Fairway Woods That Leave the Rest in the Dust

Constant innovations in driver technology and the emergence of hybrids often dominate discussions about new clubs. However, fairway woods have quietly been improving each year, and it would be a mistake to overlook these new 2008 models.

Nike SQ Sumo2
The distinct square shape of Nike’s SQ Sumo2 Fairway Wood is no accident – the club is geometrically designed to give golfers incredible accuracy, distance and forgiveness. The square head provides a ridiculously high Moment of Intertia (MOI) which results in less twisting of the club to allow lots of leeway on miss-hits. Additionally, the club face incorporates Nike’s updated body shaping technology to generate maximum ball speed. With the SQ Sumo2, you will enjoy more consistently-accurate shots and even get lucky when the club corrects many of your mistakes. It may also become the most versatile club in your set thanks the Monorail sole, which makes it easy to hit from any type of lie.

Cleveland HiBore XLS
When it comes to hitting consistent long shots, size can matter. That’s why Cleveland’s HiBore XLS Fairway Woods feature a 25 percent larger head and 19 percent larger club face than the original HiBore. The head is sizeable enough that it offers fantastic MOI but is still light-weight enough to promote increased club speed. The face features so much surface area that it rarely produces a bad shot, so even less-than-great hits often result in excellent ball speed and accuracy.

Adams Insight XTD a3 Hybrid-FW and a3OS Hybrid-FW
The Adams Insight XTD a3 Hybrid-FW combines the versatility of a hybrid with the power of a fairway wood. Built for advanced golfers with medium-to-fast swings, it features the same patented Boxer Technology as the company’s popular hybrids to deliver a MOI higher than that of traditional fairway woods. The unique sole design of the club reduces ground contact by 22 percent compared to most bulky fairway woods, making it playable on almost any surface. It’s also a good option for hitting off a tee when a driver may get you into trouble. Adams also offers the Insight XTD a3OS Hyrbrid-FW which features the same innovations as the a3 model but is intended for golfers with slower swings. It features mass a slight offset that helps create optimal launch and eliminate slice.

Callaway FT-i Squareway
Much like the Nike Sumo SQ2, the Callaway FT-i Squareway Woods have a square-shaped club head which is hardly conventional but delivers results. Using the same technology as the FT-i driver, the club head is designed to shift weight to the back, heel and toe of the club creating high MOI and a low center of gravity. This results in excellent forgiveness across the club face and produces high-soaring shots. The cutting-edge weight distribution of the club head also means that it’s extremely stable, allowing Callaway to fit it with the longest shaft of any fairway wood the company has ever produced. The result is an increase in club speed and more distance without the sacrifice in accuracy generally associated with longer shaft.




Bill Kliewer is the Chief Equipment Advisor for The Golf Channel.