This is our review of the best 5 woods on the market in 2022.
I’m an avid golfer, a 9.2 7 handicap on my way to a 2 (been a 5.6) and frequent tester of golf clubs and equipment since 2015.
We’ve included only the cream of the crop in this review
In this review of the best 5 woods for high handicappers, mid handicappers, and low handicappers, we discuss our experience with the clubs, their features and benefits, and our recommendations.
Our #1 Recommendation for 2024 – Cobra Radspeed
New & Used clubs available
Get 8%off from Global Golf with Code: GolferGeek
- Best Sound & Feel
- Very good off the tee & fairway
- Easy ball launch & high trajectory
- Long & Forgiving
- New clubs getting scarce
Top Picks for 2024
- Taylormade SIM2 Max (1st Runner Up – Best All Around)
- Taylormade Stealth (Best Low Handicap Option)
- Ping G425 SFT (Best High Handicap Option)
- Callaway Epic Max (Great For Mid Handicaps)
#1 Cobra Radspeed
New & Used clubs available
Get 8%off from Global Golf with Code: GolferGeek
- Best Sound & Feel
- Very good off the tee & fairway
- Easy ball launch & high trajectory
- Long & Forgiving
- New clubs getting scarce
The Cobra RadSpeed is our #1 Recommendation for a couple reasons.
- Performs equally well from the tee, fairway, or rough. The RadSpeed is the most versatile wood of an already versatile bunch.
The RadSpeed is a superior performer from marginal lies and is also great off the tee and the fairway.
The RadSpeed fairway woods come in 4 flavors:
- RadSpeed Fairway: the high launch and forgiving option
- RadSpeed Big Tour Fairway: slightly oversize, mid launch, fastest ball speed, and penetrating flight
- RadSpeed Tour Fairway: compact, mid-low launch, most workable.
- RadSpeed Draw Fairway: mid launch, most forgiving and anti-slice
We recommend the RadSpeed Fairway for any handicap golfer. It provides what we look for in fairway woods:
- Easy launch
- High trajectory
- Forgiveness
- Distance
Recommendation: Don’t wait if you want a new one.
Get 8% off at Global Golf with Code – GolferGeek
#2 Taylormade SIM2 Max
New & Used Clubs Available
Get 8%off from Global Golf with Code: GolferGeek
- Long, Forgiving, Easy launch
- Great looking club
- Tons of custom fit options
- High trajectory holds greens
- Price
The Taylormade SIM2 Max 5 wood best serves:
- Players wanting a little help with launch, forgiveness, trajectory, and distance.
Mid and high handicaps alike will like the SIM2 Max fairway woods. They’ve got all the forgiveness and distance attributes you need in a larger club head for extra confidence at address.
The SIM series, just like the M series of woods have been a smash hit with us golfers.
The new SIM 2s come in 3 flavors:
- SIM2: The smallest head of the bunch coming in at 170cc, will likely appeal to lower handicap golfers. It’s got plenty forgiveness and mid-launch with low spin for a more boring trajectory. It’s also the only SIM2 with a loft sleeve.
- SIM2 Max: Oversize head at 190cc. High forgiveness. High launch. Mid-low spin. Will appeal more to the mid-handicapper, but can certainly be used by low and high handicaps.
- SIM2 Max D: Largest head at 195cc. Highest forgiveness and launch of the bunch for maximum help. Has a draw bias to combat banana balls. Made for the high handicapper.
All that being said, I’m a low handicapper and the SIM2 Max looked perfect behind the ball for me. It’s a phenomenal performer too.
Recommendation: You can play this club happily no matter your handicap.
Get 8% off at Global Golf with Code – GolferGeek
#3 Taylormade Stealth
New & Used Clubs Available
Get 8%off from Global Golf with Code: GolferGeek
- Loads of Distance & Forgiveness
- Looks great at address
- Not the best sound
The Taylormade Stealth 5 wood best serves
- Players wanting “player” looks in a clubhead (especially at address) with a generous sweet spot for tons of distance & forgiveness.
Stealth fairway woods are absolute maulers that perform well off the tee and off the turf. I’m not a large fan of the sound, but I got over that fast.
Recommendation: Be prepared to empty your wallet.
Get 8% off at Global Golf with Code – GolferGeek
#4 Ping G425 SFT
New & Used clubs available
Get 8%off from Global Golf with Code: GolferGeek
- Plenty Distance with Easy Launch
- Amazingly consistent
- Work & Flight your golf ball with ease
- Half the price of the big boys
- Limited shaft selection
The Ping G425 SFT 5 wood best serves
- High handicap golfers looking for help with: bringing their slices back toward the fairway and playable, getting the ball airborne, distance, and forgiveness.
Ping has been creating great drivers and fairway woods for a while now. The G-series stays strong with the 425s
Top features of the Ping G425 SFT and how they help make it the best 3 wood for the high handicap golfer.
- The Maraging Steel Facewrap allows the club face to flex more over a larger area to increase ball speeds across the face.
- High-density tungsten weight in the rear portion of the club head increases MOI for more forgiveness
- Spinsistency takes roll and bulge to the next level by varying the roll profile lower on the face for more consistent spin and increased ball speeds and distance
Get 8% off at Global Golf with Code – GolferGeek
#5 Callaway Epic Max 5 Wood
New & Used clubs available
Get 8%off from Global Golf with Code: GolferGeek
- Long & Forgiving
- Inspires confidence at address
- Easy to launch from the fairway
- Can adjust launch and spin with movable sole weights
- Great off the tee and the turf
- No adjustable hosel
The Callaway Epic Max 5 wood best serves
- Players that like looking down at larger club heads for added confidence at address and want more help with distance, forgiveness, and slice fighting.
We love the Callaway Epic Max fairway woods for mid-handicap golfers.
You get a little help everywhere you need it.
- At address with a larger confidence-boosting club head
- From the fairway with the shallow face.
- Forgiveness and distance with Jailbreak and Flash Face, among other features.
Top features of the Callaway Epic Max and how they help make it the best 3 wood for the mid-handicap golfer.
- A.I. designed Flash Face SS21 forged of C300 Maraging Steel means consistent speed and spin across the face
- Jailbreak A.I. Velocity Blades stiffens the body of the club to allow the face cup to flex more for better ball speeds over more of the face.
- 2 Adjustable weights (2g & 14g) allow you to modify launch and spin. (More weight forward equals lower launch and lower spin)
Get 8% off at Global Golf with Code – GolferGeek
Final Verdict
We love the Radspeed for its performance, versatility, and bargain price.
My #1 suggestion is to test before you buy. Either at your local golf store or take advantage of Global Golf’s Utry trial program. I use it and recommend it.
Thanks for checking our review of the best 5 woods in 2024.
New & Used clubs available
Get 8%off from Global Golf with Code: GolferGeek
- Best Sound & Feel
- Very good off the tee & fairway
- Easy ball launch & high trajectory
- Long & Forgiving
- New clubs getting scarce
