Titleist have released their new GTS Fairways for 2026, with new technologies designed to improve performance and give golfers more versatility at the top end of their bag.

I’ve been using the Cobra LTDx Fairway Wood for around four years now and it’s become one of the most reliable clubs in my bag in that time.

Could one of the new GTS models replace it? I tested both the GTS2 and GTS3 down at Woburn GC to see how they performed, and which one was best for me.

Who’s It Aimed At?

Due to it’s more compact head shape, the GTS3 is probably better suited to better players who are more consistent strikers of the ball. However that might not always be the case, because golfers who tend to hit down on the ball more with their woods could also benefit from this head too.

The GTS3 is also now available in a 7-wood loft, which might widen its appeal further this year. Golfers who want to use higher lofted woods, but don’t like the shape or ball flight characteristics of the ‘2’ model now have another option.

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The Tech

The new Titleist GTS3 Fairway Wood continues Titleist’s push into multi-material construction, with the standout feature being a new wraparound composite crown designed to free up more weight and improve overall performance.

Compared to the previous generation, more lightweight composite material has been used across the crown and wrapped further around the sides of the head. That saves a useful amount of mass, which Titleist have repositioned lower in the clubhead to help increase launch, reduce spin and improve forgiveness.

The GTS3 itself is very much aimed at the player who prefers a more compact, tour-inspired fairway wood. It has a noticeably deeper face than the GTS2 model and a slightly smaller profile behind the ball, giving it a more workable look that better players will probably appreciate.

Titleist have also flattened the sole design slightly, which helps the leading edge sit a little tighter to the turf – something that should inspire confidence when hitting shots directly from the fairway.

Adjustability comes through a heel-toe weighting system, with interchangeable weights allowing fitters to tweak CG positioning and influence shot shape bias. In the standard setup the heavier weight sits in the heel, but swapping the weights around can encourage a touch more fade bias if required.

The forged L-Cup face design also returns, with the high-strength steel insert wrapping around the lower section of the face to help maintain ball speed on strikes low on the clubface — an area where many golfers tend to miss with fairway woods off the deck.

Finally, the new high-polish silver face gives the GTS3 a cleaner and more premium appearance at address, while also helping frame the ball a little more clearly behind the clubface.

Looks

The GTS Fairways feature a very similar overall look to the driver, with slightly updated graphics on the sole and visible headweights.

One thing that eagle-eyed golfers might notice is that these graphics actually change position on the head depending on the model, to indicate where the CG is predominantly placed in the head. For the GTS3 this means that the wording is at the front of the head, a reminder that it should be a little lower-spinning and launching than the GTS2.

You get a pretty compact head with a deep face which is said to be suited to those golfers who want to get down into the ball and even take a divot with their fairway woods.

I liked the overall size of the head, but I do wish it was just slightly shallower. In an ideal world I think I’d have something which sat halfway between the GTS2 and GTS3.

Whereas there wasn’t a huge difference between the shape of the three driver heads, there was quite an obvious contrast between the two fairway wood shapes.

One thing I did really like was the new polished face. This really stands out at address, and helps to inspire confidence that you are looking at plenty of loft down by the ball.

Feel

As soon as I started hitting shots with the GTS3 I could tell that it felt fast and low spinning off the face. When you catch one out of the screws, it really is hot and powerful.

However in terms of overall forgiveness when striking the ball, especially off the deck, I found it actually quite difficult. It felt like I was hitting quite a lot of shots from the bottom of the face.

As someone who prefers to sweep the ball with woods and effectively hit up on the ball, it didn’t feel quite as suited towards me. It almost forced you to hit down on the ball to get the best results, and whilst the good shots were still impressive, I always think that you don’t want to feel like you’re working too hard with fairway woods.

Performance

As mentioned earlier I tested the GTS3 at Woburn GC directly against the GTS2 Fairway, to see which one would suit my game better.

In terms of numbers, there was a pretty clear winner. Whilst I liked the overall size of the GTS3, this didn’t quite translate in the performance.

Compared to the GTS2, my carry distance was around 13 yards lower, whilst I was also giving up around 3mph ball speed on average too. This is because I just wasn’t finding it as easy to strike as consistently, and the peak heights also showed that the ball wasn’t staying in the air for quite as long either.

The numbers with the GTS3 weren’t bad by any means, and when I hit a few shots from the tee there were some really good ones in there, but it was pretty clear that on the whole I was able to launch the GTS2 high, carry it further, and it was more consistent for me too.

If your swing is a little steeper, or you’re a really confident wood player, you might really enjoy the GTS3 and find that there is more versatility too.

Verdict

Overall the GTS3 is still a good fairway wood, but I think it’s only for a specific type of golfer and I wouldn’t just suggest that anyone could use it.

If I did have an overall criticism of the GTS Fairways, I would say that I think there is too much of a contrast between the two models. Personally I would love something that performs like the GTS2, but with the shape and profile of the GTS3 – but we can’t have everything!

One positive is the fact that the GTS3 range has been expanded into 7 wood this time around, and I think that club would look fantastic as an alternative option to a hybrid or long iron without looking too big or bulky.

Is it going to replace my trusty Cobra LTDx in the bag? I’m afraid not at the moment.

Would I Use It?

I liked the overall footprint, but the GTS2 did perform better for me.

Looking to buy? Shop Now at Clubhouse Golf, the largest and most trusted independent golf retailer in the UK!