Brilliant engineers keep building better and more tech-infused golf clubs, and few player types are benefitting more than beginners, senior players or those with slower swing speeds. Generating speed generates power — Bryson DeChambeau proves this theory — and some of the newly released ultra-light models go a long way in helping golfers who can’t swing it as fast as Bryson. This is especially important for fairway woods, which are sometimes more difficult for certain players to launch and hit.
For GOLF’s ClubTest 2025, we tested 29 new fairway wood models from the top manufacturers to see not only what clubs performed the best overall, but in what areas each excelled. Here are some of the best fairway woods for slower swing speeds.
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MORE CLUBTEST: BEST FAIRWAY WOODS FOR FORGIVENESS | BEST FAIRWAY WOODS FOR SPEED | BEST FAIRWAY WOODS FOR LOW SPIN
Callaway Elyte Max Fast
*Callaway’s Elyte Max Fast fairway wood was awarded ClubTest 2025 Game Changer status for its outstanding performance in the slower swing speed fairway wood category.
Callaway Elyte Max Fast Custom Fairway Wood
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THE BASICS: All of Callaway’s new fairway wood models feature the company’s new Step Sole design that comes from studying the success of the Callaway Apex UW line. The idea was to help golfers strike the ball more consistently in the center of the face and to help them avoid striking the ball low on the face. A premium lightweight construction and components will benefit players with moderate swing speeds.
READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF CALLAWAY ELYTE FAIRWAY WOODS
Cleveland Halo XL Lite
Cleveland Halo XL Custom Lite Fairway Wood
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THE BASICS: A key attribute of the Halo XL woods line is the Glide Rails on the sole of the clubs to help lower the center of gravity by positioning extra mass on the sole and to help deliver more effective turf interaction to better maintain a square face through the impact zone. In essence, they act as rudders to help the club glide through the grass without digging and are especially effective from the rough. The Cleveland Halo XL Lite is best-suited for players with moderate swing speed.
READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF CLEVELAND HALO XL FAIRWAY WOODS
PLAYER TESTING TAKEAWAYS: “Feels good with good loft. I like the weight. Consistency was good. I like the overall look and dependability.” — Joanne Storbeck (34 handicap)
PXG Wildcat
PXG Wildcat Fairway Wood
THE BASICS: PXG’s Wildcat metal woods are geared to help players get the ball airborne, and it all starts with the lofts. There’s no 3-wood in this set, instead a 19-degree 5-wood. The lacking 3-wood is no oversight. Woods are typically the hardest clubs for beginners and infrequent golfers to wield. By giving players weaker lofts with a more confidence-inspiring look at address, the PXG Wildcats are easier to launch.
READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF PXG WILDCAT FAIRWAY WOODS
PLAYER TESTING TAKEAWAYS: “I like the glossy look and pronounced markings. Felt well balanced throughout. Excellent forgiveness. Good distance. Better performance than the rest and good forgiveness. Never tried PXG woods before and was pleasantly surprised.” — Ronald Hinderberger (19.4 handicap)
“Shiny, attractive, classic. Very solid and great impact through the ball. Jumped off the clubface. Not many misses. Excellent distance.” — Jerry Wenker (17.1 handicap)
TaylorMade Qi35 Max Lite
TaylorMade Qi35 Max Lite Custom Fairway Wood
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THE BASICS: Similar to the new drivers from the TaylorMade Qi35 family, the new Qi35 fairway woods focus on two main characteristics: inertia and adjustability. Inertia refers to the clubhead’s ability to deliver an optimal combination of distance and forgiveness, while adjustability allows golfers to fine-tune their shot shapes and configurations, helping players of all skill levels lower their scores. The Qi35 Max Lite is an ultralight model designed for slow-swinging golfers looking to gain speed.
READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF TAYLORMADE Qi35 FAIRWAY WOODS
PLAYER TESTING TAKEAWAYS: “Feel, sound, forgiveness and distance were great. Like how the weight feels heavy on the back end. Squares up nicely. Forgiving, not much side movement.” — Anita Wallace (9.3 handicap)
“Love the carbon, very pretty. Shaft and finish is nice. Stable and well balanced feel. Best average distance of the bunch. Consistent and easier to swing than others.” — Carolyn Petersen (16-20+ handicap)
Titleist GT1
Titleist GT1 Custom Fairway Wood
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THE BASICS: The Titleist GT1 fairway is the largest profile in the GT lineup at 180 cc, while also featuring the shallowest face height to help players launch the ball off the turf. With the weight distributed properly — GT1 has the deepest CG in the entire GT family — the shape was also refined to make it more aerodynamic, helping the slow-to-moderate clubhead speed player swing it faster.
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