Tour Edge Golf is celebrating 20 years in the golf biz this year – and the company is also celebrating its recent move from the value segment of the industry to the thick of the performance segment. After several successful years of selling solid products at a price below the big names, Tour Edge introduced its Exotics line of high-performance, premium-priced equipment last year. The first product was a line of fairway woods that garnered good reviews and a vocal group of fans.
New for this year is the Exotics driver. Does it live up to the promise of the Exotics fairway woods? Read on to find out.
Tour Edge has long had a well-deserved reputation as a hidden gem in the golf club market. The company has always made good equipment at reasonable prices, and in recent years Tour Edge has been tinkering with some cutting edge technology.
The Exotics line was born when the company realized that it had the R&D capability to make some unique, high-performance producs – products that would be more expensive to make, and would need higher price points. Does the performance justify the price?
Construction
The 460cc Exotics Driver is part of the Exotics sub-brand for Tour Edge, which also includes the aforementioned fairway woods, an adjustable-weight hybrid, and steel/tungsten irons. Each product in the Exotics line features a multi-material design, and the driver is a prime example.
Three different titanium alloys are used in the Exotics driver. The body of the driver is 6A4V titanium, which is used in most titanium drivers. The crown, however, is made of 15-3-3-3 beta titanium, which is very thin (0.4 mm) and light, and helps keep the driver’s center of gravity very low. Instead of using a welding process to attach the crown to the body of the driver, Tour Edge uses a unique (some would say “exotic”) combo-brazing process. This is proprietary chemical bonding process that creates a permanent bond using a vacuum heat-curing technique. According to Tour Edge, the advantage of combo-brazing is eliminating the relatively heavy metal used in traditional welds, while improving feel and energy transfer due to the integrity of the bond between the crown and the body.
The Tour Edge Exotics driver uses a combination of not one, not two, but three different kinds of titanium.
The face of the Exotics driver is made of forged SP700 beta titanium. SP700 is known for having excellent rebound properties. The face is laser-welded using a robotic process, which Tour Edge claims creates the tightest tolerances in the business. As with combo-brazing, the laser weld eliminates excess material that can be part of traditional and plasma welds. The intended result of the laser weld is improved rebound.
Lasers are also used on the hitting surface of the Exotics face insert. The score lines are laser-engraved, which is meant to make the lines less deep and more consistent than cast or milled score lines. As a result, the face is stronger and has the potential for greater energy transfer.
Three types of titanium aren’t enough for you? Hang on. The Exotics driver also has a pair of six-gram fixed tungsten screws in the rear heel area of the clubhead. Tour Edge says it placed the 12 grams of weight in that area to strike a balance between forgiveness and power. The tungsten screws help square the face at impact, and the low, deep center of gravity also improves the moment of interia (resistance to twisting) on off-center hits.
The scorelines on the face of the Exotics driver are laser-made, ensuring a more consistent and shallower depth.
The Exotics driver is available with one of three well-known graphite shafts, each tweaked for use in this driver. The Graphite Design YS-Exotics 50-gram shaft is available in four flexes and is best-suited to slower-swining golfers (up to 100mph, according to Tour Edge). A Fujikura High-Launch 55-gram shaft is available in three flexes for golfers who swing up to 105mph. And an Aldila NV-Exotics 65-gram shaft comes in three flexes, including an X-flex that will handle tour-level swing speeds. All three shafts are 45″, though Tour Edge can create custom lengths.
The stock grip is the very comfortable Golf Pride Dual Durometer model. One of the first things I usually do with a new driver is replace the stock grip, but I was very impressed with the Dual Durometer’s feel and performance.
Esthetics
In terms of looks, the Exotics driver fits right in with most of the top drivers on the market today. The top of the driver is a very serious deep black with a high-gloss finish. There is no alignment mark on the crown – a feature I like, but that’s a matter of personal preference. Otherwise, the Exotics driver doesn’t stand out in any particular way at address. The shape of the head at address is very similar to both Titleist’s pear-shaped and TaylorMade’s rounder drivers, which means it is not likely to turn anyone off. It definitely looks more traditional and more austere than the Cleveland HiBore or Nike SQ drivers.
The underside of the Exotics driver is a bit more distinctive. The mirror polish used on the face area extends to the sole of the driver, where a subtle “X” logo is at the center. The loft of the driver is stamped on the heel and filled with red paint, as is the word Exotics at the rear of the sole. The Tour Edge logo is also on the sole, near the toe. The two tungsten screws are set next to each other and look a bit like twin exhaust pipes.
Those aren’t turbo powered exhaust pipes, but the two six-gram tungsten weights you see here. They’re located in the heel to help square the face at impact.
The Exotics driver doesn’t have the same top-to-bottom V-shape as many other drivers, where the area where the crown meets the body of the club marks the widest point of the clubhead. Instead of tapering down to a narrower sole, the Exotics driver remains fairly wide at the bottom. The sole has plenty of relief, though, so if you wanted to try hitting it off the deck, you could get away with it. I tried this a few times and found the Exotics driver to be better than most super-sized drivers off the deck – but it still isn’t likely to be a shot you’ll use very often.
The face of the Exotics driver is not especially deep, but it isn’t as shallow as the Nike SQ. I’d say the face depth is comparable to the TaylorMade r7 460. As with the look at address, the Exotics driver is pretty similar to other drivers on the market in terms of hitting area.
The other interesting thing I noticed about the Exotics from an esthetic standpoint is the short hosel length. Unlike the longer traditional hosels that you see on most other drivers, the Exotics driver hosel is barely there. It’s more substantial than the little “sleeve” atop the no-hosel design of a Callaway wood, but not by much. This design likely helped Tour Edge move more weight toward the sole of the club to keep the center of gravity low.
At address, the TourEdge Exotics driver resembles both Titleist’s pear-shaped drivers and TaylorMade’s more rounded drivers. Also notice the shorter hosel.
The headcover that comes with the Exotics driver is quite nice. It is a red-and-black neoprene design that has a leather-like swatch of red material at the end with the “X” logo. Silver piping is used for an accent, and a zipper on the underside makes the headcover an easy-on, easy-off model. The word Exotics is large on the headcover in two places, and the Tour Edge logo is tucked away on the bottom of the headcover. There is no sock-like extension off the end of the headcover to get bunched up in your golf bag.
Performance
How did all the technology put into the Exotics driver work on the course? Quite nicely. I’ve been using a 10.5° model with the Aldila NV-Exotics 65 shaft in a stiff flex for my last several rounds, and I’ve really enjoyed using it.
For me, the Exotics driver is a great point-and-shoot driver. It wants to hit the ball straight, and so should you. When I put a good swing on the ball, the Exotics responded with good results. It’s as long as other recent drivers I’ve played, and can be scary long on your best swings.
The Exotics driver was very forgiving on less-than-perfect swings. You lose some distance on off-center hits, but not much. More importantly, this driver really keeps the ball in play. During one recent round I hit every fairway on the front nine despite a couple pretty marginal swings. Balls hit low on the face still climb into the air and run out nicely, while the hot spot for the driver seemed to be fairly high on the face. Heel and toe shots worked back toward the center like a charm.
The familiar Aldila NV green. The Exotics driver also comes with Fujikura and Graphite Design YS shafts designed specifically for the club.
The only trouble I got into with the Exotics driver was when I tried to work the ball. Hitting a fade wasn’t a problem, but when I tried to turn the ball over my draws became hooks. If you’re someone who fights hitting it left, the 8° model of the Exotics driver has a 1° open face to help keep you in play. While the 9° and 10.5° models are supposed to have square faces, my driver seemed a bit closed. There’s also a 12° model with a 1° closed face.
The sound and feel of the Exotics driver are outstanding. Soundwise, the driver isn’t nearly as loud or obnoxious as some of its competitors. The sound was similar to the lower-toned sound you’d expect from a Titleist driver. The feel was my favorite part of hitting this driver. On off-center hits, you get plenty of feedback, but nothing harsh. But on well-struck shots you’re treated to a powerful, springy feel that is better than any other driver I’ve hit. The multi-material design has certainly been tuned to perfection.
Conclusion
It looks like Tour Edge has another Exotics winner on its hands. The Exotics driver has a very interesting technology story to set it apart from other drivers. Esthetically, the driver doesn’t stand out – but that’s probably a good thing. The subtle looks will appeal to better golfers. All levels of golfers will appreciate the distance the Exotics driver generates, which is on par with other top drivers, and the outstanding forgiveness. And though it doesn’t necessarily translate into performance, the feel of the Exotics driver is unmatched.
Even the headcover is a winner. Finally, a headcover without that stupid “sock” part!
I would recommend the Exotics driver to anyone looking to try this year’s best drivers, though I would advise you to consult with a golf professional or clubfitter to get the right loft and shaft for your swing type. If you get one dialed in to your specs, you’ll likely join the rapidly growing group of Exotics devotees.
Exotics drivers have a street price of $399, which puts it in the ballpark with the Callaway Fusion FT-3, Cleveland HiBore, TaylorMade r7 425 and Titleist 905R at a premium price. Exotics drivers are available in 8°, 9°, 10.5° and 12° for righties, and 10.5° for lefties.
Nice review. I was wondering about this clubs. I have a Tour Edge JMAX Bazooka, and I really like it, but I’ve been struggling lately and was looking into one of these. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m prepared to spend $400 on it. I think I would have to try the Callaway and Titleist’s first if I had the budget.
NothingMan made a good point. Why people buy TEE driver if they got 400 bucks? They can choose lots. TEE driver is not bad, but is it better than others?
AdamsGolf made the same mistake before. Their 430Q asked for nearly 400 a year ago and is asking for 150 now.
“Finally, a headcover without that stupid “sock” part!”
The Wilson Deep Red II has a head cover without the sock. No zip though.
Wonder how much they will be in Australia.
Have purchased the Exotics Driver and can’t say enough about it. Only YOU can decide if it’s worth the $399 price tag. If you are a serious player interested in serious game, then go getg your self one!
I went to a demo day and the usual suspects were there, Callaway, Titleist, Cobra and Ping. I tried all of their drivers, the Ping G5 was the best of these for me. Two days later I went to a Tour Edge demo day, the Exotics driver was 15 yards longer than the G5 and consistantly straighter. I ended up ordering an Exotics 12 degree with the Fujikura High Launch shaft, it will be in a couple of days, can’t wait…
Just got an exotics driver with the 9.0 loft and stiff 56g fujikura shaft. My swingspeed is 105-110 with this club. When you hit it right the distance on this thing is unbelievable. It does have a tendency to hook on hard swings though. I probably should have gotten a heavier shaft. Feel and sound are very good. Launch is nice and high also. With the right shaft this club would definately be a confidence builder.
Bought this driver and the Exotics 3 Wood to complement the Nickent 3DX Hybrid set I recently purchased.
Cannot say enough good things about either club. I hit the driver consistently straight and long and when I don’t it’s easy to analyse why.
The 3 Wood is so laser-straight – it is downright scary.
These clubs have definitely helped me position myself on the course to hit more GIR.
I plan to have these clubs in my bag for a long, long time. If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it! Pricey – yes, but a worthwhile long-term investment.
Traded my Bazzoka for the Tour Edge Exotic 10.5 added 15 yds.
I spent a day on the range and tried all the different brand drivers with a pro who analysed every shot I hit on a computer.
I never even thought of the Exotics driver as an option. All I wanted was the Taylormade Burner. Anyway, I was shocked to find out that I just could not hit the Exotic driver wrong. It felt amazing and very long and straight. It blew me away and I am now an Exotics convert and bought the driver with 9.0 loft and stiff 56g fujikura shaft. 😀
I just bought the Exotic and love it. I’ve always used Callaway and love them but I was at a golf store with an indoor computer range. I hit my Big Bertha which I average about 310 with on the course and was hitting about 310 on the computer. I hit the Exotics 330-340, NO KIDDING. It sold me. I’ve only used it once on the course and also found out not only do I have the extra distance but it’s very forgiving too. It’s awesome.
I just had 3″ of length added on the shaft today to 48″ and can’t wait to hit it tomorrow.
Jason from Kentucky
This is one straight and long club. I have beeen trying to replace it with all the new clubs that come out and I have not found one that is close. I even went as far as trading in on new taylormade,callaway and cleveland drivers to try them out and I ended up and buying the Exotics back. You can find them for a $100 now and what a bargain and fun it will be for your game. 😆
SCARY – I have a full set of the Exotics line … the EX-1 irons, 2,3,4 hybrids, 2,4,5,7, woods, and 3 drivers … 10.5 regular, 12 regular, and 12 stiff in the Fuji High Launch shaft since I have a modest swing speed. It is scary that I own all of them (thanks eBay) … I agree that the 3 wood is scary long and straight … seriously, most average players could replace their driver with this 3 wood and stay just as long, but more straight. On a good day, I can hit my Exotics 4 wood almost as long as many previous drivers I have owned. The reason I DON’T just use the 3 wood off the tee all the time is that the driver, when hit well, is a scary good, addictive, “feel like a pro” experience … the ball simply will not stop. I have set personal driving records over and over with it, changing my approach shots into pins by as much as 4 clubs less on a dry course. Hey, the difference between hitting a 4-5 iron vs. an 8-9 iron apprach shot can create scary good drops in your score.
If you try to hit a hard draw it can hook, but if you go for a “baby draw” it bites just right .. fades are fine. As mentioned, it is workable but prefers straight, and has a nice balance of forgiveness and workability I think. The hybrids are almost effortless, ball jumps off the face, very accurate.
Club preferences are individual, and shaft fit/flex can make all the difference … but there is no doubt that Tour Edge has created a game changer for most players with the Exotics line, and expecially the driver and woods.
Wow great review. I was given a driver and three wood by a client of mine. This guys loaded, I can’t believe the driver goes for $400 bucks. These things look brand new. Looks like I will be buying a bottle of scotch for this guy. Thanks Andy.
This is the greatest driver I have ever used, and I have owned a lot of drivers. I use the 10.5 with the Graphite Design 50 gram stiff shaft. I can draw or cut shots, and have down the middle confidence in this driver. I will be purchasing an extra for backup.
No such thing as the ‘best’ or ‘longest’ driver, but if you are in the market, this should be on your list.
It is very forgiving and very long.
Within a month, all my buddies had replaced their drivers with an Exotic.
Dammit
I purchased a brand new 10.5 Exotic driver and it’s loud on impact! It doesn’t go as high as other 10.5 degree drivers. I have the standard YS Exotics 50 gram stiff shaft and my ball flight is very low! It doesn’t go as far as my 9 degree Taylor Made Burner with Fujikura Stiff shaft but it stays consistently straight! Maybe I’ll change the shaft to get the better distance I need!
Played the 10 proto and oh no my buddies wont play with me unles i let them hit it on par 5’s ,no my brother you gotta get your own. very nice product i have 4 drivers ft-3,ft-5,cleveland launcher comp, and now the proto. i may change the driver bbut for now my 5,3,and driver are all exotics. good roll on the driver for me thats big average about 265 w/my ft-5 . hitting about 280 with the proto our carts measure driving distance also , dont know how accurate but its getting colder and the balls still flying. got it second hand for $134. not bad.
I’ve been playing the Exotics driver since last summer and it’s the sweetest club I’ve hit in 37 years of golfing. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Tour Edge is making the best products on the market today. I can’t wait to try the new Exotics putter. I bet it puts Scotty Cameron to shame.
I purchased a brand new 2006 model of the Tour Edge Exotics driver 9.5 degrees and played the 2008 season with it. This is a fantastic driver; it has distance with forgiveness, sounds great and looks great. Few people recognize the head cover in your bag until you tee off and then they tend to take a closer look. I have played Cobra and Callaway drivers but will remain with Tour Edge as long as they stay in the driver market.
😀 My club held a demo day for the Tour Edge Exotics driver. I confess that I had never heard of this manufacturer before. My current driver, TM R7 CGB was supposedly fit for me but I’ve never been able to control it. My typical problem is either a fade or dead pull. When I connect, the ball can fly but I am just too inconsistent. So… I figured why not give this driver a shot. Wow! What a result. Nice easy swing and probably hit my longest drive of the year. Easily 25 yards longer than my R7 and dead straight. I can’t wait to take this out to the range and a couple of test rounds.
I imported the Exotics driver to the UK in 2007 when my old Taylormade xr-05 was about to become illegal due to the rule changes, wasnt too pleased about having to change as loved the Taylormade which was long and really easy to hit. I bought the Exotics 9 deg with Aldila vs proto 60-s shaft, the main reason for buying this club was customisation options like length of shaft and grip thickness and shaft otions, but I bought it after reading some good reviews and keeping my fingers crossed! It arrived a week or so after ordering and flying it across the pond and off to the range to try it, I certainly wasnt dissapointed, an easy to hit club, looks good and sounds so much better than those clonking Cobras your hear on the course! I probably hit the ball a little longer than average, but on a dry day 300yds is no problem, I play off 9 and would be better if I practised my wedges more but I just enjoy hitting the driver too much.
I would recommend this driver set up to anyone its easy to hit and a good result comes from hits all over the face, off the sweet spot its laser straight and a real pleasure.
I am regularly asked by playing partners what it is and where it came from after my tee shots, when I tell them they are none the wiser as no one here seems to have heard of them. I love it, you wont be dissapointed either.
I’ve been using this club for about 4 weeks now. I am really glad that I made the switch. I hit this club consistently straighter and 25-30 yards longer than my TM R7. I’m a convert… absolutely love this driver.
I just picked up this driver used – 9 deg Fujikura reg flex. All I can say about this driver is WOW!!! It looks great, hits long and is the sweetest feeling driver I have ever hit. I have owned Mizuno MP001, Callaway X Tour 460, Taylormade R5 & R7, Ben Hogan CS-3 and multiple other drivers. This Tour Edge Exotics driver is like a dream come true. It is very easy to hit straight and when you put a good swing on it, very long. I wish I had this driver years ago but I probably wouldn’t have spent the money for a new one ($300 plus). I hate to put the word out to other golfing competition but this club is the real deal. I can’t wait to punish my golf buddies with this weapon!!! Thanks Tour Edge for making such a great club.
😀 Bought exotics xld driver 3 months ago after a friend recommended I check them out. Love the club! Just left golf Galaxy club fitting… tried 4 other drivers (just curious) G10,Taylor tour burner,Ping rapture, G15. swing speed hovered around 90mph. Ball speed off my exotics driver was 9mph faster than the next best which was the rapture! enough said … when I do upgrade I will stay with Exotics! ps. got mine off ebay 105.05 brand new, also got free 3wd with the driver, plus when I registered each club they sent me a very nice glove!!! lifetime warranty whats not to like
Im 6’2 255 and i usually hit the ball 320-360 but my club head speed was causing me to hook due to shaft flex(i know).
I’ve tried them all but this X driver is special. I know the VR machines are wrong but the golf store said I was hitting that driver 350 yds. I’ll take 320 yds straight on the course. Cant wait to try it.