Robot testing confirms these 5 fairway woods offer a high launch

Not all fairway woods are created equal — and that’s a good thing. Some are designed to generate a piercing ball flight, while others are geared for golfers who need help launching it into the stratosphere. If you fall into the latter category, consider this list a good place to start when the search for a new 3-wood commences.

Utilizing robotic data from Golf Laboratories’ swing robot, we were able to highlight options for golfers who sit around 95 mph (swing speed) and have trouble getting the ball in the air or simply want something with the ability to drop and stop.

Drivers

As you’ll notice, the robot highlighted an interesting choice at the top of the list: Ping’s G430 LST. Designed for golfers who want to cut spin, Ping’s latest fairway wood actually produced high launch, low spin properties under our testing conditions that led to some impressive carry distance numbers — making it a great secondary option off the tee.

Check out the launch angle results below.

(How we calculate: Each fairway wood is tested at 95 mph using a three-point face mapping. We hit six balls from each location on the face — heel, toe and middle — and came up with an average based on the 18 strikes.)

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Ping G430 LST | 16.6 degrees

Cobra Darkspeed X | 16.4 degrees

Cobra DarkSpeed X Custom Fairway Wood

The X model is designed for versatile shot making and plenty of forgiveness to make your long game more consistent. MORE LAUNCH. MORE BALL SPEED. The PWRSHELL insert and suspended weight PWR-BRIDGE design create a more flexible face and sole to maximize launch and ball speed. SPEED & SPIN OPTIMIZATION An A.I. designed H.O.T. Face features an optimized variable thickness pattern that delivers more efficient speed & spin across the clubface.

$329.99 $199.00 from Fairway Jockey

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Cobra Darkspeed Max | 16.3 degrees

Cobra DarkSpeed Max Custom Fairway Wood

The MAX model features tunable draw-bias and unrivaled stability to inspire maximum confidence from the fairway or off the tee. MORE LAUNCH. MORE BALL SPEED. The PWRSHELL insert and suspended weight PWR-BRIDGE design create a more flexible face and sole to maximize launch and ball speed. SPEED & SPIN OPTIMIZATION An A.I. designed H.O.T. Face features an optimized variable thickness pattern that delivers more efficient speed & spin across the clubface.

$329.99 $199.00 from Fairway Jockey

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TaylorMade Qi10 Max | 16 degrees

TaylorMade Qi10 | 15.6 degrees

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