Golfers of all levels need the best fairway woods to maximize their long game. Whether they are looking for par 5’s in two or longer par 4’s, or if they want to take approach shots into par 3’s and par 3, it is important to find the best fairway wooden of 2023 that suits your needs.
We continue to see fairway wood options coming from all manufacturers when we look at the top fairway wood playing fields for 2023. There are now three, sometimes even four models available. This allows for specific player types.
The new fairway woods are a marvel of modern technology and construction. They can go further and faster while offering unprecedented levels of forgiveness. It is now easier than ever for you to find the one that suits your swing.
However, a professional fitter with a launch monitor is the best way to determine the best fairway woods. It’s difficult because not everyone has easy access to launch monitors and fitters. GolfWRX, with the help our expert fitters, can help you narrow down your list.
The best fairway woods in 2023: Meet the Fitters
- Nick Sherburne, Founder, Club Champion
- Clare Cornelius: Fitter, Cool Clubs
- Shaun Fagan – Fitter, True Spec Golf
- Kirk Oguri – PGA Professional/ Club Specialist Pete’s
- Scott Felix: Owner, Felix Club Works
- Mark Knapp, Fitter, Carls Golfland
- Ryan Johnson: Fitter Carl’s Golfland
- BradCoffield: Fitter Carl’s Golfland
- Matthew Sim, Director of Operations, Modern Golf
- Scott Sikorski: Fitter, Club Champion
- Ryan Grimes – Fitter, Club Champions
- Ben Giunta, Owner, Tour Van
- Alex Dice, Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
- Gus Alzate – Fitter, True Spec Golf
- Marc Roybal – Fitter, True Spec Golf
- Carmen Corvino – Fitter, True Spec Golf
- Bobby Ennis, Club Champion
- Dane Byers – Fitter, Club Champions
- Blake Smith: Fitter True Golf
- Shaun Fagan – Fitter, True Spec Golf
- Mark Hymerling, Fitter, Club Champions
- Joey Simon – Fitter, Club Champions
- Dean Fry: Fitter, TXG
- Jim Yenser, Fitter, Club Champions
- Dan Palmisaro: Fitter, Club Champion
- Mike Martysiewicz, Director of Club Building & Fitting TXG
- Rob Gallagher, Fitter, Club Champions
- Alex Praeger – Fitter, Club Champions
2023 Best Fairway Woods: The Categories
Our 2023 top fairway woods list has been broken down into two categories.
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The best fairway wood for golfers looking for forgiveness
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The best fairway wood for golfers looking for versatility
This format was chosen for fairway woodens because everyone fits into one of the two “want” categories, regardless of age, handicap or sex. For many golfers forgiveness is the most important factor in selecting fairway woods.
Before we began building the survey we reached out to our trusted fitters for advice on how they sort the fairway wood options that are available to golfers. The top-ranked options were forgiveness and versatility.
The most versatile fairway woods in 2023
Titleist TSR2
TSR2 fairways have the lowest CG in Titleist History. This is due to an all-steel construction that allows for speed and launch with minimal spin. The new Open Hosel Construction allowed for significant improvements in key performance areas by removing excess weight towards the heel and high up.
Callaway Paradym
Callaway engineers created the Paradym fairway timbers with a sole primarily made of carbon. This was in keeping with their goal to reduce weight and redistribute it. A.I. A.I. Paradym is the largest section of the fitting bell curve. It promotes high launch, and neutral ball flight.
Ping G430 Max
Carbonfly Wrap was developed by Ping to increase distance. It places the CG closer towards the face to maximize ball speed. This results in longer, higher carries. The skirt’s lightweight composite crown wraps around the toe and heel sections, resulting in weight savings of 10g. This is used to increase ball speed and lower the CG. A composite crown plays an important role in creating a pleasing sound. To ensure forgiveness, a tungsten backweight increases the perimeter weighting.
TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus
The 2023 TaylorMade Stealth 2 fairway woodens are known for their innovative movable weight technology and versatile designs. Stealth 2 Plus has been described as “three fairway woodens in one” because of its unique performance characteristics and 50-gram soleweight.
Titleist TSR3
Titleist’s fairway wood has been designed to be adjustable and features a 5-position SureFit Adjustable Track System. This allows for fine tuning performance. It has the same Open Hosel Construction that TSR2 fairways. To provide easy, high-launch with lots of forgiveness, the TSR3’s CG is positioned slightly lower and deeper than its predecessor.
For the complete technology breakdown, see our launch piece
Fairway woods 2023 are the most forgiving
Ping G430 Max
Carbonfly Wrap was developed by Ping to increase distance. It places the CG closer towards the face to maximize ball speed. This results in longer, higher carries. The skirt’s lightweight composite crown wraps around the toe and heel sections, resulting in weight savings of 10g. This is used to increase ball speed and lower the CG. A composite crown plays an important role in creating a pleasing sound. To ensure forgiveness, a tungsten backweight increases the perimeter weighting.
Callaway Paradym X
Callaway engineers created the Paradym fairway timbers with a sole primarily made of carbon. This was in keeping with their goal to reduce weight and redistribute it. A.I. A.I. ParadymX is a high-launching fairway wood that’s draw-biased and high-MOI. A forged carbon toe patch transfers weight to the heel.
TaylorMade Stealth 2
Stealth’s 3D carbon crown is slightly lower that Stealth. This positions CG lower in club and further away from the toe. Engineers can move more weight backwards in the club to allow for greater forgiveness. Engineers use the V Steel sole again, which positions weight lower for deeper CG and enhances turf interaction to allow for flexibility from different lies.
Titleist TSR2
TSR2 fairways have the lowest CG in Titleist History. This is due to an all-steel construction that allows for speed and launch with minimal spin. The new Open Hosel Construction allowed for significant improvements in key performance areas by removing excess weight towards the heel and high up.
TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD
Stealth 2HD is a quick-hitting addition to the Stealth Family and fairway wood for players who have difficulty hitting their fairway woods. It features a large 200cc head and an ultra-high MOI construction to maximize playability. The ball is launched higher by the large, low-profile sole. Stealth 2 HD has an internal draw bias.
We cannot thank the fitters enough. We hope that we can assist you in your search to find your fairway wood of 2023.
Forums: Join the conversation about the top fairway woods in 2023.
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