WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The Tour Edge Hot Launch Max family of woods and irons, including two drivers, two fairway woods, two hybrids, two iron sets and a wedge, offers a lineup committed to two things: easier launch and throwback affordability (some prices are half or less than the current going rates for many new clubs). Toss in some of the company’s proven technologies and it’s an intriguing option, especially for the game’s growing influx of new golfers.
PRICE: Drivers: US$300 (AU$424) (Hot Launch Max: 9, 10.5, 12 degrees; Hot Launch Max D: 10.5, 12, 15 degrees). Fairway woods: US$180 (AU$254) (Hot Launch Max: 15, 19, 22 degrees; Hot Launch Max D: 16, 20, 23, 25, 27 degrees). Hybrids: US$160 (AU$226) (Hot Launch Max: 19, 22, 25 degrees; Hot Launch Max D: 19, 22, 25, 28 degrees). Irons (7): US$600 (AU$848)/US$700 (AU$989) (graphite), Hot Launch Max: 7-iron, 29 degrees; Hot Launch Max D: 7-iron, 32 degrees. Wedges: US$90 (AU$127) (Max, 50-60 degrees, six lofts); US$100 (AU$141) (Max D, 52-60 degrees, three lofts). At retail Feb. 27.
3 Cool Things
1. Woods: Launch codes. The Hot Launch Max/Max D drivers, fairway woods and hybrids share technologies that seem to centre around getting shots up in the air. One of the distinctive elements is a rear weight chip designed to provide higher stability on off-centre hits while also providing some dynamic lofting through deeper CGs. Placed low and deep, the weight is 9 grams in the drivers, 5 grams in the fairway woods and 4 grams in the hybrids.
Another key technology in the Hot Launch Max lineup and a hallmark of Tour Edge designs, including its latest premium Exotics family, is the variable face design. A cross-hatched pattern of varying diamond shapes on the back of each face aims to optimise face deflection for on- and off-centre impacts, resulting in more consistent ball speeds. The Hot Launch Max driver features a full-cup face construction, with the face wrapping around the perimeter into the crown, sole, and skirt areas. That moves the weld line off the face, allowing better flexing over a larger area.
Across the Woods family, the Max models favour players with developing skills looking to grow in the game, while the Max D models offer slightly more slice correction through internal heel-side weighting and an offset hosel arrangement.
22. Irons: Level up. Again on the irons, the Max and Max D versions provide two levels of forgiveness. Both the wider-soled, oversized-cavity Max and the hybrid-like, shallow-face Max D feature lower centres of gravity for higher launch. The Max also borrows the vibration-damping technology of a soft thermoplastic urethane insert, called “VIBRCOR,” that’s been part of Tour Edge Exotics irons for years. Of course, Tour Edge long has been committed to hybrid irons sets, and the Max D model features progressive shaping (almost traditional looking irons in the higher lofts). There’s also an internal heel-side weighting to provide some added slice correction.
Both models feature a generous offset for a deeper CG, as well as added help for getting the face back to square at impact. Sub-60-gram graphite shafts (Aldila Ascent) will help with higher launch on both sets.
3. Wedges: Bunker mentality. If you’re going to introduce clubs to help beginning and average golfers, something to help clean up the short game seems a wise place to start. Like in the woods and irons, the Hot Launch Max line attacks the short game in two ways, offering a standard cavity back version (Hot Launch Max) and a mega-wide soled super game-improvement option (Hot Launch Max D).
The standard Max lineup features a higher bounce throughout to help steeper swings glide through the turf, while the Vibrcor TPU insert in the back cavity dampens vibration in the oversized shape for a cleaner feel. Extra mass in the high toe region helps to control ball flight.
The extremely wide and cambered sole on the Max D features an undercut cavity that lowers and deepens the centre of gravity for high launch and stability. Full-face grooves provide extra contact points on wider mis-hits for less loss of spin.
