Fairway woods can be huge difference-makers for your game — but only if they're fit properly for your swing.
GOLF.com
Let’s be honest, fairway woods just don’t get the love they deserve. Drivers steal the spotlight, irons get the scoring nod, and wedges take all the finesse credit. But a properly fit fairway wood? That could be the MVP of your bag that you didn’t know you were missing.
So, let’s give these clubs their due and breakdown why fairway woods aren’t just space holders in your 14-club kit, they can be a game-changer.
First off, your fairway woods should be your go-to for a few things:
Your longest fairway wood should put you in a safe position off the tee on tighter holes or when the driver is just too much club.
Going for par 5s in two or setting you up with your favorite wedge for birdie.
Escaping trouble or reaching from less-than-ideal lies — whether it’s short rough, a downhill lie or a tight fairway.
But there is a catch: if your fairway woods don’t fit properly, they’re probably not doing much of anythingwell. You may as well be carrying a fashionable paperweight.
Most people think a 3-wood is a 3-wood. Wrong. Depending on your swing speed and delivery, you might need more loft to get the ball in the air consistently. A 16.5-degree “3HL or strong 4-wood” might fly farther and land softer than your traditional 15-degree 3-wood. It’s not about the number on the sole; it’s about the carry number in the air and how it lands.
For some players, a 5-wood could produce the best numbers and fit in the bag as the longest fairway wood after the driver.
PING G440 Max Custom Fairway Wood
The G440 fairway family (MAX, LST, SFT) advances PING’s reputation as a Tour-preferred model of choice through a re-designed face structure and low CG system. The face is taller for more confidence off the tee while maintaining a CG location that delivers high- launching performance off the ground. The MAX model (which fits most golfers) is available in five lofts (including a new 4-wood) to provide more gapping solutions.
HIGH MOI
Easy to launch, stable design increases forgiveness.
FLEXING FACE
Maraging steel face flexes for more ball speed, optimizes spin.
TALLER FACE PROFILE
Improves performance off the tee, maintains low CG.
FREE-HOSEL DESIGN
Saves weight to lower CG, optimize launch/spin and increase forgiveness.
The right shaft flex and weight keep your tempo smooth and your launch window consistent. Too heavy, and you’ll wear yourself out. Too light, and you may lose the relationship of where the head is through the swing and start seeing a two-way miss. If the shaft’s too stiff, good luck getting it off the deck.
Face Profile and Turf Interaction
Some players are sweepers; some players hit down on the ball and take a divot with their woods. The sole design and how the club interacts with the turf are huge for playability. A deeper, taller, face helps off the tee. While a shallow face, and wider sole, might be better off a tight fairway. Testing a few combinations helps find the proper fit and gets you the best of both worlds.
Distance Gapping
Your fairway woods need to slot perfectly between your driver and your longest iron or hybrid. If your 3-wood flies five yards farther than your 5-wood, and both go the same distance off the turf, your gapping is off. This is the time to possibly entertain the idea of a 4-wood and 7-wood combo.
Fairway woods don’t have to be gap-fillers or “just-in-case” clubs. When they’re fit correctly for your game, they become tools you can rely on, sometimes even more than your driver. They can bail you out, set you up, or even become your go-to when things go sideways.
Don’t just carry them, trust them. Rely on them. Let them work for you.
Building on a career that has spanned more than 20 years in the golf industry, McCormack has spent the last six years of his career serving as the Vice President of Tour and Education for True Spec Golf. During that time, he curated the training program for the True Spec fitting staff and pushed for more continuing education curriculum. As well as managing their Tour department and building relationships with a multitude of OEM partners. Prior to joining the True Spec team, McCormack worked with several of the industry-leading manufacturers as a Master level Fitting Professional. In addition to being an instructor and partnering with the Golf Channel Academy as a lead instructor and brand-agnostic Fitting Professional. He has also worked with R&D teams to assist in product design, testing, and development for a variety of gear releases. He is a golf enthusiast and lives in the gear space!
