Let’s discuss Tour Edge for a minute. At one level in its historical past (bear in mind these CB fairway woods?), the corporate was a relentless innovator that habitually punched above its weight class.
In recent times, the enterprise mannequin has modified. Whereas I’d guess the corporate nonetheless considers itself progressive, through the COVID years, it established itself primarily, if not completely, as a reduction model.
The corporate can nonetheless lay declare to success on skilled excursions though that’s due in no small half to a sizeable contingent of Champions Tour ambassadors, together with Bernhard Langer. Tour Edge doesn’t get a lot PGA Tour play nowadays however I stay unconvinced that issues.
The arduous reality, nevertheless, is that, nowadays, Tour Edge hardly ever finds itself on the bleeding fringe of innovation. I’d respectfully counsel that the aesthetics of its merchandise aren’t sometimes as refined as these from its bigger opponents, both.
As soon as upon a time, that may have been problematic however the actuality is that year-over-year good points are sometimes small whatever the measurement of the model making them and, with the inflow of latest golfers and rising value fatigue amongst present avid golfers, Tour Edge has carved out a profitable area of interest as essentially the most budget-friendly golf firm you knew about earlier than 2022.
It’s an method that’s evident within the firm’s new 525 sequence drivers.
The X issue
The X525 driver is Tour Edge’s new tremendous game-improvement providing and the corporate isn’t being delicate about its mission. This can be a driver constructed particularly for golfers who wrestle with a slice and are keen to do practically something to repair (or not less than work round) it.
Probably the most notable characteristic is what Tour Edge calls their “Anti-Slice Offset Design.” Now, offset in drivers isn’t new however what makes the X525 fascinating to essentially the most slice-prone amongst you is how Tour Edge has mixed it with strategic heel weighting to create what the corporate claims is “the ultimate in anti-slice technology.”
The heel-weighted design features a 10-gram backweight and a sole rail concentrated completely on the heel facet. In the event you’re combating a slice, there’s lots of assist available right here. That’s very true for ballers on a price range because the retail value is simply $249.
The E for everybody else?
On the opposite facet of the equation, we’ve the E525 driver. That is Tour Edge’s extra conventional providing though “traditional” may be promoting it a bit brief.
The E525 contains a 360° Cup Face design. Like comparable designs, Tour Edge’s cup face works to protect ball pace on off-center hits. Cup faces aren’t completely unusual though I don’t recall seeing many on a $250 driver.
One of many extra fascinating options is the center-sole rail design. Working from forefront to trailing edge, it helps decrease the CG for larger launch whereas optimizing spin charges. It’s a intelligent option to obtain the specified launch situations with out resorting to extra complicated (and costly) options.
Diamond Face VFT: Not only a fairly sample
Each drivers characteristic Tour Edge’s Diamond Face VFT expertise that includes 37 distinct diamond-shaped “mini-trampolines” (marvel what the USGA thinks about that description) behind the face.
The diamond patterns are designed to boost ball pace and cut back spin, notably on off-center hits. It’s the form of expertise that advantages each the golfer combating a slice and the participant in search of extra constant efficiency, and Tour Edge needs to ensure you see it.
Ridgeback: Extra than simply alignment
One other characteristic shared throughout each fashions is Tour Edge’s Ridgeback Know-how. Ridgeback has grow to be a staple in Tour Edge driver design. For the uninitiated, it’s a rail on the crown that serves double obligation: strengthening the crown construction whereas additionally performing as an alignment help. Whereas there’s a case to be made that Ridgeback solves two issues directly, given the pushback over PING’s Turbulators, I’d wager the look is greater than lots of golfers are going to be completely comfy with.
It’s loads.
Concerning the cosmetics
Like just about everybody else who makes golf golf equipment, Tour Edge has bounced round between coloration schemes for its Sizzling Launch lineup. This time round, gold is the accent coloration of selection and, yeah, the colorway is arguably paying homage to Callaway’s Rogue ST sequence though the Ridgeback Crown is a distinctly Tour Edge characteristic.
I suppose you would ding Tour Edge a bit for an absence of originality however golf gear is a copycat business. There are solely so many colours and, once more, we’re speaking a couple of $250 driver.
Sizzling Launch X525 Driver
Remaining ideas
What Tour Edge has completed with the Sizzling Launch 525 Collection is fairly intelligent. As a substitute of making an attempt to make one driver work for everybody, they’ve created two distinct choices to serve budget-minded golfers. The X525 is unapologetically targeted on slice correction and forgiveness whereas the E525 presents a extra conventional look with trendy efficiency options.
At $249.99, each characterize wonderful worth. In the event you’re out there for a brand new driver in 2025, Tour Edge has made a compelling case for contemplating one thing exterior the same old suspects.
That stated, the Sizzling Launch sequence has sometimes underperformed in Most Needed Driver testing and, frankly, it feels just like the Sizzling Launch 525 sequence is caught within the center. You may spend $100 extra and get the most recent from Tour Edge’s Exotics lineup or for simply $199, you may get the earlier Sizzling Launch mannequin that gives comparable expertise.
Pricing and availability
Each the X525 and E525 drivers are $249.99. That’s considerably lower than most new drivers and when you think about that neither is completely devoid of expertise, it’s not uncompelling.
The X525 is out there in right-handed 10.5-, 12- and HL/15-degree fashions with a ten.5-degree possibility for lefties. The E525 is available in 9 and 10.5° levels for right-handed gamers.
Each fashions come inventory with the UST Mamiya Helium shaft that includes Nanocore Know-how. It’s a light-weight shaft designed to boost pace and really feel. It’s not my favourite shaft however it’s a bit higher than what you usually get at this value level.
Retail availability begins March 1.
For extra data, go to touredge.com.
The publish Tour Edge Sizzling Launch 525: A Story Of Two Drivers appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
