Once upon a time, beginning in the 15^th century, fairway ‘woods’ were actually made of wood. They had a different feel and they certainly had a different sound upon impact.

But that was then. Now, although we still use the term ‘woods’ to describe these clubs, they are actually made from metals, and they are evolving into a cross between the characteristics of both ‘woods’ and irons.

Despite these changes, the role of the fairway wood is still the same. For most golfers this means being able to hit a 200+-yard shot, from the less than ideal lie you can get in the fairway. It can prove to be as valuable to scoring well as any club in the bag.

Perhaps more importantly is that fairway ‘woods’ are easier to hit than 2, 3 or even 4 irons. Most golfers have much more confidence in a fairway wood than either their driver or a long iron.

So what do you need to look for when considering a new set of fairway woods?

First of all, this choice now involves the thought of replacing a 2 and 3-iron, maybe even your 4-iron too. Why? New materials are providing new choices. More and more golfers are using these ‘woods’ as reliable substitutes for the corresponding irons.

The technical and materials advances include:

Lighter, Stronger Metals

New-age steels and titanium have been used provide new advantages in recent years. Because they are lighter and stronger, these materials allow the club designer to maintain the strength of the club head and place more weight on the sole, the toe, the heel and the back, for greater stability upon impact.

Stronger Lofts

The ‘new’ fairway woods provide added distance through a stronger loft made possible by a lower center of gravity.

Low Center of Gravity

An increased sweet spot is the result of being able to concentrate the weight in the sole and the outside of the club head.

Inserts

Another option that can improve the performance of a fairway wood is inserts. Some clubs now have forged steel inserts in the face. This ‘harder’ surface provides greater impact force combined with a better ‘feel’, a perfect combination for most golfers.

Trouble Clubs

You might want to consider making one of your fairway ‘woods’ a ‘trouble’ club. These usually have a rounded sole to help insure solid contact from a less than perfect lie.