9+ Best 3 Woods for 2023 (Ranked and Reviewed)

Choosing the right 3 wood is an absolute game-changer. Especially if you’re going for the green on a short par 4, or from the fairway on those long Par 5. In this guide, I ranked and reviewed the 9+ best 3 woods along with my top 3 choices, so that you can pick the best one for you.

Choosing the best 3 woods can be difficult, as there seem to be 10+ popular options to choose from.

When choosing the right 3 woods consider:

• Versatility – perform well under any condition; off the fairway, tee box & wrong fairway.
• Forgiveness – great ball striking even on off-centered hits

Well also compare:

• Best 3 wood off the tee
• Best 3 wood for high handicapper
• Best fairway woods for mid handicappers

What are the Best 3 Woods?

Finding the right 3 wood should help ease your mind chasing greens in regulation from anywhere on the course.

Here are my top picks for the best 3 woods to use this season.

1. Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway Wood

Best Overall 3 Wood ($296.67)

Rating: 5/5

Callaway Rogue ST Max fairway wood is Callaway’s fastest, most stable fairway wood ever.

The Tungsten Speed Cartridge is placed in the club’s sole increases speed on off-center hits and provides more forgiveness through high MOI. 

Titanium unibody construction provides stability and lowers the CG for high-launching shots.

The Rogue ST MAX is loaded with technology.

Key Features:

• Jailbreak A.i. Speed Frame for more ball speed
• A.I. flash face adding launch and reducing spin
• Triaxial Carbon Crown promotes forgiveness, launch, and a slight draw bias
• Available in 15 & 16.5 degrees

What I Like/Dislike about Callaway Rogue ST MAX:

Like:

• Easy to hit
• Patented technology to shape shots 

Dislike:

• Other players may want to play fade
• Minimum to no adjustability

Overall, the Callaway Rogue ST MAX 3 wood promotes easy launch, forgiveness, and optimal distance.

2. Titleist TSR2 Fairway Wood

Best 3 Wood Off The Tee and Premium Option ($349.00)

Rating: 4.8/5

Titleist TSR2 wood is the best Titleist fairway wood that offers significant CG shift for max forgiveness.

You can expect a faster swing and speed off the tee with improved aerodynamics. 

All with a cleaner, minimalist, and refined shape that encourages confidence.

Key Features:

• Ultra-low, face centered CG
• High strength carpenter stainless steel
• Open hosel construction 
• Available in 15, 16.5, and 18 degrees

What I Like/Dislike about Titleist TSR2:

Like:

• High launch and low spin
• Optimized forgiveness and speed
• Increased stability across the face

Dislike:

• Not a major upgrade over previous models

Overall, the Titleist TSR2 is the perfect combination of player-preferred shaping and functionality.  

3. Taylormade Stealth 3 Wood

Best 3 Wood for High Handicapper ($279.99)

Rating: 4.6/5

TaylorMade Stealth offers the highest forgiveness TaylorMade has to offer.

The advanced last alignment provides a powerful alignment tool for a clean and minimalistic aesthetic on the crown.

The Thru-Slot Speed Pocket is engineered to maximize ball speed and provide additional forgiveness on low-face strikes. 

Key Features:

• 3D Carbon Crown – redistributes weight for optimal forgiveness and maximum playability
• Twist Face – corrective face angles to overcome mis-hits for straighter shots
• Available in 15 & 16.5 degrees

What I Like/Dislike about TaylorMade Stealth:

Like:

• Powerful sound and impact feel
• Sleek aesthetic design
• Maximum forgiveness

Dislike:

• Impact feels like titanium drivers
• Tough to distinguish between mishits and clean strikes

Overall, the TaylorMade Stealth is another great versatile 3 wood with plenty of forgiveness.

4. Ping G425 MAX Fairway Wood

Best Fairway Wood for Mid Handicapper ($234.99)

Rating: 5/5

Ping G425 Max offers forgiveness with a moderate-sized clubhead.

The G425 Max has the highest MOI in the PING lineup.

Key Features:

• Maraging Steel Facewrap – for greater distance and high-launching shots
• Spinsistency – face curvature design for faster ball speed
• Aerodynamic hosel sleeve with eight positions to customize trajectory 
• Available in 14.5 degrees

What I Like/Dislike about PING G425 MAX:

Like:

• Designed for optimal forgiveness
• Three models for different play style
• Oozes forgiveness for mishits to find fairways
• Fantastic feel at impact

Dislike:

• The alignment system won’t work for all golfers
• Only on stock shaft

Overall, the PING G425 MAX fairway wood is the best option for players of every level to maintain distance.

5. Cobra LTDX Max Fairway

Best 3 Wood for Forgiveness ($298.95)

Rating: 4.5/5

Cobra LTDx MAX fairway wood is the perfect combination of extreme forgiveness with an adjustable heel weight position to adjust the amount of draw bias you need. 

PWR-COR technology positions weight low and forward for faster ball speed with reduced spin. 

New H.O.T. Face design was created by using data from thousands of impact solutions for a larger sweet spot.

Key Features:

• Multi-material construction carbon for a lighter and stronger construction
• CNC Milled Infinity Face design wraps around the leading edge to optimize maximum speed
• Two adjustable weights can be positioned in the back and heel position 
• Available in 15.5 degrees

What I Like/Dislike about Cobra LTDx MAX:

Like:

• Draw bias mitigates slices
• Adjustability to dial in your ball flight
• Interchangeable weight

Dislike:

• Doesn’t excel in one specific area

Overall, the Cobra LTDx MAX fairway wood provides incredible forgiveness with accommodating technology for straighter shots.

6. Mizuno ST-Z Fairway Wood

Best for Customization ($249.98)

Rating: 4.6/5

Mizuno has produced great golf products, so seeing the Mizuno ST-Z wood on the list makes sense. 

Mizuno ST-Z offers a ‘Quick Switch’ to provide 4 degrees of loft and face angle adjustability.  

The larger clubhead will inspire confidence at address. 

Key Features:

• Ultra-lightweight Carbon Crown lowers CG
• WAVE Technology geared for higher MOI
• MAS1C Maraging Steel Face for higher ball speed across the face

What I Like/Dislike about Mizuno ST-Z:

Like:

• High launching golf shots
• Draw-bias weighted embedded into the head
• Adjustable hosel
• Available in 15 & 18 degrees

Dislike:

• Limited options

Overall, the Mizuno ST-Z Fairway wood is an underrated wood on the market that all golfers will appreciate.  

7. TaylorMade Sim 2 Max Fairway Wood

Highest Technology 3 Wood ($239.98)

Rating: 4.4/5

TaylorMade SIM 2 Max 3 Wood is packed with technology providing power and forgiveness for more consistent shots.

Featuring a draw-bias design that promotes a right-to-left ball flight, the perfect solution for slices. 

The club is engineered with a speed-injected twist face and thru-slot speed pocket to protect against heel, toe, and low-face strikes.

Key Features:

• First high launch driver with an ultra-low forward CG for low spin, consistent ball flight
• A.I designed Flash Face SS21 promotes fast ball speeds across a more expansive area; hit it a long way for off-center hits
• Available in 15, 16.5, & 18 degrees

What I Like/Dislike about TaylorMade SIM 2 Max:

Like:

• Curvature face for increased stability and consistency
• Faster clubhead speed through advanced geometry and aerodynamic analytics
• Carbon sole for a deeper CG and enhanced forgiveness
• Adjustable loft sleeve technology – allows you to change trajectory and face angle

Dislike:

• The new clubhead size is intimidating
• No adjustable weights

Overall, the TaylorMade SIM 2 Max fairway wood will optimize power and forgiveness with its top-tier technology. 

8. Callaway Big Bertha B21 Fairway

Best for Senior Golfers ($249.95)

Rating: 4.6/5

Callaway Big Bertha B21 is designed for distance and forgiveness any way you swing it. 

The high-launch 3 wood promotes an ultra-low CG for low spin to reduce slices and find more fairways. 

With advancements to the A.I. designed Flash Face, we can expect fast ball speeds on a bigger club face, even for off-center hits

Key Features:

• A.I. Designed Flash Face SS21 promotes fast ball speeds on a bigger club face. Great for off-center hits
• Jailbreak + T2C Triaxial carbon crown for ball speed and unconventional forgiveness
• Significantly lighter carbon crown allows for higher MOI
• Available in 15 degrees

What I Like/Dislike about Big Bertha B21:

Like:

• Engineered with draw bias to help improve launch angles to mitigate slices
• Excellent strength material that is lighter than traditional titanium
• Stable feel

Dislike:

• Draw bias appeals to heavy slicers only

Overall, the Callaway Big Bertha B21 is another great option to cure that slice without compromising your swing. 

9. Cobra Air X Fairway

Best 3 Wood for Slow Swing Speed ($215.28)

Rating: 4.2/5

Cobra AIR X Fairway wood features a lightweight construction for optimal distance and effortless speed swing.

A faster face and new hosel design with 20% offset help deliver consistent and straighter shots. 

Key Features:

• Constructed from premium lightweight carbon material
• Back heel weighting and an offset hosel for consistent fairway shots
• Faster face design that recovers off-center contact shots
• Available in 16 & 19 degrees

What I Like/Dislike about Cobra AIR X:

Like:

• A clean look to match that clean swing
• Designed for optimal forgiveness
• Feels great in the hands

Dislike:

• Lightweight construction may be too light for some

Overall, the Cobra AIR-X Offset is a great fairway wood that provides better launch angles and forgiveness. 

10. Cleveland Launcher XL Halo Fairway Wood

Best 3 Wood for Distance ($229.99)

Rating: 4.8/5

Cleveland Launcher XL offers the most MOI ever within the highly reputable Cleveland golf line.

With an XL head design, you can enjoy max distance for max fun. 

The rebound frame is designed with two alternating flex zones for increased ball speed and distance. 

Smashing the ball isn’t the issue, the only concern is carrying the ball too far.

Key Features:

• Action mass CB 8g weight placed in the grip delivers better balance for more control
• Adjustable hosel loft from 9 to 12 degrees to optimize your launch angle, distance, and shot shape. Loft can be adjusted at 0.5 deg increments
• Available in 15 & 18 degrees

What I Like/Dislike about Cleveland Launcher XL:

Like:

• XL head size inspires confidence
• Premium finish

Dislike:

• High-pitched noise through impact

Overall, the Cleveland Launcher XL wood is the latest and greatest Cleveland golf club tailored for golfers at every level.

People also ask:

How far should you hit a 3 wood?

Weekend warriors typically average 225 yards. Others fall between the range of 200-245 yards. A few things to consider are your talent, the weather, and the lie.

What is the most popular 3 wood on the PGA tour?

TaylorMade Stealth is the most popular 3 wood on the PGA tour. TaylorMade is also the most popular brand on the PGA tour.

What lie should I hit fairways from?

For the lucky ones, they manage to hit their shot from the actual fairway. Fairway woods are also a fantastic alternative to a driver off the tee. If you land in the rough and the ball stays up, let it rip.

Executive Summary

There you have it – my list of the top 3 woods. As there are 10+ options out there, I’ve condensed the list down to the very best so that you can choose the option that is right for you. Playing the right club is critical to your game and mental health. Let me know what 3 wood you are playing with.