Best 5 Woods For Senior Golfers – Get The Best For Slower Swing Speeds
Intro
The trusty 5 wood is a plucky underdog of the golf bag and one that is seeing a bit of a renaissance right now. The high end of the bag, below driver and 3 wood but above 5 iron has forever been a bit of a “no-man’s land”. This is where golfers often change their set-up.
Hybrids were all the rage for a while, then driving irons came in and grabbed the limelight, but all of a sudden we’re witnessing a resurgence in the classic lofted wood. Senior golfers, especially, should consider carrying a 5 wood, let me explain and hopefully you’ll agree.
What Should Seniors Be Looking For In A 5 Wood?
Padraig Harrington as a notable exception, we tend to lose swing speed as we age. Those heady days of athleticism are downtrodden by age and we start to have shorter walks between shots. It can be a humbling experience but, with the right steps, we can make the most of this.
In a 5 wood you are looking for something that gets the ball into the air easily, gives you some control on the greens and is easy to hit consistently. That’s it. If you are able to find a club that gives you those 3 things then get it into your bag, preferably after paying.
Why The Shaft Weight And Flex Is So Important
One of the ways we can battle the years and keep our speed up is by changing shaft to have it help us more and more.
On this we can look at weight and flex as two key contributors to clubhead speed and therefore distance.
Shaft Weight
It goes without saying that a lighter shaft is easier to swing faster. Whilst this is not always great, it is something to consider when looking for a new 5 wood in your senior years. We need to balance lightness and therefore extra speed gained for a lighter shaft with the control that weight gives.
Sometimes you can reduce shaft weight but play around with the stiffness or various other characteristics in the shaft to enhance speed without the loss of control. Remember, fairway woods are about firing at greens from a distance so control is an absolute essential.
Shaft Flex
Again, as our swing speeds start to slow we can start to use less stiff shafts to keep the clubhead speed up through the swing. Although many of us like to play the stiffest shaft possible so that our egos are kept happy, this often comes at the detriment of our performance.
By, for example, going from a stiff shaft to a regular with specific premium features, we can retain a lot of control whilst gaining a couple of miles per hour. Having a professional measure your swing and properly fit you can ensure you get the optimal shaft for your game.
Best 5 Woods For Senior Golfers
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#1 – Cleveland Launcher XL Halo Fairway Wood – Best Overall Choice
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#2 – Callaway Big Bertha 23 Fairway Wood – Best Premium
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#3 – Cobra Golf 2022 Air X Fairway Wood – Best Value
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#4 – Wilson D9 Fairway Wood
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#5 – BombTech Golf 4.0 5 Wood
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#6 – Callaway X Hot ’19 Fairway Wood
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# 7 – TaylorMade M4 Fairway Wood
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#8 – Callaway Golf 2021 Epic Max Fairway Wood
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#9 – PING G400 SFT Fairway Wood
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#10 – Titleist TSi1 Fairway Wood
THE TOP 3
What Are The Best Options Out There?
Now let’s get onto the business end of this article, a look at the best options on the market.
We will run through what is out there to help you make the choice. My recommendation is that you try a few of these options and see which pleases you the most.
#1 – Cleveland Launcher XL Halo Fairway Wood – Best Overall Choice
Overview
Cleveland continue to be one of the most underrated club makers in the game of golf. They make exceptionally good products that tend to be amongst the easiest to hit on the market The Launcher XL Halo fairway wood is no exception. It blew me away when I tested it!
Loft – 21 degrees
Flex – Senior
Pros
Straight off, the look of this club is fantastic! The blue flashes provide a bit of character and the view from the top inspires confidence behind the ball. This club is so easy to hit that it would be an asset in the bag of most golfers.
There is also some great technology in there like “Gliderails” which will help you cut through the rough and a special face design to give you maximum distance and consistency. All in all this is a masterpiece of a club.
Cons
The club is made of stainless steel, hardly an advanced material these days, but I don’t think that particularly matters too much. Other than that it is really hard to fault this club and the material issue actually helps them keep the price down so it’s a plus of sorts anyway.
Who’s It For?
Senior golfers of all shapes and sizes will love this club. The price point, the design and the performance are hard to beat. If you want some no-nonsense fairway wood action in your bag then this is the one for you!
Out of 100
95/100
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#2 – Callaway Big Bertha 23 Fairway Wood – Best Premium
Overview
This is a beautiful club that packed from crown to sole with the best tech on the market. It hits the ball miles and gives incredible control in the process. Everything about this club is perfect, except the price! It is just wildly expensive but if that’s what you’re after then look no further!
b – 18 degrees
Flex – Light
Pros
This club is made of forged carbon making it impossibly light. It also gives it a distinct look which is incredibly appealing. The use of FlashFace technology, Callaway’s AI-driven face tech, delivers low spin and more forgiveness than you would normally be used to. This club is like a F1 car.
Cons
The price is the one and only con but it is an absolute doozy. This is not a cheap club but, if that doesn’t bother you then you ignore this section.
Who’s It For?
This club is for the golfer who wants the best for their game and are willing to pay for it to get it. There are a lot of options with this club so you can build something pretty special should you wish to.
Out of 100
90/100
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#3 – Cobra Golf 2022 Air X Fairway Wood – Best Value
Overview
I love Cobra clubs, they’re a little more edgy than many manufacturers and they don’t mind pushing the envelope a little. The Air X fairway wood is no exception to this and will be a standout piece in your bag. It is also brilliant if you struggle with a slice.
Loft – 20 degrees
Flex – Regular
Pros
This club may have a regular shaft but because it is so light it will work well for seniors. It also has an offset, the first club on the list to have that, which will help straighten out your slice. The simplistic design is also really pleasing on the eye.
Cons
This club is also made with a draw bias to aggressively target your slice, if you don’t have a slice then you probably shouldn’t be looking at this club. In that sense it is a little pigeon-holed.
Who’s It For?
This club is for the golfer who wants something light and that struggles with a slice.
Out of 100
92/100
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#4 – Wilson D9 Fairway Wood
Overview
Wilson have won more tournaments in major golf than any other brand. They have heritage that you wouldn’t believe and their clubs are no nonsense high quality high value offerings. The D9 also looks gorgeous with some classy understated detailing.
Loft – 18 degrees
Flex – Senior Flex
Pros
This club is brilliant value, it was really hard to choose between the Wilson D9 and the Cobra. The styling, as we’ve already mentioned is stunning but the biggest pro for this club is the variable face thickness face. This brings power to off-centre hits making it incredibly forgiving.
Cons
It’s hard to think of any for this club. It may feel quite heavy for some which may not appeal but other than that it is a great golf club.
Who’s It For?
This club is for people who want a solid 5 wood that will give them nice forgiveness and won’t break the bank. A lovely all-rounder.
Out of 100
91/100
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#5 – BombTech Golf 4.0 5 Wood
Overview
BombTech are a brand who do everything they can to help you hit it further and straighter. They keep their prices down by not sponsoring any big players and by selling mostly directly to golfers. Some golfers absolutely love their products.
Loft – 20 degrees
Flex – Regular
Pros
This club is cheap yet made of premium materials.
Cons
It’s a bit of an infomercial club. I think there are better options out there but some will like the in-your-face branding.
Who’s It For?
This club is for golfers who aren’t really bothered about what they’re playing. They want a bargain and if the club looks loud at the same time then it’s ideal.
Out of 100
42/100
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#6 – Callaway X Hot ’19 Fairway Wood
Overview
The Callaway X Hot Fairway woods are absolute rocket launchers and the 5 wood is no exception! I’ve seen this club in action and it must have one of the hottest faces I’ve ever seen, it sends the ball miles! The grey, white and red styling is pretty sweet too.
Loft – 18 degrees
Flex – Stiff
Pros
You’ll find new distance that you never knew existed and gain forgiveness to match. The shallow face makes this a beaut from the fairway and will have you loving long range attacks at greens.
Cons
The shallow face can make it easy to get under the ball in the semi-rough, other than that, this club is brilliant.
Who’s It For?
This club is for aggressive golfers who love to play bold!
Out of 100
94/100
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# 7 – TaylorMade M4 Fairway Wood
Overview
This is a beautiful fairway wood that many of their tour players kept in the bag a lot longer than I’m sure the company were happy with. The TaylorMade M4 has gorgeous silver paintwork and is very forgiving.
Loft – 18 degrees
Flex – Senior
Pros
This club is as easy to hit as it is on the eye. Just a brilliant fairway metal for anyone.
Cons
The most obvious con is that TaylorMade moved on from this one, I think it is better than their current fairway woods.
Out of 100
93/100
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#8 – Callaway Golf 2021 Epic Max Fairway Woood
Overview
The Epic Max fairway wood is another marvel of engineering from Callaway. It feels unique at impact due to the JailBreak technology behind the face but it is a great feeling. You feel like you can’t miss with this thing and it also looks great to match.
Loft – 18 degrees
Flex – Light
Pros
It looks great, hits it miles, is easy to use and is properly versatile. I don’t know if you could want for anymore from a fairway wood.
Cons
It could be a little on the pricey side for some. Also, some people may not enjoy how solid it feels at impact, I love this but it’s not for everyone.
Out of 100
93/100
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#9 – PING G400 SFT Fairway Wood
Overview
Ping are known for engineering some of the best clubs in the golf industry. This fairway wood has intelligent weighting to help you hit it straighter and higher. It also has a really hot face to give you extra distance.
Loft – 18 degrees
Flex – Senior
Pros
This fairway wood has been made to make you more effective when you use it. It will fill you with confidence and put a smile on your face.
Cons
There just aren’t any.
Out of 100
94/100
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#10 – Titleist TSi1 Fairway Wood
Overview
Straight off, let it be known that I’m a Titleist fiend so take what I say with a pinch of salt. Anyway, this is a glorious golf club, the TSi1 is ultralight and will really boost your long game.
Loft – 18 degrees
Flex – Senior
Pros
It’s a Titleist, that means it’s tour proven and it also looks great. The lightness of this club will help you keep your speed up long into your autumn years.
Cons
Say something bad about a Titleist?! I wouldn’t dream of it, well maybe this is a pricier one than many of the others but that’s all you’re going to get from me.
Out of 100
95/100
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Conclusion
There is something on this list for all budgets, all playing levels and for all tastes. The 5 wood is a club that can really bring a different edge to your game and I implore you to have a look at adding one to your bag.
Try out a few of the ones listed above or, better yet, go and get fitted properly with a pro to get the perfect club for your game. Then you can start going after those long holes in two like never before!
Aidan is a low-handicap golfer who came from over 110 to breaking 80 in less than 1 year.
Aidan has become obsessed with becoming a scratch golfer and plays golf on every possible occasion, even in the snow!
