How to Choose a Fairway Wood

Fairway woods golf club set on the course

Tired of inconsistent shots? Choosing the right fairway wood can be a game-changer, offering a blend of distance and versatility from the tee, the fairway, or even the rough. Modern designs prioritize forgiveness, using advanced materials to ensure consistent performance even on off-center hits. Whether you prioritize the precision of a compact head or the high-launch margin for error found in larger designs, our Golf Experts have the insights to help you find the best wood for your game.

What is a Fairway Wood?

A fairway wood is a hollow-bodied, large-headed club designed for distance and ease of use. With lofts typically ranging from 13 to 26 degrees, these clubs feature a low center of gravity (LCG) and perimeter weighting—design elements that help launch the ball higher and more accurately than a traditional long iron.

While they are constructed from high-tech materials like steel, carbon composite, and tungsten, the shaft remains a critical component; matching your swing speed to the correct flex is essential for control. While many modern woods offer adjustable hosels for fine-tuning, most golfers find that a standard, well-fitted setup provides all the consistency they need to excel on the course.

When Should I Use a Fairway Wood?

A fairway wood is a versatile club that can be used from the tee box, fairway, rough, and bunkers. Here are specific examples of when a fairway wood might be necessary:

Long par 4s and par 5s: 3 or 5 woods would be the best for these shots as you can generally get a combination of distance and accuracy.
Off the tee: 3 woods are great for this shot due to having a smaller clubhead, more loft, and a shorter shaft. This will give you more consistency and a slightly lower trajectory as it is comparable to the driver.
Chip shots: 3 or 5 woods are generally the most consistent club for these shots when a wedge is not the best option, because the loft can lift the ball just enough to have a smooth roll.
Rough, bunkers, and bushes: 7 woods allow easy hitting out of the sand with control, while the 9 wood is beneficial for getting the ball more air with the higher loft.
Second shot into long holes: Use a 3 wood for this shot to get a good launch angle and for the ball to carry well.

Types of Fairway Woods

There are several different types of golf woods, each offering a different purpose for the course. Choosing what wood you need depends completely on what you already have in your bag. Our Golf Experts highlight the different types and how they’re best used on the course.

3 Wood

The 3 wood is a powerful alternative to the driver and is often used for long shots off the fairway or for accuracy off the tee.

Loft Range: Typically 15–18 degrees.
Best For: Golfers looking for a combination of distance and control.
Expert Tip: While more experienced players may lean toward a lower loft (15°), beginners benefit from a higher loft (17–18°), which helps create a higher launch angle and reduces the side spin that causes slices.

5 Wood

The 5 wood is often easier to hit than a 3 wood and is an excellent option for second shots on par 5s or long approach shots.

Loft Range: Typically 20–22 degrees.
Best For: Replacing long irons (like a 2 or 3 iron) with a club that offers more forgiveness and a higher trajectory.
Benefit: The higher loft and lower center of gravity (LCG) make it much easier to get the ball into the air from a variety of lies compared to a traditional long iron.

7 Wood, 9 Wood & Beyond

Higher-lofted woods have gained massive popularity—even among professionals—as replacements for difficult-to-hit mid-to-long irons.

7 Wood (20–22°): A favorite for its steep descent angle, meaning the ball stops quickly on the green.
9 Wood (23–26°): Perfect for high, soft shots out of the rough or over hazards.

While higher-numbered clubs usually have shorter shafts, we often build utility woods to the same length as a 5 wood. This maintains a larger swing arc, ensuring you don't lose the clubhead speed necessary to achieve maximum distance.

Fairway Wood Loft & Distance Chart

Below is a general guideline for fairway woods and the distance range. Please note that everyone’s swing and play styles are different, so it’s always best to schedule a custom fitting with a SCHEELS Master Fitter.

Wood Type	Loft Degrees	Distance
3 Wood	15 - 18°	185 - 230 yards
5 Wood	18 - 20°	175 - 210 yards
7 Wood	20 - 23°	160 - 200 yards
9 Wood	23 - 26°	150 - 185 yards

Shop Fairway Woods

Choosing the right fairway wood can elevate your game, providing the perfect balance of distance, control, and versatility. Ultimately, the best fairway wood is the one that feels comfortable with your swing, gives you confidence in your hit, and complements your playing style on the course. Choose from our top brands like Callaway, TaylorMade, Cobra, Titleist, and more!

If you have additional questions about choosing a fairway wood, stop by your local SCHEELS to speak with a Golf Expert or schedule a custom fitting with one of our SCHEELS Master Fitters.

Frequently Asked Questions

These woods exist and were favored 20 or more years ago, but they have fallen out of favor as newer technologies have improved the performance of woods. Today, most golfers prefer 7 and 9 woods in their bag (which can only have fourteen clubs) rather than a 2 or 4 wood. There is now a trend to include higher-numbered woods and eliminate the traditional low-numbered irons in your set of golf clubs.
They used to be, but since the 1980's woods have been made of metal. Metal has many advantages over wood. For the beginning golfer, the most essential features are perimeter weighting and low center of gravity (LCG), which can only be achieved through precisely molded metal. Both of these design technologies result in golf clubs that are much more forgiving than wooden woods. Perimeter weighting helps create a more prominent sweet spot—a larger area on the face of the club that will result in a good hit. A low center of gravity creates mass at the right place—increasing the height the ball will launch off the club and reducing the likelihood of miss-hits into the ground.