What you need to know: The latest Exotics iron launch from Tour Edge isn’t merely another continuation of its previous design and branding playbook, but rather a reimagining of the company’s image with products reflective of a renewed focus on premium product. The game-improvement Exotics Max and more player-ish CB Forged and MB Forged offerings are decidedly different in appearance and what’s under the hood as well.
“Each model has been perfected to address a distinct performance need,” said Tour Edge founder and CEO David Glod. “I’m confident any golfer who steps into a Tour Edge fitting will walk away with a set that elevates their iron play.”
Price/Availability: The MB and CB irons retail for $178 per iron in steel while the Max goes for $114 per iron in steel. Pre-sale begins Oct. 7 and the irons hit retail shelves on Nov. 4.
3 Cool Things 
1. Players Only. Although muscleback blade irons are far from the meat of the market, having one in the line speaks to Tour Edge’s commitment to serious golfers. A classic shape made from a single billet of 1025 carbon steel, the MB Forged irons boast machined grooves and traditional lofts (32-degree 7-iron and 46-degree pitching wedge).
Not as conventional is the use of the company’s Vibrcor technology in a channel close to the face to further assist sound and feel. For those seeking more help in their long irons, the company also offers a hollow-body utility iron with a springy titanium L-face where the face wraps around the sole to boost rebound at impact, particularly on shots struck low on the face. The utility irons are available in lofts of 17, 19, 22 degrees
2. Combo package or on their own. The CB Forged, like the MB, is forged from single billet of 1025 carbon steel and utilizes a Vibrcor channel. It also has matching lofts to make blending sets a breeze.
The CB Forged, however, can stand on their own as well. Appearance-wise, they feature a slightly thicker topline and sole compared to MB. Internal weighting also moves 30 to 35 grams of weight away from the center of the face to the low heel and toe areas to foster forgiveness and a higher launch. These weight pockets are smaller in the 8-iron through AW. As a result of tour feedback, the offset is constant throughout at 2.3 millimeters.
3. Taking it to the Max. Quality product isn’t reserved for single-digit players. Mid-handicappers deserve all the bells and whistles. Enter Exotics Max, an iron with a 360-degreee undercut cavity that helps lower the center of gravity to boost launch while also fostering face flex for fast ball speeds.
Assisting the speed endeavor is the company’s “pyramid face technology” where more than 100 pyramid shapes with three 3D thicknesses boost ball speed, particularly on off-center strikes. The face design also has the added benefit of removing weight that was moved to help deepen the center of gravity.
Harvey Jamison
Of course, fast-face irons often need a sound and feel assist. The use of a carbon and TPU badge assists feel while saving weight while the Vibrcor thermoplastic urethane inside the head helps damp the sound and eliminate any clickiness. The lofts are stronger than the MB and CB at 27.5 degrees for the 7-iron and 42 degrees for the pitching wedge.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
