The Best Fairway Wood Shafts – 2023 Edition continues to see performance improvements in both distance (ball speed, spin) and accuracy. New shaft technology from Fujikura, Project X, Mitsubishi Chemical Golf, and Graphite Design are leading the way. Performance improvements in fairway woods from every manufacturer over the last couple of years are big. They rival what we have seen in driver technology! Read about the best fairway woods for 2023. We will be creating a new list for 2024 starting in February, 2024.
Why is getting the RIGHT shaft so important?
Technology advancements in fairway wood heads continue to lower CG (center of gravity), increase MOI (moment of inertia) and increase forgiveness. Depending on the age of your existing fairway woods, your old shaft is likely not right for new heads. And mass-produced stock shafts are not designed to fit your swing. The proper fit shaft in your fairway woods ensures that new tech delivers on consistency, accuracy and distance. The short answer in fitting fairway wood shafts is to choose a shaft that has a little more weight than your driver. And we typically start with a slightly softer tip section to help get the ball in the air. Learn what happens when your shaft is not right for your swing.
Best Fairway Wood Shafts – 2023 Methodology
We picked four categories for the Best Fairway Woods – 2023 based on the distance a golfer hits their 3-wood. In our fittings, these categories work very well in determining optimal head design and shaft. But with a custom wood fitting, it also allows the freedom to fit to smaller heads when preferred.
Choose your category
- Stronger Players – 3-wood Carry Over 250 Yards
- Strong Players – 3-wood Carry Between 210 – 250 yards
- Average Players – 3-wood Carry Between 170 – 210 Yards
- 3-wood Carry Distance is Under 170 Yards
Stronger Players – 3-wood Over 250 Yards
In this category, most golfers should be using a 70+ or 80+ gram shaft. However, not all shaft companies are making 80+ gram shafts these days. We especially like some good ones from ACCRA, Fujikura, Graphite Design and Project X. Faster tempo players benefit more from the 80+ gram shafts. And 70+ gram shafts are available in both lower launch and low-mid launch shafts.
| Brand | Shaft | Weight | Trajectory |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCRA | TZ RPG Tour Gold 372L | 75-76 gr | Low |
| ACCRA | TZ RPG Tour Gold 372H | 75-76 gr | Low-Mid |
| Fujikura | Ventus Black 8 or TR 8 | 88-90 gr | Low |
| Fujikura | Ventus Blue 7 or TR 7 | 78-80 gr | Low-Mid |
| Graphite Design | Tour AD DI 7 or 8 | 76-86 gr | Low-Mid |
| Graphite Design | Tour AD XC 7 or 8 | 76-86 gr | Low-Mid |
| Mitsubishi (MCG) | Diamana PD 7 or 8 | 74-84 gr | Low |
| Mitsubishi (MCG) | Diamana GT 70 or 80 | 72-86 gr | Low-Mid |
| Mitsubishi (MCG) | TENSEI 1K Pro Black | 76-90 gr | Low |
| Mitsubishi (MCG) | TENSEI 1K Pro White | 71-86 gr | Low-Mid |
| OBAN | Kiyoshi Tour Limited Blue | 76-80 gr | Low-Mid |
| OBAN | Devotion 75 or 85 | 75-86 gr | Low-Mid |
| Project X | HZRDUS Smoke Green RDX 70 | 74-78 gr | Low |
| Project X | HZRDUS Gen 4 Black 70 | 74-78 gr | Low-Mid |
| TPT Golf | TPT 14 – 16 LO Red Range FWY | 83-93 gr | Low |
| TPT Golf | TPT 14 – 16 HI Red Range FWY | 77-90 gr | Low-Mid |
Strong Players – 3-Wood 210-250 Yards
Players in this category, like stronger players, should play at least a 70+ gram shaft. Very fast tempos and transitions benefit from a heavier shaft. And, players we fit in this category typically benefit from a mid-launch, mid-spin shaft. With low-mid to mid-launch shafts, we have had great results from OBAN Kiyoshi Black 75, TPT 15 LO, Graphite Design Tour AD HD 7, Fujikura VENTUS Blue, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 70 and KBS TD 70. At a lower price point, the Graphite Design MAD PRO 75 or the Mitsubishi C6 Blue 70 can be a good fit for strong players.
| Brand | Shaft | Weight | Trajectory |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCRA | TZ RPG Tour Gold 372L | 75-76 gr | Low |
| ACCRA | TZ RPG Tour Gold 372H | 75-76 gr | Low-Mid |
| Fujikura | Ventus Black 7 or TR 7 | 78-80 gr | Low |
| Fujikura | Ventus Blue 7 or TR 7 | 78-80 gr | Low-Mid |
| Graphite Design | Tour AD DI 7 | 76-78 gr | Low-Mid |
| Graphite Design | Tour AD HD 7 | 76-78 gr | Mid |
| KBS | TD 70 | 74-78 gr | Mid |
| Mitsubishi (MCG) | Diamana PD 7 | 74-84 gr | Low |
| Mitsubishi (MCG) | Diamana GT 70 | 72-86 gr | Low-Mid |
| Mitsubishi (MCG) | TENSEI 1K Pro White | 71-86 gr | Low-Mid |
| Mitsubishi (MCG) | TENSEI 1K Pro Blue | 76-82 gr | Mid |
| OBAN | Kiyoshi Tour LTD Blue | 78-90 gr | Mid |
| OBAN | Kiyoshi Black 75 | 80-83 gr | Mid |
| OBAN | Devotion 75 | 75-86 gr | Low-Mid |
| Project X | HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 | 74-78 gr | Low-Mid |
| Project X | HZRDUS Gen 4 Black 70 | 74-78 gr | Low-Mid |
| TPT Golf | TPT 15 – 17 LO Red Range FWY | 78-90 gr | Low |
| TPT Golf | TPT 15 – 17 HI Red Range FWY | 73-85 gr | Mid |
Average Players – 3-wood 170-210 Yards
Golfers here should play a 60+ to 70+ gram shaft, depending on the shaft weight of your driver. Going with the same weight as your driver or personalizing for higher launch and spin should be done with caution. This is a fine balance between getting more carry while maintaining accuracy.
We have seen excellent results from the OBAN Isawa Red 65 or 75, TPT 17 LO or HI, Mitsubishi TENSEI CK Pro Blue 6 or 7, Fujikura Ventus Blue, Project X HZRDUS Smoke RDX Red or Black and ACCRA TZ6 75 shafts. At a lower price point, we like the Mitsubishi C6 Blue 70, Fujikura Vista Pro 21 75 and ACCRA FX 3.0 200F shafts. To boost carry, try the ACCRA FX 3.0 100F, TPT 17 HI, Graphite Design Tour AD BB 7, UB 6 or UB 7 and Fujikura Ventus Red 6 or 7.
| Brand | Shaft | Weight | Trajectory |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCRA | TZ5 70 and 75 FWY | 72-76 gr | Low-Mid |
| ACCRA | TZ6 70 and 75 FWY | 75-76 gr | Mid |
| Fujikura | Ventus Blue 7 or TR 7 | 72-78 gr | Low-Mid |
| Fujikura | Ventus Red 7 or TR 7 | 72-78 gr | Mid-High |
| Graphite Design | Tour AD BB 7 | 76-86 gr | Mid |
| Graphite Design | Tour AD UB 7 | 76-86 gr | Mid-High |
| KBS | TD 70 | 74-86 gr | Mid |
| Mitsubishi (MCG) | Diamana PD 7 | 74-84 gr | Low-Mid |
| Mitsubishi (MCG) | Diamana TB 7 | 72-78 gr | Mid |
| Mitsubishi (MCG) | TENSEI 1K Pro Blue | 70-76 gr | Mid |
| OBAN | Revenge 7 or 7TR | 72-78 gr | Mid |
| OBAN | Isawa Red 75 | 73-78 gr | Mid |
| Project X | HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX 70 | 74-78 gr | Mid |
| Project X | HZRDUS Gen 4 Black 70 | 74-78 gr | Mid |
| TPT Golf | TPT 17 – 19 LO Red Range FWY | 67-77 gr | Mid |
| TPT Golf | TPT 17 – 19 HI Red Range FWY | 64-72 gr | Mid-High |
Other Players – 3-wood Under 170 Yards
Shaft weights should be in the 50+ to 60+ gram range, depending on the shaft weight of your driver. Golfers should favor mid-high launch, mid-high spin shafts. However, if you struggle to get the ball in the air, playing a high-trajectory shaft with a little more spin can help increase carry.
For more carry, try the KBS TD 50 or 60, ACCRA FX 3.0 100F, TPT 18 LO, Mitsubishi Diamana TB 50 or 60, Graphite Design Tour AD BB or UB 5 or 6 and Fujikura VENTUS Red 5 or 6. Or, at an excellent price point, try the Veylix Alpina 573 and 673 and the Mitsubishi C6 Red 5 and 6. For even higher launch shafts check out the TPT 18 HI, ACCRA iFwy, Fujikura Vista Pro 21 55, 60, and 65, and the UST Mamiya Helium.
| Brand | Shaft | Weight | Trajectory |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCRA | FX 3.0 160 and 100F | 60-68 gr | Mid |
| ACCRA | TZ Six 60 and 65 FWY | 60-68 gr | Mid-High |
| Fujikura | Ventus Blue 6 or TR 6 | 62-68 gr | Mid |
| Fujikura | Ventus Red 6 or TR 6 | 62-68 gr | Mid-High |
| Graphite Design | Tour AD BB 6 | 62-68 gr | Mid |
| Graphite Design | Tour AD UB 6 | 60-68 gr | Mid-High |
| KBS | TD 60 | 62-68 gr | Mid-High |
| Mitsubishi (MCG) | Diamana TB 6 | 63-67 gr | Mid-High |
| Mitsubishi (MCG) | Kai’Li Blue or Red | 62-68 gr | Mid-High |
| Mitsubishi (MCG) | TENSEI 1K Pro Blue | 62-67 gr | Mid |
| OBAN | Revenge 6 or 6 TR | 61-66 gr | Mid |
| OBAN | Isawa Red 65 and HB 65 | 61-67 gr | Mid-High |
| Project X | HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX 60 | 59-66 gr | Mid-High |
| Project X | HZRDUS Gen 4 Black 60 | 61-67 gr | Mid |
| TPT Golf | TPT 17 – 19 LO Red Range FWY | 67-77 gr | Mid |
| TPT Golf | TPT 17 – 19 HI Red Range FWY | 64-72 gr | Mid-High |
Selecting the Best Fairway Wood Shafts – 2023
With so many options, flexes and swing weights across multiple manufacturers, selecting the best fairway wood shaft – 2023 can be daunting. Truth is, there are multiple shafts that fit your swing. These recommendations should be thought of as a starting point. Don’t guess. Work with an expert club fitter that knows the nuances of each of these shafts to create a short list. Then, see results on a launch monitor like TrackMan. A shaft just by the numbers may not produce the feel and consistency you’re looking for. And trust your final club build to a Golf Digest’s Best Clubfitter like D’Lance Golf.
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