Some golfers choose not to carry a 3 wood, and others find it to be one of their favorite clubs in the bag. As great as a 3 wood can be, this is one of those pieces of equipment that needs to be a perfect match to your skills. If your 3 wood is not the right shaft or has the right forgiveness, the overall results are not going to be great.
Fairway woods have come a long way as far as technology is concerned, and the best 3 woods on the market are nearly as long and forgiving as some of the best drivers on the market. Here are our picks for the best 3 woods Golf clubs.
Our list of the BEST 3 Woods Golf Clubs
- Callaway Epic Max (Best Overall 3 Wood)
- Callaway Big Bertha B21 (Most Forgiving 3 Wood)
- TaylorMade SIM 2 Titanium (Best 3 Wood For Low Handicapper)
- Cobra Speedzone Fairway Wood (Best Value 3 Wood)
- Wilson D9 (Best 3 Wood For Beginner)
Best Overall 3 Wood: Callaway Epic Max
The Callaway Epic Max Fairway is one of the latest releases from Callaway, and it is designed specifically with ball speed in mind. The newest model features the new Jailbreak AI Velocity blades to help increase the flexibility in the club head.
With a flexible club face, the Epic Max can give players the distance that they never imagined with a fairway wood. Truly if you struggle from the tee box and need something that increases overall distance, the Callaway Epic Max is a great choice. You will probably find the club travels just as far as your driver.
With the Epic Max, you can adjust the launch and the spin, and this is available in several other lofts to help you get your game set the way you need it to be.
Pros
- Advanced artificial intelligence
- Brand new Jailbreak technology
- Launch and spin adjustability
Cons
- Not the cheapest 3 wood on the market
Most Forgiving 3 Wood: Callaway Big Bertha B21
As we mentioned, there are many golfers that will not even put a 3 wood in the golf bag because of its lack of forgiveness. The good news is that some golf companies are aware of this, and Callaway set out to make an excellent fairway wood that has both distance and forgiveness.
The Big Bertha B21 was designed using artificial intelligence to be the most forgiving fairway wood for the mid to high handicap player. With these 3 wood, you can quickly launch the ball, even when you are in the rough. Although this may not be the longest fairway wood on the market, you can get the forgiveness that you need.
We like the idea of putting the Big Bertha B21 in the 3 wood, and then maybe choosing something in the Epic line of clubs for the 5 wood. This could be a good combination of the distance and forgiveness that you need.
Pros
- Created with Artificial intelligence
- Fast ball speeds
- Easy launching
Cons
- Not the best choice for those that draw the ball; it has an internal draw bias
Best 3 Wood For Low Handicapper: TaylorMade SIM 2 Titanium
Most amateur golfers look for their fairway woods to be a backup to the driver, hit the golf ball a long way, and allow the ball to stay a bit straighter. For the better player, not quite Tiger Woods, but the lower handicapper, the 3 wood can really become a scoring club.
The best fairway wood for the lower handicapper is the TaylorMade SIM 2 Titanium. This is a bit different than the TaylorMade SIM2 Max, and it takes on more of a traditional shape. With the TaylorMade SIM 2 Titanium, players get a tremendous feel and the ability to work the ball from left to right or right to left.
Finding the right fairway wood for your game means finding something you can hit consistently. The TaylorMade SIM 2 Titanium won’t be the most consistent or forgiving golf club for players, but it does provide tremendous ball speed and feel.
Pros
- Titanium face
- Speed pocket technology
- Incredible feel and workability
- Twist face technology
Cons
- Not the best choice for the slower swing speed player
- More forgiving options on the market for high and mid handicappers
Best Value 3 Wood: Cobra Speedzone Fairway Wood
The Cobra Speedzone Fairway is one of the best 3 woods for the money. Other fairway woods with similar technology are at least $100 more than the Cobra Speedzone. We love the Baffler rail technology that Cobra has continued into this 3 wood from the incredibly performing hybrids.
With the dual baffler rails, you can hit the 3 wood from a variety of lies, making this one of the more forgiving woods on the market. In addition, you can count on Cobra for some tremendous adjustability. For a higher handicapper that is working on their game and trying to bring their handicap down, this Cobra Speedzone Fairway Wood makes a great choice.
When your game improves, the technology will still be a great choice.
Pros
- Carbon crown for a lighter overall feel
- Impressive ball speed from Cobra
- Very affordable for the technology offered
- Cobra Connect
Cons
- Not the latest release from Cobra
Best 3 Wood For Beginner: Wilson D9
Wilson makes some of the best fairway woods for beginners. The great thing about these forgiving fairway woods is that they are lightweight and high launching. Beginners often struggle to get the proper ball flight and launch from a fairway wood, and the Wilson D9 fairway wood can help to ensure that a new golfer can get the ball up off the ground.
The precise head shape of the D9 fairway woods also sets up well for a beginner. Although the Wilson D9 fairway wood has a very fast face, the ball speeds are going to be slightly lower than they are from other golf companies.
Pros
- Great price point for a beginner
- Very forgiving
- Higher launching technology
Cons
- Not the best feel, when compared to something like a TaylorMade or Callaway
Buyers Guide: How To Choose The Best 3 Wood
Now that you have a better idea as to which 3 woods are available on the market, it’s time to decide which one is going to be the best for your game. This is where you will really need to consider what your 3 wood will be used for and the direction that you want to take your game.
Shaft
The shaft in your 3 wood should very closely resemble the shaft in your driver. Having a shaft that will allow you to get the ball airborne but also achieve the straight ball flight is essential. Some golf shafts are lightweight and allow for distance, while others are heavy and give players more control. Try to know your swing speed before purchasing a golf shaft for your 3 wood.
Loft
The loft of a standard 3 wood is 15 degrees. With 15 degrees of loft, a golfer can get the perfect amount of forgiveness and distance. Higher handicap players are starting to think about 3 woods with 16 or 18 degrees of loft, and this is a smart choice to consider.
Lower handicap players often choose a club with about 14 degrees to get that pure distance they are looking for.
Club Head Design
As you likely noticed from our list of the best 3 woods in 2021, the club head design is an essential feature of a great 3 wood. The larger the club head, the more forgiving of a sweet spot and the ability to hit a straighter shot.
However, when you go with the larger and more offset club head, you will also lose some of the workability in your shot. Keep this in mind and try to find something that is a balance for your swing speed and your golf skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few of the questions that we are most commonly asked about 3 woods and their effectiveness on the golf course.
Do I Need A 3 Wood?
Some golfers only carry a 5 wood and hybrids and leave the 3 wood out. The 3 wood provides an excellent alternative for the driver on the days you may be struggling. In addition, for the higher swing speed golfers, the 3 wood allows for workability and scoring capabilities that a 5 wood or 7 wood does not.
Should High Handicappers Use A 3 Wood?
Higher handicappers should use a 3 wood if it is forgiving and has the proper shaft for their game. A 3 wood is the most challenging fairway wood to hit. Even with the best fairway woods on our list, you will still need to make a solid strike to see results with your 3 wood.
Is A 3 Wood or A Hybrid Better?
A 3 wood and a hybrid are much different clubs. The great thing about the hybrid is the ability to hit the ball from the rough. However, the 3 wood will easily provide more distance for a player. If you can manage to work out your golf club set to include both a 3 wood and a hybrid, you will benefit from this diversity in the golf club set.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, you now feel ready to purchase one of the best 3 woods on the market. The incredible technology has only made it easier for golfers to incorporate fairway woods into their game. If you are serious about hitting a par 5 in two or getting that straight back up driver off the tee, the Callaway Epic Max is the best 3 wood to consider. With this performance, you will easily find more shots that your 3 wood can help with. Expect to use this club quite a bit!
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