These new 3-woods recorded the fastest ball speeds during robot testing

With the help of Golf Laboratories’ swing robot, GOLF’s 2024 ClubTest continues to deliver robotic testing insights on the newest equipment releases. We’re continuing fairway wood insights with the five fastest models in the marketplace.

Not every golfer tees it up at a course where driver is the prudent play off the tee. Speaking from experience, the track I played while living in the Northeast had just four holes where you could hit driver and not have to sweat a reload if the shot shape wasn’t absolutely perfect. Fairway woods and long irons wound up being the path to lower scores.

When driver isn’t the right call, it pays to have a 1B in the bag that produces enough pop to stay within shouting distance of the driver — and doesn’t have trouble finding the fairway.

In most cases, the 3-wood is the logical option to assume the role.

So where do you start if you’re on the hunt for a fast 3-wood? Using Golf Laboratories’ swing robot, we narrowed down the field of offerings to a select few that earned high marks in the ball-speed department.

Just to be clear, it’s important to conduct testing and undergo a proper fitting before pulling the trigger on a new 3-wood, but these offerings are a good place to start if more speed is on the list of wants.

(How we calculate: All testing was conducted with a 15-degree 3-wood at 95 mph, with six shots recorded from the geometric center, 3/4″ high toe and 3/4″ low heel.)

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TaylorMade Qi10 Tour | 139.2 mph

TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Custom Fairway Wood

$449.99

Introducing the Qi10 Tour fairway. Experience TaylorMade speed with Qi10 forgiveness…off the tee and off the deck. MAXIMUM ADJUSTABILITY A lower profile moveable weight system features a 50g sliding weight and a 2° loft sleeve for a wide range of flight options. Golfers can shift the weight back for higher launch and stability, center it for all-around performance or move it forward for a low-spin ball flight with maximum distance. NEW INFINITY CARBON CROWN An Infinity Crown provides a clean, uninterrupted view at address while also optimizing performance.

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Mizuno ST-G Titanium | 137 mph

Mizuno ST-G 440 Custom Fairway Wood

$399.99

CORTECH CHAMBER A chamber located on the sole adjacent to the face, filled with an elastomeric material with inserted weight provides: Larger CORAREA, improved spin performance, and tuned impact sound. ULTRA LOW CG CONSTRUCTION Lighter density 811 Ti body combined with 88g higher density steel along the sole provides the lowest CG construction. MULTI-THICKNESS CORTECH FACE Refined to maximize CORAREA combined with the SAT2041 Beta Titanium face material. WAFFLE CROWN Extremely thin lightweight crown portion. MODERN PLAYER’S PEAR SHAPE An inviting, compact, head that sits perfectly square at address. HIT TUNED IMPACT SOUND Strategically placed internal sound ribs tune the impact sound to the appropriate frequency and sound pressure QUICK SWITCH ADJUSTABILITY 4 degrees of loft adjustability to fine-tune address look and trajectory.

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Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max | 136.8 mph

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Custom Fairway Wood

$349.99

Ai SMOKE MAX FAIRWAY The new Paradym Ai Smoke fairway represents a quantum leap forward in Callaway’s Ai journey. This new family of fairway woods feature the most sophisticated face in Callaway history, the Ai Smart Face. Breakthrough Fairway Performance Powered by Ai Smart Face™ Ai Smoke fairway woods utilize Ai Smart Face; a breakthrough technology in face design that utilizes thousands of actual player swings. Every Ai Smart Face is designed to optimize launch and spin, creating sweet spots across the face. Refined Shaping with Adjustability for More Versatility With progressive shaping and the most extensive offering, Ai Smoke Max Fairway Woods will be the optimal choice for players who want consistent launch and a neutral ball flight. An adjustable hosel in the 3W and 3HL models gives players additional control to dial in loft and shot shape.

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Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond | 136.7 mph

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke TD Custom Fairway Wood

$349.99

Ai SMOKE TD FAIRWAY The new Paradym Ai Smoke fairway represents a quantum leap forward in Callaway’s Ai journey. This new family of fairway woods feature the most sophisticated face in Callaway history, the Ai Smart Face. Breakthrough Fairway Performance Powered by Ai Smart Face™ Ai Smoke fairway woods utilize Ai Smart Face; a breakthrough technology in face design that utilizes thousands of actual player swings. Every Ai Smart Face is designed to optimize launch and spin, creating sweet spots across the face. Workable Shape and Penetrating Ball Flight The Triple Diamond fairway wood will benefit golfers who want to work the ball, and typically have faster swing speeds for a penetrating ball flight with lower spin.

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Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D | 136.5 mph

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D Custom Fairway Wood

$349.99

Ai SMOKE MAX D FAIRWAY The new Paradym Ai Smoke fairway represents a quantum leap forward in Callaway’s Ai journey. This new family of fairway woods feature the most sophisticated face in Callaway history, the Ai Smart Face. Breakthrough Fairway Performance Powered by Ai Smart Face™ Ai Smoke fairway woods utilize Ai Smart Face; a breakthrough technology in face design that utilizes thousands of actual player swings. Every Ai Smart Face is designed to optimize launch and spin, creating sweet spots across the face. High Launch with Draw Bias The Ai Smoke Max D fairway wood is built with a more upright lie angle and a neutral face at address to deliver our most forgiving shape and highest launch with draw bias. An adjustable 3W allows players the ability to dial in launch even more.

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Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf.

Unleash your full golfing potential with brand-agnostic, precision club fitting. Start Booking

Jonathan Wall

Golf.com Editor

Jonathan Wall is GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com’s Managing Editor for Equipment. Prior to joining the staff at the end of 2018, he spent 6 years covering equipment for the PGA Tour. He can be reached at jonathan.wall@golf.com.

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