Tour Edge Rebrand Continues

Illinois company introduces a slew of newly-logoed items with drivers front and center

By Tony Dear

Tour Edge has been very busy lately. It released its first ever golf ball three weeks ago and last week announced the launch of new Exotics fairway woods, hybrids, two sets of players’ irons, a game-improvement iron, and a family of drivers all with a snappy new logo.

It’s in the midst of something very significant. The company itself has called it a “bold new chapter for the brand,” and, given how we’ve enjoyed pretty much everything Tour Edge has done for decades, we are most definitely here for it.

A fresh new direction or ‘reimagination’ is always interesting, but it’s good to know Tour Edge is staying true to its foundations and raison d’être – making equipment that compares very favorably with and, in most cases, is equal to that of the major manufacturers’ products but which costs noticeably less.

Even with the new logo, though, and, acknowledging the company’s “bold new chapter” and “reimagination”, Tour Edge loyalists will certainly recognize much in the new Exotics LS, Max, and Lite drivers. The LS model replaces the C725 while the Max is an even higher-MOI E725 and, though the tech has definitely been updated, the changes might best be described as subtle.

The biggest change is probably in the amount of carbon-fiber in the head with Tour Edge saying it used 50 to 80 percent more of it in the new Exotics line-up (in the crown and, mostly, the sole) than in its previous drivers in order to position.

Common to all three models are the newly-designed Pyramid face (inner side, obviously) which replaces the 3D Diamond Face pattern of the C725 and E725 but performs a similar task –retaining as much ballspeed as possible on off-center strikes, and the titanium Ridgeback frame (a ring-shaped band of titanium on the inside-perimeter of the club that stabilizes the clubhead, preventing it from deforming at impact and ensuring it meets the ball with maximum energy.
Besides the commonalities, however, the three clubs are very different:

• Exotics LS
  The LS has a 440cc head and is designed for better players with fast swingspeeds who prioritize low spin, ballspeed, and a piercing ball flight over high-launch and high-MOI. Adjustable weights (18 grams and 5 grams) in the front and back enable professionals and low-handicappers to fine-tune their launch (18-gram weight up front and 5-gram weight at the back to minimize spin and lower launch angle; 5-gram weight at the front and 18-gram weight at the back to raise the MOI increase launch angle). Tour Edge says that, despite its size, the LS has one of the highest MOIs of low-spin drivers which might not be that important to the sort of golfer who chooses the LS but which can never be a bad thing.
• Exotics Max
  With its 460cc head featuring a significant amount of carbon and titanium Ridgeback, the Exotics Max is a very forgiving club whose MOI actually exceeds the 10,000 MOI that was a huge buzzword (buzz number?) last year. Adjustable weights in the heel and toe facilitate hitting the shot-shape of your choice.
• Exotics Lite
  This is something new for Tour Edge. The offset clubhead and heel weighting make this the choice of those who have trouble closing the face and want to encourage a draw, while the ultra-light construction and 46-inch shaft will help those looking to retain a little of the speed they might have lost.

$500
Lofts – LS – 9˚, 10.5˚  (right-hand only)
Max – 9˚, 10.5˚, 12˚  (right-hand only, though 10.5˚ is available left-hand)
Lite – 10.5˚, 12˚ (right-hand only)
Shafts – Fujikura Ventus
Available to pre-order now on Tour Edge website; in stores on November 4^th
touredge.com