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Why We Like It
Something of a cross between a hybrid and a modern fairway wood, this compact head targets better players looking for shot shaping, playability from a variety of lies, a neutral and penetrating ball flight and the same kind of flexible-face ball speed designed for regular golfers. This head, favored by recent winners on the PGA and LPGA Tour, features an internal stabilizing structure that stiffens the perimeter of the face to drive more deflection at impact from the high-strength steel face for more distance. The sole’s angled heel and toe sections provide extra turf relief.
Characteristics
- Compact head, angled sole design and shorter shaft lengths provide versatility for shotmaking.
- High-strength steel cupface gets enhanced flexibility through an internal structure that stabilizes the frame.
- A neutral center of gravity produces shots with steeper landing angle, consistent spin and less of a draw bias.
- 17, 19, 21 degrees (with a fixed hosel)
Highlights
- Top 10 best-rated fairway woods, low-handicaps
Price
$300
HOT LIST PLAYERS FEEDBACK
Ratings are based on players’ assessments in three key performance areas.
Reviews
1 / 3
The hybrid look suggests it might not have a lot of distance, but this thing is hot. The 17-degree is flying like a 14- or 15-degree club. Doesn't make a lot of noise, but it goes straight and far. A great option off the tee.
Peter, 56, Handicap: 72 / 3
Amazing soft feel. The perfect feedback that I'm looking for and the high trajectory I need into the green. Ease of use is off the charts.
Jamie, 51, Handicap: 53 / 3
The compact shape feels like a hybrid on steroids. Shorter shaft makes it more of an attack club. Comfortable off the tee, on ground or a tuft of rough. Almost better off the ground than off the tee. A ton more power than it appears.
Shane, 35, Handicap: 15Swing Your Fairway Wood with Confidence
One of the more difficult shots amateurs face is the long approach that requires a fairway wood. Most players aren’t confident hitting a 3-wood off the ground, and they don’t practice the shot enough to build confidence. In this video, Jason Birnbaum shares his best confidence-building techniques and tips on how to make a solid contact with these long clubs.
From the Manufacturer
Apex UW
The Apex Utility Wood is the go-to option for the best players on Tour. The unique profile promotes the launch and distance benefits of our high lofted fairway woods, the versatility of Callaway hybrids, along with a more neutral ball flight. It’s a multi-purpose offering that better players can use with confidence off the tee into tight landing areas, out of the fairway into Par-5s, or from the rough.
Featured In
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1 / 23
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The shallow face makes it easier for a broad group of players to launch shots.
A carbon-composite crown and sole save weight that is moved forward for low spin and rearward for forgiveness.
The variable-thickness face was designed with AI to optimize performance for players with a low-heel to high-toe impact pattern.
15, 16.5, 18, 20, 21, 24, 27 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
2 / 23
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The shallow face is designed with input from AI to improve ball speed and dispersion on mis-hits low on the face.
Favors players who swing out to in and add loft at impact.
Saved weight from carbon-composite crown and sole feeds back weight to increase launch.
15, 16.5, 18, 21 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
3 / 23
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The lightweight spec, including head, shaft and grip, provides more control and speed potential for moderate swing speeds.
The Max D is designed to minimize a slice through internal weighting and a more upright lie angle.
Lofts are a degree higher than standard to produce a higher launch.
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4 / 23
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The compact head with a slightly taller face is designed for players who make consistent center contact.
The carbon-composite crown saves weight on top, and a steel plate on the sole lowers the center of gravity for a more controllable launch.
Angled sole plate features heel and toe relief for more versatility from a variety of lies.
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5 / 23
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A multimaterial construction pairs a titanium body and face with a lightweight carbon-composite crown and heavy tungsten sole weights.
An internal bridge-like bar close to the face and just above the sole lowers the CG for distance-enhancing lower spin and higher launch.
Three interchangeable sole weights help to lower spin or tweak fades and slices.
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A special beta rich titanium face surrounded by a lightweight all-titanium body provides extra ball speed.
The compact head should attract better players with faster swings looking to control spin.
Nearly 90 grams of stainless steel sits near the sole to lower the center of gravity for a higher launch with less spin than other Mizuno fairway woods.
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Titanium body and beta-rich titanium face save weight and boost ball speed.
A carbon-composite section in the crown wraps around the heel and toe to save weight.
A heavy tungsten sole plate pushes the center of gravity low to reduce spin.
15 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
10 / 23
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The high-strength steel face wraps into the crown and sole for better ball speed across the face.
A backweight provides stability on off-center hits.
The carbon-composite crown helps to produce a neutral ball flight with less spin compared to the SFT model.
15, 18, 21, 24 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
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Designed to fight a slice with heel-side weighting, more upright lie angle and lighter total weight.
Should launch the ball higher and with more spin than the G430 Max thanks to 1-degree higher lofts.
Lower half of the face has less “roll” so that shots launch with less spin and more ball speed.
16, 19, 22 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
12 / 23
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A new steel alloy in the face is 12.5 percent thinner for faster, higher launch with less spin.
The carbon-composite crown is one-fourth the density of titanium but just as strong, lowering the center of gravity and creating more flex in the face.
Three movable weights in the sole can provide more forgiveness and a higher flight or more slice or fade correction.
15, 17, 18, 21 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
13 / 23
TaylorMade
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Designed for more forgiveness and better launch on low-face impacts.
The sole slot and a lower variable-thickness-face pattern enhance face flexibility.
The taller face and longer front-to-back measurement improve ball speed and mis-hit stability.
15, 16.5, 18, 21, 24 degrees (with fixed hosel)
14 / 23
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Larger overall volume provides more stability on off-center hits.
A shallow face provides confidence for average golfers to get the ball in the air.
The sole slot and lower variable-thickness-face pattern increases the way the face flexes on low strikes.
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15 / 23
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A broad, weight-saving carbon-composite crown stretches to the top edge of the face.
Accommodates multiple launch and spin profiles through a 50-gram weight in the sole that slides in a track from front to back.
This year’s track sits lower for less spin in all settings.
15, 18 degrees (with a 12-way adjustable hosel)
16 / 23
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GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
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Though 30 grams heavier than last year, this model is still the lightest Titleist fairway wood (20 grams less than the TSR2 and TSR3).
A deep, centered weight increases stability on off-center hits and elevates launch.
Designed for naturally higher flight with mid spin.
15, 18, 20, 23 degrees (with a 16-way adjustable hosel)
17 / 23
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Titleist
TSR2
$350
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GD HOT LIST SCORE
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This model targets players with average swing speeds or faster who are looking for off-center-hit forgiveness and easier launch.
Expect this model to launch with less backspin (and more potential distance) than its predecessor, the TSi2.
A high-strength steel alloy in the face provides the potential for more distance.
15, 16.5, 18, 21 degrees (with a 16-way adjustable hosel)
18 / 23
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TSR2+
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The larger size and taller face make it a good driver alternative on shorter holes.
It features the deepest CG of any Titleist fairway wood for extra stability on off-center hits.
Its strong loft provides more ball speed potential than standard 3-wood lofts.
13 degrees (with a 16-way adjustable hosel)
19 / 23
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An adjustable sole weight pad lets players toggle among five settings that range from fade to neutral to draw.
More settings means more precision, but the weighting is also deeper for extra stability.
Expect slightly less spin and a flatter launch angle than with the TSR2.
13.5, 15, 16.5, 18 degrees (with a 16-way adjustable hosel)
20 / 23
Adams
Idea
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These shallow-faced designs feature a slot in the sole to improve the way the face flexes for more ball speed.
Weight saved from a carbon-composite crown lowers the center of gravity to optimize launch and spin.
A heel-side weight screw in the sole provides additional draw bias.
15, 18, 21 degrees (with a fixed hosel)
21 / 23
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Alternating stiff and flexible regions around the face create more ball speed for center and off-center hits.
An angled interior weight pad lowers the center of gravity for more direct energy transfer and better launch.
The lightweight carbon-composite crown on the lower lofts pushes the CG lower and frees up more perimeter weighting.
13.5, 15, 18, 21 degrees (with a fixed hosel)
22 / 23
Tour Edge
Exotics C723
$330
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GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$330
The fast-flexing and light titanium face has rows of diamond-shaped indentations to create more flex zones at impact.
The lightweight carbon-composite crown and 75-gram steel sole plate improves energy transfer and reduces spin.
Front and rear weight ports in the sole allow for the heavier weight to reduce spin (forward) or boost forgiveness (rear).
13, 15, 18 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
23 / 23
Wilson
Dynapower
$250
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$250
The high-strength steel alloy in the face uses a variable-thickness design developed through artificial intelligence.
A centered 12-gram weight in the rear perimeter improves stability on off-center hits and boosts launch.
Tends to launch higher with slightly above-average spin.
15, 18, 21 degrees (with a fixed hosel)