Tour Edge Exotics 725 fairway woods, hybrids: What you need to know

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Tour Edge’s high-tech Exotics 725 lineup expands to include both large volume and compact-style fairway woods and hybrids. The larger models, under the E725 heading, offer more forgiveness, while the better-player preferred 725 comes in more compact shapes, as well as multiple materials. Specifically, that includes the C725 fairways, which feature a titanium body and face and carbon-composite crown, with a heavy tungsten sole section.

PRICE: E725 fairway woods (15, 16.5, 18, 21 degrees; $250); E725 hybrids (19, 22, 25 degrees; $200); C725 fairway woods (13, 15, 18 degrees, adjustable; $300); C725 hybrids (17, 19, 21 degrees, adjustable; $200). Pre-order starting Oct. 15, at retail Nov. 1.

3 COOL THINGS

1. Two models

Tour Edge’s Exotics line was launched famously 20 years ago with the Exotics CB fairway woods that became a cult favorite with unique materials and manufacturing techniques. The Exotics 725 lineup continues the recent trend of offering a more game-improvement, high-forgiveness lineup of fairway woods and hybrids—the E725 models—and a more better-player focused, compactly shaped lineup—the C725 metalwoods. The C725 models feature adjustable hosels for better players looking to dial in launch and spin, while the larger E725 models place an added emphasis on forgiveness through the use of a sole weight in the rear.

Of the two, the C725 models offer the kind of multiple-level technologies reminiscent of Tour Edge’s original Exotics lineup. Specifically, the C725 fairway wood marries a heavy tungsten soleplate weighting with the fast-flexing titanium face. That combo includes 75 grams low in the sole by means of the tungsten weighing, while an additional 15 grams is part of interchangeable front and back sole weights that can tweak trajectory. A more compact C725 hybrid also offers an eight-way adjustable hosel so that between it and the C725 fairway woods, the lineup covers a loft range from 13 to 22.5 degrees.

2. Diamonds of all sizes

Like the Exotics 725 drivers, the fairway woods and hybrids all feature face inserts with a similar (but compressed) variable thickness pattern of diamond shapes on the back of the face. The design aims to equalize deflection for more consistent ball speeds across the entire area of the face. While the C725 benefits from a faster-flexing titanium face, the E725 makes use of a channel toward the front of the sole for better face-flexing.

“By going to a separate face plate, we’re able to unlock a little more flex in the face for better ball speed,” said Matt Neeley, vice president of product development for Tour Edge. Neeley noted that earlier versions of this concept like the 722 and C723 models didn’t have the spin and launch optimized for the majority of players with the former being too low and the latter going too far in the other direction. He said the C725 has dialed in the proper combination of launch and spin. “We’re able to make this face quite a bit thinner and get the ball speeds up quite a bit higher. It’s what we call a ball-speed champion for us.”

3. Ground control

Both the C725 and E725 fairway woods and hybrids make use of the latest version of an angled sole shape that provides better turf interaction and a lower center of gravity. Called “Ryzercole,” the soles on these metalwoods feature slightly raised heel-and-toe regions for a cleaner move through the ground. The shaping naturally positions mass lower in the head to improve launch conditions. That sole shaping, particularly on the C725 models, positions more weight that’s low and forward within the head for lower spin. The weighting and shaping of the E725 models puts more mass low and toward the rear for forgiveness and higher launch.