Sometimes amateur golfers find it really hard to hit the ball straight at a long distance. You can use a hybrid in that case but the most effective thing would be to the most forgiving 3 wood. It will provide you with the most distance. 3 woods contain a very good balance between power and long-distance.
A 3 wood basically helps in covering a lot of distance even if you hit the ball at an off-angle. They are also quite forgiving which makes them much more accessible to beginners. So, if you are looking to get a club that provides a good combination of power and forgiveness then a 3 wood is the most obvious choice.
Table of Contents
Best Most Forgiving 3 Wood Comparison Table
1. Taylormade Rbz 3 Wood – (EDITOR CHOICE)
The TaylorMade RBZ 3 wood is a very popular club among golfers and everyone seems to like it very much. It is not a surprising, fresh thing that you might expect. But a club doesn’t have to be new and fresh in order to be effective on the playing field. Any golfer who has used the TaylorMade RBZ loves it. There are quite a few reasons why golfers prefer this club over others. As this is an old product, so you can easily get this at a much better price than others which makes this a steal at an affordable price.
A lot of people get confused when trying to adjust their club. The RBZ makes it very simple by offering no adjustment whatsoever. As there are no adjustments, it becomes very easy to use the RBZ. The only thing you need to do is to swing and hit the ball. If you can’t adjust anything in the RBZ, it doesn’t mean that it is a very simple club but far from it. There is a lot of technology present inside the TaylorMade RBZ.
The shaft is made from a very lightweight material that provides excellent launch performance. It really hits hard and fast. The clubhead contains a mass pad which helps in getting a good launch. The loft of this club is much better than most 3 woods. If hitting fast shots is your thing then you will like the RBZ due to its Speed Pocket tech. Due to this technology, it provides really fast shots.
Its low center of gravity and shallow design makes it very forgiving. The alignment of this club is also really easy to do. If you want some extra loft then there is also a higher loft version available.
- Speed Pocket Tech
- Good Alignment
- Higher Lofts
- Bigger Sweet Spots
- Most Forgiving Fairway Wood
- Can’t adjust the loft on the standard club
2. Taylormade M4 3 Wood
The M4 is very similar to the TaylorMade RBZ in a lot of things. Right off the bat, this makes the M4 a very viable option as the RBZ is one of the best 3 woods that you can get. You are going to see a lot of comparisons with RBZ due to their similar feature sets. But there are a few things that the M4 does a bit better than the TaylorMade RBZ. If you are looking for a no-nonsense simple 3 wood that provides excellent performance then you can go for the TaylorMade M4.
This is a really great club for the high handicappers. It offers a really good combination of forgiveness and power. The sole of this club is quite unique. It has a shape that allows a solid striking experience even if you are hitting from a rough surface. If you love to hit longer and higher shots that cover a lot of fairways then the M4 will be a no-brainer for you. The Speed Pocket present inside the M4 is a step above the RBZ’s and offers more speed and forgiveness.
The sweet spot on the M4 is much bigger so you get a lot of forgiveness when you hit the ball at an off-angle. Due to this tech, you get impressive long-distance shots even when hitting off-center shots. Another great thing about this club is its center of gravity. It is much lower than the RBZ and also is more towards the forward side that minimizes the spin. This is a really great product as due to the maximum forgiveness and low spin; you get superb performance.
Same as the RBZ, you can also get the M4 in a higher loft variant as well. This is a really good alternative to the TaylorMade RBZ if you are looking for something new.
- Fast Performance
- Low Center of Gravity
- Low Spin
- Amazing Forgiveness
- High Loft Version
- No loft adjustment
3. Cobra F9 Fairway Wood
If you looking to cover a lot of distance then the Cobra Golf F9 might appeal to you. Lately, Cobra has come out with some of the best clubs in the market that offer really impressive performance. They are constantly trying out new things and innovating as well. The Cobra F9 sees the introduction of baffler rails on the underside of it. There are often times when a club can get stuck inside the ground when hitting very fast. The rails make the F9 glide through the turf so that you can maintain the flow.
It is really necessary for a 3 wood to perform really well as you expect the most forgiveness and high-speed shots. Beginners can find it really difficult to hit long-distance shots in a straight line. They might even hit off-center shots. The Cobra F9 is also a very suitable choice for beginners as you get a lot of forgiveness. It is one of the most forgiving 3 wood clubs. Even if you don’t exactly hit the center position, you will still get a straight shot, and that too at a very high speed.
With the added rails and forgiveness, you get really good performance as the rails help you in getting much smoother motion. But for getting the best out of the Cobra F9, you should choose the optimal loft angle. You can choose between a 16 to a 19-degree loft angle. A higher loft angle will give you a higher launch and vice versa. Due to the adjustable loft angles, this club is really great for amateur golfers. Overall, the Cobra Golf F9 is a great all-rounder 3 wood.
- Zero Stickiness with the Ground
- Long Distance Shots
- Adjustable Loft
- Forgiving
- Higher Launches
- No cons present
4. Callaway Mavrik Fairway Woods
The Callaway Golf Mavrik hits the sweet spot for a 3-wood club. The face of the Mavrik has been designed with AI to give it the best blend of speed and spin. The steel face in conjunction with the Jailbreak technology provides the best ball speeds. When using fairway wood, you need a product that can easily take the ball into the air. The Mavrik excels in this part and provides some of the best performance in the market.
The weight distribution of this club is really good which makes swinging very easy. The clubhead at 200cc is very large so it provides the maximum forgiveness possible. The head is designed in such a way that it sits in close contact with the ground so that it can cover the whole call upon the hit. If you need woods that have a lower flash face then the Mavrik is one of those. The helium shaft of the Mavrik is also very lightweight and sturdy.
If you want an easy swing and hit experience then you can go for the 15-degree one but for the maximum loft then the 17-degree Mavrik will be the best. With the 17-degree Mavrik, you get amazing forgiveness and the maximum distance. The Jailbreak tech works very effectively and increases the speed of the ball. Moreover, this club is great for new players as due to the larger face, they won’t face any much of the spin on off-center shots.
The Mavrik provides one of the best off-tee performances due to its unique features and higher loft angles. Overall, the Callaway 2021 Golf Mavrik Fairway Wood is the best sweet spot wood currently available in the market.
- Extreme Forgiveness
- 17-Degree Perfect Loft Angle
- Maximum Ball Cover
- Jailbreak Technology
- Great Off Tee Performance
- Alignment isn’t Easy
5. Ping G400 3 Wood
The main highlight of the Ping G400 Fairway Wood is its new steel face. It is made from maraging steel which gives it a lot of durability and flexibility. If you compare it with the previous Ping G club then the new one is about 18% lighter and 28% thinner in design. The maraging steel design allows this club to be about 30% more flexible on impact. If you like to use long fairway woods then the Ping G400 is one of the best in the market.
It is really necessary for a club to have a face that reduces the spin. This is a real problem for beginners as they are more prone to hit off-center shots. The textured face of the Ping G400 reduces the spinning of the ball so that you can get the longest shots possible. The face’s head has a cascading sole which increases the launch so you can get better and higher launches. The MOI is also increased in the G400 due to the presence of the heavy back weight and the crown having a thinner design.
The larger head of the G400 allows for a forward center of gravity which allows for impressive long-distance shots. The rounded shape of the G400 is very appealing. There are bolder turbulators present on top of the crown which helps in increasing the ball speed as well as in the alignment. It comes with a 13-degree loft which isn’t the highest but you will be impressed with the results of the G400. The launch is really high while there is less spin produced.
You can seriously cover a lot of distance with the Ping G400 despite having a low loft angle. It mainly comes down to the little adjustments in the design aspect which allows for such impressive performance. The ball also comes to an absolute stop when it hits the green. You also have a little bit of adjustability with the hosel which gives you a more accurate ball flight.
- Good Design
- Adjustable Hosel
- Accurate Ball Flight
- Less Spin
- Fast Speed
- No cons present
6. Tour Edge Fairway Woods
Sometimes there are clubs that are really amazing but people just don’t know about them. The main reason behind this is due to poor marketing that not a lot of people get to use these awesome clubs. The Tour Edge faces the same situation. It is an excellent fairway wood but not people know about this one as they do about the TaylorMade, Cobra, or the Callaway drivers. You would be surprised to know that Tour Edge has some of the best fairway woods in the market.
The Mitsubishi shaft on the Tour Edge is really excellent. You can also choose from these different weights of the shafts; 50g, 60g, and 70g. It totally depends upon your use case. If you want to get the maximum amount of force and speed then you can choose from the lighter ones. But if you are looking for maximum control over shots then you should definitely choose the 70g shaft. There are is also a lot of choices in the loft department as well.
If you are a skilled player, then you will be absolutely fine with a 15-degree loft. But for the average people, a 17-degree loft will help them in getting off the tee. Due to the bigger head, they will get the maximum amount of forgiveness. It is also relatively low-profile when compared to its competition. It comes in a back design with white lines which makes the alignment process much easier. Due to its impressive design, it provides one of the best launches.
So, if you are looking for lots of options, customizability, and great performance then the Tour Edge Exotics EXS Fairway Wood is an absolute bargain due to its cheaper price tag.
- Simple Classic Design
- Weights are Interchangeable
- Large Face
- Higher Launches
- Affordable Price
- This brand isn’t that popular
3 Wood Buying Guide
Whenever you are buying a 3 wood, you should consider the following things:
Why you need 3 wood?
A 3 wood is one of the most crucial golf clubs that every golfer needs in their bag. Distance is a very important factor in golf and 3 wood offers really good long-distance shots. Most of the fairway woods nowadays contain the same tech as drivers which makes them really feature-packed. In the past, 3 woods weren’t that good at long-distance shots and that is where drivers exceeded. But in recent times, this discrepancy has reduced now and 3 woods can also hit very long-distance shots easily.
3 woods also excel at hitting the ball off-tee so you can also use them for that purpose. It is really important in golf to hit accurately rather than hitting a very long shot. Most golfers will try their best to hit accurately rather than blindly focusing on long-distance shots. 3 woods make it very easy to hit the ball accurately. They are much more accurate than the drivers which makes them quite viable. So, that is one of the reasons to carry a 3 wood with yourself.
Versatility is also really important when playing golf. If you are playing shots from a fairway or a rough surface, then the most useful club to use would be a 3 wood. Drivers aren’t that useful outside of the tee-box and become useless very quickly. 3 woods, on the other hand, provides a tremendous amount of flexibility.
Choosing a 2 Wood Loft- How Many Degrees?
A 2-wood loft means that you will have to choose between a 12 – 15-degree club. 2 woods loft are primarily used for getting long-distance shots. A 2 wood club is relatively easy to use and is also quite fast. It has a loft angle that is greater than drivers so it is able to provide a much better launch and cover a lot of distance.
What to expect with 3 Wood Distance?
If you want something that is a bit more forgiving than a 2-wood and also provides really long-distance shots then you will be better off with a 3 wood. It will provide you with much more stability and control. Most of the 3 wood clubs have bigger heads in order to provide maximum forgiveness. For 3 wood, the average distance for men ranges between 160 yds to 200yds. It mainly depends upon what type of hitter you are.
What’s the difference between a 3-wood vs a 3 hybrid?
A 3-wood is basically used for keeping the ball lower to the ground but makes it go farther. A 3 hybrid on the other hand is designed to provide higher launches. Another advantage of a hybrid is that it offers much more accurate and precise shots than a 3 wood. If you have an iron in your bag then you should replace it with a 3 hybrid. Both of these clubs are useful to have in a golf match.
3 wood design and materials:
Woods basically contain longer shafts that are larger. The heads are also rounded which provides a much better distance at a long-range than other clubs. The traditional woods contained a hardwood head but nowadays they contain metal heads made from titanium or carbon fiber, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Can you use a 3 wood on the fairway?
Yes, a 3 wood is meant to be used on a fairway. Drivers aren’t useful on fairways but wood clubs provide the best performance on fairways. 3 wood provides best in class performance when off-tee or when playing on the fairway.
Is a 3 wood the same as a fairway wood?
Yes, a 3 wood is the same as a fairway wood. It is called fairway wood because you need a 3 wood to hit the ball on the fairway. They contain heads that are very close to the ground and provide excellent long-distance shots.
Why am I topping my 3 wood?
You are topping your 3 wood because you have put most of your weight on the right side. While setting up open to your target with your shoulders, this causes a movement that is over the top. For this reason, you need to top the ball.
What club does a 3 wood replace?
A lot of people prefer to use wood clubs instead of iron ones. So, if you want to use a 3 wood then it would replace an iron club. Woods provide you with much better long-distance and fairway performance.
How far should a 3 wood go?
Woods are meant for hitting long-distance shots. They generally have a lofted angle which makes it very easy to cover a lot of distance. Depending on the type of force you put into the shot, you can get a distance from 180yds to 235yds.
Conclusion:
Woods are one of the most commonly used clubs in golf and that is due to good reason. If you are fond of a high loft then you will like using the 3 wood. Having a higher loft means that it will be more forgiving and will provide you with many long-distance shots up to 235 yards. You will get extra distance even if you don’t put in a lot of swing power.
Of all 3 woods that we have gone through today, our top recommendation is the TaylorMade Men’s RBZ Fairway. It provides really great performance and is regularly being sold at a discount. In the end, you should go with the most forgiving 3 wood that meets your needs.
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