article.