Equipment

2013 Best Fairway Woods

Published

11 years ago

Jun 3, 2013

600 fw best

Golfers love fairway woods that allow them to hit long, straight shots off the tee and off the ground. But fairway woods are not only some of the hardest clubs to hit consistently. They’re also some of the toughest to fit.

We surveyed six of the top-ranked clubfitters in North America to identify the best fairway woods on the planet, which are longer, straighter and better looking than the fairway woods of the past. Click here to read the specifics on the voting committee and how we picked the best.

Start with these five top-ranked fairway woods in your next fitting session and we guarantee that you’ll be on your way to hitting more fairways and greens in no time.

Winners

Callaway X Hot
RBZ Stage 2
Tour Edge Exotics XCG6
PING G25
Adams LS

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[one_fourth last=”no”] callaway x hot fairway [/one_fourth][three_fourth last=”yes”]Callaway X Hot: The X Hot Pro has a more forward CG than the standard model, giving it a flatter trajectory with less spin. Both models feature a modern version of Callaway’s warbird sole for enhanced turf interaction from less-than desirable lies.

[button color=”black” link=”http://www.golfwrx.com/97868/callaway-x-hot-fairway-woods-editor-review/”]Read Full Review[/button][/three_fourth][/colored_box]

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[one_fourth last=”no”] rbz review [/one_fourth][three_fourth last=”yes”]TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2: TaylorMade was the first major OEM to break ground into the high-COR fairway wood category with the original RocketBallz, and we applaud the company for making the second generation of those fairway woods longer and more playable.

[button color=”black” link=”http://www.golfwrx.com/88555/taylormade-rbz-stage-2-fairway-woods-editor-review/”]Read Full Review[/button][/three_fourth][/colored_box]

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[one_fourth last=”no”][/one_fourth][three_fourth last=”yes”]Exotics XCG6: The XCG6 is the longest Exotics fairway wood yet. It has a 15-3-3-3 beta titanium cup face, a high-density steel body and a tungsten sole plate that are combo-brazed for the ultimate in power and forgiveness.

[button color=”black” link=”http://www.golfwrx.com/101886/exotics-xcg6-fairway-woods-editor-review/”]Read Full Review[/button][/three_fourth][/colored_box]

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[one_fourth last=”no”][/one_fourth][three_fourth last=”yes”]PING G25: The G25 has more ball speed than the G20, with a higher launch, and more forgiveness. Their smaller size and matte black finish makes them look as good as they perform.

[button color=”black” link=”http://www.golfwrx.com/110054/ping-g25-fairway-woods-and-hybrids-editor-review/”]Read Full Review[/button][/three_fourth][/colored_box]

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[one_fourth last=”no”][/one_fourth][three_fourth last=”yes”]Adams LS: The titanium face and crown, combined with a stainless steel sole creates an exceptionally low center of gravity and thin, fast face. That means gains in speed and trajectory.

[button color=”black” link=”http://www.golfwrx.com/110416/adams-super-s-and-ls-fairways-editor-review/”]Read Full Review[/button][/three_fourth][/colored_box]

Click here to see the “Best of” winners for other club categories.

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10 Comments

tyler

Jun 3, 2014 at 1:05 am

The Callaway X Hot Pro is the real deal. I was a bit concerned about the lack of adjustability and initially I was hooking it pretty good, but after spending some time with it I have to say it is the best fairway I’ve ever owned. It feels and sounds perfect and the sole is perfect from any lie. The “compression channel” thingy on it is legit. It really does go so much farther than any fairway I’ve owned. My advice is not to be worried about going with a stiffer shaft in this because it gets the ball up no problem and the stiffer shaft is nice for control.

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Jon

Nov 4, 2013 at 1:44 am

Cobra amp cell should be on this list…

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spencjah

Jul 28, 2013 at 1:17 pm

How about the 3deep. I found it really good. Off the tee and off the deck. Best 3 wood I found. Club is for better players but the best I have tested.

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Frank

Jun 5, 2013 at 12:32 pm

g25?! i would think the anser beats them out their people playing the anser woods that arent even with ping

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Zak Kozuchowski

Jun 4, 2013 at 10:15 am

Here’s how we do it, guys

http://www.golfwrx.com/reviews/best-of-awards-and-the-inside-scoop/

– Zak

Reply Report comment
Charles

Jun 4, 2013 at 9:39 am

Yes, what puts the covert outside the winner list. Really like the lofts’ choice on one club.

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- Ryu
  
  Jun 4, 2013 at 10:45 am
  
  The sound and feel of the covert is ridiculous! It’s just like hitting plastic golf clubs, The people also don’t like the ‘SWOOSH’ logo on the clubhead. For me the swoosh is okay but the sound and feel is just horrible.
  
  Reply Report comment
Kyle

Jun 4, 2013 at 12:03 am

Not sure how the covert didn’t make this list. Tested mine against everything and it came out on top

Reply Report comment
- Steve
  
  Jun 4, 2013 at 8:26 am
  
  Clubs work different for everyone. I hate the Covert, but love the 913F. The club works for me, but not for everyone. Different strokes for different folks.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Rob
    
    Jun 5, 2013 at 1:27 pm
    
    Yeah, same here. Hated the Covert too, and the AMP Cell just flat outperformed for me over the Covert and the RBZ Stage 2.
    
    Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

15 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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