Wilson is back with the second coming of its Dynapwr Max fairway wood and to gain a full understanding of its performance, I tested it both indoors on a Foresight Sports GCQuad Launch Monitor as well as on the golf course using the new Titleist Pro V1x golf balls to see how versatile this club is and if it can be considered one of the best fairway woods of 2025.
The Wilson fairway wood lineup is comprised of two models this year - the Dynapwr Carbon (£295) is tailored towards the better golfers who want a lower ball flight and the ability to work the ball more easily, and the Dynapwr Max (£245) which will suit the majority of golfers looking for more forgiveness and launch.
Aesthetically, the Dynapwr Max has come on significantly from its predecessor and so I was impressed when taking the headcover off. The gloss carbon crown is a big step up from the matte crown we saw last year and the sole of the new model looks far more sleek and premium. Down behind the ball, the Max model appears a little more user friendly than the likes of the compact Carbon head and will inspire a good amount of confidence in those who need it at address, especially from the deck.
From a performance standpoint, the Dynapwr Max fairway wood excelled in some areas but was somewhat underwhelming in others. The 12g weight is positioned towards the rear of the sole, pulling the CG down and back to create a high-launching head with plenty of stability. The Dynapwr Max is far more forgiving than the Carbon model, with mishits not being obviously punished. There's no question that this club is one of the most forgiving fairway woods I have tested this year. I wasn’t swinging particularly well on the day I tested this club outside and the heel of the club got a particularly good workout. The ball flights, however, remained consistent and strong, largely due to the higher spin rate the Max produced - 4183rpm on average.
The high-spinning nature of this club was also the reason this particular model didn’t produce very long carry distances and was one of the shorter models I tested this year. I saw an average carry distance of just 241 yards - 10 yards shorter than the Dynapwr Carbon fairway wood. If you’re looking for maximum distance out of your new fairway wood, the TaylorMade Qi35, Srixon ZXi and Callaway Elyte are all models you’ll want to check out. Unlike the Carbon model, the Max fairway wood doesn't feature an adjustable hosel either, so you'll want to be custom-fitted to ensure you choose the correct loft and lie angle.
It was out on the golf course I got a true understanding of the sound and feel of the Dynapwr Max fairway wood and what golfers it would best suit. Because of its high spin, this club produced a very steep descent angle of 43°, meaning there was absolutely no problem in holding the green when firing at pins from range. The Dynapwr Max did an excellent job in advancing the ball out of the rough too, so if you are a short and erratic tee ball hitter, this fairway wood could be the answer you’ve been looking for.
The lack of carbon fiber on this club does mean the sound is far louder than the other model in the range and is comparable to the likes of the Ping G440 Max and PXG Black Ops fairway woods. For some this won't appeal, to others it will exude power - it's all subjective. But if accuracy and forgiveness are what you’re searching for, then you’ll be hard-pushed to find a club as playable as the Dynapwr Max fairway wood in 2025.
