Fairway Woods designed to go the distance

The metal-wood category in a typical golfer's bag will include a driver (refer specific category) and one, two or three fairway woods, most commonly a 3-wood, 4-wood or a 5-wood. Women and seniors might benefit from adding a 7-wood or 9-wood.

The woods are commonly the longest clubs in the range and feature deep (from front to back) clubheads that are made of metal, titanium or a composite material. They are called "woods" because the clubs were originally always made from wood. Metals came into broad use in the 1980s, and "fairway woods" are now sometimes called "fairway metals."

Fairway woods are intended to strike the ball at the bottom of the swing. For that reason, the ball is placed forward in the stance when using a wood.

There is no "right" distance there is only your distance

Distances with each club will vary from player to player and you'll learn those distances as you start playing. Typically, a driver will go approximately 15 metres further than a 3-wood, which will go about 15 metres further than a 5-wood.

Fairway woods, like irons, are progressive in nature; that is, a 3-wood has less loft than a 4-wood, which has less loft than a 5-wood, and so on. Because of that, a 3-wood will go further in distance than a 4-wood, which will go farther than a 5-wood, and so on.

A 3-wood is usually the second-longest club in a golfer's bag. Fairway woods have smaller heads than drivers and get progressively shorter than drivers. That makes them easier to control in the swing than a driver, and for that reason beginners are often encouraged to use a fairway wood off the tee.

To get an accurate assessment of the best fairway woods for your strength and playing style, visit The HOUSE of GOLF and speak with one of our expert technicians.