tour edge exotics xcg7 driver review

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Tour Edge Tour Edge Exotics XCG Drivers

Tour edge tour edge exotics xcg drivers .

he ground-breaking XCG serves up the most exhilarating experience in golf. It astonishes with its power and thrills with its performance. An engineering break-through, the XCG features the industry's first magnesium crown. The ultra light magnesium crown displaces more weight to the sole. This unprecedented use of magnesium creates an extreme center-of-gravity (CG) position and high moment of inertia (MOI) for ultra long drives. Two times lighter than typical titanium crowns, the magnesium moves more weight to the heavy steel sole for less spin and an extremely high MOI in a traditional 460cc head shape. Another benefit of magnesium is the material's dampening characteristics. The result is that the crown and neck of the XCG are able to absorb more of the shock on contact, providing a smooth, powerful feeling at impact - a feeling only the XCG can deliver. Developed for outright performance, the XCG uses the same titanium cupped face technology that took the golf world by storm and made the Exotics fairway wood famous. Featuring variable face thickness technology (VFT), the face delivers greater ball speed and rebound. The XCG's break-through combination of a titanium cupped face, magnesium crown and hyper steel body delivers unmatched performance and a crisp, powerful sound. Also contributing to the XCG's extraordinary power is the Graphite Design X-Quad ultra light shaft. It features a medium-firm, yet active tip by interweaving the graphite strands at four angles. The X-Quad's 4-way interweave technology improves stability at impact for pinpoint control. Experience the XCG. It's unlike any driver you've ever known.

USER REVIEWS

I ahven't had any problem with my driver. All I can say about this one is it is as long as any I've hit but where it really stands out is the accuracy. I hit more fairways with this driver than any I've had in the past and I've had just about everything you can name. Don't understand though how a guy in an earlier review claims he shoots in the 70's but says the club is tough to draw. I hit nothing but either straight, draw and sometime but rare the dreaded hook. I have yet to hit a fade or slice with this driver. I think anyone who supposedly shoots in the 70's should be able to draw pretty much any club made so I have to believe one of those statements is false, probably the 70's one. Give it a try it won't disappoint. It is a low spin head so the trajectory isn't quit as high as you might be used to but for myself who hits the ball high anyway it has made me have a nice piercing trajectory.

Customer Service

Haven't tried but with a lifetime warranty you kinda can't go wrong here.

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Tried or owned every big name driver just about made and nothing truly compares.

I've been a fan of Tour Edge for over 10 years, but haven't had the best experience with the XCG driver. When new it performed very well and was quite long, but two quality problems came up: 1) The XCG emblem on the bottom of the head fell off about two weeks after purchase (purely cosmetic). 2) The head developed a hairline crack near the hosel that extended about 1.5" toward the back of the club along the weld/braze seam. I only noticed it after wondering why my drives had lost about 30 yards during my last few rounds. Tour Edge has a really good warranty, so I'm not worried about getting it replaced. However, what *does* worry me is that when I dropped off the club at the golf store for replacement, I noticed that 7 of the 8 XCG drivers in their display rack that had been unwrapped and swung at the store had this same crack to some degree! The store employee was very concerned about this when I showed him. The crack is not easily spotted at first glance, so I have to wonder how widespread this issue really is... Ignoring the quality issues, I would rate the performance of this club at a 4 or 5.

Customer service is excellent. They replaced my 6-year-old Bazooka driver last year after its face cracked. I trust they'll do the same with my XCG.

Purchased from Tour Edge refurbished, out standing club, DVS shaft with 10.5 loft. Long, straight, low spin good launch angle.

Not worth mentioning

Recently purchased a slightly used 10.5 Driver, R Shaft. Immediately picked up 20+ yards. I have been struggling with my distance the last year (63 yrs old, 8 index). Tried Ping G-10 / Cobra L4V without adding distance. The ball seems to explode off the face of the XCG. Low to mid ball flight for my swing, incredible distance so the ball speed must have really jumped from previous drives. Also hope the quality issues don't ruin the experience

Ping G-10, Cobra L4V

Luckily I haven't had any of the quality issues yet that others have mentioned. As far as the performance of the driver it's by far the longest driver I've hit. I've got a tendency to hit a draw that often turns into a nasty hook so the fact that this club has a fade bias is actually helping me out. I'd say it's easily 20-30 yards longer than the Cleveland Launcher that I've been using and the feel when good contact is made is much smoother. It's almost effortless to launch a long drive with just a hint of fade. I don't get much roll with this driver as the ball flight seems to be higher and the landing softer than what I'm used to. This is good in that it keeps me out of trouble on many holes but bad in that I wonder how long it would be if I got that extra roll. I've only had the club for 3 weeks so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it holds together. If it does crack I might look to the XLD since it doesn't appear to have the same quality issues and is just as long. Based on the cost of this model compared to some others that are supposed to be similarly long it's a great value for the performance.

The driver developed a crack near the hosel. It appears to be along the seam where the crown and lower body meet. Sent it back to Tour Edge....Hopefully, I'll get one that doesn't crack. Before the crack, the club performed OK. It is definetly long when struck well. Not as forgiving as the Tour Edge Tour Proto, Callaway Hyper X Tour or Ping G10. Longer than the Ping G10, but about the same distance-wise as the Tour Proto and Hyper X Tour. Low launch, low spin head that has a small fade bias and must be hit in the center of the face. Balls struck high on the face, left or right lose considerable distance. Tough to draw. 3 stars for performance, 2 for value, 1 for workmanship.

So far, so good. Waiting for the replacement stick.

Tour Edge Tour Proto, Callaway Hyper X Tour, Ping G10, Nike Sasquatch, Geek DCT.

As a golf retailer, we have received over 50% of the product returned for cracking along the top of the head parallel with the face. Garbage.

Why would the customer want something that this going to break again. Three times for one customer.

Played 2 rounds and have noticed a crack around the hosel.Am a bit dissapionted as it seems to be longer than my other driver.I hope this is not a commen problem.

Will soon find out.

was given this driver a month ago august 08 used it three times at golf range split along side of head towards hosel so will have to wait for a replacement will give it 1 star for workmanship will review its performance properly when replacement arrives

will let you know

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• Home > Tour Edge Exotics XCG 7 Driver

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Tour Edge Exotics XCG 7 Driver

• Price: $299.95
• Product Code: TE14-XCG7D
• Manufacturer: Tour Edge
• Availability: Discontinued
• Hand: Right Handed
• Loft: Adjustable (8°-12°)
• Flex: Regular Stiff
• Shaft: Fujikura Fuel
• Quantity in Basket: None
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Each model is available in one head that incorporates added adjustability with loft & lie angle options from 8.5 to 12 degrees in ½ degree increments. This advanced level of performance versatility gives players the ultimate results in distance and accuracy.

Tour Edge Exotics XCG 7 Beta Driver

Tour Edge Exotics XCG 7 Beta Fairway Wood

Tour Edge Exotics XCG 7 Hybrid Iron Set

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Tour Edge Exotics XCG7 Hybrid Review

Confession: until 6 weeks ago, I didn’t know jack about Tour Edge. In fact, I’m still not quite sure whether “Exotics” is part of their name or a specific line of clubs or what. Now that I’ve hit the XCG7 4 Hybrid for a few weeks at the range and on the course, I frankly don’t care. The short version of this story is that the Exotics XCG7 Hybrid is now taking up residence in my bag, while my once kinda-beloved 4 iron is sawing logs in my trunk.

Back to my initial cluelessness with Tour Edge and their products – I remember always seeing their clubs being reviewed in the Golf Digest Hot List, but my eyes sort of glazed over the name, me figuring this was more of a knockoff or lower-tier line of clubs. After doing some research, I see that they do have some clubs carrying the “Bazooka” moniker, so you can’t really blame youngerMe for that perception while flipping through the pages. What my research also turned up – the Tour Edge Exotics fairway woods are both respected and utilized on Tour, without paying anyone to play them. So we know they’re legit.

Turns out the whole business model of Tour Edge is geared to put high quality clubs in the hands of golfers without the “inflated” prices that result from mass marketing and hype-machining. So that explains why I never knew much about them, and a lot of you out there are probably in the same boat. For the record, if you visit their website at www.touredge.com , you’ll quickly see that they are not running things the same way a Taylor Made or Nike or any other mainstream clubmaker does . . . I’m not saying better or worse, it’s just a different approach. As examples, I’ll just say that their press releases have not been updated in some time and they offer golfers the option to put a corporate logo on the clubs. Not exactly blueblood stuff, and I think that might give some folks reason to question their legitimacy as a true player in the market.

But as we all know by now, or should know at least – none of that matters. How’s the club?

I tested the XCG7 hybrid 4, with 22 degrees of loft, fitted with the stock Fujikura FUEL shaft in Stiff Flex. Overall the club has a ‘player’ look, in that the classic head shape is a muted/matte gray with no alignment aid, and the shaft is also a matte gray/black. In other words, there’s no bling or flashy stuff going on, it just looks like it wants to be a serious club. The top of the club does bear the word “Exotics” in muted white, located on the back heel, but it is subtle and barely noticeable at address.

Hitting this club follows along the same understated-but-serious path . . . the feel at impact is soft but solid, same with the sound. If you put a blindfold on and took three swings, you’d think “okay, this is a good club”. The kicker, though, is when you look up and actually see the flight of the ball – so high and straight, but with enough forward momentum to never seem like a ballooned skyball.

I had actually never swung a 22 degree hybrid before (always lower) so I suppose this observation must be taken with a grain of salt, but in my first range session I had trouble believing that this club could possibly be hitting the ball 190 or so yards like my 4 iron because it was honestly flying twice as high. And of course, my range of choice is one of those classics where you can’t really tell where the ball lands, so I was thinking there was still a chance that I was just hitting high pop-ups with this thing. It felt great and looked great, but I still couldn’t believe that something climbing that high would also be moving the chains.

Once out on the course, however, my fears were put to rest – yes, this club somehow hits it a mile high and the same distance as my 4 iron – beauty. It still catches me off guard every time I pull this club out on a par 5 layup or a long par 4 – I swing, it feels solid as hell, I look up, it seems way too high to do anything good, I wait a while, it lands where I was aiming.

Because I am forced to think about these things for the sake of reviewing a club: the shaft and head of this club feel so well-balanced through the swing that when you do hit a great shot, it feels like it was just so damn easy and exactly how it was all meant to go down. But not in a super game-improvement manner, mind you – this club allows you to work the ball a bit, and the softer feel is solid in a way that you know you’re not cheating to get the ball up into the air at the cost of all else. In other words, I don’t think Tour Edge is trying to express-deliver more distance or higher launch or what have you, I think it is just a quality, well-balanced golf club that provides a high level of performance.

As I said before, until now I had only hit hybrid 2s and 3s, and I could never shake the idea that they were more of a fairway wood than an iron. I knew they were designed to find greens, but I was only really comfortable using them when I had a little less than a 3 wood’s distance to find a fairway. With this XCG7 4, I am now totally confident in trying to drop a ball on a green with a hybrid in my hand. I’m hitting it so straight, high, and with such control that it no longer feels like a risk/reward scenario to forgo the iron and reach for the lumber.

You can see all of the Tour Exotics clubs on the Tour Edge website

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Tour Edge Exotics XCG-V Driver Review

Published: 10 February 2011 Last updated: 26 November 2015

At a glance

• TG Rating Not yet rated
• Owner Rating Not yet rated
• RRP £439.00

What we say...

The Tour Edge Exotics XCG-V Driver is a masterpiece of style and performance featuring a titanium cup face, an ultra light magnesium crown, and a v-shaped high-density steel sole.

This combination of advanced materials delivers an unprecedented ability to distribute weight within a driver head. Saving every ounce of weight, the three pieces are bonded through a revolutionary no-weld process called combo-brazing.

The V-series exhibits superb command compliments of a newly-designed heavy v-shaped sole. The engineered sole places 49% of the club's weight below the ball and in the rear corners.

This advanced weighting is possible because of the driver's unique titanium cup face and magnesium crown. Two times lighter, the magnesium crown shifts more weight to the sole creating a deeper center of gravity. This use of magnesium makes the XCG the most forgiving Exotics driver ever.

Capable of producing extreme distance, the XCG-V's cup-face is a remarkable 125% larger than previous models. This engineering advancement creates a 30% bigger hot zone for impressive power even on off-centre hits.

Magnesium, titanium and high density steel composite head, Graphite Design Exotics Tour AD or Aldila Voodoo grapgite shafts, ladies, gents, LH (10.5 loft only), RH.

Lofts: 9, 10.5, 12.

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Tour Edge Exotics E722 Driver Review

More in reviews:.

50 Words or Less

The Tour Edge Exotics E722 driver is a very forgiving driver that can work for players at any level.  Great impact sound.  Mid spin, mid/high launch.

Check out the new Tour Edge Exotics E723 driver HERE

Introduction

Tour Edge Exotics is best known for making Tour-style clubs.  It’s right in the name, and it’s proven in their track record across professional tours.  But just because their clubs are great for the pros doesn’t mean they can’t engineer high performing tools for recreational golfers, too.  When TEE tunes their signature technologies for the average player, you get a club like the E722 driver.

The Tour Edge Exotics E722 driver uses asymmetrical carbon fiber plates in the crown to play a small trick on your eyes.  This head is almost perfectly round, but because the toe-side plate is much larger, it gives the driver a pear-shaped appearance.  In terms of size, the E722 is a standard modern driver that’s slightly elongated from front to back.

Flipping the club over, you’ll see that those carbon fiber panels wrap around to the sole.  Along the middle of the sole, there’s prominent Tour Edge Exotics branding.  A large weight at the rear of the head calls attention to the design focus: high MOI.

The differences between the C722 (right) and E722 drivers at address are minute.   The E722 sits square, the C722 is a hair open.  This difference may seem larger in the picture above because of the camera angle.  Staring at them side-by-side, the E722 is also a little more rounded, making it appear a little bulkier on the toe side.  This makes the face appear a bit taller, though it isn’t.  Without having the clubs next to each other, it would be very hard to tell one from the other.

Sound & Feel

Much like their looks, the sounds of the E722 and C722 [review HERE ] are similar with subtle differences.  That same “crack/snap” is still the dominant feature at impact, but it’s slightly quieter and lower pitched in the E722.  This may be the result of of having only one weight port in the sole.  Regardless, it’s a powerful sound that announces your presence with authority.

As in the C722, the feedback is very precise through the hands .  If you’re paying any attention at all, you’ll know exactly where the ball met the face.  This level of feedback in a highly stable driver is impressive.

Performance

The Tour Edge Exotics E722 driver has the same adjustable hosel as its brother, but it trades the Front/Back Weighting System for higher MOI.  The E722 driver has a single 30 gram weight at the back of the head which pushes the MOI to 5500 g/cm² (the C722 tops out at 4,950).

Higher MOI means greater stability and more forgiveness .  When you combine the high MOI with TEE’s signature technologies – Ridgeback, Carbon Wrap Tech, and Diamond Face VFT – you have a driver that produces extremely consistent results.

Every performance metric – distance, ball speed, launch angle, and spin – is very stable with the E722 driver .  Even when I was first getting used to this club, the shots kept flying on similar trajectories to similar distances.  If forgiveness is at the top of your wish list, the E722 needs to be one you try this year.

In comparing the E722 and C722 drivers, I found that I was a bit more comfortable with the feel of the C722 which is why it produced better numbers (yes, you can compare the numbers in the two reviews apples-to-apples).  As I noted in the C722 review, the location of the CG can make a big difference in how a club feels to you, and the C722 hit a sweet spot for me.  That said, it would be very easy for me to put the E722 driver in the bag in light of how consistent it is.

In the C722 and E722 drivers, Tour Edge Exotics gives players numerous shaft choices .  From Mitsubishi Chemicals, they offer the TENSEI Orange, White, and Blue.  The latter two come in both 65 and 75 gram versions.  From Fujikura, light weight players can get what they want from the Air Speeder.  Ventus Red and Ventus Blue are also available.  TEE uses their Speed Tested system to recommend shafts to those that can’t be fit in person.

For players that value forgiveness and consistency above all else, the Tour Edge Exotics E722 driver is a must-try.  This club doesn’t lack in distance, but it’s the predictability that really makes it special.  Get it fit with the right shaft and loft and you’ll have a great year off the tee.

Visit Tour Edge HERE

Tour edge exotics e722 driver price & specs.

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21 Comments

Great review. I just got the c722 and could not be happier. Question: if I put a heavier weight in the back would it increase the moi a bit?

Yes, you’ve got it exactly.

I received the e722 yesterday I have an older tour edge with a draw face and my question is do any of these setting help to make a draw face?

If you set the hosel so the face is closed at address, that should help produce a draw.

What is the best setting to try to hit a draw (draw face) ?

Try the “++” setting.

I’ve got the C721 from last year and love it. I also have a couple Tour Edge hybrids which are great. Tour Edge are a very underrated company. Check them out! You won’t be disappointed. Great Review.

Matt — I am a VERY senior golfer (will leave it up to you to equate that to an approximate age) — and I have a Tour Edge XCG6 that has been in my bag for probably close to 10 years. I love it. But recently I discovered a crack in the shaft, and am vacillating between reshafting and buying a new TE. I’ve been reading about the E722 and like what I’ve discovered. My swing speed is probably right at 70 mph; my desire is forgiveness and as straight a trajectory as possible. I have discovered that I also need a shaft that is about 1″ shorter than “standard” (I’ve shrunk over the years . . .) My index is +/- 25. So: bottom line — would you recommend that E722 for me, and how might I communicate to a provider that I need a shaft adjustment? Yeah — I know I can always choke down, but I’d rather have the feel of a “full grip.” Thanks much!!

As to whether or not the E722 is a fit, my recommendation is to get a fitting. Anything short of an in person fitting is just expensive guess work. When you are ready to order a club, most manufacturers have an option for specifying club length.

I have just been for a driver fitting and the tour edge e772 was by far the best driver for me, it just felt so much better than the rest and consistant, looking forward to playing with it, really good driver

How does the e722 compare to my rbz stage 2 driver for performance. 90mph swing speed .

I don’t have any head to head data on those two. My advice is always to try it during a fitting against whatever you’re gaming now.

What is E722 driver approximate ball speed.

It depends on the player swinging it and their club speed.

Correction: what is the E722 driver approximate ball spin rate.

Same answer: depends on the person swinging it.

Hello Matt,

Will you be reviewing the 723 line in near future?

Yes, we’re working to get those in soon.

Hey Matt, I currently hit the Tour Edge “Hot Launch” E522. Driver. It is very forgiving and I hit it pretty well for a 60yr old. But it has a very unique sound. Sounds pretty much like an aluminum bat striking a baseball. I love the performance but not crazy about the sound. Does the “Exotics “ E722 have the same sound? Would the performance be matched or even maybe improved? Thank you

I think the E722 and 522 drivers sound different and perform differently. Whether or not the performance is better will be a matter of fit.

After trying the “BIG” three over the last 2 months I had to go with the Tour Edge E722… We kicked out the Mistu shaft, and did a transplant to the 60 gram Fuji Ventus Blue in a “stiff”…. Wow, what a difference…. “it might” only be 9/10 yards longer, it’s certainly 12/14 yards straighter — I mean straighter. I’ve always had a bad habit of slicing — not with this Fuji blue Ventus.. amazing.

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Driver Reviews

Review: tour edge exotics xcg5 driver.

Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Driver Review

Tested: Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Driver Loft tested (degrees): 10.5 Shaft: Matrix RUL 60

From Tour Edge: Truly unique, the XCG5 features Tour Edge’s one-of-a-kind, combo-brazing to join the titanium face and body to an ultra-thin beta titanium crown.  In fact, no other driver sold in the United States uses brazing. It’s too expensive and time consuming. Instead, most companies weld face plates to the body.  This method doesn’t allow for full face flexion and maximum forgiveness like brazing…Its beta titanium crown material is ultra-thin and lighter than the previous carbon crown found in the XCG4.  This material dramatically improves sound while allowing more weight to be added to the rear of the sole through our new Six-Point Perimeter Weighting System.  This system features six weight pads that lower the center of gravity and move it deeper and further back in the sole for a lower center of gravity and greater accuracy.

Pros: Easy to hit and long. Near off-the-charts forgiveness.  Solid hits produce a generally straight flight with just a touch of ‘country club draw.’ Dependable, repeatable results.

Cons: Not the most ‘workable’ driver. Lack of alignment mark might turn off more. Long stock shaft may be a turn-off to some. Loud impact sound.  Higher price than some in its class, especially lacking adjustability.

Bottom Line: A sleeper in the ultra-light driver category, the Exotics XCG5 driver is another quality offering from Tour Edge.  It’s loud, long and a heck of a lot of fun to play.

Look: Let’s be honest.  There are many entries in the ultra-light, forgiving, distance-first, workabililty-second driver category.  Some are prettier than others, and the XCG5 certainly is on the attractive side.  The plain, classic shiny black finish with small alignment aid will appear to most.  Somehow the head looks a tad bigger than 460cc, but it is not.  It looks forgiving at address (and is), and sits nice and square.  If it was pear-shaped, you’d swear it was a true ‘players’ driver.

Despite the square clubface, the club works best with a draw. That’s not to say you can’t work it, but the club knows its roots. Want to hit a 5 yard draw all day?  This driver is your best friend.

What’s really nice is that generally terrible swings produce better-than-average results.  Slices tend to be under-exaggerated.  The toe of the club is VERY forgiving.

Feel/Sound: “What’s that?”  That may be the guy next to you on the range after you smoke one with the XCG5.  Yes, it’s pretty loud.  No, not the loudest I’ve heard, but it has volume to it.  It’s not distracting though (I’m not a sound snob, but I know some are out there, so take it for what you will).

For a driver this light and forgiving, you can definitely tell when you’ve hit the center of the clubface.  Toe hits are more than feel (and distance).  Heel shots have that ‘sting’ but are not harsh by any means.  All in all, very solid.

Big hits feel powerful. You know when you’ve tagged it for sure! It’s one of the best feelings in golf.

Bottom Line: Tour Edge Exotics has a bit of a cult following and it’s easy to understand why. The Exotics XCG5 driver is typical Tour Edge: a handsome, forgiving cannon on the tee box.  It’s designed to pound the ball, and it does it well.  While it may be priced higher than some in this price point, there is a lot of advanced design packed into the clubhead.  If you’re looking for an ultra-light driver and big distance, don’t overlook the XCG5.

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22 Comments

Jun 8, 2014 at 1:49 pm

I tested exotic w Bassara today.it’s awesome…. Don buy matrix…shaft….

Oct 17, 2013 at 11:09 pm

I am 65 years young with a 88 mph swing. 8.4 index I hit my XCG-5 driver avg carry 260 with roll out to 275-290 GPS measured. I hit my XCG-4 4 wood 230 carry with roll out 245-255 GPS measured. I work at a golf course and have hit just about everybody’s Top Name Stuff. The only club that out performs my TEE is the Callaway Deep 3 3 wood. But I can not control it, it is however very long. You would be very surprised at how many Tour Pros use TEE clubs. And true they do not sponsor any Pro.

Aug 29, 2013 at 1:25 pm

I have had the first generation TE exotics (driver 10.5 through 7 wood) in the bag for years. And I like them to bits. I have had drivers from Titleist (905R), Callaway and Wishon and even though these were good too I would not change my TE driver for anything else. Long, straight and easy to hit. The week before last I unfortunately broke the shaft of the driver during hitting the ball. One email to TE was enough to have my driver repaired (new shaft to my specifications) free of charge under the life time warranty. Name me another brand that does this!! P.s. I am a 8 handicapper.

Joe carroll

May 29, 2013 at 7:02 pm

Shockingly (at least to me) the tour edge has added 30’yards to my drive. I always thought all these drivers were all alike, because i have hit a lot of them and they all seemed to go just about the same distance, With an unimpressive swing speed I now out drive my regular foursome and they aren’t happy, but I am!

Dennis Rasinski

Apr 7, 2013 at 8:02 am

I must be in the minority but I have played TEE forever. I am happy with them. Irons are forgiving, fairway woods are fantastic and I have never had any complaints about the drivers. I had the XCG V and switched to the XCG 5 and do not see any major difference in distance but my shots in the fairway have increased. I agree that the longer shaft feels a little odd but will work through it. My complaint was TE used to be a great club at a reasonable price. A lot cheaper than the major brands and just as capable. They have raised their prices where it gets me looking at other brands because of the cost factor. When they were $100 cheaper than others and would out do them, it was never a doubt what I bought. JMHO

Jason Warlond

Apr 11, 2013 at 4:37 am

Tour edge woods in particular are excellent. I’ve had a couple of their driver at various times and also good. Very accurate. Some of the tour boys use their woods and do so by choice .. no ‘cos they are paid. That’s a pretty big tick in my book.

Apr 3, 2013 at 6:43 pm

Tour Edge doesn’t pay pros to play them. B Snedeker was playing the CB4 3 wood when he won earlier this year. On a recent trip to Florida I was at the Eagle Creek driving range and there was three collage age players with Tour Edge drivers and woods in their bags One was hitting the driver and he was bombing it straight down the middle. I’m sure we will see more out their. as I said previously my XCG5 3 wood is the best feeling club I ever hit. I also picked up theXCG 5 hybrid and am looking for a 5 WD. I demo. A lot of clubs and TE make some of the best.

Apr 1, 2013 at 6:10 pm

If these clubs are so good why don’t any Touring Pros use them? I have never tried them so I can’t comment but I can say none of the people I play with plays these clubs. I got roped into buying the F2 Face Forward Wedges because they were suppose to be the best thing that has ever happened in Golf and no touring pros used them either.

Oct 1, 2012 at 3:59 pm

I own the XCG5 driver and 3 wood and i have to say that i am very pleased with both. Prior to playing tour edge exotics i was using taylormade products. The Tour edge exotics line has outperformed anything else that i have played. Great products.

Sep 28, 2012 at 1:16 am

Guess I’ll throw my 2 cents in here… I tech for a major manufacturer, play their irons loyally, but love the Tour Edge woods and have for years. Have the xcg5 driver and 3 wood in my bag now and they excellent performers!

And I have to say…@Chris…re: spin, balloon, and that twang sound thing…..usually, the better players whose opinion I would trust don’t seem have those issues. Perhaps you sould try working on your swing eh?

Sep 4, 2012 at 8:45 pm

FYI Never hit the TE driver but, Just started playing LH xcg5 3 wood 15 degree with fujikura blur shaft Sweetest feeling club I ever hit . Almost as long as my D2 9.5 with aldila 60 red eyes. First time poster here, been playing since 1973 ,7 HC , tried lots of clubs, never heard of TE till two years ago . Their fairway wood is a winner!

Aug 20, 2012 at 6:05 pm

I took out the xcg5 3wood this weekend along with the RBZ and Adams XTD all considered the best by the golf shop. Therre was no comparison. For me the xcg5 was as long or longer and more consistent and forgiving thean the other two. I will be buying one.

Aug 19, 2012 at 3:38 pm

I recently hit the CB4 fairway wood. My Titleist 910f 15 degree is just as long. They have some balls saying I would get 20 extra yards out of their 3 wood. OK product at best, totally overated in my opinion.

Aug 17, 2012 at 10:55 am

Chris: so you didn’ t hit it on 7 Aug when you first posted your dismissive comment? If you did, why would you hit again on the 16th? Not sure what ‘pumping’ is. I posted my comment based on my experience with it as I thought it might be worth something to someone looking for a new driver. :Worthless’ – ‘rather hit just about anything else…’? Overstating you’r dislike of the club surely. You made your point in your first comment and I made mine in mine. Let it go at that.

Aug 16, 2012 at 4:52 pm

@john, Let the pumping begin.

I hit it today and it was worthless , I spin, balloon flight and God awful twang sound. I’d rather hit just about anything than this.

Aug 14, 2012 at 11:18 am

I agree with the reviewer remarks. Works for me and is worth every cent. Not fussy about the sound – a bit ‘tinny’ to my ear but the results more than compensate for that. Well crafted and delivers on its attributes.

Jun 8, 2014 at 1:52 pm

Try Bassara for it. It works.!

Aug 12, 2012 at 10:14 pm

Certain TEE products are awesome…xcg4 fairways, xcg hybrids, original cb1 fairways and driver. The TEE xcg5 doesn’t make the list. I hope TE will someday make a driver that is as good as their fairway clubs.

Jun 8, 2014 at 1:51 pm

Aug 10, 2012 at 10:30 pm

Does anyone actually buy Tour Exotics clubs?

Aug 8, 2012 at 4:15 pm

I agree Chris, the products are grossly overpriced, seem to be pumped up by certain users on the board, yet consistently underperform. Stay away unless you want to sell it on eBay for 1/10th the price in a month.

Aug 7, 2012 at 4:49 pm

Another overrated TEE product. Tried them and they are not very good.

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GolfWRX Spotlight: Tour Edge Exotics C721 driver

Tour Edge’s Exotics line of high-end golf clubs has been known for excellent fairway wood and hybrid performance over the years. The Chicago-based company has been consistently putting out high-quality products, and golfers are really taking notice. The new line of C721 drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids take yet another big leap forward from last year’s EXS line.  

The new C721 driver takes a lot of technology from the 2020 EXS line and further refines and expands on it. I know it is a little cliche when companies say every model is their best ever, but Tour Edge is 100 percent right this time.

When unboxing the C721 the first thing I noticed was the much-improved looks and shape over the previous Tour Edge drivers. The biggest change to my eye is the added bulge, giving a more rounded and softened topline.

The overall shape of the C721 is slightly stretched from front to back, giving it just a hint of a triangular look. The Ridgeback is a titanium spine flanked by two carbon fiber wings that add stability and forgiveness to the head, but they can also work together and an additional aiming device to ensure you are lined up down the center of the fairway.  

Getting the C721 out on the course is where you really start to appreciate all the technology that went into this driver. Well-struck shots are very long, very boring, and will hang with anything out on the market today. Center contact is rewarded with a long and very low spin shot that is just fun to hit.

The sound and feel are very solid, you can really feel the ball compress on the face as it leaves at high speed. The sound is more of a muted crack and much quieter than I anticipated. If you practice on an enclosed range your ears will thank you for your choice in drivers. Shots hit away from the center of the face retain a lot of ball speed and stay online really well.

My miss is low on the heel and those misses stayed in the air fairly well and went a good ways. Shots hit down on the heel or higher on the toe side still stay online really well due to the Ridgeback spine and rear weight. The C721 is just slightly higher than mid-launch for me, but the low spinning head never allowed my shots to balloon or rise even into the wind. I do wish the face was just a touch deeper as I had to play with my tee height in order to find the optimal setup. The better players will enjoy the neutral weighting and there seems to be very minimal draw built into the driver.

Overall, the Tour Edge Exotics C721 driver is a great club that will probably be overlooked by too many golfers. If you are looking for added distance, a lot of forgiveness and want to keep some money in your pocket, then you should seriously take a look at Tour Edge.

Review: Ping’s G400 and G400 LST Drivers

I still remember the first time I hit Ping’s G30 driver. It was July 2014, and I was at Ping’s HQ in Phoenix. Super low-spin drivers were all the rage at the time. With their forward center of gravity, they were helping golfers optimize their launch conditions beyond their wildest dreams: crazy high launch, ridiculously low spin. Many in the business, including myself, had one of these drivers and spent many launch monitor sessions trying to figure out how to get more distance from these high knuckleballs. The bad news was that forward-CG drivers, by nature, were really unforgiving. Bad shots were really short and crooked.

Before I knew the G30 was a big deal,  Marty Jertson , Ping’s Director of Product Development, explained to me his vision for the perfect driver inside a conference room at Ping Headquarters. In his eyes, the perfect driver didn’t have the low, forward center of gravity (CG) that was being touted at the time. Its CG was located as low and as rearward in the driver head as possible, which he said would offer the best of both worlds: optimized launch conditions on good shots, as well as the best possible forgiveness on bad shots.

Building the perfect driver was a long way off (and still is), but Jertson was excited where Ping had landed with the G30. When it was released , the driver was a powerful testament to his vision. Its rear-CG design created great distance on good and bad shots, and it was also a very straight driver. The G30 sold incredibly well and, as a result, the industry mostly shifted away from forward-CG drivers.

It’s been nearly three years since the release of the G30, and Ping has just made another counterintuitive driver release. The company shrunk the size of its new G400 drivers in a climate where full-size drivers have become the norm. Granted, it’s only 15 cubic centimeters smaller, but it’s noticeable at address. Compared to the Ping G drivers they replace (which replaced the G30), the G400’s look like they cut carbs.

Despite their slimmer frames, however, the G400 drivers are actually more forgiving than the G drivers (which were even more forgiving than the G30). That’s why Ping representatives say smaller is actually better in the G400’s case. The drivers have the lowest, most rearward CG of any Ping drivers ever, and their smaller size is said to improve their aerodynamics so golfers can swing them fractionally faster. The other big change is a new face material made of T9S+ titanium, which is thinner and more flexible to help golfers generate more ball speed.

For this review, I wanted to put the G400 and G400 LST to the test against the G and the G LST drivers that they replace, so I took them to the  Launch Pad at Carl’s Golfland  in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. I hit five shots with each driver on Trackman IV, and to ensure as much of an apples-to-apples comparison as possible, I tested each driver head with the same shaft. Each driver head was adjusted to the same loft, or as close as possible.

Note: The G, G LST, and G400 drivers I tested were 10.5-degree heads adjusted to 9.5 degrees. The G400 LST had a loft of 10 degrees, and it was adjusted to 9.4 degrees.

In my personal driver tests, I don’t usually see a huge uptick in distance or accuracy when comparing the latest drivers to the most recent models from the same manufacturer. Improvements generally come in the form of improved head shaping, a better feel, or enhanced adjustability. That’s why I was surprised to see such a big change in my launch conditions and dispersion with the G400 drivers.

G400 Test Results: With the G400, I launched my drives an average of 1.6-degrees higher than I did with the G while dropping spin an average of 416 rpm. That led to a significant improvement in distance. With my swing speed and ball speed staying about the same, I added an average of 7.2 yards more carry distance and 8.7 yards more total distance.

G400 LST Test Results:  First, a note about the G400 LST. It has a CG that’s slightly lower and more forward than the standard G400 driver to help golfers reduce spin. Like the G30 LST and G LST, it’s still very much a rear-CG driver, but its design helps high-speed golfers who can consistently find the center of the club face maximize distance without highjacking forgiveness. When I test Ping drivers, the LST is generally the model that creates the best performance, and the G400 LST was no exception. I saw an average of a 1.2-degree higher launch angle with all other things staying about the same when I compared it to the G LST. The result was an average of 6.6 yards more carry distance and 3.1 yards more total distance. It was the longest and straightest driver I hit in the test.

Note: Ping also sells a G400 SFT (Straight Flight Technology) driver, which has added draw bias. To learn more about it, click through  to tech story on the G400, G400 LST and G400 SFT drivers. 

One way to explain the improved launch conditions is that I hit the G400 drivers more consistently. As you can see in the Trackman dispersion chart, I hit the G400 and G400 LST drivers straighter on average than the G and G LST. Is that its slightly enhanced forgiveness shining through? Maybe, maybe not.

To me, the changes Ping made to the look and feel of the driver were just as important as the performance difference I saw on Trackman. I’ve always preferred smaller driver heads, or at least 460-cubic-centimeter drivers that appear smaller than their size. For that reason, I felt more confident with the G400 drivers in my hands. I didn’t mind that I didn’t see any added swing speed or ball speed from the smaller driver head. I was sold on the looks alone.

I also preferred the sound of the G400 drivers to the G drivers. There was definitely much more of a “thwack” than a “ping” at impact, which made the G400’s feel more powerful. Looks and feel are subjective, of course, but to me the improvement was night and day. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that my fondness for the looks and feel of the G400 was at least a contributing factor to my improved performance in the test, if not the most important factor. When I like the way a club look at address, I tend to hit it better, and I know I’m not alone.

I do want readers to keep in mind that this was a one-person test and I hit a limited amount of balls. Yes, it’s a great indication that the G400 driver can be measurably better than a G driver, but it’s not a guarantee.

I also want to address the weaknesses of the G400 drivers. While they’re few, they could push golfers into another driver model in a fitting. Unlike  Callaway’s GBB Epic ,  TaylorMade’s M1 or  Titleist’s 917 drivers, the G400’s don’t have CG adjustability. That means there’s no way to fine tune ball flight outside of a shaft or loft adjustment. A bigger deal for some golfers might be the G400 crowns. Despite their smaller size, there’s still a lot to look at address, as was the case with the G drivers.

Aerodynamic features on the front of the crowns, “Turbulators,” have been thickened for the G400 release. There’s also Ping’s “DragonFly Technology,” a geometry on the back of the driver crowns that helps push CG lower and more rearward in the driver heads. I personally think the G400 crowns give the drivers an old-school, muscle car-like look, but there’s no question they won’t fly with all golfers.

Whatever your thoughts about what’s on top of the G400 drivers, there’s no question that what’s under the hood can offer something the G and G30 drivers did not. Maybe you’ll like the smaller head. Maybe you’ll prefer the quieter sound. Maybe the improved forgiveness will show up on a launch monitor or on the course. Or maybe you’ll just flat out rip a G400 farther and straighter down the middle like I did.

If that last bit happens, try not to second-guess it.

Members Choice: The Best Driver of 2017

What determines the best driver on the market; is it the opinion of professional club fitters, professional golfers or testing results from a group of amateurs?

At GolfWRX, we believe all three sources can lead golfers to an answer. Being a website founded by passionate golfers with a mission to serve passionate golfers, though, we place a special emphasis on the opinions of our GolfWRX Members — the most knowledgeable group of golfers on the planet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively as GolfWRX Members. So who better to poll to get an initial indication of the best performing drivers so far in 2017?

So we asked them,  “What’s the best driver of 2017?” They voted for the three drivers they felt most worthy of the title and provided feedback about their selections in our special forum thread . You can see the results below (as of the first three weeks of voting), as well as quotes we pulled from GolfWRX Members about the drivers from our forum.

Remember that our polls will remain open for voting throughout the year, and we’re going to keep an eye on the percentages as more and more golfers have an opportunity to test these drivers. We’re also working on another Best Driver list , which will evaluate clubs in another important way. Stay tuned!

Keep in mind that there’s no single driver on the market that is the absolute best option for every golfer: that’s why nearly every manufacturer makes at least two different models. As this list indicates, however, some drivers are working better than others this year. Happy Testing!

Note: Forum posts were minimally edited for grammar, style, spelling and clarity.

Cobra King LTD Black (3.00 percent of votes)

• The General : All-black LTD is really clean looking. I’m about to cover up the orange on my LTD with lead tape. Orange is played out
• mh7vw :  Love my LTD, but wish the black finish (or even this gray) didn’t have that subtle checkering you see in some like. Prefer plain black.
• dbleag :  I am a fan of the black/orange combo.  The performance and sound of the LTD is very appealing to me.  I also like that the standard length is 45 inches. For me, that helps it be super-accurate. With the low-spin design, I hit it longest of the current offerings and can’t remember the last time I missed a fairway. Straight, solid, low spin and nice.

Further Reading

• Cobra King LTD Black Driver: In-Hand Photos

Mizuno JPX-900 (3.20 percent)

• johnnythunders :  JPX goes straight. Best real-deal shaft and is long and very adjustable.
• KT35 :  That blue head looks awesome sitting on the ground. I hit balls off the toe and heel and didn’t see the big drop off in distance like the previous models.
• nmorton :  The JPX-900 is definitely more forgiving compared to the JPX-850, and sounds much better. Though they did sacrifice a bit by going with a little larger profile, but it’s easy to get used to. The graphics are so so, but this driver performs. I’m really digging the Evo II (shaft).
• jay65 :  I can see that Mizuno is really making a decent effort with its drivers/fairways in terms of tech and aesthetics, and they compliment the new JPX-900 line of irons really well, but if they’re going to make any inroads they really have to address this issue of their custom shafts options. It’s rubbish.
• bok006 :  The JPX-900, after being properly adjusted by the fitter, gave me an extra 20 yards just like that. My swing speed suggested I was borderline S to X (flex), but the fitter said unless I was fighting a hook I should stick with the S.
• bubbagump : …the JPX-900, when properly fit, is just as long on a consistent basis than all the new models I tried in real life situations. It looks great, sounds solid and just knows the way to keep the ball in play.  
• Chazb :  I’m 69 years old, have a swing speed of 91 mph and played nine with the JPX-900 this morning. It was in the 40s with a brisk wind hit it around 220 to 230 yards. It was a fairway finder, has great feel and is one of the easiest to control drivers I have ever hit. I can’t wait ’til it is warmer and can dial it in more. So far I have the two weights all the way forward for a lower flight and the other set with a draw bias with 10.5 degrees of loft. This driver is the real deal; it may not be the longest or the shortest, but it is a fairway finder which IMO makes it a winner.
• Mizuno JPX-900 drivers, fairway woods and hybrids

Ping G (3.80 percent)

• Wesquire : Ping G is the most forgiving so it wins.
• bopper53 : Ping G hands down. Great distance and the most forgiving.
• Dannydubbbs :  The Ping G series is just too forgiving. The distance is comparable between most models, but Ping always seems to win out with forgiveness.
• Bruin Bear :  The Ping G is going to be overlooked because it’s looked at as “game improvement,” but this driver is a beast. I liked the LS, but it requires a faster swing to get results and in the cold outdoors I just don’t have that all the time. I think the G is the perfect blend of performance and forgiveness.
• cmrl1986 :  Only reason I switched from the Ping G25 was that the G felt less harsh off the face. Same distance just about.
• Review: Ping G, G LS Tec and G SF Tec drivers

Cobra King F7+ (3.90 percent)

• EntourageLife : Ball really flies off face. Driver head controls spin well. Not one drive “ballooned” and trajectory was high and best of all… very easy to work ball right to left for a confident draw.
• Gollie :  The F7+ is another great offering from Cobra… I didn’t get the “MAN, this is gonna take my LTD out of the bag” feeling, but it has very good sound, feel and performance.
• J13 :  F7+ is a great offering from Cobra and IMO is in the top-3 drivers this year. Epic is the standout for me numbers wise, then M series and F7+ are right behind it. Love the Agera (shaft) in there!!! Such a great shaft; I can’t seem to get mine out of the bag.
• Golfer from MO :  Hit both Cobras lefty and as a lefty the LTD is the shizzle. Last year it was the LTD and Big Bertha down to the absolute wire… the F7+ is more workable than the LTD, but not longer and a little worse on mishits.
• Boognish :  I took a few swings with the F7+ at Golf Galaxy yesterday. 9.5 degrees with heaviest weight forward. The stock shaft is actually the same model I play in my GBB (albeit in smoked black instead of yellow). Ball flight and distance were similar to my GBB with good consistent sub-3000 backspin. Sound was OK, feel was harder than the GBB.
• thechief16 :  Just from the range (no LM), I didn’t see a noticeable performance improvement with the F7+ over the original King LTD. And I like the look and sound/feel of the LTD better.
• Cobra King F7 and King F7+ drivers
• What you need to know about Cobra’s King F7 and F7+ drivers

Ping G LS Tec (4.90 percent)

• drvrwdge :  I played the G LS with the Ping Tour 65X (shaft) tipped an inch for about a year. Just put the HZRDUS Yellow 75 6.5 tipped an inch and never thought it was possible, but it’s longer and straighter. Best driver shaft combo I’ve ever hit. You can feel that HZRDUS throughout the entire swing. Really gives you a solid connected feel.
• Mtngolfer1 : I am not sure that I would consider this a 2017 Driver, but my vote went to the Ping G LS Tec. The fact that my G is still holding its own against the latest 2017 releases has me very excited to see what Ping will release later this year.
• 3woodvt :  Fairway finder and plenty long.
• pitchinwedge :  I’ve found the LS to be nearly as fade biased as the M family. I get pretty good results with the LS by making a conscious effort to make more of an in-to-out swing. Any lapse in concentration and everything goes right. The M’s require even more effort, which is the reason I stayed with the LS instead.
• 3 Jack Par :  After an up and down year with the G LS, I’ve actually recently gone back to my G30 LS head. I only have a couple of rounds as a sample so far, so I can’t really draw a conclusion about whether one or the other is better, but with the same shaft it seems like my G30 head might be a little longer. Honestly, the performance differences are pretty minimal if you really compare the two generations.

Titleist 917D3 (5.30 percent)

• Gava :  The 917D3 is in my bag now, and I’ve found it incredibly long with a recently purchased Graphite Design Tour AD MJ 7TX shaft. Feel and accuracy has been a real improvement as well.
• Togatown22 :  I find my 917D3 to be just as forgiving as my 915D2 was, and man do I prefer looking down at the head shape and color versus the 915. Very confidence inspiring.
• NIxhex524 :  I would definitely give the D3 a whirl. I feel like Titleist has made great strides at making the smaller head way more hittable for us ams.
• KPH808 :  So in conclusion, I was hitting the ball about 9 yards further on average and 3-4 mph faster ball speeds with the 917D3 vs. the 915 D4. The biggest thing for me was the forgiveness between the two; the 917D3 was more forgiving on mishits.
• brushie :  The 917D3 head feels soft like the 910 and sounds great. I never had an issue with the 915 sound; it wasn’t great, but it didn’t bother me too much. This is much better, though. The 917D3 head shape is perfect to my eye as well. The area where the 917 shines is forgiveness. 
• 917 vs. 915: Results from the Ultimate Titleist 917 Driver Fitting Experience

TaylorMade M1 440 (5.35 percent)

• Tigermatt31 : The M1 440 is best driver I’ve had ever.
• TollBros : The M1   440 is definitely lower spin than the M1 460 or M2 from last year. Launch angle isn’t really any lower, but spin is lower for sure.
• specimania :  This year’s 440 is more forgiving.
• MCoz :  Yes, this 440 is more forgiving, and yet it also appears to be more workable than both of the previous M1 and M2s.
• nitram :  To save you a bunch of reading and crunching numbers, I quickly concluded there was a little more forgiveness and exactly +0.4 mph ball speed with the 440. By forgiveness I simply mean this: A 1.48 smash 440 will give you the same ball speed and distance as a 1.49/1.50 430. But if you get a 1.50 from both there is no measurable gain. Side-to-side dispersion was better by 4.7 feet with the 440. Workability was a wash between them, although the 430 seems a bit more fade biased whereas I’ll describe the 440 as a scosche more neutral.
• tj24:   I hit the M1 440 with my Aldila RIP at an 80-gram X-flex. For me, the spin numbers were around 1700 rpm which is probably to low for my swing. I did, however, like the shape of the head and I felt like I could easily work the ball both ways.
• halfsumo :  I really think they nailed it with the shape of this 440 head. Nice pear shape, no weird bulges or ridges that you have to get used to.
• GolfWRX members gain 7 yards on average with 2017 TaylorMade M1, M2 drivers
• 12 Important Changes to the 2017 TaylorMade M1, M2 Drivers

Titleist 917D2 (6.65 percent)

• tsletten : Love the sound of the 917D2.
• bladehunter : N o doubt the 917D2 is an accurate, forgiving driver that doesn’t look as big as it is and sounds fantastic .
• JStang :  Maybe it’s just me, but I find the face to be more shallow (top to bottom) with the 917D2 than other drivers that I’ve tried lately.
• LuckyLowbrow :  I was actually spinning it too low with the D4. Going up to the D2 normalized my spin rate, but led to such an improvement in consistency across the face.

TaylorMade M1 460 2017 (11.81 percent)

• Ereim :  I ended up going with the M1 460. It gave me a slightly tighter dispersion, and I liked looking down at it slightly more.
• jdenham15 : The  2017 TaylorMade M1 is a great driver, but I tend to miss wide right and struggled to turn it over.
• ZBigStick:   The   M1 460 gave me the best results. Was able to increase launch without much added spin with the (T-Track) weight. Feel is good and felt forgiving; dispersion results backing that up.
• BillMurrayGolfing :  The face is hot, receptive, thin and makes a nice sound. I like that.
• JStang :  Sound and feel were both fantastic. I couldn’t ask for much more in the sound and feel department than what this club offers. Plenty of feedback was provided based on impact as I would expect. I could easily tell where I missed based on feel.
• tnord :  Just as another tester found, moving the weight back and forward absolutely does impact how the club sounds. I’m much more a fan of the weight back.
• chickenpotpie :  Moving the slider to the draw position made the feel of the driver a little harsher. Feel was much much smoother with that weight in the middle. I didn’t see any such changes with the front/rear slider.

TaylorMade M2 2017 (11.86 percent)

• ZBigStick :  I liked the feel of the new M2 but seemed to get better results and numbers with the new M1. Could be the extra 5 grams of head weight? It was dynamite with the GD TP-6 (shaft)!
• erock9174 :  On Trackman it didn’t put up the most ball speed, but counting all shots the M2 had the longest average distance.
• gripandrip :  The M2 seems to have a little bit of a fade bias for me. And the head is HUGE. Maybe it’s a mental thing to be able to turnover a head that large.
• Bomber_11 :  M2 has very big shoes to fill, as the 2016 M2 was arguably one of the best drivers of the last 3-4 years.
• LONG&STR8 :  It’s hard to ignore the sound of the new M2. That may be TaylorMade’s biggest fail with that driver, as the sound and feel was one of the best things about the first version that I’ll have in the bag until something better comes along.
• Z1ggy16 :  The new M2 was terrible for me, not sure why. Unsure if it was the shaft I used but it spun up like a monster and ball speeds weren’t any better than previous M2.
• Peanut191 :  I don’t really think that the new M2 was much of a step backward, probably more that it doesn’t seem like a big step forward compared to last year’s model. I was hitting my 2016 M2 against a 2017 M2 indoors (which usually amplifies the louder, more obnoxious sound) and I didn’t notice that much of a difference in sound. It could have been that I might have just happened to get a hold of a head that was more muted than normal with the new one, but I just didn’t notice much difference.  Performance wise, I could tell that the 2017 was slightly more forgiving than the 2016 model, but I was basically getting the same ball speed and spin numbers, so I didn’t see the need to upgrade.
• gioguy21 : Played 54 holes this weekend. The M2 was as reliable as it could get. I hit 11/12 fairways Friday, 10/12 Saturday and 5/9 or so yesterday (windy). Controllable, just wants to go straight. The sound no longer bothers me. I think it’s when hitting indoors or in range bays that it gets unbearably loud. Makes a different sound when hit on the screws I’ve found, similar to last years M2/M1 with less high-pitched ring. The forgiveness is very obvious, as I hit a couple that were close to center of the face but either high or little out toward the toe that flew similar trajectory and distance to how a well struck shot would react. I think where this driver really shines is the ability to either tee it high and hit it with higher trajectory or the ability to hit it lower with a low tee (3/4 of the ball under the crown) and hit laser beams that don’t move left or right.
• G-Bone :  From what I’ve seen on Trackman, 2017 M1 was a big jump from 2016; however, 2016 M2 was so good, 2017 is a minor jump.

Callaway GBB Epic (14.91 percent)

• HDTVMAN : I hit both  the Callaway Big Bertha Fusion and Epic with a 44.5-inch UST Recoil F3 shaft and the results were very close. From customer testing, it appears the Epic is longer for those with higher (95+) swing speeds. I have also seen that 44.25-44.5-inch lengths promote tighter dispersion with customers, no loss of distance and better over-all drives.
• mbbrewer :  Tried them all and for me Epic was the one. Fastest ball speed, lowest spin and tightest dispersion.
• Ereim : Epic felt great, looked great and the numbers were basically 99.9 percent optimized for my swing.
• johnnylongballz72 :  There is Epic and there is the M series… then there is everyone else. The votes here show it, the PGA Tour use shows it and launch monitors everywhere show it.
• misplacedtexan83 : GBB  Epic/Sub Zero pushed the envelop in design and materials to produce increased ball speed and gains. For once a driver did what a company said it would do.
• GolfWRX members gain an average of 11 yards with the Callaway GBB Epic drivers

Callaway GBB Epic Sub Zero (16.91 percent)

• jdenham15 : I tested the Epic Sub Zero and Epic against my 2016 TaylorMade M1 and the ball speed was 5 mph higher on average, which gave me about 10 yards more carry disstance. That was great, but the part that sold me was the forgiveness. I love my Epic Sub Zero. I feel like it’s easier to turn over and I can work it both ways.
• Z1ggy16 :  Sub Zero was hands down the best, including my gaming M1 (yeah, not even top-3) due to the combination of lower spin, good forgiveness and feel and looks.
• jimhaire : I had a 2016 M2 and went with the Epic Sub Zero. The look at address suited my eye and the feel off the face was better for me. And the club went straight.
• Sef : I have tested a lot of these drivers and for me the Epic Sub Zero was so much better than everything else. I wish I could just apply all three votes to it.

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