While more effective in the hands of a skilled player, this is a club with good performance characteristics, even for the average golfer. Ping engineers intersected the crown (the top-most portion of the club head) directly to the sole to create that low and wide club face, and at only 142cc, it is definitely not over-sized.

There is an entire line of fairway woods in the G10 series, but we're focusing on the 5-wood here. Technical details include: 18.5 degrees of loft, outfitted with a 42.5" graphite shaft for a total swingweight of D-1. Those are all pretty middle-of-the-road numbers for a 5-wood, so no surprises there. Where the G10 5-wood really stands out is perhaps in the variety of ways you can find this club, including: both Right and Left hand orientation, Soft-R (senior), Regular, and Stiff and X-Stiff flex options for the TFC 129 proprietary shaft. Shaft upgrades include the Grafalloy ProLaunch Red (R, S, and XS) -- this option will reduce the spin rate and produce a lower, more penetrating ball flight -- a nice upgrade for the better player who doesn't struggle to get the ball airborne. Standard grip is the Ping 703 in soft rubber. This grip is pretty standard across the line and has a "flame" pattern in the rubber that is supposed to improve both your grip on the club and the performance. For my money, it's just another rubber grip and as good as, but no better than, the next one.

Ping has veered slightly from their normal look by painting the graphics on this club in copper and black -- but they make for a striking appearance and, with the color-coordinated clubhead cover, it is a good-looking club. Other fairways woods in a similar vein include the TaylorMade R9 or Nike Victory Red.

Find this Ping wood on eBay:

Ping G10 Fairway 185 5 Wood 5W TFC Regular LEFTLH US $59.99   Auction Ends: 29d 14h 51m Make it yours...

Ping G10 DRAW Fairway 185 5 Wood 5W TFC Regular LEFTLH US $69.99   Auction Ends: 29d 14h 51m Make it yours...

NEW LEFTY PING G10 G 10 DRAW 185 5 WOOD SENIOR GRAPHITE TFC US $99.99   Auction Ends: 27d 12h 14m Make it yours...

Available in 3-wood (13.5 & 15 degrees), 4-wood (16.5 degrees), 5-wood (18 degrees) and 7-wood (21 degrees) the Mizuno F60 fairway wood features a Perimeter Weight Slot (Mizuno's marketing term); when combined with the ultra-thin titanium crown, together these position weight deep inside and around the perimeter of the club head. This design is said to enhance forgiveness on off-center hits and make it easier to achieve a higher launch trajectory. The thin titanium crown is brazed to the stainless steel face (titanium is considerably lighter than steel, so this is where the weight savings comes in). The F60 uses a traditional tear-drop head shape and offers a clean profile of the type often preferred by better golfers. To address the issue of off-center hits, Mizuno uses their CORTECH head design (another catch-phrase take-off of the COR acronym) which utilizes multiple face thicknesses for maximum Co-efficient of Restitution (COR). When you can increase/improve COR on those less-than-ideal contacts, you capture more energy from the ball/club strike, and that translates into increased distance and higher initial ball velocity. The shaft options are typical with both steel and graphite available. Steel is the TT Dynamic Gold, while the graphite option is the Exsar FS3 shaft.

Overall, the F60 series is a good performer for the slightly better player. If you're a mid-to-high handicapper, keep looking as this club will likely not give you the type of performance you're after. If you're in the better player realm, however, this club -- like the Mizuno player irons mentioned earlier -- may be just what you're after.

If the F60 appeals to you, also consider the Titleist 909 F3 fairway wood.

Find this Mizuno F60:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

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NEW Mizuno F 60 3 Wood Headcover US $16.99   Auction Ends: 29d 17h 49m Make it yours...

NEW Mizuno F 60 7 Wood Headcover US $16.99   Auction Ends: 29d 17h 49m Make it yours...

Mizuno F 60 5 Wood 18 Exsar FS3 Stiff Flex US $34.99   Auction Ends: 29d 10h 28m Make it yours...

TaylorMade has a strong history of producing well-built, playable fairway woods, and the V Steel 3-wood lives up to the reputation. Fitted with a lightweight steel (TT Dynamic Gold) or graphite shaft (proprietary M.A.S.2 TaylorMade), they are available in both Right and Left hand orientations. The lightweight shaft options equate to increased swing speeds for maximum distance. Some will find the graphite shaft options below Stiff flex a little on the "whippy" side and, while the overall distance is good, the shot dispersion is less than ideal. A properly fitted flex in the steel shaft option might be a better fit for many players. The V Steel 3-wood is designed to provide a medium-height trajectory -- a good ball flight that combines for both distance and workability.

The V Steel 3-wood has a black top-side and brushed satin chrome underneath. Markings are simple with an enlarged "V" that mirrors the V-sole design. The steel face is made of high-strength 455 stainless, which has been engineered with a high COR (Co-Efficient of Restitution) for maximum distance. For those unfamiliar with COR, it is a measure of the energy lost (or retained, depending on how you look at it) as the ball and clubhead come together. When a static object (the ball) is contacted by the club head, some of the stored energy in the ball is lost at impact. The higher the COR, the less energy lost -- and the farther the ball travels. A unique hosel cartridge allows TaylorMade to precisely position the high-density polymeric material used to tune the V Steel's swing weight to D-2.

There are other options in high-quality 3-woods of course, such as the Titleist 909F3 or Callaway FT iZ.

Find this club on eBay:

TAYLORMADE V STEEL 15 3 WOOD GRAPHITE STIFF FLEX AVERAGE CONDITION US $41.84   Auction Ends: 29d 10h 32m Make it yours...

TAYLORMADE V STEEL 15 3 WOOD GRAPHITE STIFF GOOD CONDITION US $34.99   Auction Ends: 28d 8h 12m Make it yours...

LEFT HAND TAYLORMADE V STEEL 3 FAIRWAY WOOD 15 GOLF CLUB WITH COVER US $59.95   Auction Ends: 27d 7h 24m Make it yours...

With a slightly smaller overall head than the G15 -- and considerably smaller than most others in the category, save Titleist -- the i15 3-wood can best be described as "sleek." Though the head is a bit shallower than normal, the face is actually longer, providing a slightly larger hitting area. If a big, oversized head on your 3-wood is what gives you the most confidence, steer clear of this club. However, if you like your 3-wood compact, stylish, and with a no-nonsense, get-the-job-done look, then this might be just the one for you.

With its smaller head design, the Ping i15 gives the golfer the ability to work the ball left and right, or up and down pretty easily. Ping has added an internal weighting system to create "Tour Trajectory" -- usually defined as a low, boring/penetrating ball flight. Available in both Left and Right hand orientation, the 3-wood comes in a "strong" version (RH only) with 14 degrees of loft or standard with 15.5 degrees. Shaft options include Ping's own TFC700F (designed specifically for fairway clubs) or the UST Mamiya AXIVCore Tour Red 79. The latter is a slightly lighter weight shaft at 78 grams. Either of these shafts are good choices; the TFC700F is weightier (for higher swing speeds) but again, the lower your handicap, the more you should lean toward the UST, which will tend to produce a lower ball flight. Flex options cover the usual choices of Regular, Stiff and X-Stiff, and the standard grip is the new ID8. In keeping with its overall sleek design, the Ping i15 3-wood is a dark charcoal across the head with simple red/black paint fill on the satin-chrome underside.

Other options to consider for 3-woods include the Titleist 910Fd and Cleveland Launcher FL model.

Find this wood on eBay:

NEW Ping i15 Fairway 3 Wood Headcover i 15 US $14.95   Auction Ends: 17d 8h 31m Make it yours...

Used Ping i15 3 Wood Regular Flex US $75.00   1 Bid Auction Ends: 7h 12m Make it yours...

Ping i15 Fairway 3 Wood 155 deg Proforce 79 Series Tour Stiff US $56.00   2 Bids Auction Ends: 13h 14m Make it yours...

This kid was playing in his first Masters, and he darn near won it. (He lost to Charl Schwartzel by two strokes.) Some of the camera shots of Jason standing on the tee box were priceless. His pre-shot routine is to stand behind the ball and look down the fairway and visualize the shot. As the pressure mounted, his expression looked like a kid who was standing on a high dive at the community pool. He looked terrified to jump but even more terrified not to jump. Jason managed to suck it up and birdie the last two holes -- simply amazing.

Having said that, it's not all Jason. I've hit the driver and I really liked the feel. This 3 wood is obviously the compliment. Both driver and fairway wood have the adjustable loft with the FCT that allows you to adjust the face for 60 yards of variance. The shape is more aerodynamic than the R10, and of course I've already mentioned the new modern look with the non-glare white crown with all-black face. This contrast helps with your alignment to see if your face is open or closed.

Find this TaylorMade R11 Fairway Wood:

• Click here to find this product at 3Balls Golf
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Taylor Made R11 T3 14 Fairway Wood w ProLaunch Red Regular US $77.00   9 Bids Auction Ends: 6h 34m Make it yours...

TaylorMade R11S 3wood T3 14 Fairway Wood US $175.00   1 Bid Auction Ends: 8h 33m Make it yours...

TaylorMade R11 Fairway Wood T 3 14 M Flex US $63.00   9 Bids Auction Ends: 8h 50m Make it yours...

The material is a forged composite. This is actually bundles of microscopic carbon fibers held together with resin. The material is heated until it liquefies, and then Callaway creates the desired shape. The light material allows Callaway to move weight back and low, creating the highest MOI and deepest center of gravity of any golf club.

What that translates to in a fairway wood is a club that is very forgiving and gets the ball up fast off of an extremely hot club face for longer distance. You can get these fairway woods in the Standard model designed for playability and distance, or the Tour models which are more workable.

If you like the woods, make sure you check out the drivers: the Callaway Diablo Octane Driver and Callaway Diablo Octane Tour Driver.

Find this Callaway Diablo Octane Fairway Wood:

• Click here to find this product at 3Balls Golf
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Callaway Diablo Octane Fairway Wood Golf Club US $199.00   Auction Ends: 1d 6h 44m Make it yours...

Callaway Diablo Octane Tour Fairway Wood Golf Club US $80.00   2 Bids Auction Ends: 1d 7h 10m Make it yours...

Callaway Diablo Octane Fairway Wood 4 RH Mens USED Very Good US $44.95   2 Bids Auction Ends: 1d 11h 25m Make it yours...

The clubhead is made from titanium with extra weight put in the sole -- 40 grams to be exact. Although the center of gravity is low, it is not pushed back like many of today's clubs. Instead, they kept it forward to help keep the spin down. This gives the club a lower trajectory with a more tour-preferred penetrating ball flight. This bad boy hits line drive rockets that cut through the wind like butter.

The clubhead is a bit compact, and it sets up with an open face. This also is more of a low handicapper trait. If you like to hit shots that stay low and run and you like to shape shots, this is the 3 wood for you.

Of course Mizuno is a very high-end respected name, and you will never get short-changed with their equipment. This 3 wood is a premier club that I'm sure you will find in many low handicappers and scratch player's golf bags.

For higher handicappers looking for a bigger head and more forgiveness, I like the Callaway FT-iZ 3 Fairway Wood.

Find this Mizuno MP Titanium 3 Wood on eBay:

Great Mizuno Golf MP Titanium Fairway 3 Wood Headcover US $9.99   1 Bid Auction Ends: 1d 13h 42m Make it yours...

Mizuno MP Titanium 3 Fairway Wood 15 Degree White Fubuki S Flex Shaft US $29.00   1 Bid Auction Ends: 3d 6h 14m Make it yours...

Mizuno MP Titanium Fairway 3 Wood Regular Flex US $169.00   Auction Ends: 6d 17h 44m Make it yours...

The 17-4 stainless steel clubhead is wide with a shallow face. I like the way this looks at address, and it will give you confidence. They've rounded the sole to help lessen the drag when hitting the turf and given the club a heel weighting, which will help you close the club face more easily.

I recommend this 3 wood for mid to high handicappers. You will enjoy hitting this club off the turf and off the tee. The trajectory is strong, and the ball flight is a bit more penetrating then I would expect. The big head is surprisingly light, and the low center of gravity helps you get the club down to the ball.

For lower handicappers, I recommend the Nike Victory Red STR8 Fit Fairway Wood. This is a really cool new 3 wood that has a traditional pear-shaped head that is adjustable to 32 different positions. You will spend a bit more money on the Nike, but you will love this fairway wood.

Find this Cobra S2 Fairway Wood:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

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Cobra S2 Offset Fairway 195 5 Wood Fujikura Regular Flex LEFTLH US $29.99   Auction Ends: 7d 7h 40m Make it yours...

LH Cobra S2 Fairway Wood Golf Club 3 wood Stiff US $54.99   Auction Ends: 29d 17h 17m Make it yours...

COBRA S2 FAIRWAY WOOD HEADCOVER HEAD COVER VG US $12.94   Auction Ends: 29d 16h 10m Make it yours...

This is a cool fairway wood for all levels. Purists may not like the triangular shape, but if you can get past it, you will really appreciate how easy it is to swing and how quickly the ball jumps off the face and flies high and long.

The triangular-shape lessons drag and give the club a good balance with a powerful feel. This obviously is a good compliment to the Callaway FT-iZ Driver. This is pretty much the same design in a 460cc driver. These two clubs should give you a whole new look at your old track.

The only drawback to this 3 wood is it may take a little getting used to the shape. For an innovative yet more traditional pear-shaped 3 wood, check out the Nike Victory Red STR8 Fit Fairway Wood.

Find this Callaway FT-iZ 3 Fairway Wood:

• Click here to find this product on 3Balls Golf
• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this wood club on eBay:

NEW LH Callaway Golf FT iZ Fairway 3 Wood 15 Regular US $99.99   Auction Ends: 29d 17h 3m Make it yours...

NEW Callaway FT iZ Fairway 3 Wood LADY Flex LEFT Hand US $89.99   Auction Ends: 29d 17h 48m Make it yours...

NEW Callaway Golf FT iZ Fairway 3 Wood 15 Senior US $99.99   0 Bid Auction Ends: 16h 59m Make it yours...

The pear-shaped look is the only thing that is traditional about this fairway wood. I love the flashy branding with the red highlights. I think it looks like a racecar that goes super fast.

The biggest claim to fame is the STR8 Fit technology. The club is adjustable to 32 different positions. Thus, buying this driver is almost like buying 32 drivers. This is four times more than Nike's previous Str8 Fit technology that provided eight different positions.

Finally the combination of the 455 steel and the Split Compression Chamber makes the golf ball jump off of this hot face and go long.

I recommend this club for the lower handicappers, because the shape of the head is more of a player's shape for working and controlling the ball. This is somewhat contradictory, because I believe the matching model in the driver, the Nike Victory Red STR8 Fit Tour Driver, is more versatile and can benefit all players. I would steer higher handicappers towards the Nike SQ Machspeed 3 wood.

Find this Nike Golf Victory Red Fairway Wood:

NIKE GOLF VICTORY RED VR PRO VR PRO Ltd Edition FW FAIRWAY WOOD 5 19° REG US $119.99   Auction Ends: 27d 11h 30m Make it yours...

NIKE GOLF VICTORY RED VR PRO VR PRO Ltd Edition FW FAIRWAY WOOD 5 19° STIFF US $119.99   Auction Ends: 26d 14h 2m Make it yours...

Nike Victory Red Str8 Fit Fairway Wood 4 17 w Voodoo Reg Flex Golf Club 530 US $79.99   Auction Ends: 20d 17h 13m Make it yours...