What is a Fairway Wood?
What is a Fairway Wood?
The fairway wood is similar in loft to irons, but golfers generally use it to hit the golf ball further thanks to it having a larger head and more power packed into the swing.
Fairway woods are used most on the on their namesake (the fairway), but sometimes golfers will play off the tee from tighter holes, where it is important to be accurate rather than trying to maximise distance.
More information about fairway woods and their uses on the golf course can be found by visiting one of our American Golf stores, where you can speak one-to-one with a PGA Pro, who will be happy to help with any questions you may have about any aspect of the game.
High-Handicap Fairway Woods
Golfers playing with a high handicap need a fairway wood in their bag. Most golfers play with a 3-wood and 5-wood, but 7-woods are also popular. A great deal of high handicap golfers find their trajectory off a fairway is much higher than that of a driver – meaning the golf ball will land softly. This should be kept in mind when it comes to picking clubs for the bag.
Another thing to note for high handicappers is that the fairway wood is useful for second shots onto the green, as well as for teeing off shots when the driver fails to get the job done with his or her driver.
Starting with at least one fairway wood in the bag is generally considered to be good practice. In regards to which model put in the bag, that is a choice solely in the hands of the player, though there are a good few options, including steel, titanium and graphite. Most golfers would recommend graphite when playing as a high-handicapper as it offer more forgiveness, but the choice is open.