Fairway Wood Fitting
Fairway woods carry the second-longest hang time in the bag after the driver, which makes them almost as sensitive to wind — and almost as often left off a fitting checklist entirely.
Two Very Different Wind Problems
A fairway wood off the tee behaves close to a driver — long carry, high exposure to crosswind drift. A fairway wood off the turf behaves closer to a long iron, with lower launch and a steeper descent, but it still needs enough carry to clear a headwind on a long par-5 second shot. We test both scenarios, not just one swing type.
Sole width and camber matter here too: a wood that catches turf awkwardly on a firm desert lie can change the launch conditions entirely before wind even becomes a factor.
Building a Fairway Wood That Holds Its Window
Head Design
Lower, more forward CG placements generally reduce spin for a flatter, more wind-resistant window; more rearward CG heads launch higher and forgive off-center strikes at the cost of some wind resistance.
Sole Camber & Width
A wider, more rounded sole glides through firm desert turf without digging, keeping strike quality — and therefore launch and spin — consistent from lie to lie.
Shaft Profile
Shaft weight and kick point shape how much the club loads and releases, which changes launch and spin independent of the head itself. We test multiple profiles under gust conditions before locking anything in.
Fit Your Fairway Woods to the Wind
Sessions run 45–60 minutes and cover both tee and turf strikes, tested calm and gusted.