Tl;dr: The ability to knock your second shot on the green of a par 5 will give you the best chance to make more birdies in a round of golf. Titleist fairway woods are designed to make this shot easier, and their various models are engineered for different skill levels and swing types.

While various golf club manufacturers produce quality fairway woods today, Titleist has been a leader in golf technology for almost a century. They consistently deliver cutting-edge design and are a common favorite on the PGA Tour. Titleist offers reliability and consistency.

There are no gimmicks and no off-the-wall marketing campaigns—simply pure class. You get some of the most sophisticated golf equipment when you buy a Titleist. Trust me. I have had a Titleist 906F2 3-wood in my bag since 2007, and it may never leave!

I grew up playing golf, and after four years of college golf at the Division 1 level, I spent over a decade working in the golf industry. Most recently, as the Caddiemaster at the Kiawah Island Club, I tested various equipment and developed my thirst for knowledge on the latest technologies and advancements. Nothing is more satisfying than piecing together a great round of golf. I have always had a passion for helping others with their game.

What Is a Titleist Fairway Wood?

Titleist was established in 1932 as a maker of golf balls, clubs, and bags. Their latest line of fairway woods is designed to sync with your swing path and skill level to give you the best chance to reach par 5s in two or lay back off the tee on short par 4s.

Titleist fairway woods combine modern cutting edge technology with a traditional look and feel. Whether you are looking for a higher launch and more forgiveness or workability and distance, Titleist has a fairway wood to match your game.

What to Consider When Buying a Titleist Fairway Wood

There are a few general questions to consider when choosing the right Titleist fairway wood. Your golfing capabilities and intended usage play the biggest role in identifying which model will align best.

1. Do you plan to hit off the tee or from the fairway?

Titleist has options for both. While all Titleist fairway woods can perform both off the tee and on the turf, woods designed to be better off the tee are engineered with a larger profile than those designed for the fairway. Defining what you are looking for, or a perfect mix of both, is important before deciding.

2. What is your skill level?

Titleist offers fairway woods for all skill levels. Someone who shoots around par will most likely not need as much forgiveness across the clubface as someone who shoots 100. Below, I describe three types of players, one of which you might identify with.

• Beginner: Someone who has played golf for less than one year or only once or twice every year and did not grow up playing. Beginners do not break 100 in a round of golf and struggle to find the center of the clubface, hitting shots all over the course or nowhere at all.
• Intermediate: Players in this category can make legitimate bogeys during a round of golf with some pars littered in between. Ball contact is best described as spotty, but an intermediate player can find the center of the club from time to time throughout the round and execute solid golf shots in doses. The average score for this group is around 90, with no real chance of breaking 80 but rarely approaching 100.
• Expert: The expert category is reserved for those who can break 80 consistently and keep their score closer to level par. Ball contact is locked in and stable, rarely hitting a ball out of bounds or in a water hazard. Experts find the center of the clubface on almost every swing and can go low.

3. What is your swing speed?

Swing speed matters when choosing your Titleist fairway wood. Not only should your swing speed dictate which shaft you choose, but it should also play a role in choosing the clubhead.

Someone with a more moderate swing speed will need a lighter club overall to allow them to swing harder and develop a faster swing speed. Conversely, those who swing harder can handle more weight, providing more power. Titleist designed a fairway wood to meet your needs no matter which side you fall on.

What Are the Different Types of Titleist Fairway Woods?

Titleist accounts for all skill levels and shot shapes in their newest line of fairway woods. In this section, I review the best Titleist fairway woods and their benefits.

1. Titleist TSi1 Fairway Wood

The TSi1 fairway wood is designed for more moderate to medium swing speeds. Its lightweight design allows someone with less power to get through the ball and generate maximum distance.

Benefits

• Its feather-light feel makes swinging hard through the impact zone easier.
• Increased swing speed.

Keep in Mind

• This model may be too light for those already generating high swing speeds.

2. Titleist TSR1 Fairway Wood

Titleist’s latest version of fairway woods, the Titleist TSRs, are even lighter than the TSi. Every shred of weight has been eliminated from the TSR1 fairway wood to allow moderate swing speeds to increase their ball speed, swing speed, and keep up with the others in their group.

Benefits

• Increased swing speed.
• Most up to date technology.

Keep in Mind

• The clubhead is slightly larger than the TSi1 which could be more comfortable for a higher handicap player.

3. Titleist TSR2 Fairway Wood

Titleist had maximum forgiveness in mind when they created the TSR2 fairway wood. For players that don’t always hit the clubface center, this wood provides regularity on shots that might normally end up weak and offline.

Benefits

• Lowest center of gravity ever by Titleist, creating higher launch for those that struggle to get it in the air.
• Faster ball speeds.
• Maximum forgiveness.

Keep in Mind

• Titleist offers a more tour-ready option for a low-handicap player who does not need the added forgiveness.

4. Titleist TSR2+ Fairway Wood

The TSR2+ was designed for the player who wants to send it off the tee when a driver is not the best option. For short par 4s, dog legs, or anyone struggling with their driver, the TSR2+ provides an exciting new option.

Benefits

• A larger profile at address gives you the confidence to tee this one up and swing hard.
• High launch.
• Extreme forgiveness.

Keep in Mind

• Titleist has a better option if you do not plan to use your fairway wood off the tee.

5. Titleist TSR3 Fairway Wood

Titleist designed a tour-ready masterpiece in the TSR3. This fairway wood is a must-have for a player capable of working the ball both ways.

Benefits

• The SureFit Adjustable CG Track System allows optimum adjustability tailored to your desired ball flight.
• Low launch and increased workability.

Keep in Mind

• Tour-ready design is geared for low handicap players.
• The clubhead is smaller than the TSR2 and not as forgiving on mishits.

Features to Look for in Titleist Fairway Woods

All new Titleist fairway woods are designed with features to improve your game and lower scores. Here are a few features to look out for:

SureFit Adjustability

Titleist uses SureFit Adjustability technology to allow you to dial in your fairway woods to your optimum ball flight. If you want to play a high fade, you can adjust the hosel accordingly so that the weighting and angles of the club match that ball's flight.

You can also adjust the club to promote a lower hook if you can’t stop hitting a high fade. The point is to have the ability to adjust the club to your swing. Below, I have included the adjustment charts from Titleist for a right-handed and left-handed player.

Featured Shafts

Having the right shaft in your fairway wood can greatly impact your distance and accuracy. The new class of Titleist fairway woods comes in various elite shaft options to suit your game, whether you are a beginner with more moderate swing speeds or an expert trying to reach the par 5s in two.

As a rule of thumb, if you have a more moderate swing, you should rely on a regular flex shaft that is light. A stiff flex shaft will become a better option as your swing speed increases. Tour-level pros and scratch golfers swing hard enough for an extra stiff flex shaft and can choose a shaft with greater weight for more power.

Featured Lofts

You may be familiar with fairway wood sets labeled 3-wood, 5-wood, 7-wood, and potentially another in between. Titleist does not label their fairway woods in that fashion but rather with an exact loft degree to dial in your distances and launch angle. For reference, a typical 3-wood has 13-15° of loft, a 5-wood has 18-19°, and a 7-wood has 21-23°.

Each Titleist fairway wood is produced in specific degrees of loft available based on its engineering. For example, the TRS2+ is only available with 13 or 14.5° of loft as it is designed to be hit as a 3-wood off the tee.

Contrastingly, the TRS1 is available with the following degrees of loft: 15, 18, 20, and 23. At 15°, the TRS1 performs as a weaker lofted 3-wood, and at 23°, it performs closer to a 7-wood.

How to Choose the Right Titleist Fairway Wood for You

Now that you understand the capabilities of the latest Titleist fairway woods, you can decide which models align with your game. Continuing, I describe three types of golfers and the Titleist fairway wood models that they should ponder.

Nigel: The Beginner

Nigel picked up a club for the first time earlier this year for a work event at TopGolf. He did not grow up playing golf but enjoyed cracking balls with his co-workers and is starting to play occasionally on the weekends. Nigel is just learning, and his ball contact is sporadic. His typical strike is off the heel or toe, rarely on center. He needs a fairway wood that will not penalize him greatly for mishits and one that could help increase his swing speed to maximize distance.

Features Nigel should look for:

• Maximum forgiveness across the clubface so that mishits are not as greatly penalized.
• A lightweight design to give himself the best chance at increasing swing speed, faster launch, and adding distance.
• Regular flex shaft that aligns with a more moderate swing speed to maximize lag and distance.

Titleist fairway woods to consider:

• TSi1: It has a lightweight design for less than moderate swing speeds.
• TSR1: The latest technology combined with a lightweight design to increase swing speed.
• TSR2: This fairway wood is designed for maximum forgiveness across the clubface.

Donnie: The Intermediate 12 Handicap

Donnie has been playing golf for most of his adult life and understands the game. Through playing on the weekends at his local municipal golf course, he has his handicap down to a 12, and his swing speed is increasing from mid-level to high. He has not yet broken through with a round below 80 but is determined to get there, which is his immediate goal.

At the course that Donnie plays regularly, there are some short par 4s with dog legs that he struggles with off the tee, usually hitting the driver through the fairway or offline while trying to dial it back. He is looking for another option off the tee to keep it in play that also can launch the ball high off the deck.

Features Donnie should look for:

• A low-lofted, strong 3-wood designed to hit off the tee and turf.
• Stiff flex shaft to match with increasing swing speed.

Titleist fairway woods to consider:

• TSR2+: The TSR2+ is designed to be hit off the tee as an alternative to a driver.
• TSR2: It offers maximum forgiveness and high launch combined with the latest technology.

Darwin: The Ringer

Darwin is a scratch player who is the reigning club champion at his home course. He has a high swing speed, can work the ball both ways with accuracy, and his mishits are never far from center. Darwin makes regular birdies and is searching for a new fairway wood that will allow him to launch the ball low with lower spin and maximum workability to knock it on more par 5s in two.

Features Darwin should look for:

• SureFit Adjustability to align the club with the desired ball flight.
• Lower lofted fairway wood to maximize distance.
• Stiff or extra stiff shaft to support his high swing speed.
• A smaller, tour-ready clubhead that will maximize performance when struck on center.

Titleist fairway wood to consider:

• TSR3: This tour-ready model is designed for low-handicap players searching for maximum distance and workability.

Find the Best Titleist Fairway Wood for You

Titleist is an iconic brand that manufactures cutting-edge fairway wood technology. When you buy a Titleist, you can sleep at night knowing you made a respectable and high-performing investment in your game.

While Titleist provides various fairway woods, at least one is specifically designed for your game regardless of your skill set or shot shape. Match your game with the right Titleist fairway wood and watch your scores improve. For additional questions, please contact a Curated Golf Expert for free, personalized advice!