Updated February 26, 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 brand new Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Fairway offers a staggering seven different editions for men and women golfers to enjoy on the course.
While that many models might seem overwhelming at first glance, there is a method to Callaway’s madness.
Every model in the collection delivers specific benefits for each handicap level. Some offer tremendous slice correction, while others offer more workability and a low, penetrating flight.
So, which model works best for your game?
In this review, I’ll specifically tackle the most popular model, the AI Smoke Max Fairway, and give you my honest opinion. I will also highlight all six other editions to help you make an informed decision.
Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max Fairway Wood
Best Callaway Fairway Wood for Mid Handicappers
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Specifications
- Loft: 15°, 16.5°, 18°, 21°, 24°, 27°
- Lie: 56°, 56.5°, 57°, 58°, 59°
- Shaft Length: 41.25”-43.25”
- Flex: Light, Regular, Stiff, X-Stiff
- Swing Weight: D2
- Shaft Type: Project X Cypher 2.0 40g (Light) 50g (Light, Reg), MCA Tensei AV Blue 60g (Reg, Stiff), 70g (Stiff, X-Stiff)
- Grip Type: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 – 50-gram
- Price: $349.99
Pros
- Light and powerful
- Exceptional response and feel
- Very forgiving hitting area
- Low CG offers clean high launch
- Pure turf interaction keeps ball speeds high
Cons
- No adjustable weighting
- Lacks slice correction setting
- So many models to choose from
Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max Fairway Wood Review
How does the Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max Fairway look?
I really love the look of the new AI Smoke Fairway, especially when compared to the muted gold and blue of the original Paradym.
The smoky gray along the sole and lighter crown stand out in the golf bag, offering a premium top-tier appearance that looks tour-ready.
While early criticisms of the AI Smoke Fairway point out the lukewarm feelings on the smoky gray sole, I think it’s a marked improvement on the Mavrik and Paradym line.
The Triple Diamond ditches the smoky gray for the low handicappers for a uniform, darker charcoal appearance.
How does the Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max Fairway feel?
The Paradym AI Smoke Max feels very powerful, and that confidence grows if you repeatedly find the center of the face because the ball soars with high energy off the hitting area.
Even on off-center strikes, the Max offers nice responsiveness with minimal vibration. This fairway wood won’t sting your hands if your impact point creeps out toward the toe or gets too far inside on the heel.
As I played with a heavier stock shaft, I found the fairway wood continued to feel light throughout my swing.
That lightweight feel definitely kept my swing loose and free throughout my round, helping me keep the fairway wood on path.
What handicap is best for the Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max Fairway?
I would recommend that mid handicappers place this fairway wood atop their list for consideration.
Not only can the Max grow with your game due to the adjustable settings, but it’s certain to last a very long time in your golf bag as the go-to weapon for finding more fairways.
I do think the club is very accessible to both low and high handicappers for obviously different reasons.
The low handicappers who want more forgiveness than the Triple Diamond can provide without losing the adjustability will find the Max more enjoyable.
The Max offers a fairway wood for high handicappers they can certainly grow into as their fundamentals mature and strengthen.
How does the Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max Fairway perform?
Everything you want in a fairway wood is here with the AI Smoke Max: distance, accuracy, dispersion, and controllable flight with workability.
The fairway wood has all the bells and whistles when it comes to adjustability, as I can quickly find my preferred settings in less than a couple of minutes.
On the range, shots were crisp and clean. Balls off the deck soared with precision, and once I teed it up, the Max Fairway hit some absolute bombs down the middle of the fairway.
Off the tee box on the course, the Max Fairway is a real weapon with tight dispersion that minimizes my misses to keep me hitting out of the short grass.
If you have a higher handicap, the 3-wood Max can absolutely be your driver until you feel more comfortable off the tee.
Offering the best combination of distance and workability, the Triple Diamond isn’t for all golfers, but for the top amateur ball strikers out there, this fairway wood is ready to put on a show.
Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Fairway: Other Models
Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Triple Diamond Fairway
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Made for low handicappers, the Triple Diamond Fairway offers a tour-inspired shape built for premium workability.
Available in 15°, 18°, and 20° models, the Triple Diamond utilizes the smaller head shape to produce a low, penetrating launch with minimal spin.
When it comes to shafts, the Triple Diamond carries the Project X Denali Black in a 70-and 80-gram model, plus the MCA Tensei AV Blue 60-gram option.
While the Denali Black has a stiff and x-stiff option, the MCA Tensei is only available in stiff flex.
Offering premium workability, the Triple Diamond offers the best option for serious and experienced golfers.
Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max Fast Fairway
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Agile and very light, the Max Fast Fairway Wood is built for slow swing speeds.
Along with the high launch, moderate spin, and draw bias, the Max Fast also reduces the side spin that plagues casual golfers to provide a more pleasing overall experience on the links.
The four Max Fast Fairway options for golfers include a 3-, 5-, 7-, and 9-wood with lofts ranging from 16° through 25°.
There are no adjustable features with the Max Fast as the hosel remains bonded, and there’s no sliding weight in the club head.
Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max D Fairway
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Featuring a shallow face, the AI Smoke Max D Fairway delivers first-rate slice correction from the tee box and the short grass.
Featuring four different loft options, the Max D offers two different 3 woods: A standard and an HL model that offers an adjustable loft sleeve.
You can choose from four different shafts as well.
For golfers wanting a lightweight shaft, Project X Cypher 2.0 offers a 40-and 50-gram option, while Mitsubishi handles the heavy-duty options with their Tensei AV in both 60-gram and 70-gram shafts.
The $350 price tag is rather expensive for a draw-bias fairway wood, but I doubt you’ll find one as adept at making your game better if you need to hit the ball straighter with more distance.
Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Women’s Max Fairway
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Unlike the Men’s Max Fairway, there’s no sliding weight in the rear of the club.
We can assume that Callaway wanted the Women’s Max to deliver a lightweight feel without the additional burden of a rear weight along the sole.
Only the 3-wood offers an adjustable loft sleeve for customization as the other woods, a 5-wood through 11-wood, utilize a fixed hosel.
Also, the Max delivers the only neutral bias women’s fairway wood in the AI Smoke line.
The Project X Cypher 2.0 40-gram shaft and Lamkin Comfort ST+2 Soft grip round out the Women’s Max Fairway construction.
Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Women’s Max Fast Fairway
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Lightweight and nimble, the Women’s Max Fast Fairway delivers a premium golf club for amateurs struggling with slow swing speeds.
The fairway wood delivers high launch with moderate spin and a pre-set draw bias, offering plenty of slice correction.
Available in four loft options that run from 16° through 25°, women golfers who need more carry and rollout with their long-range shots will find a weapon with the Women’s Max Fast fairway.
The fairway wood does not offer adjustable features. Instead, the wood utilizes a bonded hosel to help amateurs find more consistency in their swing.
Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Women’s Max D Fairway
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The Women’s Max D Fairway offers draw-bias in four loft options, including a 3-wood at 15 degrees, a 5-wood at 18 degrees, and a 7-wood at 21 degrees.
The 3-wood carries a 175cc clubhead, while the other two woods offer a 154cc and 145cc head.
The Project X Cypher 2.0 40-gram graphite shaft comes equipped on all women’s fairway woods in the Paradym AI Smoke series.
Only the 3-wood is adjustable with a loft sleeve that can raise or lower the face angle. The 5-and 7-wood carry a fixed hosel but maintain the draw bias of the product line.
My Verdict: Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max Fairway Wood
As you can probably tell, I really love the performance of the Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max Fairway Wood.
I think Callaway has taken the original Paradym Fairway and added a few more design benefits that really make it one of the best fairway woods of the year.
Mostly, I enjoyed the neutral setup of the Max edition. With its blank neutral setting out of the box, I could modify the weighting and adjust the loft sleeve to dial in that perfect ball flight to maximize distance, carry, and accuracy.
Also, I prefer a shallow face that feels powerful at impact, and the Max certainly checks all of the boxes in that regard.
On the Trackman, my spin stayed well within my desired ranges as well, helping me produce the shot I needed in any situation.
Great for mid handicappers, the Max Fairway is a must-add club if you are looking to tighten your dispersion and add control to your long-range game.