The Best Fairway Woods of 2018

By: Golfshake Editor | Wed 17 Jan 2018

As the upcoming golf season approaches, we have taken a look at the new releases that have emerged onto the market, bringing together the Best New Fairway Woods of 2018.

Callaway Rogue/Rogue Sub Zero Fairway Wood

The Callaway Rogue fairway wood is the first fairway wood to incorporate Jailbreak Technology, and also incorporate the manufacturers’ renowned Face Cup Technology. These work together to enhance speed and make Rogue one of the most powerful fairways ever created.

Jailbreak Technology sees two steel Jailbreak bars stiffen the body, placing more impact load on the face to promote increased ball speed and distance. The ultra-thin, Carpenter 455 steel face is extremely fast, with the Face Cup also promoting more speed, and when both are combined with Jailbreak it helps golfers achieve fast ball speed and long distance on both centre-face hits and off-centre hits.

Callaway’s proprietary Internal Standing Wave technology also features in the fairway wood. ISW positions the CG low and forward to promote a distance-enhancing combination of high-launch and low-spin. The triaxial carbon crown is lighter and stronger than steel, and the saved weight is used to pull the CG dramatically lower to promote easy launch an increase MOI for forgiveness. Callaway have also worked with Boeing to redefine the geometry of the leading edge to improve airflow to promote faster head speed. The Sub Zero model is a lower spinning, higher launching version of the standard Rogue fairway wood.

Golfshake View

Owen Davies - The first fairway wood in Callaways range to feature jailbreak technology, it is big step up on the Callaway Epic 3 -wood. Super fast off the face, it sounds great and the low profile fills you with confidence.

Watch Owen's review of the Callaway Rogue Fairway Wood >>>

Specification

Loft: Rogue – 3+ (13.5°), 3 (15°), 4 (17°), 5 (19°), Heavenwood (20°), 7 (21°), 9 (23°) and 11 (25°)

Sub Zero – 3+ (13.5°), 3 (15°) and 5 (18°)

Shaft: Aldila Quaranta (LL, W, L and R flex) (Rogue only)

Aldila Synergy (L, R and S flex) (Rogue only)

Project C EvenFlow (R, S and XS flex)

Price: £269.00

Find out more on Golfshake, here, or visit the Callaway website, here.

Callaway GBB Epic/Epic SUB Zero

The Callaway GGB Epic fairway woods incorporate Callaway’s revolutionary and proprietary triaxial carbon composite material to enhance forgiveness, power and accuracy. Three pieces of technology come together to form a high performing fairway wood.

Maximum forgiveness is offered from an Ultra-light Triaxial Carbon Crown which saves weight and repositions it to increase MOI and lower the CG for easy launch and added power. The latest generation of Callaway’s Hyper Speed Face Cup is more efficient at delivering fast ball speed across the face, especially on miss-hits, for increased average distance. Finally, Speed Step Technology has been developed with direct input from aerospace experts to improve aerodynamics, and therefore offer a fast head speed without extra effort.

The SUB ZERO model of the GBB Epic allows golfers to switch the positions of the 22g and 3g weights in the sole, which adjusts spin to create a choice between lower launch, spin and trajectory or higher launch, spin and trajectory.

Golfshake View

For me the Epic 3-wood was overshadowed by the driver last year and while it is a super high quality product, it maybe lacks the wow factor when compared to the Rogue.

Specification

Loft: Epic – 3+W (14°), 3W (15°), 5W (18°), Heavenwood (20.5°), 7W (21°), 9W (24°)

SUB ZERO – 13.5°, 15° and 18°

Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana Green M+ 40 (L and R flex) (Epic only)

Mitsubishi Diamana Green M+ 50 (L, R and S flex) (Epic only)

Project X HZRDUS T800 65 (L, R and S flex) (Epic only)

Fujikura Pro Green 62 (R, S and XS flex) (SUB ZERO only)

Fujikura Pro Green 72 (R, S and XS flex)

Aldila Rogue Max 65 (R and S flex) (SUB ZERO only)

Aldila Rogue Max 75 (R, S and XS flex)

Aldila Rogue Max 85 (S and XS flex) (Epic only)

Price: £279.00

Find out more at Golfshake.com here or visit the Callaway website here.

COBRA KING F8/F8+

The COBRA KING F8 and F8+ fairway woods present the manufacturers most technologically-advanced and best performing woods yet, taking advantage of COBRA’s patented Dual Baffler Rail system, cutting-edge 360° Aero Technology, premium multi-material construction, and COBRA CONNECT Powered by Arccos.

The Baffler Dual Rail System has improved, tighter-spaced rails with CG centred between the rails, reducing twisting and resulting in a higher amount of clubhead speed. Furthermore, the Progressive Rail Heights provide consistent turf interaction for sweeping or steeper attack angles. The 360° Aero Technology then incorporates an innovative system of lightweight aero trips strategically positioned around the perimeter of the face to improve drag reduction through the downswing for increased club head speed.

The F8’s larger address profile combined with an ultralight 5-ply Carbon Fibre crown and forged 475 Stainless Steel face insert all come together to offer more distance and forgiveness. The patented E9 Technology, a variable thickness face construction designed with an elliptical pattern Sweet Zone, creates more hot spots away from the centre, for greater average distance. Finally, the MyFly8 technology affords golfers with the choice of eight loft settings.

The F8+ provides all of the same incredible technologies as the F8, in a more compact head size that better players prefer. The CG weight is also front-positioned leading to a more penetrating ball flight.

Golfshake View

Coming soon

Specification

Loft: F8 3-4 FWY: (13°, 13.5°, 13.5° Draw, 14.5°, 14.5° Draw, 15.5°, 15.5° Draw, 16°)

5-6 FWY: (17°, 17.5°, 17.5° Draw, 18.5°, 18.5° Draw, 19.5°, 19.5° Draw, 20°)

7-8 FWY: (21°, 21.5°, 21.5° Draw, 22.5°, 22.5° Draw, 23.5°, 23.5° Draw, 24°)

F8+ 3-4 FWY: (12°, 12.5°, 12.5° Draw, 13.5°, 13.5° Draw, 14.5°, 14.5° Draw, 15°)

4-5 FWY: (16°, 16.5°, 16.5° Draw, 17.5°, 17.5° Draw, 18.5°, 18.5° Draw, 19°)

Shaft: Aldila NV 2KXV Blue 70 (R and S flex) (F8)

Aldila NV 2KXV Green 75 (R, S and XS flex) (F8+)

Aldila NV 2KXV 50 (L flex) (Women’s F8)

Price: £199.00

Find out more at Golfshake.com here, or visit the COBRA website here.

Mizuno ST180

The ST180 fairway wood from Mizuno shares much of the same technology as the driver, including the hugely amplified Wave sole technology that commits every available gram of weight low and towards the face, dropping spin rates for even the fastest, downward ball strikers.

The Internal Waffle Crown’s weight-saving design again allows more grams to be relocated low and forward for efficient low-spin performance. The Amplified Wave Soleplate contracts and expands on impact for increased energy transfer to elevate ball speed, yet vastly reduce spin rates. The thinner, more responsive, high energy 1770 Maraging Steel Face further increases ball speeds and delivers a flatter, more efficient, controlled ball flight.

All ST180 metal woods feature a Quick Switch Adjustable Hosel that allows four degrees of loft adjustment and three degrees of lie adjustment. Finally, the head’s larger footprint generates a bigger-than-average profile that both looks, and is, highly forgiving.

Golfshake View

Coming soon

Specification

Loft: 15° and 18°

Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue 50 (A flex)

Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue 60 (R and S flex)

Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue 70 (S and XS flex)

Price: TBC

Learn more at Golfshake here or visit the Mizuno website by clicking here.

PING G400

The PING G400 is PING’s latest fairway wood offering and the club’s ball speed and stopping power come from an innovative maraging steel feel that is extremely thin and flexes 30% more to create their highest-launching fairway wood ever.

The G400 also utilises PING’s thinnest crown yet, as the 17-4 SS crown is cast ultra-thin for weight savings to optimise the CG location and increase total MOI for full-face forgiveness. To add, the Crown turbulators increase ball speed and provide a captured look.

The machined back weight is denser to increase total MOI for extreme forgiveness and maximum stability, but still enables you to customise your swing weight. You can fine tune launch conditions up to +- 1°. Finally, the face texture reduces spin, and the head’s cascading sole increases face flexing for higher launch.

The fairway woods come in three head options. The standard version is engineered to fit most golfers. The SFT (Straight Flight) is designed to correct a left-to-right ball flight and features a hell-side tungsten weighting for a lighter swing weight to help square the face. The LST (Low Spin) version positions the tungsten weight closer to the face to reduce spin approximately 300rpm for a stronger ball flight.

Golfshake View

Owen Davies - Ping seem to have a a special ability tp produce great value clubs just when the market is most receptive to them. The G400 driver is a winner on that front and so is the 3-wood. It is super solid performer and the high MOI mak a big difference. One of the straightest three woods on the market.

Watch Owen's review of the PING G400 Fairway Wood >>>

Specification

Loft: 3W (14.5°), 5W (17.5°), 7W (20.5°), 9W (23.5°)

3 SFT (16°), 5 SFT (19°), 7 SFT (22°)

Stretch 3W (13°)

Shaft: PING Alta CB (counter balanced) 65 (SR, R, S and XS flex)

PING Tour 75 (upcharge) (R, S and XS flex)

Price: £240.00

Find out more on the Golfshake website here, or visit the PING website by clicking here.

Srixon Z F65

Like the driver, the Z F65 fairway woods benefit from Ripple Effect technology, delivering the most advanced innovation and best performance Srixon has ever manufactured in terms of maximum distance with a higher, more forgiving launch.

The Power Wave Sole absorbs more stress at impact for maximum energy transfer, generating higher ball speed and distance. To add, the Stretch Flex Cup face has been extended farther around the crown and sole to create a 10% larger sweet spot. A new Lightweight Crown features a thinner structure that allows four grams of weight to be repositioned for a higher launch and club head MOI. And finally, the Arc Support Channel, which is progressively deeper by loft, stabilises initial launch conditions for more consistent distance and accuracy.

Golfshake View

Owen Davies - The Srixon delivers on most fronts, it is hot off the face with use of their wave tech and cup face, but for me the sound does not work. A small detail and something you may get use too, but very noticable when you first try the club.

https://www.golfshake.com/news/view/10337/Srixon_Z_F65_Fairway_Wood_Review.html

Specification

Loft: 3+ (13.5°), 3 (15°), 4 (17°) and 5 (19°)

Shaft: Miyazaki Kaula Mizu 6 (R and S flex)

Price: £229.00

Find out more on the Golfshake site here, or visit the Srixon website here.

TaylorMade M3/M4 Fairway Wood

The new M3 fairway takes a premium, adjustable fairway to the next level as it is constructed with a 450 stainless steel body, strong Ni-Co C300 face and new, thinner 5-layer carbon composite crown – the same as in the driver. The improved track system houses more moveable weight (29 grams) and allows for the adjustment for preferred shot shaping. The composite panels save up to 8g of discretionary weight and place it low and forward into the M3’s clubhead to create driver-like launch conditions.

The sliding weight track has been moved 3.5mm forward, which results in the CG moving almost a full millimetre forward. This also led to a more streamlined overhand design, improving the sole to turf interaction. Furthermore, the Speed Pocket length from heel-to-toe is longer than the previous M1 model.

The M4 fairway features the same technology, on top of Geocoustic Technology and ICT integration to deliver a remarkably high-performing complement to the M4 driver that delivers maximum distance and forgiveness. The tour version of this fairway has a small head size, with a slightly deeper face, designed for better players who prefer a more compact look, lower launch and more workability.

Golflshake view

Coming soon

Specification

Loft: M3 - 15°, 17° and 19°

M4 - 15°, 16.5°, 18°, 21° and 24°

M4 Tour - 15° and 18°

Shaft: M3 - MCA Tensei Blue (A, R, S and XS flex)

M4 – Fujikura Atmos Red (A, R and S flex)

M4 Tour – MCA Tensei Blue (S and X)

Price: M3 - £279.00

M4 - £229.00

M4 Tour - £279.00

Find out more at Golfshake.com here or visit the TaylorMade website here.

Titleist 917 F2/F3

Like their 917 driver counterparts, the Titleist 917 F2 and F3 are designed using a new patented Active Recoil Channel 2.0 and SureFit CG technology to produce an uncompromising combination of distance, forgiveness and trajectory control with tour-preferred looks, sound and feel.

The Active Recoil Channel (ARC) 2.0 actively flexes and recoils upon impact with the ball to launch it off the face with higher speed for more distance. The improved sole channel design, featuring a unique elastomer insert with a hollow core, produces greater face flexibility for a more consistent deflection that increases speed across the face.

A Variable Thickness Face Insert is tuned with ARC 2.0 to deliver greater off-centre ball speed for more overall distance across the face. The woods also feature a precise, High-MOI Design with a low centre of gravity location to deliver stability and forgiveness by preserving off-centre ball speed for more distance more often. Finally, the SureFit Hosel and new SureFit CG weight system deliver the ultimate in precision fitting for every golfer.

The F2 provides all-around playability with forgiveness and more distance in a larger profile fairway wood. In contrast, the F3 provides versatility with shot control and more distance in a compact profile fairway, as well as offering less spin for a more boring trajectory.

Golfshake View

Owen Davies - Titleist have consistently been making great three woods for a number of years and the 917 is no differnt, it squares nicely behind the ball and the shallow, but squat head points the 3 woods power. the only complaint we have heard is that for some it goes too far, leaving little gap between it and the 917 driver!

Watch Owen's review of the Titleist 917 Fairway Wood >>>