WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The new Tour Edge Exotics lineup of drivers, fairway woods and hybrids starts with a commitment to a variety of player types by offering elite, faster-swingers a low-spin option, average golfers a maximum forgiveness choice and moderate speed swingers a lightweight alternative.
PRICE: Drivers: LS (9, 10.5 degrees), Max (9, 10.5, 12), Lite (10.5, 12). Fairway woods: (LS: 13, 15, 18 degrees); (Max: 15, 16.5, 18, 21; Lite: 16, 20, 23). Hybrid: (Max: 17, 19, 22, 25 degrees). Available for pre-order now, at retail in Australia from March 1.
3 COOL THINGS
1. Drive on. The new Exotics lineup of drivers takes a new path from previous generations’ “C” models (for “competition,” targeting better and traditional players) and “E” models (for “extreme,” representing models with a more oversized footprint and a heavy emphasis on off-center hit forgiveness and stability). The streamlined Exotics family now includes just three options: the low-spinning LS, the high forgiveness Max and the ultralight Lite. The LS is more compact at 440 cubic centimeters, with a taller face, while the Max occupies a larger profile including a broader face area. The Lite features a lighter head, grip and shaft to create more potential distance for moderate swing speed players.
The cleaner cadence in the line is a direct result of seeing the general direction in the industry, but also utilizing the benefits of a broader commitment to carbon composite technology, said Matt Neeley, vice president of research and development, pointing to the weight-saving benefits of an all-carbon sole to go along with the carbon crown. “It took us a lot of work to find a carbon fiber construction that we thought was going to be durable enough to put on the sole of a driver,” he said. “Of course, the big reason to do this is get a little bit more discretionary mass.”
That difference meant an extra 10 grams to play with on the Exotics LS and Max drivers. That led to 15- and 5-gram adjustable weights on the LS and an 18-gram sliding weight on the Max driver. (The 15-gram forward weight on the LS creates the lowest spinning Tour Edge driver.) Further saving weight is the titanium frame, which includes a ring of titanium that stretches along the perimeter and serves as the joint for both crown and sole. The frame creates a stable structure that allows the face to flex more fully. The saved weight also was used to lower the center of gravity to reduce spin on both models, relative to the previous versions, the C725 and E725.
“This year those diamonds have really taken on an additional three-dimensional pyramid-esque shape. By thinning out the middle of those pyramids, we’re able to save a couple more grams and create more ball speed across the entire face by making the face a little bit thinner,” Neeley said, referencing the subtle differences in the deflection capacity of each pyramid shape on the face. “In past versions, we might have had six to eight different sizes and thicknesses, these pyramids are now more organic and each one might be different than the rest. Through a lot of our FEA [finite element analyses], we’re able to look at the ball speeds and defelctions and stresses on the face individually. We’re able to maintain those stress levels while getting additional face deflection.”
The larger footprint shared by both the Max and Lite versions enables them to max out stability both heel to toe and crown to sole. Those two measurements of moment of inertia, or resistance to twisting, combine to reach over 10,000 grams-centimeters squared, where the highest forgiving drivers on the market reside. The Lite model takes advantage of a head weight that’s nine grams lighter, a lighter 42-gram grip and a lighter 40-gram shaft to create more potential speed through the ball from the slower swingers by saving some 25 grams of weight from the standard Exotics Max model. It uses a 23-gram rear weight that is canted slightly toward the heel side, as well as a slight bit of offset, to build in additional draw bias to fight a slice. “While it’s very difficult to quantify the effect on the robot, we think this extra weight savings has shown an extra 2-3 miles per hour of swing speed for this player,” Neeley said, noting the weight savings allowed the shaft length to stretch to 46 inches for more potential swing speed, as well.
2. A fairer way. The Exotics fairway woods have been something of a hallmark for the Tour Edge brand for the better part of the last quarter century, and the new Exotics fairway wood lineup includes the same three models: Lite, Max and LS. The LS stands as the most distinctive with its titanium construction. It utilizes a more compact structure, but the lighter alloy means the saved mass can be redistributed in a 90-gram “Ryzer Sole” to push more mass lower and more forward to lessen spin, as well as front and back sole weights to tune trajectory. “This is the one that’s done really well on tour for us,” Neeley said. “That Ryzer Sole allows us to remove a little excess material from the heel and toe and really reduce turf interaction.”
While the LS is aimed for a more penetrating trajectory, the Max and Lite models feature more confidence-inspiring shallower faces to facilitate higher launch. Still, both maintain a relatively standard size. Like the titanium LS model, they also feature carbon composite crowns for weight savings, and each also utilizes the multi-dimensional pyramid-shaped variable thickness face, this time made of high-strength 475 steel. The Lite model features heel-biased internal weighting, as well as slight offset, to fight a slice.
3. Faster hybrids. The Exotics Max hybrids also make use of the lightweight carbon composite crown to build added forgiveness and lower the center of gravity for easier launch. The larger size and a rear tungsten weight provide added stability on mis-hits. Like the Max fairway woods, there’s a 475 high-strength steel alloy face insert for added ball speed potential.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
