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Tour Edge Hot Launch C523 & E523 Irons Review

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The Tour Edge Hot Launch C523 & E523 irons are two sets that will undoubtedly help golfers in need of elevation, distance, and savings.

Introduction

With a pair of new iron lineups, Tour Edge is looking to continue its tradition of great performance for minimal cost.  The box that their clubs ship in reads, “golf’s most solid investment,” and from my experience with these clubs, they’re one of golf’s most solid values with the performance to boot. 

The Tour Edge Hot Launch E523 ironwoods look like hybrids at address, from 3-iron to pitching wedge.  For many, that’ll be confidence-inspiring!  Many will know that the size means these irons will be more forgiving of mis-strikes in terms of ball speed and distance.  However, some traditionalists will never be able to feel comfortable looking down at them.  

The C523 irons, on the other hand, look like irons but are extremely bulky.  They are blocky, angular, and feature substantial offset .  I was filled with confidence with these behind the golf ball.  While they’re not the look I’d prefer, I know I could use these and not be punished with all the extra mass to help me out.  

The colors on both sets are the same, featuring primarily black and red with accents of chrome.  While looking futuristic, the execution was a bit off with some inconsistencies in the painting of the clubs.  Keeping in mind the value of the clubs though, it isn’t a dealbreaker.  They’re tools, not jewels. 

Feel & Sound

The feel of the C523 irons was smooth and shockingly soft .  Despite being cast irons, they came off the club face reminiscent of forged clubs.  That nearly squishy-soft quality surely comes from the Vibrcor technology.  

Vibrcor, for the uninitiated, is not quite a rubber, but not quite plastic.  The resulting thermoplastic polyurethane is strong and durable but also smooth and flexible.  It made the irons feel exceedingly powerful and had me excited to continue to strike shots over and over.  

The E523 meanwhile utilizes a hollow-bodied iron design with weighting focused on the perimeter of the club.  On good strikes, the face feels springy.  They feel rather empty out of the center, and firm on the sides of the face.  Despite the design of the Houdini Sole that should minimize turf interaction , I still did find myself striking the club fatter than its C523 counterpart. 

Performance

Both the E523 and the C523 models are a triumph in launch, height, and landing angle .  While I already hit the ball higher than average, both of these clubs had me hitting it noticeably higher and landing dramatically steeper.  For reference, my normal 6-iron has a peak height of around 106 feet and a land angle of 48 degrees.  Comparatively, I was hitting the C523 at 124 feet in the air, and the E523 even higher. 

The E523s are being billed as the “easiest iron you will ever hit” from Tour Edge.  For me, however, that wasn’t the case.  I found myself often striking heavy, leading to lower spin.  Despite the heavy strikes, the ball carried farther than with my current gamers.  When I switched to a more over-the-top type of shot, I had significantly better performance with the club.  That makes sense, given that these are draw-biased – designed for chronic faders and slicers of the ball. 

Comparatively, C523 was easy as pie when it came to turf interaction.  That I attribute to that model’s slightly narrower sole.  The C523 performed similarly, launching high, and spinning a bit higher than the E523, with a noticeable increase in ball speed compared to my gamers.  I truly loved hitting these irons. 

Another aspect of performance that’s often easily overlooked is value.  Many clubs perform very well, but are also very expensive.  That really isn’t the case with Tour Edge’s Hot Launch line.  Regardless of whether you get graphite or steel, a set from 4-PW will cost a mere $600.  When you factor in how well these react, it becomes clear there is no sacrifice in performance.

The Tour Edge Hot Launch C523 & E523 irons aren’t afraid to go after a core target audience.  That audience of golfers skews to the golfers that need the most support.  They aim for the old, the young, the newbies to the game, the slow-swingers, and those who maybe need a deal on new equipment.  In that aim, they’ve succeeded in creating two irons sets that truly helps those demographics.

Visit Tour Edge Golf HERE

Tour edge c523 irons price & specs.

Tour Edge E523 Iron-Woods Price & Specs

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Tour Edge Hot Launch 523 woods: What you need to know

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Tour Edge’s Hot Launch 523 lineup of woods (two drivers, two fairway woods and two hybrids) again adopt many of the technologies first introduced by the company’s higher-end Exotics brand, but package them at more affordable prices. Those features target two levels of game-improvement with more traditional game-improvement shapes in the C523 line and more extreme, high-forgiveness shapes in the E523 line.

PRICE: Drivers: $270. Fairway woods: $170. Hybrids: $150. Available at retail Nov. 1.

THE DEEP DIVE: Tour Edge’s Hot Launch lineup of game-improvement woods are nothing if now persistent in their approach to affordable forgiveness for average golfers. Fact is, this third-generation of the Hot Launch lineup ( following on the heels of the 521 models in 2021 and the 522 models in 2022 ) features technologies (like its distance-enhancing face thickness patterns or high-stability shaping and weighting) that got their start with the company’s higher-end Exotics clubs.

Just as importantly, though, the new Hot Launch 523 woods target the specific game-improvement needs of many average golfers: higher launch, lower spin, slice correction and better turf interaction to improve results on fat shots. The range includes two options, the standard game-enhancement C523 models and the extreme error-mitigation designs of the E523 versions.

“We continue to bring as much innovation to this line from our ultra-premium and tour-inspired Exotics lineup,” said David Glod, Tour Edge founder and president. “With Hot Launch, our goal is to bring as many performance benefits as we can to the budget-minded golfer, and to add in the custom fitting element that matches the unprecedented demand the marketplace is experiencing for game-improvement clubs.”

Tour Edge’s solutions to average golfer problems may seem simple (define problems, offer direct solutions), but they are not simplistic. The higher-priced Exotics lineup of clubs originally featured face thicknesses variably dotted with rows of diamond-shaped depressions . They were aimed to help accentuate both on- and off-center ball speed, and that technology finds itself now a key part of the solution for the entire Hot Launch 523 wood family, starting with the C523 and E523 drivers, which are four-piece, all-titanium designs.

Both models feature faces with 39 cross-hatched diamond-shaped indentations for better flexing across the face. Also designed to enhance ball speed is ridge on the crown stretching from front to back. Originally part of the Exotics 722 drivers from last year, that feature aims to provide structural support to the overall frame of the driver, said Matt Neeley, vice president of product development for Tour Edge.

“We found that this ridgeback going down the center was kind of able to act a little bit like a corrugated structure where it really helps strengthen up that area,” Neeley said. “We found that it also was a massive help as far as sound goes, too, a nice stiffening for the crown to kind of help damp out some of those sound vibrations. That was probably one of our biggest improvements this year.”

Also working to enhance speed is a depression in the front part of the sole on both the C523 and E523 drivers, called the “Power Channel.” Just a few thousandths of an inch deep, Neely said it provides an assist to the way the face can flex for more ball speed.

“We found it to work similar to the way Ridgeback works on the crown,” he said. “It gives us that corrugated effect, almost like the way a car has crumple zones, allowing the face to deflect a little bit more by getting that area to kind of fold inwards.”

As throughout the series of woods, the E523 driver offers the most game improvement. That starts with a focus on a high moment of inertia for stability on off-center hits and includes the draw-biased benefits of a weight pad deep in the rear of the sole. That feature, called the Houdini Sole, helps the driver achieve the highest moment of inertia of any driver in the company’s lineup while also keeping the center of gravity low. Even the more traditionally-shaped C523 driver uses a weight pad in the sole to push its moment of inertia over 5,000 grams-centimeters squared.

Again, the E523 driver features a stock shaft length that’s an inch shorter than most drivers on the market to give that struggling player a little more control. The drivers also feature a 360-degree wraparound cup face construction for improved flexing.

Many of those distance-enhancing features crop up in the E523 and C523 fairway woods, including the variable face thickness pattern of diamond-shaped depressions. The E523 features extra weighting in the heel to counteract a slice, while the raised area of the rear part of the sole (the “Houdini sole”) aims to improve turf interaction by reducing ground contact area. The E523 uses a more confidence-inspiring shallow face design, with more offset, Neeley said.

“Everything on this design is there to help somebody get the ball going straight up in the air and not too far to the right, with a little bit of closed face and a little more draw bias,” he said.

The C523 fairway wood uses a sole rail that runs from front to back to help lower the center of gravity for a more effective launch.

Many of those fairway wood features and distinctions carry over to the hybrids, including the sole rail and the deeper face, more compact shape on the C523 and the larger, heel-biased, shallow-faced design on the E523.

The Hot Launch 523 woods come in an extensive collection of 23 lofts between drivers, fairway woods and hybrids. The C523 (9.5, 10.5, 12 degrees) and E523 (10.5, 12, 15 degrees) drivers come in three lofts each ($270). The C523 fairway woods are available in lofts of 15, 17, 19 and 22 degrees, while the E523 fairway woods come in lofts of 16, 20, 23, 25 and 27 degrees ($170). The C523 and E523 hybrids ($150) are available in lofts of 19, 22, 25 and 28 degrees.

The Hot Launch 523 woods will be available at retail Nov. 1, including a custom fitting program that guarantees orders will be processed in 48 hours or less.

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Tour Edge launches new Hot Launch 523 series drivers, woods and hybrids

Tour Edge has today introduced their new Hot Launch 523 Series of golf clubs that will be available at retail starting November 1.

The 523 Series offers two distinct ranges, the E523 and C523. The latest additions are designed to cover both ends of the Super-Game-Improvement and Game-Improvement club categories in separate driver, fairway, and hybrid designs.

“One of the biggest reasons Hot Launch has been such a successful endeavor for us has been our ability to simplify and take custom fitting to the mainstream. Hot Launch custom fitting has increased 700% over the years and I feel we have created a space that did not exist before for budget-minded golfers to consider the custom fit process.” – Tour Edge founder and President David Glod

Retail prices will be $269.99 for both the E and C drivers, $169.99 for both E and C fairway metals and $149.99 for the E and C hybrids.

Hot Launch E523 Driver

The Extreme Game Improvement Hot Launch E523 Driver is designed to be the easiest driver to hit in the market for slower to medium swing speeds.

Here’s a rundown on the technology:

• Houdini Sole Technology: The Houdini Sole includes an area of mass concentrated on the trailing edge of the sole of the clubhead, as well as a curved leading edge under the face. This unique and patented design allows engineers to precisely position weight in the head for an ultra-low and deep CG, optimizing launch conditions and greatly improving stability.
• High Moment of Inertia: An extremely high MOI makes this driver an extremely stable and powerful weapon off the tee. This increased MOI will improve ball speed on miss-hits and will keep shots straighter, while the back and low CG positioning creates high-flying, powerful tee shots.
• Ridgeback Technology: TE engineers have brought the Ridgeback Tech concept from Exotics to Hot Launch on the E523 Driver with a Ridgeback rail on the crown. The Ridgeback rail provides increased structural properties that help produce more power on across the entire face, including the extreme perimeters. The Ridgeback activation also is utilized as a unique alignment aid at address.
• Diamond Face VFT: Diamond Face Variable Face Thickness technology is a breakthrough in face technology that features 39 different thick and thin diamond shapes or “minitrampolines” behind the face. Diamond Face VFT produces a hotter face with faster ball speeds and better performance on off-center hits, as well as reduced spin.
• Heel Weighted/Slice-Fighting Offset Design: Offset designs are combined with a heel sole weight to provide the ultimate in slice fighting technology. The offset design of the E523 Driver added with a heel sole weight allows the face to square up at impact for straighter ball flight.
• New Power Channel: The Power Channel on the sole of the club behind the face is new to the E523 Driver and provides a myriad of performance benefits. The Power Channel distributes weight to promote increased face flexing, amplified ball speed and less spin, as well as added forgiveness on shots struck lower on the face.
• Ultra-Light Premium Shafts: The E523 Driver comes stock with an ultra-light UST Mamiya HL-SST graphite shaft that ranges from 49 to 65 grams depending on the flex. The UST Mamiya HL-SST shafts feature Stabilized Shaft Tech, a softer tip, and a mid-range flex. Stabilized Shaft Tech is an added cross weave that reduces ovaling for better stability during the loading and unloading of the shaft.

Hot Launch C523 Driver

This Competition Spec Hot Launch C523 Driver features a more traditional design and setup that aims to deliver maximum ball speed for medium to fast swing speeds. The Hot Launch C range is for the player seeking optimal launch and spin rates, while still enjoying the benefits of extreme ease of use, forgiveness, and accuracy.

• New Sole Rail Design: The C523 driver features a new sole rail design that extends from leading edge to trailing edge. The new sole rail produces a super-low CG for high-launching shots with optimized spin rates and maximum ball speed off the face.
• MOI-Boosting Rear Sole Weight: A back weight is strategically placed to the extreme rear of the clubhead that places more mass at the trailing edge of the clubhead. The back weight creates an extremely high MOI rating, an 8% increase over the previous iteration, and surpassing 5,000 grams per cubic centimeter squared for top in-line stability.
• Diamond Face VFT: Diamond Face Variable Face Thickness technology is a breakthrough in face technology that features 39 different thick and thin diamond shapes or “mini-trampolines” behind the face. Diamond Face VFT produces a hotter face with faster ball speeds and better performance on off-center hits, as well as reduced spin.
• Larger Power Channel: The Power Channel on the sole of the club behind the club face is strategically deeper and wider in the C523 design. The 85% larger Power Channel featured on the C523 Driver distributes weight to promote increased face flexing, amplified ball speed and less spin, as well as added forgiveness on shots struck lower on the face.
• 360-degree Cup Face Design: The premium 6-4 Titanium head features a deep 360-degree Cup Face design. Cup Face construction increases the amount of face flexing on off- center hits to achieve higher ball speeds and creates a more solid feel.
• Ultra-Light Premium Shafts: The C523 Driver comes stock with an ultra-light UST Mamiya HL-SST graphite shaft that ranges from 45 to 60 grams depending on the flex. The UST Mamiya HL-SST shafts feature Stabilized Shaft Tech, a softer tip, and a mid-range flex.

Hot Launch E523 Fairway Metal

The Extreme Game Improvement Hot Launch E523 Fairway Metal is designed to produce higher-flying shots with extreme accuracy.

Here’s a rundown of the technology:

• Houdini Sole Technology: The raised steel mass area of the Houdini Sole at the rear of the clubhead reduces the amount of sole area to reduce drag and turf interaction. The Houdini Sole design element has proven to be one of the most effective technologies at getting balls out of tough lies by reducing turf interaction by 35%.
• Super-Shallow Face Design: The super-shallow Cup Face designs in the Hot Launch E metals are designed for extreme playability and high-flying launch characteristics. These shallow faces produce higher launch angles and extreme ease of launch with extreme forgiveness.
• Diamond Face VFT: 39 different thick and thin diamond shapes or “minitrampolines” behind the face that produce a hotter face with faster ball speeds and better performance on off-center hits.
• Heel Weighted Slice: Fighting Offset Design: The offset design of the E523 Fairway added with a heel sole weight allows the face to square up at impact for straighter ball flight.
• Ultra-Light Premium Shafts: The E523 Fairway comes stock with an ultra-light UST Mamiya HL-SST graphite shaft that ranges from 49 to 65 grams depending on the flex.

Hot Launch C523 Fairway Metal

This 17-4 stainless steel Competition Spec Hot Launch C523 Fairway Metal features a classic design and setup for the player seeking optimal launch and spin rates, while still enjoying the benefits of extreme forgiveness.

• New Sole Rail Design: The C523 fairway features a new sole rail design that extends from leading edge to trailing edge. The new sole rail design produces a super-low CG for high launching shots with optimized spin rates, decreased turf interaction and maximum ball speed off the face. The rail design lowered the CG and allowed for a 42% increase in hitting area on the face of the fairway, making it easier to achieve greater power and increased forgiveness.
• MOI-Boosting Rear Sole Weight: A back weight is strategically placed to the extreme rear of the clubhead that places more mass at the extreme trailing edge of the clubhead. The back weight creates an extremely high MOI rating, an 11% increase over the previous iteration, for top in-line stability. This weighting dramatically affects a lower and deeper CG positioning of the club for ease of launch and more forgiveness off the face at impact.
• Larger Power Channel: The Power Channel on the sole of the club behind the club face is strategically deeper and wider in the C523 design. The 75% larger Power Channel featured on the C523 Fairway Metal distributes weight to promote increased face flexing, amplified ball speed and less spin, as well as added forgiveness on shots struck lower on the face.
• Player Preferred Shaping: The more compact profile and deeper face of the C523 Fairway were designed with the competitive player in mind. The C523 Fairway design sits open and has a more pear-shaped traditional design that player’s look for at address.
• Ultra-Light Premium Shafts: The C523 fairway comes stock with an ultra-light UST Mamiya HL-SST graphite shaft that ranges from 45 to 60 grams depending on the flex. shaft.

Hot Launch E523 Hybrid

The Extreme Game Improvement E523 Hybrid includes the patented Houdini Sole along with a super-shallow face, slice-fighting offset designs and heel weighting for added draw bias.

Here’s a rundown of all the technology:

• Larger Footprint Hybrid Design with a Super-Shallow Face Design: The super shallow face coupled with a larger footprint design in the Hot Launch E metals are designed for extreme playability and high-flying launch characteristics. These larger hybrid design with an extremely shallow face produces higher launch angles and extreme ease of launch with extreme forgiveness.
• Heel Weighted Slice-Fighting Offset Design: The offset design of the E523 Hybrid added with a heel sole weight allows the face to square up at impact for straighter ball flight.
• Ultra-Light Premium Shafts: The E523 Hybrid comes stock with an ultra-light UST Mamiya HL-SST graphite shaft that ranges from 49 to 65 grams depending on the flex.

Hot Launch C523 Hybrid

The Hot Launch C523 Hybrid provides an extremely high Moment of Inertia (MOI) that tightens dispersion and increases overall accuracy in a compact design. This hybrid is for the player seeking optimal launch and spin rates in a minimal offset design, while still enjoying the benefits of extreme playability.

• New Sole Rail Design: A new sole rail design on all C523 metals that extends from leading edge to trailing edge. The new sole rail design produces a super-low CG for high launching shots with optimized spin rates, decreased turf interaction and maximum ball speed off the face. The rail design lowered the CG and allowed for a 36% increase in hitting area on the face of the fairway, making it easier to achieve greater power and increased forgiveness.
• MOI-Boosting Rear Sole Weight: A back weight is strategically placed to the extreme rear of the clubhead that places more mass at the extreme trailing edge of the clubhead. The back weight creates an extremely high MOI rating, an 11% increase over the previous iteration, for top in-line stability.
• Larger Power Channel: The Power Channel on the sole of the club behind the club face is strategically deeper and wider in the C523 design. The 90% larger Power Channel featured on the C523 Hybrid distributes weight to promote increased face flexing, amplified ball speed and less spin, as well as added forgiveness on shots struck lower on the face.
• Player Preferred Shaping: The more compact profile and deeper face of the C523 Hybrid were designed with the competitive player in mind. The C523 Hybrid design sits open and has a more pear-shaped traditional design that player’s look for at address. This versatile hybrid will play from the tee, fairway, rough and around the green.
• Ultra-Light Premium Shafts: The C523 hybrid comes stock with an ultra-light UST Mamiya HL-SST graphite shaft that ranges from 45 to 60 grams depending on the flex.

Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (10/12/22): Scotty Cameron Pro Platinum Newport

Tour Edge introduces new Hot Launch 523 series irons and wedges

Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected] .

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Whats in the Bag

Cameron young witb 2024 (march).

• Cameron Young WITB accurate as of the Valspar Championship. 

Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra Tour Z5 65 M5

2-wood: Titleist TSR 2W Prototype (13 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX

Irons: Titleist T200 (3), Titleist T100 (4-5), Titleist 631.CY Prototype (6-9) Shafts: MMT Utility 105 TX (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 (4-9)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F, 52-12F, 58-08M, 60-04T @62) Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7

Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom 5.5 Tour Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align

Ball: Titleist Pro V1 Left Dot

Best hybrids 2024: Expert fitters recommend the hybrids for your game

At GolfWRX, we believe the best hybrid for your game is going to be the one that gives you the greatest opportunity to both score and save shots during your round of golf.

In 2024, we have seen a continued expansion of hybrid options from every manufacturer with models designed to fit golfers of all skill levels and clubhead speeds. Some manufacturers offer models all the way down to 8-iron-replacement lofts.

That being said, ultimately the best way to find the best hybrid or hybrids for you is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor and gap them accordingly. The difficult part is a lot of people don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders — so at GolfWRX, we have done a lot of the work for you.

We want to give you the tools and information to go out and find what works best for you, and we’re offering recommendations based on exactly what you need from your hybrids.

We have again broken our 2024 best hybrid list into two categories.

• Best hybrid for golfers seeking forgiveness
• Best hybrid for golfers seeking versatility

We reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the hybrid club options available to golfers. Forgiveness and versatility were the highest-ranked choices.

Most versatile hybrids of 2024

Titleist TSR2

“Forgiving speed and performance,” is the branding for the TSR2. TSR2 hybrids remain slightly longer with a classical shape. Center of gravity is lower and deeper in the TSR2 for higher launch and maximum forgiveness.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

In all of the G430 fairway woods and hybrids, Ping developed Carbonfly Wrap in a bid to deliver more distance by positioning the CG closer to the face line in design to maximize ball speed, resulting in higher, longer carries. The lightweight composite crown wraps into the heel and toe sections of the skirt, creating weight savings of 10 grams, which are reallocated to achieve a lower CG and increase ball speed.

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke

Leveraging the company’s new Ai Smart Face, Callaway’s Paradym Ai Smoke hybrid has been reshaped and features a larger profile for greater forgiveness and a refined sole camber for better turf interaction. The Tungsten Speed Cartridge is positioned in the front of the club for lower spin and ease of launch.

TaylorMade Qi10 Rescue

The Qi10 Rescue is designed with an all-new Carbon Crown that helps free up weight for improved weight distribution in the heads. The club has split internal weighting to achieve more distance and a higher launch.

TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue

The Qi10 Tour Rescue model features a C300 face with a more compact look and a higher-toe design. It’s designed for better players who seek to combine distance and control with iron-like turf interaction, workability, and precision.

Most forgiving hybrids of 2024

TaylorMade Qi10 Max Rescue

Qi10 Max Rescue clubs are designed with all-new Carbon Crowns that help free up weight for improved weight distribution in the heads. The Qi10 Max has an ultra-low CG (center of gravity) and a shallow face height for even higher launch and greater forgiveness.

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke HL

Designed for players with moderate to average swing speeds who are looking to hit the ball higher to maximize carry distance, the Paradym Ai Smoke HL leverages the company’s new Ai Smart Face. It features a larger profile for greater forgiveness and a refined sole camber for better turf interaction. The Tungsten Speed Cartridge is positioned in the front of the club for lower spin and ease of launch.

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Fast

The Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Fast is designed for moderate-swing-speed players. In addition to Ai Smart Face, Max Fast features a larger profile for greater forgiveness and a refined sole camber for better turf interaction. The Tungsten Speed Cartridge is positioned in the front of the club for lower spin and ease of launch.

Titleist TSR1

Titleist’s new TSR1 hybrids are built with a larger, “wood-like” size to help golfers find more speed and forgiveness. They’re also built 0.5 inches longer than standard to provide additional assistance in creating speed.

Best hybrid of 2024: Meet the fitters

• Adam Rathe: Club Champion
• Adam Scotto: Club Champion
• Adam Seitz: Club Champion
• Aidan Mena: Club Champion
• Alex Dice: Carl’s Golfland
• Alex Praeger: Club Champion
• Ben Giunta: The Tour Van
• Blake Smith, PGA: True Spec
• Bo Gorman: True Spec
• Brad Coffield: Carl’s Golfland
• Brett Ott: Club Champion
• Brian Riley: Club Champion
• Cameron Scudder: Club Champion
• Carmen Corvino: True Spec
• Christian Sandler: Club Champion
• Clare Cornelius: Cool Clubs
• Dan Palmisano: Club Champion
• Dane Byers: Club Champion
• Darren Joubert: Club Champion
• Dennis Huggins: Club Champion
• Drew Koch: Club Champion
• Eric Touchet: Touchet Performance Golf
• Erik Gonzales: Club Champion
• Evan Morrison: Club Champion
• Gus Alzate: True Spec
• Jake Medlen: Stripe Show Club Fitters
• Jake Woolston: Club Champion
• Jake Wynd: Club Champion
• Jay Marino: Club Champion
• Jeremy Olsen: Club Champion
• Jim Yenser: Club Champion
• Joe Stefan: Club Champion
• Joey Simon, PGA: Club Champion
• Jonathan Kaye: Club Champion
• Jordan Patrick: True Spec
• Jordan Rollins: Club Champion
• Kevin Arabejo: Club Champion
• Kevin Downey: Club Champion
• Kirk Oguri: Pete’s Golf
• Kyle Lane: Club Champion
• Kyle Murao: Club Champion
• Marc Roybal: True Spec
• Mark Hymerling: Club Champion
• Mark Knapp: Carl’s Golfland
• Matt Miller: Club Champion
• Matt Rish: Club Champion
• Matthew Gandolfi: Club Champion
• Mike Martysiewicz: Club Champion
• Mike Weis: Club Champion
• Mitch Schneider: Club Champion
• Nicholas Barone: Club Champion
• Nick Sherburne: Club Champion
• Nick Waterworth: Haggin Oaks
• Preston Vanderfinch: Club Champion
• Rick Lane: Club Champion
• Rob Anderson, PGA: Club Champion
• Russell Hubby: Club Champion
• Ryan Fisher: Grips Golf
• Ryan Grimes: Club Champion
• Ryan Johnson: Carl’s Golfland Bloomfield Hills
• Sam Kim: True Spec
• Scott Sikorski: Club Champion
• Scott Felix: Felix Club Works
• Scott Trent: Club Champion
• Sean Pfeil: Club Champion
• Shaun Fagan: True Spec
• Steve Harrow: Club Champion
• Tad Artrip: Club Champion
• Thomas Mattaini: Pull the Pin
• Tony Rhode: True Clubs
• William Buse: Club Champion
• William Cho: NovoGolf
• William Fields: Club Champion

The fitters consulted for this piece have accumulated data from thousands of fittings with golfers just like you. From beginners to tour players, their feedback and information can’t be undervalued.

Join the discussion about the best hybrids of 2024 in the forums.

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• RELATED:  Best fairway woods of 2024: Expert club fitters recommend the most versatile and forgiving options

Nelly Korda WITB 2024 (March)

• Nelly Korda’s WITB accurate as of her win at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship.

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 Max (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana GT 60 S

3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 7 S

5-wood:  TaylorMade Stealth 2 (21 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 S

Hybrid:  Ping G425 (26 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue HB 7 S

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (5), TaylorMade P7MC (6-PW) Shafts: AeroTech SteelFiber i80 cw

Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 54-SB), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (58-T) Shafts: AeroTech SteelFiber i95 cw

Putter: Scotty Cameron Special Select Squareback 2 Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: TaylorMade TP5x

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"THE EASIEST WEDGE YOU WILL EVER HIT."

PRESIDENT, FOUNDER & MASTER CLUB DESIGNER

HOUDINI SOLE REDUCES TURF INTERACTION BY 35% AND DRAMATICALLY MOVES WEIGHT LOW AND DEEP FOR EXTREME PLAYABILITY

CONDENSED WIDE SOLE DESIGN HELPS ELIMINATE THINS AND FLUBS FOR SUPERIOR CONTACT

DEEP UNDERCUT CAVITY DRAMATICALLY LOWERS CG FOR THE  ULTIMATE WEDGE FORGIVENESS

EXTRA LARGE FACE & ROUNDER LEADING EDGE PROVIDES A LARGER STRIKING AREA FOR EXCEPTIONAL CONSISTENCY

FULL-FACE MAXIMIZED GROOVES MANUFACTURED TO THE USGA DEPTH AND SHARPNESS LIMITS FOR MAXIMUM SPIN AND CONTROL

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The UST Mamiya HL-SST shafts feature Stabilized Shaft Tech, a softer tip, and a mid-range flex. Stabilized Shaft Tech is an added cross weave that reduces ovaling for better stability during the loading and unloading of the shaft.

​ The True Temper XP-85 steel shaft is designed to deliver maximum peak trajectory for explosive distance and are an excellent option for players wanting a higher ball flight with a moderate ball spin.

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GRIP:    Lamkin Z5

Available in right and left hand. Women’s length -1". Custom fitting options include: grip, shaft flex, and length.

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Tour Edge Hot Launch C524 Iron Review

I had never struck a Tour Edge golf club before the Hot Launch C524 Irons arrived on my doorstep, so I was keen to see if they could perform as well as some of the best irons on the market for a fraction of the price.

Retailing for just $79.99/£65.00 per iron, the price tag certainly caught my eye as many irons in this category sell for far more than double that price. On first inspection out of the box, there were no signs of why that may be from an aesthetic point of view. Each iron was beautifully finished and looked great when I put them down in the playing position. A generous blade length and ample offset let me know that these were irons designed with playability in mind, but overall the dimensions and proportions were excellent and framed the ball nicely.

From a shelf appeal point of view, it is a case of nearly but not quite for me. I am generally someone who appreciates a minimalist approach to looks when it comes to golf equipment and the C524 irons are just a touch fussy for my tastes from the back. I don’t mind a subtle accent color but the bright blue badge just wasn’t for me, although that is just personal preference and some players may love it. I just feel that leaving that black or grey would have given the iron a slightly more premium look and feel.

In terms of the tech, there is quite a lot going on. At first glance, you could be forgiven for thinking that these were a hollow-body construction iron as there is no visual cavity, however, this is somewhat of an optical illusion. The cavity has simply been filled with Tour Edge’s VIBRCOR, which is a high-grade TPU designed to improve sound and feel. 

Additional toe weighting has been added to the set with the intention of stabilizing impact and providing additional ball speed on off-center strikes.

I tested the Tour Edge Hot Launch C524 irons at Saunton Golf Club , using my FullSwing KIT launch monitor and TaylorMade TP5 golf balls, both on the practice ground and out on the course.

Before I get into the launch monitor data, I wanted to give a special mention to the feel attributes of these irons. Impact provided a pleasant lively sensation but there was also a real depth to the strike that isn’t always present in the game-improvement iron category. For me, the Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal is still the gold standard in terms of feel in this genre, but quite honestly, when coupled with some excellent turf interaction, the C524 iron is not a million miles behind.

Launch monitor data was pretty strong across the board, with ball speed and distance competitive with just about anything else. With the 7-iron coming in at 29˚ it sits within the higher end of its peers loft-wise but still managed to produce a ball speed of 129.3mph for me with a mid-low launch and spin of 15.5˚ and 5412rpm respectively, which culminated in a healthy carry number of 188 yards. 

I did notice a slight right tendency in flight compared to some other game improvement irons which tend to feature more of a draw bias if anything, and I wonder whether that has anything to do with the additional toe weighting. It wasn't too severe, however, just something to note.

The Hot Launch C524 irons come with a stock steel option of the True Temper Elevate MPH95 shaft in R or S flex, and there are more weight and flex options with the Aldila Ascent PL stock graphite option. There are also three sizes of Lamkin grips to choose from.

Overall, I was very pleased with the performance and feel of the Tour Edge Hot Launch C524 irons, and when you factor in the price tag, I think there is some exceptional value for money to be had. In terms of raw performance data, I would feel comfortable putting them up against anything else in the game improvement category and be very confident they would hold their own.

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Tour Edge Hot Launch 524 Series Places Emphasis on Custom Fitting

• BY Sean Fairholm
• Feb 6th 2024
• Read all comments

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The new Tour Edge Hot Launch 524 series is coming to retail March 1. 

The 524 series—the eighth iteration of the Hot Launch line —is split into two ranges: the E524 and C524. The E (extreme) range include “super game-improvement clubs” with an extremely low center of gravity, super-shallow faces and offset designs to get the ball airborne. The C (competition) range has “competition-spec game-improvement clubs” with a higher moment of inertia in classically shaped clubs that are more traditional at address while still offering added forgiveness. 

Tour Edge is including innovations from their Tour-preferred Exotics line for this game-improvement series which is largely geared toward mid tovhigh handicappers. All six metalwoods in the series  feature Tour Edge’s Ridgeback crown technology, a rail that provides additional structural support for the crown, reducing deformation at impact so more energy can be transferred to the ball.

In addition to making affordable game-improvement clubs, Tour Edge is looking to expand in the custom fitting and fast shipping spaces. Game-improvement clubs and accessibility for custom fitting normally don’t pair together—Tour Edge wants to change that. 

Hot Launch 524 Series mobile fitting bags will be available at more than 1,500 locations. Any custom order from an authorized Tour Edge fitter will be hand-built at Tour Edge’s headquarters in Batavia, Ill., and will ship within 48 hours for all orders placed in the continental United States.

The company says its custom fitting orders have grown rapidly in the past few years.

“Our focus is to provide something that no one else is offering: the ability to get fit into golf clubs featuring the latest in innovation designed to help the average golfer make this rough and tough game easier to play,” said David Glod, Tour Edge founder and president.

E524 and C524 Drivers

Retail prices will be $249.99 for the E and C drivers , significantly less than most name-brand drivers. 

The C524 has a more traditional design and setup for maximum ball speed. A weight on the extreme rear of the clubhead lifts the MOI five percent over the previous Hot Launch series. The premium 6-4 titanium head features a deep 360-degree cup face design. Cup face construction increases the amount of face flexing on off-center hits to achieve higher ball speeds and create a more solid feel. It is available in nine, 10.5 and 12 degrees of loft for right-handers only. 

In contrast, the E524 maxes out on MOI to improve launch and accuracy. Its standout feature is a “Houdini Sole” with an area of mass concentrated on the trailing edge as well as a curved leading edge under the face. Tour Edge says this innovation allows their engineers to precisely position weight in the head for an ultra-low and deep center of gravity, optimizing launch conditions and greatly improving stability.

It is available in 10.5, 12 and HL/15 degrees for righties. Left-handers can get it at 10.5 degrees.

E524 and C524 Fairway Metals/Hybrids

The E and C fairway metals will be available for $169.99 each. The E and C hybrids will retail for $149.99. 

The C524 fairway metals are made of 17-4 stainless steel and have a classic design and setup. The more compact profile and deeper face was inspired by the Exotics C722 series and designed with the competitive player in mind. The available right-handed lofts are a 15-degree 3-wood, 17-degree 4-wood, a 19-degree 5- wood and a 22-degree 7-wood.

The C524 hybrid is said to be for players seeking optimal launch and spin in a minimal offset design while still enjoying the benefits of “extreme playability.” You can find it in 19 degrees (3), 22 degrees (4), 25 degrees (5) and 28 degrees (6). 

On the other side, the E524 fairway metals have a “slice-fighting offset design” and heel weighting for added draw bias. Right-handers can find this in a 16-degree 3-wood, 20-degree 5-wood, 23-degree 7-wood, 25-degree 9-wood and 27-degree 11-wood. This one is also available to lefties in the same lofts for the 3-wood, 5-wood and 7-wood. 

The E524 hybrid has a super-shallow face with an 11 percent larger hitting area compared to the previous Hot Launch series. It aims for “extreme forgiveness” and a high launch angle. It is available in right- and left-handed sets for the 19-degree (3), 22-degree (4), 25-degree (5) and 28-degree (6).

E524 and C524 Irons/Wedges

The C524 irons and wedges will sell for $79.99 per iron while the E524 irons and wedges will retail for $99.99 per iron.

The C524 irons are traditional cavity-backs made from soft 431 stainless steel. They feature a wide sole and added toe weighting for stability and more distance on off-center hits. Lofts, for righties and lefties, are 20 degrees (4), 23 degrees (5), 26 degrees (6), 29 degrees (7), 33 degrees (8), 38 degrees (9), 43 degrees (PW) and 48 degrees (A). 

The C524 VIBRCOR wedge has 20 percent more TPU material strategically placed in the deep undercut pocket for a distinct feel at impact. Right-handers can find it in 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60 degrees. Left-handed lofts are 52, 56 and 60 degrees. 

The E524 irons are hollow “iron-wood” designs that put an emphasis on ease of launch and correcting mishits. It includes a wider front-to-back length, a thinner top line and more weight lower in the clubhead. You can find it in the same lofts for both sides: 20 degrees (3), 23 degrees (4), 26 degrees (5), 29 degrees (6), 32 degrees (7), 36 degrees (8), 40 degrees (9), 44 degrees (PW) and 49 degrees (A). 

Finally, the E524 wedges also have the Houdini Sole  which limits the amount of sole area, reducing drag and turf interaction by 35 percent. An oversized face design on the E-Series wedge provides more striking area for players seeking an extreme game-improvement wedge. You can find it in 52, 56 and 60 degrees for both sides. 

The entire 524 lineup comes stock with an ultra-light ALDILA ASCENT PL (Performance Light) graphite shaft. The True Temper Elevate MPH 95 steel shaft is also offered in the 524 irons and wedges. 

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• about the author
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Sean Fairholm

Sean is a longtime golf journalist and underachieving 8 handicap who enjoys the game in all forms. If he didn't have an official career writing about golf, Sean would spend most of his free time writing about it anyway. When he isn't playing golf, you can find Sean watching his beloved Florida Panthers hockey team, traveling to a national park or listening to music on his record player. He lives in Nashville with his wife and dog (of course the dog's name is Hogan).

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2 months ago

I would definitely look to try the E series, and can respect the tech behind it. Wonder how they would play against the Cleveland HaloXL series though. They also seemed to release the same idea of all hybrid style irons.

I want to like their brand because they test well (drivers at least), and they are less well known than the dominant big brands (counter culture is cool with me). And it’s neat they’re in Illinois. But the name “Tour Edge” doesn’t do anything for me, and both the woods and irons look like styles out of the late 90s. The logo itself is very generic-looking. Overhaul your branding!!!

That said, the E723 and C723 drivers look really good.

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