Guru Golfer 

There are many difficult decisions to make while choosing golf clubs and especially fairway woods. Many people just look at a fairway wood and say "this looks like a great club", "it's from a name brand or from a professional golfer series", and or that "it feels like I'll have a great shot with this club". However, this is not how to purchase a fairway wood.

There are actually many factors that you should have in mind while going out to buy one. The basic categories that you will have to determine are the club head size, the size of the shaft, the loft, weight and length. You will then be able to find the perfect fairway wood for your price range. The club head has three club head sizes: standard (150-155 cubic centimeters), midsize (195 cubic centimeters) and oversized (195 -250 cubic centimeters).

The smaller the club head the easier it is to control but it also has a smaller sweet spot. The club is made from either stainless steel or titanium. This is normally more esthetic but it may have an effect on your swing and price range so it should be kept in mind.

Stainless steel brings a heavier feel to the fairway woods but it is less expensive while titanium is lightweight and it is forgiving on bad swings. The next category to take into consideration is the shaft. The shaft also comes in two materials: stainless steel and graphite. Once again, stainless steel is the best option for people on a budget and they also offer more durability and control over the club. Graphite shafts are lighter and help to provide a swifter swing for speed and power.

However, there is less control, it is less durable, and much more expensive. The loft is the next important factor to have in mind. The loft is the measure of the angle of the head. As a general rule of thumb, the larger the angle of the loft, the more control you will have over the club, but less ball distance and vice versa with a smaller angle of loft. If you have a slow swing speed (or heavier club factors) you will need a loft angle of 10 to 12 degrees, while faster and lighter clubs need a loft angle of 8 to 10 degrees.

For those who need a faster swing like high handicapped players, it is advisable to purchase a lighter weight club for a swifter swing and longer ball distance. Those golfers who have a swift swing, normally choose heavier clubs so that they have more control over the club. The weight of the fairway club is the last step in fairway wood purchasing. There are 3 lengths: traditional (43-44 in), Mid length (45-46 in) and long (more than 46 in). The shorter the club, the more control you will have. If you are in the price range of $50 to $150 for purchasing a fairway wood, here are some examples of great fairway woods: The Inemeadow Excel Strong 3 wood (starts at $49), Tour Series BLOC Fairway Woods (Starting at $49), the Dynacraft Prophet Fairway Woods (starts at $69) and the GX920 Fairway Woods (starts at $59).