MGS Tested: 2017 MOST WANTED FAIRWAY WOOD
Fairway Woods

MGS Tested: 2017 MOST WANTED FAIRWAY WOOD

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MGS Tested: 2017 MOST WANTED FAIRWAY WOOD

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60

Hours
Researched

16.2m

Readers

3,536

Shots
Hit

148,512

Data
Points


“The World’s Largest Unbiased Head-To-Head Fairway Wood Test.”

Breadth

What characteristics determine a great fairway wood?

Is it Distance? Accuracy? Forgiveness? We’ve found that it’s a combination of all those things.  This year we leveraged our testing facility in Virginia to deliver the most comprehensive, unbiased Fairway Wood Test in the world. If you’re in the market for new fairway wood in 2017, this is for you.

Data You Can Trust

At MyGolfSpy our job is to provide independent, unbiased, and objective testing of products that help increase consumer confidence. We do this by employing consistent testing methodologies and advanced golf analytics inside our 100% independent test facility. The consumer is then able to apply the industry’s richest set of head-to-head data collection to help unlock their full potential. Our testing provides unparalleled data which equals unparalleled insight for the golfer.

We are here to help you find golf equipment that you will not only love but want to keep. We don’t want you spending a dollar unless it improves on what’s already in the bag.

QuadShot

Advanced Golf Analytics

Data matters. And when it comes to finding the right equipment, it’s critical. We help solve this by applying the largest connected set of head-to-head data to tackle one of golf’s biggest challenges.

All testing was conducted inside our fully independent test facility located in Virginia.  All testers used Bridgestone B330-RX golf balls for consistency and to reduce test variables. All ball data was collected using the world’s most trusted launch monitor, Foresight Sports. All head data was captured using the Foresight HMT device. This comprehensive dataset was then run through our proprietary Most Wanted Rankings methodology that we have developed called TRUERank. What we have developed is the most accurate test to determine the leaders in the fairway wood category.

  • SHOTS HIT: 3,536
  • DATA POINTS: 148,512
  • TIME: 60 hours
  • TESTERS: 20
  • HANDICAP RANGE: 0-18
  • AGE RANGE: 24-74
  • SWING SPEED RANGE: 62mph – 125mph

Data. Aggregated. Normalized. Delivered.

For more details, see our How We Test page.

testimonials2

2017 Fairway Wood Rankings

top3

foresight-bnr

No1

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      Dennis Beach

      6 years ago

      I only carry a 3 wood. Have 2 hybrids-18* and 21*. 3 wood is Callaway Diablo and hybrids are Snake Eyes Vipers. Playing dated tech, but my game was in the toilet for a few years. Finally broke 100 after 5 years. Use to play in the lower 90’s consistently. Lost my game, especially out of the tee box. Game is coming around, and data like this is a help when I go shopping for clubs.

      Reply

      Tom

      6 years ago

      I’ve gone through a major club fitting this year, replacing everything from my driver to hybrids to irons to wedges. The fitting process at Golftec was awesome, especially in selecting irons and shafts. My final club to add is a fairway wood. My guess is that the top makes and models of woods listed here will be what we test to fit to my swing. What I’m debating and we’ll probably determine in the fitting is if it makes more sense to carry a 3 , 4, or 5 wood. If I give up a few yards but pick up a lot in forgiveness and solid, relatively straight contact, does it make sense to go for the 4 or 5 wood?

      Reply

      Rich

      7 years ago

      How many shots with fairway wood per round are used to calculate the strokes gained? Looks like it’d take about 50 rounds to see a difference of one stroke with the best FW vs middle of the pack, unless I use the club much more frequently than you used to calculate.

      Reply

      Walter

      7 years ago

      Hey MyGolfSpy, curious why no Tour edge products in this article on fairway woods or in the driver most wanted. Thanks

      Reply

      Jeff

      7 years ago

      They get this question is just about every thread. Tour Edge refuses to take place in the testing since the irons didn’t place well in 2015

      Reply

      10shot

      7 years ago

      I dont think the new 200.00 each set of irons gona fare to well either. In black pearl that will be 250.00 each, now thats funny stuff

      Ryebread

      7 years ago

      Thanks as always for the work and the information. My take away is that there’s not much difference in them, at least at the top end, outside the spin profile. It is really finding the one that works the best for what one is looking for, understanding that low spin and MOI in a FW are often (not always) opposites, and that a club that may be too low spinning as a 3w may make a great 5w.

      As a long time reader and poster, I too miss the days of more colorful dialogue accompanied with the results. I get the goal to be unbiased and appreciate it, but the same exact data can be presented in the same way. I miss Tony’s editorial comments, the humor with which they were delivered, the guidance on how to help interpret the numbers (e.g. slow wing speed players look here) as well as the information about how some sound/feel, etc.. Right now the site feels a bit sterile, at least on the testing reviews.

      Reply

      Dean Vent

      7 years ago

      I would like to see the players swing speeds referenced in the tests more as well. Otherwise a club that could work great for 100+ mile an hour swinger might not perform as well for a 70+ mile an hour swinger.

      Reply

      Raymond CHASTEL

      7 years ago

      I’m out to purchase a new 3 wood .So this test is in spot and proves very useful Now ,I see that PING has also brought out a G440 fairway wood ,on top of the outstanding PING G 400 driver This PING G 400 3 wood is not included in your test.Will you put it through it’s paces ?

      Reply

      dave

      7 years ago

      I have had all of the top 3. off the tee i agree. off the turf hands down f7 wins because of the rails. have you ever hit a fat fairway 260 straight. well you can with the f7. typically the 3 wood is the hardest club for me to be happy with.. this f7 is my go to club. awesome. not quite as long as the others but super consistent ballstriking off of the turf.

      Reply

      David W

      7 years ago

      It would be awesome to see the 2016 M1 against the top 3 here and in the driver category. Everything I read says the 2016 M1 is still the king of distance.

      Reply

      Stephen DiBari

      7 years ago

      I have the Epic subzero fairway 3 and 5 metals (and the Subzero driver too) and absolutely love them. My clubhead speed with my driver is 105-110 mph and i feel the subzero versions are better for me because of my high swing speed. Curious why you didn’t test the subzero version in this test ?
      Thanks Steve

      Reply

      Johnnythunders

      7 years ago

      I tried the top 3 and for me the mizuno jpx 900 was the most playable, the shaft is real deal made in Japan and had great feel, distance but is straight, straight. Very easy to hit, one reason being that on the 3,5 and 7 I bought the lofts were all 2 degrees more in the stock setting when I measured them on my gauge. For this was pefect as I ave a lower swing speed.

      Reply

      xjohnx

      7 years ago

      This also should put to rest some of the accusations of MGS being in bed with Cleveland/Srixon.

      Reply

      xjohnx

      7 years ago

      I’m not surprised by the top 3 at all. Those are 3 awesome choices and most would not be disappointed with any pick of the litter.

      Wondering why you didn’t test the Epic SZ since you did test both drivers. Do you try to only stick with two models within one vendor and thought there was more separation between epic and fusion? That makes sense I’m just curious. I also understand not all vendors provide free test clubs and you are sometimes buying them. In which case, we can only blame ourselves for not donating enough!

      Reply

      Kaz

      7 years ago

      Was the Tour Edge fairway woods, XJ1 and X10, included in your Best Fairway Woods for 2017?

      Reply

      Raymond CHASTEL

      7 years ago

      The difference between the top performng clubs is minimal ,so you have to go with your personal preferences .TITLEIST is better manufactured and finished (In general ) than CALLAWAY and TAYLOR MADE ,somewhat like a GERMAN car and a KOREAN car .

      Reply

      Dave S

      7 years ago

      They’d sure love you to think that.

      Reply

      xjohnx

      7 years ago

      Though I’m a lifelong owner of German cars, I don’t think there is anything to support this statement.

      Jeff

      7 years ago

      Wow their marketing at work… I like Titleist but they generally have the least technology in their clubs and mostly just focus on the classic look, appeal and paying pros out the wazoo.

      Reply

      Spitfisher

      7 years ago

      I wish to suggest that any test, ball, fairway iron etc you do have 3 elements made A= club head speed of <80 mph or senior, B= <95 mph and C = <105 MPH

      I know its extra work but it really would be far more meaningful to your readers.

      Thanks for the info in this fairway test, as always.

      Reply

      joe thompson

      7 years ago

      Will you test the xxx10 gold woods in the near future? I am close to purchase them.

      Reply

      Bob

      7 years ago

      Joe,

      No need for them to test. XXIO makes the best clubs period if you swing less than 90-95MPH with a driver. The XXIO Prime (gold) will launch higher than anything tested here and is made of a strong grade of titanium than any driver uses in America. That said, it’s hot off the face and won’t lack distance.

      Go hit it, watch it fly, and buy it without regret.

      Reply

      boyo

      7 years ago

      Big Bucks!

      Ben Smith

      7 years ago

      I really like to see the little blurb about pros and cons and a little write up on the top contenders.

      Reply

      Mark R

      7 years ago

      I luv their testing, so unbiased. I just purchased the Titliest F2 fairway wood after testing several clubs including the new Cobra. For me, the Titliest got the ball up with better carry and consistency than the Cobra for my swing. I got longer distance with it though this test shows the Cobra slightly longer. Can’t lose with any new club today but go hit them for what’s best for your swing.

      Reply

      Uhit

      7 years ago

      Love to see the data page with CG, MOI, measured loft and lie,
      and all the nice stuff…

      How have you done the weighting?

      The F7 has a higher ball speed, a higher spin rate, a greater carry distance, and a bigger total distance, than the Epic, but was rated lower?!

      Reply

      Zuco

      7 years ago

      I really like these tests (and this site). However, it always strikes me that there isn’t as much differentiation in performance between the clubs as one would think.

      Reply

      Bill

      7 years ago

      How did the slower swing speeds fare? Would be nice to see the distribution by swing speed.

      Reply

      Steve S

      7 years ago

      I think that the slower swing speeds will show much smaller difference than what is in the table. After hitting dozens of 3 woods I found that I picked the one that “felt good” because they all had close to the same numbers for me.

      Reply

      Jay Hinkle

      7 years ago

      Tour Edge is consistently named as the best fairway woods. Them not being in here is disappointing

      Reply

      MyGolf Spy

      7 years ago

      They declined to participate in testing again.

      Reply

      Dan

      7 years ago

      they need to sort that out, what are they afraid of?

      10shot

      7 years ago

      Who names Tour Edge the best fairway woods? Tour Edge?

      Reply

      Golfoloio

      6 years ago

      Tour Edge knows their fairways would NOT outperform the other top fairways thus would expose their entire marketing gimmick.

      Bill Rinehart

      7 years ago

      Bought the BB Epic 3 wood 2 months ago. Love It! Longer, higher and more forgiving than my TM RocketBallz. BTW- how is True Rank calculated? I assume it’s a calculation of the different shot characteristics. What are the weights assigned to the variables?

      Reply

      James Dailey

      7 years ago

      I can attest for the m2. I’ve got a 2016 m1 and 2017 m2 in the bag right now. The m2 just wants to go straight. The m1 feels better and is more workable (I have the weights split) but the m2 is way more forgiving…way more.

      Reply

      Spitfisher

      7 years ago

      I feel the same with the M2, despite trying the epic and the Titleist. Oh sure when you hit those perfect they’re nice, but the M2 also does well and does not smart nearly as much when you miss it a little bit. This trait alone is worth it to the shooting 80s and 90s crowd.

      Reply

      Rob

      7 years ago

      Was the #3 spot the standard TM M2 or was it the M2 tour? It says Taylormade M2 but the picture shows the M2 Tour fairway wood.

      Also was the Epic Sub Zero fairway wood tested?

      Reply

      MyGolfSpy

      7 years ago

      3rd was the TM (Standard) M2.

      Reply

      Kyle Henderson

      7 years ago

      This is perfect timing as im in the market for a new fairway wood.. Looking forward to the read! (edit) and the club i was looking at is second, that’ll do me

      Reply

      Carolina Golfer 2

      7 years ago

      It most certainly will (do). I have the 15 and 18 degrees and they are both great. I hit the 18 a lot more as it’s pretty much my go to club for 190 yard shot, anything more than that I’m usually laying up unless there is a wide open space with very little trouble, then I’ll use the 15 degree. Both very easy to hit off the deck.

      Reply

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