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Tested:
Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Hybrid
Loft tested (degrees): 19
Shaft: Fujukura Exotics Blur
From Tour Edge:
Designed to tackle the toughest golf challenges: firm hardpan, deep rough, and tight lies. This inspiring club has an easy-to-hit, low center of gravity head, a high density tungsten steel body and sole and a maraging steel cupped face. The heavier tungsten-steel moves more weight low in the sole to help your shots easily escape from difficult lies.
Every area of the XCG5 brims with innovation. The body is slightly shorter from face to back for greater workability. Maraging steel is used in the face over stainless steel because it possesses superior strength without losing malleability. The net result, the club face can be made thinner to launch the ball with less spin and at faster speeds.
The majority of the club’s weight is in the rear heel and toe of the sole guaranteeing exceptional performance. This set up is achieved by the heavy tungsten-steel sole. In addition, two internal weight pads improve sound, feel, and the center of gravity location for a more pure energy transfer at impact. The XCG5’s new aerodynamic lines reflect its ability to effortlessly cut through the air while it’s heavily radiused sole minimizes turf contact for consistent and effective contact.
Pros:
Clean, classically-shaped head. Dead square face. One of the best sounding clubs we have hit. Workable and fairly forgiving package. Sole design is excellent from all lies.
Cons:
Square face may alienate those looking for more forgiveness. Lack of alignment mark might turn off more. Heavy tungsten sole may deter high ball hitters, so choose shaft wisely.
Bottom Line:
A gem in the rough. And tee. And fairway. And even hard packed sand. The Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Hybrid just gets the job done. Heck of a nice surprise.
Look:
Deep black with a nice contrasting maraging steel face. It’s lacking an alignment mark but the head sits so square, I did not find it to be an issue. The head is not compact, but not overly large. If you like traditional-looking hybrids with heads that aren’t the size of a walnut, you’ll be pleased with this for sure. The face seems fairly deep, but the heavier tungsten sole helps get the ball in the air, so that shouldn’t scare you away. Tour Edge says the heavily radiused sole is shaped for consistent contact from a variety of playing conditions.
Performance/Playability:
I found the Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 hybrid to be extremely consistent and plenty long. Although distance is perhaps what Tour Edge is known for, I didn’t find this to be a mad bomber, but that’s not what I’m looking for in a hybrid, either. In general, the hybrid replaces my 3 iron. However, when your need 2 iron distance or 4 iron distance, what club do you pick? For me, it’s my hybrid and this club really surprised me. I could lean on it and pick up extra yards. I could back off, and hit it a club short without hitting a low bullet that couldn’t hold a green. Impressive.
Of course we all don’t hit the ball where we want all the time — no matter what we might say on the internet — so Tour Edge designed the sold to be playable from multiple lies. In practice, I found this to be the club’s most shining attribute. From tee, green, rough, and even hard-packed sand, the Exotics XCG5 performed admirably. The tungsten-weighted sole will really help out in those fairway bunker situations. No overswinging needed. Nicely designed.
Feel:
The first thing I noticed about the Exotics XCG5 was its impact sound. It’s as close to perfect as I’ve heard. If I needed a soundclip of club impact, I’d use this. It’s that cool. Since feel and sound are related, feel is also solid. I suppose you could argue that feel is not as important is a metal wood, but wouldn’t you rather not worry about it?
I didn’t extensively test for mishits, but hit a couple off the toe, and you can recognize them immediately. Distance was more than acceptable considering how poorly I hit the ball, still finding the putting surface.
Bottom Line:
The Exotics XCG5 hybrid was a big surprise. I didn’t really know what to expect, but came away nothing but a positive experience. It’s handsome and very playable in all situations. At a suggested retail price of $199, packs a good amount of technology in a solid, affordable package.
Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Hybrid
Loft tested (degrees): 19
Shaft: Fujukura Exotics Blur
From Tour Edge:
Designed to tackle the toughest golf challenges: firm hardpan, deep rough, and tight lies. This inspiring club has an easy-to-hit, low center of gravity head, a high density tungsten steel body and sole and a maraging steel cupped face. The heavier tungsten-steel moves more weight low in the sole to help your shots easily escape from difficult lies.
Every area of the XCG5 brims with innovation. The body is slightly shorter from face to back for greater workability. Maraging steel is used in the face over stainless steel because it possesses superior strength without losing malleability. The net result, the club face can be made thinner to launch the ball with less spin and at faster speeds.
The majority of the club’s weight is in the rear heel and toe of the sole guaranteeing exceptional performance. This set up is achieved by the heavy tungsten-steel sole. In addition, two internal weight pads improve sound, feel, and the center of gravity location for a more pure energy transfer at impact. The XCG5’s new aerodynamic lines reflect its ability to effortlessly cut through the air while it’s heavily radiused sole minimizes turf contact for consistent and effective contact.
Pros:
Clean, classically-shaped head. Dead square face. One of the best sounding clubs we have hit. Workable and fairly forgiving package. Sole design is excellent from all lies.
Cons:
Square face may alienate those looking for more forgiveness. Lack of alignment mark might turn off more. Heavy tungsten sole may deter high ball hitters, so choose shaft wisely.
Bottom Line:
A gem in the rough. And tee. And fairway. And even hard packed sand. The Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Hybrid just gets the job done. Heck of a nice surprise.
Look:
Deep black with a nice contrasting maraging steel face. It’s lacking an alignment mark but the head sits so square, I did not find it to be an issue. The head is not compact, but not overly large. If you like traditional-looking hybrids with heads that aren’t the size of a walnut, you’ll be pleased with this for sure. The face seems fairly deep, but the heavier tungsten sole helps get the ball in the air, so that shouldn’t scare you away. Tour Edge says the heavily radiused sole is shaped for consistent contact from a variety of playing conditions.
Performance/Playability:
I found the Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 hybrid to be extremely consistent and plenty long. Although distance is perhaps what Tour Edge is known for, I didn’t find this to be a mad bomber, but that’s not what I’m looking for in a hybrid, either. In general, the hybrid replaces my 3 iron. However, when your need 2 iron distance or 4 iron distance, what club do you pick? For me, it’s my hybrid and this club really surprised me. I could lean on it and pick up extra yards. I could back off, and hit it a club short without hitting a low bullet that couldn’t hold a green. Impressive.
Of course we all don’t hit the ball where we want all the time — no matter what we might say on the internet — so Tour Edge designed the sold to be playable from multiple lies. In practice, I found this to be the club’s most shining attribute. From tee, green, rough, and even hard-packed sand, the Exotics XCG5 performed admirably. The tungsten-weighted sole will really help out in those fairway bunker situations. No overswinging needed. Nicely designed.
Feel:
The first thing I noticed about the Exotics XCG5 was its impact sound. It’s as close to perfect as I’ve heard. If I needed a soundclip of club impact, I’d use this. It’s that cool. Since feel and sound are related, feel is also solid. I suppose you could argue that feel is not as important is a metal wood, but wouldn’t you rather not worry about it?
I didn’t extensively test for mishits, but hit a couple off the toe, and you can recognize them immediately. Distance was more than acceptable considering how poorly I hit the ball, still finding the putting surface.
Bottom Line:
The Exotics XCG5 hybrid was a big surprise. I didn’t really know what to expect, but came away nothing but a positive experience. It’s handsome and very playable in all situations. At a suggested retail price of $199, packs a good amount of technology in a solid, affordable package.
