Fairway Wood of the Year 2022 – My Top Picks of the Season
Today, I’m excited to announce the MVP among all the fairway woods I tested last year—
the Fairway Wood of the Year 2022.
Please note that while some clubs I tested are not featured here, that does not imply they were poor or inferior in any way.
This is purely a personal ranking and not an absolute evaluation of performance or quality.
The order in which the clubs are introduced follows the order they were tested and does not indicate ranking.
Now, let me introduce the standout candidates.
TaylorMade STEALTH Fairway Wood
Waoww RV-555 Type-S Fairway Wood
YAMAHA inpres DRIVESTAR Fairway Wood
As you can see, all of these are outstanding clubs—each one could have easily been named MVP based on its performance.
And not just for fairway woods—the evolution of golf clubs in general feels like it has reached a peak.
Unless new materials are developed or the rules are relaxed, I believe the potential for gaining more distance purely through club design has already hit its limit.
That said, while raw distance may not have dramatically increased, improvements in forgiveness and average distance are undeniable.
In the past, fairway woods were often either long-hitting but difficult to use, or easy to hit but lacking in distance.
There were many such trade-offs in clubs.
But things are different now.
There are now many models that are both easy to hit and capable of impressive distance, giving golfers more options—and more dilemmas.
You can choose by brand, by looks, by feel, or even just because your favorite pro uses it.
I had a tough time narrowing down my list, but in the end, I selected two standout clubs.
The BALDO impressed me not only with its stunning design and powerful distance, but also with its unique offering—a Brassey (strong 2-wood), a loft rarely seen in other brands.
In golf clubs and beyond, uniqueness is a powerful asset.
The carbon composite construction was also remarkable, blending performance and aesthetics beautifully.
This club launched the ball well even off the turf and produced serious distance, making me think: could this replace my 3-wood… or even my driver for certain rounds?
It’s a practical club that also satisfies your desire for style and exclusivity.
Just having it in your bag lifts your spirits.
The other MVP contender is the ever-reliable PING.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a staple in the fairway wood category.
It makes the list every year and continues to deliver outstanding performance.
While brands like TaylorMade, Callaway, and Titleist also release excellent clubs, PING continues to grow on me year after year.
Interestingly, in the putter category, I now lean more toward TaylorMade or Titleist (Scotty Cameron), rather than PING.
Of course, I can’t use two clubs at once since I only have one body and two hands…
But PING’s reputation for consistency and quality is well-known among golfers worldwide.
They’re uncompromising in their commitment to forgiveness, ball speed, spin control, and distance.
And when it comes to crafting shallow-face fairway woods, I think PING is the best in the game. I’d even call it a “PING shallow,” because the shape is just that efficient.
Once again, PING has delivered a top-tier fairway wood.
While other brands often shift direction, PING remains steady in its philosophy. Their design principles are consistent and unwavering.
That kind of reliability is what earns the loyalty of PING fans.
So, after much consideration, if I had to pick just one MVP, I would go with:
This BALDO fairway wood is my personal choice for Fairway Wood of the Year 2022.
That doesn’t mean the PING fairway wood is inferior by any means.
After testing both, I simply found that BALDO gave me slightly more distance, was easier to swing aggressively, and suited my personal preferences better.
Although I didn’t compare them under exactly the same conditions (like identical shafts or lofts), I tested both multiple times, and BALDO gave me the better feel overall.
Both offer excellent distance, and in terms of launch ease, PING has the edge—but BALDO delivers a stronger, more penetrating trajectory.
It’s clearly aimed at stronger players rather than a wide range of skill levels.
PING, on the other hand, is undoubtedly more universally accessible.
Still, I chose to give the win to BALDO.
Both are clubs I’d love to take onto the course, but if I had to grab one right now, it would be BALDO without hesitation.
And that wraps up my Fairway Wood of the Year 2022.
How did you like it?
Testing great clubs is always a joy—and writing about them later brings back that same excitement. Even months later, I still get a good feeling thinking about them.
We truly live in a golden age of golf equipment, where we can encounter so many amazing clubs.
I hope these peaceful and exciting days continue for a long time.
Next time, I’ll be covering the Driver of the Year edition.
I’m planning something a little different for that one, so please look forward to it.
Click here for more fairway wood reviews
Want to read the original article in Japanese? Click here
