tour edge xcg5 fairway review

The Sand Trap

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Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Fairway Wood Review

Tour Edge continues its legacy of advanced, well engineered Exotics products. Let’s take a look at the latest in fairway wood technology with the Exotics XCG5.

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Tour Edge does things a little differently than the rest of the golf equipment world. They want golfers to utilize the very best materials that are available. That combined with some great engineering gives us some products that have a ton of technology and pleasing aesthetics. Or as they put it “Superior Materials. Superior Design. Superior Construction.”

Technology What has helped Tour Edge fairway woods stand out from the competition is that they incorporate titanium faces into the club. So, the hot titanium face you have in your driver can now be found in your fairway wood. The Exotics XCG5 fairway woods are no different. They are constructed using a beta titanium cup face with a heavy tungsten sole brazed onto a titanium body.

Brazing is an important technique used in the Exotics line that allows two pieces of metal to be joined without the use of traditional welding, saving weight that can be repositioned for improved playability and forgiveness. Extremely expensive, combo-brazing is utilized when only the highest-quality joint is needed. The parts must be fitted to 1/1000 of an inch and the base metals must be exceptionally clean and free of oxides. The process is expensive because it is performed inside a vacuum chamber over several hours. The end result is exceptional because it greatly reduces residual part stresses by using slow heating and cooling cycles. This,in turn, significantly improves the thermal and mechanical properties of the material for longer, better feeling shots.

The heavy tungsten sole plate provides 68% of the club head’s total weight. At the PGA Show I got to hold a 15° head where the crown and sole were separated to examine the construction of the head. I can verify that the crown is light as a feather and the sole is heavy. Tour Edge is proud to say that “the XCG5 is the only fairway wood on the market that uses a titanium cupped face and tungsten sole.” The titanium offers exceptional distance while the tungsten allows for a smaller more traditional-sized head with a low center of gravity. This gives the golfer increased ball speed and forgiveness from the increased MOI.

Also included is the Boomerang face design that, As Tour Edge says, “super-charged design offers multiple levels of variable face thickness that make the most of the rebound effect from more points on the face. The V-shaped boomerangs allow for thinner and thicker areas on the face that produce a hotter launch and superlative feel even on off center hits.” The idea being that even mis-hits will go a long way.

Esthetics The crown of the fairway wood is an elegant deep black that works well against the grayish beta titanium insert. The alignment mark is the Exotics “X” and works well to center the ball. The size of the head is moderate, not small and not large. The heavy radius of the sole works to make the club perform on a variety of lies. I was testing the Exotics with the Graphite Design Tour AD shaft, which is mostly white with some orange script and thought that contrast worked well. To me, it makes the black head stand out more and focuses your attention. The face angle is nice and square which is rare to find in a non-pro or “tour” model club. Most fairway woods tend to be left biased but the Exotics is very neutral at address.

My current fairway wood is a Bobby Jones, which has a similar head shape but is smaller and the face is much shallower. The Exotics XCG5’s face is deeper than my 3-wood, which makes it more useful off the tee but took me a few rounds to get used to from the fairway. Compared to other 3-woods on the market, the face depth is right in the middle, some are deeper, some are slightly shallower. The heavy tungsten sole allows these shots to come off with ease but could intimidate a few golfers that might be used to seeing more loft or different face profiles.

Playability and Feel I’ve been playing with a 15° stiff in the Graphite Design Tour AD 40 at the stock length of 43.5″. This Exotics XCG5 is one of the best sounding fairway woods I have ever hit. When you hit it, you notice right away that there is something different about this club, the ball comes off the club faster and with authority. I wanted to film a couple shots to give you an idea of how solid it sounds.

It took me a couple rounds to get used to the deeper face because of how it framed the ball differently. I noticed that at first I had a tendency to hit shots thin. Caused by an effort to get the ball airborne and tipping my upper center back. Even thin hits were pretty good and went about as far as a good shot with my “gamer” 15° 3-wood. I also wasn’t used to the longer shaft, at 43.5″, it’s 0.75″ longer than my 3-wood. The overall weight of the club felt heavier and I was further away from the ball. As I started to practice more with the longer shaft and stay more centered I was able to launch some balls high that went a long ways. Ball flight is extremely consistent across the face, with a slight draw curve for toe hits and slight fade curve for heel hits.

The ball really does explode off this face and makes you look like a better player than you actually are. I enjoyed trying to rip it with the Graphite Design Tour AD shaft because it is a higher torque shaft and felt lively. I’ve never like the boardy, super stiff shafts like an Aldila RIP. I think the Graphite Design is a great fit for this head because it gives it a little extra kick to engage this hot face.

From these pictures you can see the heavy radius of the sole, almost “V” like when viewed from looking at the face, that allows for great turf interaction from rough, sand or just your ordinary lie from the fairway. This design makes the Exotics a versatile tool for attacking par 5’s. I especially noticed this feature when I played a course that had very thin grass, almost hardpan, on most fairways. Even on shots that were a little behind the ball, the radius sole along with the low COG allowed me to hit some well struck shots.

I wanted to do some testing and compare my current 3-wood, a Bobby Jones, to the Exotics. Thanks to instructor Andrew Marr, I was able to hit 10 shots each on his Flightscope. Again, my 3-wood is 0.75″ shorter, with the same loft and a Graphite Design YSQ 75 gram stiff shaft. The face of the 3-wood is a maraging steel which hotter than most on the market. I was curious to see what the actual numbers were because I had definitely noticed an increase in distance, but sometimes your mind can play tricks on you during a new club’s “honeymoon” period.

I hit the Tour Edge first. I hit mostly good shots and for the Exotics XCG5 my average swing speed was 98 MPH, with a ball speed of 143.73 MPH (1.47 smash factor). On average I carried the ball 232.74 yards resulting in a total distance of 248.88 yards.

I then hit 10 shots with the Bobby Jones and my average swing speed of 95.2 MPH with a ball speed of 137.5 MPH (1.44 smash factor). On average I carried the ball 220.32 yards with a total distance of 240.42 yards.

I also hit the Exotics straighter, an average side spin of -670 (right to left curve) with the Bobby Jones compared to the Exotics with a side spin average of -288. The launch angles were almost exact for both 3-woods, around 15°, but the peak height (the point in the sky at which your shots stop rising and start falling) for the Exotics was six yards higher than the Bobby Jones.

It was good to see the actual data backs up what I was seeing on the course but had no idea it was 12 yards longer in the air. That is a huge distance increase and has been a lot of fun to bring out to the course. This past month, not only have I been testing the new Exotics but I also participated in match play competitions where my club competes against another club. One of the best fairway wood shots I’ve ever hit occurred in the 3rd match of the season. It was on a par 5 and I pulled my tee shot left but still had a chance to go for the green, unfortunately my hybrid shot hit a branch and ricocheted behind me about 50 yards. Very embarrassing and not exactly the situation I wanted when I was one up with 2 to play. I think being a little mad helped but I drilled my 3rd shot, Exotics XCG5 from 260 yards downhill into a breeze, over water, onto the green and salvaged par to halve the hole. It was a big shot at the right time to eventually win the match. I normally wouldn’t have attempted that kind of shot but the situation dictated that I had nothing to lose. No way I could have hit that shot with my other 3-wood. For me, it’s longer due to the shaft being lighter, which gives me some extra speed, the titanium face and the tungsten sole, which gave me a higher peak height.

Specs The Exotics is available in a multitude of lofts and shafts. I was able to hit the 11.5° at the media day in Florida and was surprised how easy it was to hit off the fairway. The Tour Edge rep I played with that day announced he is using the 11.5° as his driver this year and routinely hit it longer than I was hitting my driver. The club is for those that want a super charged 3-wood, a 2-wood, or for players that struggle with hitting drivers and prefer to hit fairway woods off the tee.

There are three stock shafts available, the Graphite Design Tour AD 40 gram, Exotics Fujikura BLUR 65, and the Aldila RIP SIGMA 70. The Graphite Design and Fujikura are “made for” shafts. The GD is the lightest and has the most torque, so it’s great for players that need some extra speed. The Fujikura is heavier and feels more stiff while the Aldila is for a higher swing speed player that doesn’t need help launching the ball and wants to keep the dispersion at a minimum. For more information on specs for the BLUR and RIP go Here

Standard grip with Fujikura Blur and Aldila RIP shaft is the Golf Pride Exotics New Decade Cord. Standard grip with Graphite Design Tour AD shaft is the Exotics Winn Lite. X-flex is not available in Fujikura Blur shaft.

I was fortunate to do this review at the right time. I was in the market for a new 3-wood and I think I found it. The use of technology mixed in with the sleek, pearl shaped design is a winner. Already known for their fairway woods, Tour Edge continues to impress and I would encourage you to try one out if you get the chance. Just take some time and appreciate the sound at impact. At $299 it costs as much as some drivers but compared to other well known fairway woods on the market, the price is within $50-$70. But those brands are using steel in their fairway woods, not titanium. For more information on the new Exotics line, go Here

5 thoughts on “Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Fairway Wood Review”

Great comments and write up. For the later part of last year, I started using my XCGV 15 degree as my driver. I typically got about 245 off the tee, but, rarely missed a fairway. I have difficulty using a driver, so, when I saw this 11.5 degree, I thought, “yep, I know what’s up.” Being one of thos ‘Exotics’ followers, I didn’t even test it. I bought the 11.5 deg stiff with Graphite Design Shaft from Edwin Watts golf. I was not disappointed. I now am getting conservatively 265+ off the box, and, very little dispersion. The reponse is good. It feels good. It has replaced my driver. $300. Not the greatest price, but, if you are old school and don’t like the huge heads, but, would like to blow it past your buddies. Do not hesitate. This is the real deal. Tour players would be hitting it if TE paid pros.

Great review of a great club. I was in the market recently for a 3 wood as well and like everyone thought it would be the RBZ. Went to my local fitter to try it out and he suggetsted I try the TE as well. Tried both the XCG5 and the CB4. Both clubs blew the RBZ, the Callaway Razr X Black and the Titleist 910F out of the water. The numbers on the CB4 came out slightly better than the XCG5. Tried both with the RIP Sigma shaft. (Didn’t get on with the GD shaft at all in the XCG5 , my side spin was through the roof just like on the RBZ. Too light a shaft, maybe I don’t know). It was a marginal call on choosing the CB4 over the XCG5 – it just looked better for me at address. The 1 degree open face just looked good. Best 3 wood ever who knows, but to me it’s just crazy long and straight.

Clubhead speed 108. Ball speed 157 Smash Factor 1.46 Carry 241 Total distance 259 Side spin 234. At least that’s what the launch monitor was saying.

In real play it’s great off the tee and easier to hit from the deck than I thought it may be. All in all I can see why Tour Edge don’t need to pay pro’s to game their clubs.

Another great review on The Sand Trap. There are no better reviews on any other site, period.

I traded in my XCG3 woods because the swing weight was heavier than I like. A heavy swing weight forces me to swing harder and that results in not catching the sweet spot consistently . I am not sure if the XCG5’s are any different. However for stronger guys these are great clubs. I am using Callaway’s Big Bertha Diablo woods and they are lighter swing weights and I like them a lot.

Wow- picked up the 15 degree 3 wood yesterday. I hit a dozen balls with it into field in a friends back yard. Felt like I was crushing it, and the ball flight was straighter than anything in my bag (except the putter!). It has a fantastic sound at impact and a real good feel. I think the 45 gram shaft makes a difference. Will have to get use to the white grip and the white shaft. Cannot wait to hit this on Tuesday night in my league play, where I will be able to get a much better feel for distance. Tour Edge fan here.

I enjoyed reading this review and in my experience, you were absolutely right in your comments.

After 8 years, I still have the XCG5 3W 15° in my bag and got another as spare. I have tried lots of 3W in these years including Exotics EXS but nothing like my old XCG5, the club I trust the most in my bag for all kind of shots.

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Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Fairway Wood Review – Is It the Real Deal?

Does the Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 fairway wood live up to the high standards set by other clubs in the Exotics line? Tour Edge’s Exotics line is known for its advanced techniques and technology, and many of the clubs have developed a strong following. So, does the this club justify its place among this long line of excellent clubs? Is it the real deal?

Read this review to see what I think of the Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 fairway wood. My opinions are based on my experiences on the course as well as information provided by the company itself.

The top-shelf club manufacturers are coming out with some pretty innovative fairway woods for 2012. TaylorMade claims its new Rocketballz fairway woods provide substantial distance gains. Some woods are now adjustable, just like their driver big brothers. Others have channels on the sole or slots on the crown to make them more aerodynamic, enabling golfers to swing them faster without needing to swing harder. And many of today’s fairway woods are lighter in weight than ever before - again to promote faster swings and more distance.

So, what type of technology does the Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 fairway wood use to enhance its performance? Let’s take a quick look...

As it turns out, the club is getting an awful lot of buzz. People in the industry are saying the Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 fairway wood is one of the most innovative woods on today’s market. And Tour Edge itself is hyping the clubs as being 20 yards longer. As soon as I heard that, I knew it was time to test a 3-wood.

Tour Edge is a fairly small company and it doesn’t spend much on marketing. It doesn’t even pay any tour pros to play its clubs. But I really like the sound of its motto: “Superior Materials, Superior Design, Superior Construction.”

The company’s main goal for this club is to provide top-shelf performance through advanced technology, sophisticated materials, cutting-edge design and quality construction techniques. But it also wants to deliver a club that’s aesthetically pleasing, because Tour Edge understands that a golfer will feel more confident if he or she is standing over a good-looking club.

Most woods have a stainless steel face and body, but the Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 fairway wood is different – it has a beta titanium cup face and a heavy tungsten sole combo-brazed onto a titanium body. Brazing is an expensive technique that joins two pieces of metal without welding them. Tour Edge uses it because it allows weight to be moved elsewhere in the head for increased forgiveness, feel, distance and playability .

The heavy tungsten sole plate represents two-thirds of the head’s total weight, and it gives the club an exceptionally low center of gravity and high Moment of Inertia (MOI). Ball speed comes from the titanium face; high launches are promoted by the low center of gravity; and forgiveness is provided by the high MOI.

A “Boomerang” face design uses variable face thickness to promote maximum rebound and enlarge the sweet zone. The idea is to give you hotter launches and better feel on mishit balls as well as great distance on purely struck shots.

In short, the Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 fairway wood is designed to give you the kitchen sink as far as technology and high-quality materials are concerned. But these clubs look good, too, with a deep black, pear-shaped crown. The face angle is neutral (fairly unusual in a club not designed for the pros) and the club sits up nicely to the ball. The sole has a heavy radius design which enables you to hit it from various types of lies.

The Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 fairway wood is nicely balanced and I never lost track of the head during my swings. The sound and feel were superb, and the ball explodes off the face with authority. One thing to note: the stock ultra-light Graphite Design Tour AD shaft is a bit longer than the shafts that come with most fairway woods (the extra length may have a little to do with the long shots I was hitting). The ball flight was down the middle on my well-struck shots; off-center hits gave me a slight draw or a slight fade. Overall, the club’s accuracy was great.

The Bottom Line : The Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 fairway wood is available in several lofts and with several shafts, but I was more than happy with the 15-degree 3-wood I tested. I’ve heard that because of the club’s accuracy and length, some people are using the Exotics 11.5-degree wood (how unusual!) as a driver replacement. This club is the real deal.

From the Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Fairway Wood to Tour Edge Exotics golf clubs .

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Tour Edge Tour Edge Exotics XCG Fairway Fairway Woods

Tour edge tour edge exotics xcg fairway fairway woods .

The XCG fairway wood is the ultimate expression of Exotics engineering and technical ability. It is nothing less than world-class and is without a doubt, the strongest and purest Exotics fairway wood yet. The XCG boasts the fastest ball speed of any Exotics model ever. The thrust behind this remarkable ball speed is an ultra-thin, titanium cup face equipped with variable thickness technology. The face's slimmer outer edges produce a maximum .83 COR for blistering shots from anywhere on the face. Combo-brazing the face and crown to the XCG's heavier steel body displaces more weight to the sole for less spin, a higher launch and greater distance. Offering peak performance from tight lies and thick rough, the XCG features a 4-way radiused sole. In fact, the XCG's contact point is less than any previous Exotics fairway wood making it one of the most forgiving and easy to hit fairway woods in golf. Play the XCG fairway wood and experience the passion for performance.

USER REVIEWS

This article is truly amazing! I am very impressed with the depth of insight presented and the clear and easy-to-understand writing style. The content of the article is very relevant and informative, providing a deeper understanding of the topic discussed. In addition, the analysis presented is also very profound and provides a different perspective. Thanks to the writer for the effort and dedication in presenting high-quality articles like this. I am looking forward to reading more articles! Read more on: Arta4d

This is simply the longest club I've ever hit. I've always hit my 5 wood further than my driver and most other peoples as well - 270yards. I CAN'T hit a driver well to save my life - best 270 yards and crooked. First time on the course I hit the XCG-V (3wood) 4 times over 300 yards and straight!! The best was 340 yards off the tee, across a creek 260 away and over a tree. I've NEVER hit a ball that far and straight. Of course your individual swing arc and speed will factor in but for ME I have found the holy grail. This club is stupid long.

An outstanding fairway wood. I use the 4 wood (16.5 loft), with the Aldila NVS stiff shaft option. The sound and feel off the face is unparalleled. Distance is ridiculous. Very, very long club off the tee and the deck. A true go for it club. The VFT, cup face delivers with respect to forgiveness. A very straight club as well so if you're looking to move the ball all over the place, you might want to look somewhere else. This is a 'straigt as a string' type fairway wood. Good mid trajectory, and better than average play out of thicker rough.

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Tour Edge XGC5 Fairway Wood Review

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Chick Norris

Jan 6, 2012

Tood H has a great review on the new Tour Edge Exotics XGC5 Fairway Woods. http://www.thehackersparadise.com/?p=15670

Nice review Todd! I have heard about and seen these clubs but had no idea how much tech went into them. I was really curios about that 11.5 off the tee for days when the driver is not working or you just need better accuracy due to narrow course, etc. Sounds like perhaps a regular flex may have delivered some really good results. The 15* just sounds like an all around great performer. Nice job! Tappin' from CM's iPad!

Master Painter

This one is packed with great info. Nice job, Todd!

Great write up ther Todd!! I play a TEE 4 wood and I use it quite a bit, for short tight par fours, but also for times where I am not hitting my driver so well for the day.

TripleBogieTim

Long lost sheep.

Nice Review Todd....good job!

Chunkylover77

Proud jakenation member.

Great review Hanks. That 11.5* makes me think back to my Orlimar Tri-Metal. That thing was a beast!

Euro target practice

Really enjoyed reading that, great job Todd! These may be pricey, but they really do pack the technology in there. 11.5* fairway though? That's crazy low loft! Might be a good alternative to a driver for some. The shaft offerings here seem to be very good too.

Paul Casey, WINNER!

Awesome review dude. That was packed with a ton of information. I like the the idea of an 11.5*. Then having another FW for the off the deck stuff.

Yoccos said: Awesome review dude. That was packed with a ton of information. I like the the idea of an 11.5*. Then having another FW for the off the deck stuff. Click to expand...

Autobots, ROLL OUT!

The XCG5 line looks fantastic. I am intrigued by the driver. There seems to be fantastic pairing of shaft and head as stock options with these clubs.

Well-known member

Nice review T. These clubs seems to have a loyal following.everyone I know that has then, loves them

the Beags of THP...

An 11.5* Fairway Wood is quite intriguing. Gives you an option of basically hitting driver (based on loft) off the fairway. I can only imagine how beneficial that 3W will be for some folks and how many will be reaching more of those Par 5s in 2.

mcook77 said: Exactly what I was thinking. I consistently hit my 3W straighter and sometimes longer than the driver. Throw an 11.5 in there for the driver and a 15 or 16 for off the deck. Not a bad solution at all. Click to expand...

On the Fringe

mcook77 said: Nice review Todd! I have heard about and seen these clubs but had no idea how much tech went into them. I was really curios about that 11.5 off the tee for days when the driver is not working or you just need better accuracy due to narrow course, etc. Sounds like perhaps a regular flex may have delivered some really good results. The 15* just sounds like an all around great performer. Nice job! Tappin' from CM's iPad! Click to expand...

War Eagle said: An 11.5* Fairway Wood is quite intriguing. Gives you an option of basically hitting driver (based on loft) off the fairway. I can only imagine how beneficial that 3W will be for some folks and how many will be reaching more of those Par 5s in 2. Click to expand...

Steel President

Excellent review. Full of quality information. Tour Edge makes some absolutely fantastic clubs - I've hit them on multiple occasions and they're hammers. Steel Tappin'

Puttin4Bird

Say what again mf'er.

Great review T! Previously I never would have considered an 11.5* FW but man the more I think about it as a good solid option off the tee on a tight hole I really like it. Both of these have some sweet shafts in them but yeah that price seems a little steep. People definitely should look at them as a serious option for their next FW. Thanks!

My Friend's Call Me Drew

another great review Todd.... got a chance to hit these and i really was impressed.

Very thorough tough review Todd, I play the TEE CB2 15* and love it, I was surprised to read of the 11.5* offering in a FW, that would be for a very small segment of the golfing population I would imagine. I hit the 15* almost as far as I hit my driver as it is so I certainly plan to test these at the outing (if not before).

Fairway Finder

Nice review Todd! I've never hit a TEE club, but these sound amazing! Really gret review, thanks for taking the time to do it!

#ICanHitADraw

An 11.5* 3 wood? That's only 1* more than my driver I'm using now! I'm thinking I want to give that a try!

Doug the lefty

Can't knock the hustle....

Jan 10, 2012

Just got around to reading this review-well done. I'm not in the market for FW, but this has peaked my interest with the XCG5 irons. Hmmm. I'm pondering.

Smallville said: An 11.5* 3 wood? That's only 1* more than my driver I'm using now! I'm thinking I want to give that a try! Click to expand...

I will be trying out the 11.5 with the Tour AD shaft in a week or so. Can't wait to see how it performs.

Jan 25, 2012

I'll be using my new XCG5 11.5 this weekend. Can't wait to use it. It feels and looks great. I will have to take some pictures of it.

butters35 said: I'll be using my new XCG5 11.5 this weekend. Can't wait to use it. It feels and looks great. I will have to take some pictures of it. Click to expand...

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Tour Edge Exotics EXS Fairway Wood Review

50 Words or Less

The Tour Edge Exotics EXS fairway wood complements the company’s CBX fairway wood with higher launch and more forgiveness.

Introduction

Fairway woods don’t garner the same attention drivers do. For OEMs, that can be a good thing because they can steadily increase the prices without too many people noticing. Tour Edge Exotics has noticed that many FWs are now $300, and so they’ve released their new EXS at a relatively affordable $230. Can the EXS carry on the tradition of awesome TEE fairway woods at that price? We tested it to find out.

The EXS fairway wood is designed to fit a different player than Tour Edge Exotics’s CBX model. Where the CBX is a “spin killer” for the accomplished player, the EXS is a more accessible, playable club. This comes through in the look.

Where the CBX fairway wood has a very compact head free of alignment aids, the EXS is larger and has TEE’s trademark “E” to indicate the sweet spot. Though it is big, t he shape and proportions of the EXS make it a good looking club .

Sound & Feel

Given its carbon fiber construction, I wasn’t sure what kind of sound the EXS fairway wood would produce. I was pleasantly surprised by the robust, solid sound of impact . You will hear the classic metallic “tink” of a fairway wood, but it doesn’t have that hollow characteristic.

For a club that’s very stable, feedback is quite good through the hands. I’d stop short of calling it pinpoint, but I was easily able to discern pure strikes from ones that were a little low on the face or off to the sides.

Performance

Players, like me, who found the CBX fairway wood to be too low spinning or too demanding will love the EXS fairway wood. While not overly high launching or spinning, I found the EXS to be easy to elevate with enough spin to maximize carry distances. Most importantly, the EXS fairway wood maintains ball speed on mishits thanks to its cup face design.

The EXS fairway wood features the same Flight Tuning System that the EXS driver has. There are weight ports in the rear of the head and in the heel, and you can swap 11-gram and 3-gram weights to create a neutral or draw-biased ball flight. Additional weights (6, 9, and 14 grams) can be purchased separately. I found that moving the weights did change my ball flight , though not dramatically. Tour Edge chose the name well: this is for precisely tuning your ball flight, not overhauling it.

Finally, as in the driver, Tour Edge Exotics has chosen the MCA Tensei Blue CK as the stock shaft . I was very impressed with how stable the shaft was and the ball flight it produced.

If some of Tour Edge Exotics’ higher priced clubs have kept you from checking them out in the past, the EXS line provides the perfect opportunity to give them a shot. From the look to the feel to the performance, everything about the EXS fairway wood says high end. Everything, that is, except the price tag.

Tour Edge Exotics EXS Fairway Wood Price & Specs

22 Comments

Excellent, I was hoping you would do the fairway woods soon after the great driver review. These look very interesting, heading out tomorrow to hit them.

Did you use stiff or x-stiff shaft? 15 degrees? Can you tell us something how it felt compared to the TS3-spoon Review? Almost the same outcome?

X-Stiff, 15 degrees. I don’t think I have any comments about the TS3 that isn’t covered in that review.

Great stuff, Matt.

I so look forward to seeing Plugged in golf reviews In my mail Great job again Matt.

Thanks Matt another good review sounds like one I want to hit

In terms of spin, launch, and ease to hit off the deck, how does this compare to the EX 10 beta? Thank you.

I haven’t compared them head to head, but my sense is that the EXS is slightly higher spinning, high launching, and easier to elevate.

Hello Matt – is this FW as long as your driver? Sounds tempting. I had the CBX but didnt swing fast enough, but this one sound interesting. Seems to be much longer than my G400’s. But is it forgiving? Please advise thank you

Not quite as long as my driver, no.

The EXS is forgiving, though perhaps not as much as the G400 line.

Thank you Matt and keep up the excellent reviews!

Is it available for southpaws? If so, which models? If not, that sucks!

The 15* model is.

This review is a little old but I’m considering buying one. I would ask you your thoughts on this club compared to the Callaway Epic Flash 3w. My take is the shaft is everything, but no one, and I mean no one, has a demo Tour Edge product. I bought the CBX 3w with a stiff Tensei shaft and I knew in 1 swing it wasn’t for me. My driver speed is 95 mph, so regular seems appropriate

Your thoughts are appreciated

I think some people go a little overboard with the importance of the shaft, but it’s certainly important.

The EXS is excellent, but I haven’t tested the Epic Flash – that was Meeker. I’m not sure where you’re located, but I know that Tour Edge is in the Club Champion demo matrix.

I’m in Florida. What is the Club Champion demo matrix?

The full list of clubs that Club Champion has available to test. You can find the nearest location here: https://clubchampiongolf.com/locations

Pingback: Tour Edge Exotics EXS 220 Fairway Wood Review - Plugged In Golf

Would you go with the EXS 220 fairway wood or EXS model?

I haven’t run them head to head, but I can’t overstate how impressed I was when I tested the 220 recently.

Is the 220 worth an additional $120 since the EXS is now selling for $129.99?

That depends on the player. I would suggest trying them head to head and seeing if there’s a performance gap between the two for your swing.

Plugged In Golf

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My Review - Tour Edge Exotics CB5 Tour Fairway

By ScratchAdams November 7, 2012 in Equipment

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Nov 13 2012

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Jan 27 2013

TheMoneyShot

Great review! I just wish more retailers in my area would carry this line so I could run them through the test.

[quote name='ScratchAdams' timestamp='1352342172' post='5905989'] So I had searched around and hadn't seen very many helpful reviews so I thought I'd add my own. Like most of us, the fairway wood is a difficult club(s) in the bag to fill. To add to the complication, there are so many new fairways and hybrids that go as far as drivers these days! But the bottom line, if you share the same idea I do, then a fairway wood (3 wood in this case) is not a back-up driver, or a baby driver, but a club that provides more control off the tee, as well as hopefully some distance to reach the occassional long par-5 in two. As a true club ho, I have experimented with many of the new offerings of the last few years, as well a few of the older classics. I've played way too many to list, but some of my favorites were the CB2, R7 TP, '07 Burner TP, CB4, XCG-V, and most recently the Adams XTD Super Fairway. So, here's the deal. Tour Edge fairways have always been super long. The RBZ is long. Maybe my favorite club in the bag is my 17* Adams XTD hybrid, so naturally I tried the 13* XTD fairway wood. As many of you know, it is SILLY long, and I mean that literally. If you hit it solid, it goes laughable distances. On a launch monitor I carried it about 5 yards shorter than my driver. I call it the 9015D of fairways. If nutted, it will simply embarass any other club - including RBZ, RBZ Tour etc, as well as anything but a superb swing on a driver. However, if you mis-hit it you will be punished - at least that was my mileage. It definitely cost me some strokes in a couple tournaments over the summer. So I've had my eye out for a more consistent fairway wood that I had confidence in but still had a lot of pop to it. I tried a couple of friends' RBZ fairways, and although they performed adequately, I just wasn't crazy about the feel, or the sound, or something. Maybe it was the turf interaction, or maybe it was the white - I just am not crazy about the white clubs and I didn't feel like sending in a RBZ to be painted black or gray. Enter the Exotics CB5. Yes, I own and have played a CB4 off and on. So why did I get a CB5, and is it worth it? That's up to you, but I'm happy I made the switch. (For reference, my driver SS is 110-115) I played my first round with the Exotics CB5 Tour today. I got a great deal on a brand-new 13*, and bought it knowing I was going to re-shaft it with my Fuji Speeder 7.1 Stiff, tipped 1.5 inches. (As a side note, the real stock shaft offerings for the CB5 are impressive - but I'm just a Fuji guy). I hit my CB5 a couple more times than I normally would on this course to try it out. Because I wanted this club to fill a certain yardage gap, I played it half an inch shorter than I typically play a 3 wood, so this one is 42.5 inches. Even so, it seems to sit perfectly between my (average) tee balls with my (17* XTD) off the tee; 250, and my average driver (Ping Anser 9.5) around 290. I'd say I averaged right around 270 with the CB5 today, which is exactly what I was looking for. More importantly, and more encouraging, it was so much more consistent and confidence inspiring. I didn't accidentally hit it 290 through the fairway or into a pond, and I didn't hit any marginally solid that flew out of bounds like I would with the XTD. Also, no weights to fall off like the XTD! Don't even get me started there. From address - if you've seen the CB4, you've seen the CB5. No surprises here, a glossy black small-medium profile that looks classy and down to business. Snuggles right up to the ball nicely. Their website says 1*open, which I prefer; I happen to think mine sits dead square. I can live with it. Feel and Sound - This is where I start to notice a difference over the CB4; it's a little more.....solid? Hard to describe, but doesn't feel as tinny or hollow as the CB4. Not a huge difference by any means, but noticeable. It also sounds a little quieter and muffled as well. I will disclose, because of the shorter length I have about 8 grams of rubber/tungsten weight pads on the bottom of the club in the various slits and slots of the sole to get the swingweight up to a D2. So this definitely helps in the feel and sound department; I will probably eventually get it hot-melted, but these pads work great for now. The CB5 delivers the same punch as the classic CB2 and CB4 but it's just that much more pleasing. Forgiveness - This is where the CB5 has a big advantage over the XTD. I'll keep it short and sweet; this is not a game improvement fairway wood, so it's no G20 - but it does have some forgiveness for a players' club at 170cc. The XTD only has some forgiveness high and low on the face; the CB5 has moderate forgiveness all over the face. Shot Shaping and Trajectory - I won't get much into this... it's pretty much what you'd expect for a pear-shaped players fairway. You can move the ball around at will, as it should be for this type of club. Very high marks for changing your trajectory higher or lower. No issues elevating this club off the ground either. I'll try to get on a monitor versus the CB4, and post some pictures as well. But in summary, you have to decide if you want to keep/find a used CB4 for cheap, or go with the new CB5. I have finally found the fairway wood I've been looking for - and HOPE I am smart and keep it in the bag! I love it! [/quote] After posting my review and thread in a different section I found this and was glad to see a similar POV. Check out my review below: http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/751085-best-fwy-wood/page__pid__5931543#entry5931543

[quote name='pr123' timestamp='1352641260' post='5918413'] Great reveiw, adding this to the long list of potential candidates for my newest fairway wood. Wondering if anyone can do a comparison between this in the 910f? [/quote] http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/751085-best-fwy-wood/page__pid__5931543#entry5931543

2 weeks later...

Great review!!! I would love the LM comparison with the CB4 to see if it is worth the upgrade.

Adams Speedline LS 9.5* Kuro Kage XStiff Adams Speedline LS 13* Kuro Kage XStiff Adams Super LS XTD 19* Kuro Kage XStiff Adams Super Dhy 21* Kuro Kage XStiff Ping i20 5i-PW KBS Tour Stiff Cleveland 588 RTX 51, 56, 62 KBS Stiff

2 months later...

Pleasedwith3putts

Any news on when the cb6 will be launched?

[quote name='Pleasedwith3putts' timestamp='1359317847' post='6309625'] Any news on when the cb6 will be launched? [/quote] They just came out with CB5. You're thinking TM. I don't think TEE release products every 6mth.

puttingmatt

Threw the CB5 16.5 four wood earlier this year, and its performing great !!!

3 months later...

I play the CB4s....15 w motore f1 4.0 tour spec and the 18 w rip alpha...really like both are they are scary long...but after seeing some reviews that the cb5 was a little more muted and seemed less tinny and more solid I decided to upgrade...i will be receiving my new cb5 15 this friday i can post some comparison numbers but i did put a di 7 in it opting for a little higher launch...from what i can see the cb5 is a little deeper and better out of messy lies

Nike Vapor Flex Veylix Arcane TEE E8 beta Veylix Rome Roughneck Adams Pro 18 & 21 Tour AD DI 105x Titleist 714 AP2/SM5 50 56 60 w/ ctaper Scotty Cameron Select Squareback

4 months later...

[quote name='puttingmatt' timestamp='1359346359' post='6312515'] Threw the CB5 16.5 four wood earlier this year, and its performing great !!! [/quote] What shaft is in your CB5 4 wood? I'm looking at the stock Fujikura 73 for higher launch. Worried the combo may be too high?

Callaway Epic Sub Zero, Diamana D+ 63g Stiff Callaway XR 5 wood, Project X LZ 6.0 Callaway XR 7 wood, Project X LZ 6.0 Titleist 915 H 24*, Diamana D+ 82 HY Stiff Ping i500, DG S300 105 Ping Glide 2.0 54 & 58, Ping AMT Stiff Scotty Cameron CA Monterey, 35"

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Fairway Reviews

Review: tour edge exotics xcg7, xcg7 beta and cb pro fairway woods.

Pros: Second-to-none ball speeds. The XCG7, XCG7 Beta and CB Pro have three distinct profiles that will please a wide range of golfers.

Cons: All three models produce a similar launch and spin, and they’re on the expensive side ($249+). Made-for shafts in the XCG7 and XCG7 Beta. No adjustability.

Bottom Line: All three of these fairway woods have the potential to produce driver-like ball speeds. The XCG7 has the largest footprint and is the most forgiving, the CB Pro is the smallest and fastest and the XCG7 Beta fits nicely in between. This is one of the most impressive, well-rounded fairway wood families in golf.

For years, GolfWRX has been told by leading custom fitters that Tour Edge Exotics (TEE) fairways woods are some of the best-performing, if not the best-performing fairway woods in their stores. The issue with them, they say, has nothing to do with their performance. It’s their price.

Last year’s CB5 was one of our favorite fairway woods from 2013, but it was released with a starting price of $299 — $70 more than Callaway’s X Hot and $50 more than TaylorMade’s RBZ Stage 2 Tour . This year’s fairway woods haven’t dropped in price — the XCG7 is $249, the XCG7 Beta is $299 and the CB Pro is a whopping $499! — but the lineup has swelled to three distinct models that TEE says outperform their predecessors.

The XCG7 has the widest footprint of the three fairway woods, but it looks a lot larger than it really is. It’s extremely wide, but its shallow face allows it to measure only 185 cubic centimeters.

The XCG7 has a 465 forged maraging steel cup face that is combo-brazed to a hyper-steel body. It also includes TEE’s new Power Grid, which is positioned directly behind the hitting area to create an “accordion-like flex” at impact to increase spring-like effect, and Hexahedron sole weights that are positioned in the rear corners of the club head to increase its moment of inertia (MOI).

The XCG7 comes stock with Fujikura’s Exotics Fuel shaft in L, A, R, S and X flexes (a more robust Fujikura Exotics Fuel Tour is also available in 60R, 70S and 80X). It’s offered in lofts of 13, 15, 16.5, 18 and 21 degrees.

[wrx_buy_now oemlink=”http://www.touredge.com/products/xcg7driver.asp” oemtext=”Learn more from Tour Edge” amazonlink=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FNL0W5O/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00FNL0W5O&linkCode=as2&tag=golfwrxcom-20&linkId=2OZXS4KHJIHSG4BT”]

The XCG7 Beta is also 185cc and has TEE’s Power Grid, but it has a shorter heel-to-toe length and a taller face. Its face is made from beta titanium, which is combo-brazed to a hyper-steel body, and its Hexahedron weight pads are positioned more forward in the XCG7 Beta’s head.

It comes stock with a Matrix Exotics “White Tie 5.1” “Red Tie 6.1” or “Black Tie 7.1″ shaft in L, A, R S and X flexes. It’s available in lofts of 11.5, 13, 15, 16.5 and 18 degrees.

[wrx_buy_now oemlink=”http://www.touredge.com/products/xcg7betafwy.asp” oemtext=”Learn more from Tour Edge” amazonlink=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FNL12N0/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00FNL12N0&linkCode=as2&tag=golfwrxcom-20&linkId=TX37GGWIBFKYA663″]

The CB Pro has a smaller 170-cc head that drives the center of gravity more forward than the XCC7 and XCG7 Beta. Like the XCG7 Beta, it has a beta titanium face that is combo-brazed to a hyper-steel body. It’s most eye-catching feature is its “Slip-Stream” sole, which TEE says improves turf interaction regardless of a golfer’s angle of attack.

The CB Pro comes stock with either a Fujikura Speeder 661 shaft in R and S flexes, or a Fujikura Speeder 757 shaft in S and X flexes. Both shafts are after-market versions. It’s available in lofts of 13.5, 14.5, 15.5, 16.5 and 17.5 degrees.

[wrx_buy_now oemlink=”http://www.touredge.com/products/exoticscbprofwy.asp” oemtext=”Learn more from Tour Edge” amazonlink=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FNL0DTY/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00FNL0DTY&linkCode=as2&tag=golfwrxcom-20&linkId=LLHZD7UMCDUOUTJZ”]

Performance

Since each club is unique in its own right, I went to Carl’s GolfLand in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., to evaluate the performance of each club on Trackman at its Launch Pad custom-fitting center . The results were fascinating. While these clubs have extreme cosmetic differences, they perform very similar to each other in terms of launch angle, spin rate and ball speed with their stock x-flex shafts.

Note: The clubs were each tested with the following lofts: XCG7 (13 degrees), XCG7 Beta (13 degrees) and CB Pro (13.5 degrees).

The XCG7 (above) tied with the CB Pro with an average ball speeds (150.8 mph) thanks to its larger foot print. Its top ball speed was 154.2 mph for me, giving it the second-fastest peak ball speed. The average launch angle was 8.4 degrees (the lowest), while its average spin rate was 3304 rpm (the second-highest).

The XCG7 Beta (above) had the fastest average ball speed (151.5 mph), likely due to its beta titanium face. It’s top ball speed was 153.6 mph, the slowest of the three. It had the highest average launch angle, 8.9 degrees, and the highest average spin rate, 3424 rpm.

The CB Pro (above) had an average peak ball speed of 150.8 mph, but its more forward CG added pop to pure strikes. It topped out at 154.5 mph, which was in-step with decent hits with my custom-fit TaylorMade RBZ Tour (T-Serial) driver. Sick, right? The average launch angle was 8.6 degrees, and its average spin rate was 3234 rpm, the lowest of the three fairway woods.

The CB Pro was clearly the longest of the three, mostly due to its lower spin rate, but it was also the least forgiving because of its more forward CG and smaller club head size. I was impressed with the “Slip-Stream Sole,” which keeps all the meat of the club off the ground to allow it to maintain its speed through impact. The waves on the sole basically push the ground away from the face, making it feel like the ball is teed up at impact. That and its smaller size make it particularly useful from less than perfect lies from the fairway and light rough.

The XCG7 was my least-favorite looking fairway wood out of the box because of its substantial heel-to-toe width. I thought I might struggle with it because of that, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was much more nimble than it looked.

Golfers who miss the sweet spot more than they hit it will love the XCG7, particularly those who struggle with heel and toe hits. It’s tough to use out of the rough, where it can look like a frisbee laying behind the ball, and it was the hardest to work the ball with. But for higher-handicap golfers, who are likely the target audience for the XCG7, straight is a good thing.

The XCG7 Beta looks a lot like Callaway’s X Hot Pro fairway wood at address, which I think is one of the most handsome fairway woods on the market. Its deeper face should work great for golfers who struggle with mishits high and low, as it provides ample real estate for vertical misses. It’s more workable than the XCG7, and better from less-than-perfect lies given that you have the speed to play a deeper-faced fairway wood. But it’s not as good off the ground or as workable as the CB Pro.

Looks and Feel

From left to right: Tour Edge Exotics’ CB Pro, XCG7 Beta ad XCG7.

The XCG7 and the XCG7 Beta have the same matte gray finish, with “Exotics” printed on the heel-side of the crown in the back corner. In terms of feel, they were typical of Exotics’ fairway woods, feeling muted and powerful across the face, which makes them a lot of fun to hit.

The CB Pro is a much different club than the other two, however. First off, it has a very traditional black glossy crown with no graphics. And when the club is turned over, the Slip-Stream Sole is a real eye catcher. It will turn the heads of every golf in your foursome and the golfers next to you on the range. At impact, the versatility of the sole makes the CB Pro feel like the ball is always sitting up. The bumps on the sole really fight the ground for you, and that makes it one of the most versatile fairway woods I’ve played.

I also really enjoyed the Fujikura Speeder 757X shaft, which is the driver of the CB Pro’s $500 price tag. It’s extremely smooth and stable, with great-looking graphics that match the premium vibe the CB Pro emits. On its own, the Speeder 757 shaft sells for $350, which means golfers are basically getting the titanium-faced fairway wood head for an extra $150.

The CB Pro also has its own unique feel. It is not nearly as muted as the other two and feels a bit “tinnier.” There were a lot more vibrations on off-center hits with the CB Pro than there were with the others as well. But a solid hit with the CB Pro feels effortless and explosive, especially because of the reduced drag that the Slip-Stream Sole offers.

The Takeaway

It’s fun to talk about the numbers I recorded with the three new TEE fairway woods, but most golfers won’t need to test them all like I did to figure out which one they want to play. Since they perform similarly to each other in terms of ball speed, launch angle and spin, golfers can choose the head shape that gives them the most confidence at address and then go about dialing in the right loft and shaft for them.

The best part about the XCG7, XCG7 Beta and CB Pro is that their top-level ball speeds don’t come at the expense of looks, feel and versatility. Yes, the XCG7 is going to be the least workable, and the CB Pro is going to allow for the most creativity, but really all of these fairway woods will do what golfers ask of them, provided they have the skill to do so.

Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the XCG, XCG7 Beta and CB Pro fairway woods in the forums.

Review: TaylorMade JetSpeed Hybrids

Cobra Bio Cell+ Fairway Woods

Evan is an attorney licensed to practice law in Michigan. He's also a dedicated golfer with an obsession for the latest golf equipment, and frequently gets caught in public examining his swing in any reflective surface.

21 Comments

Feb 25, 2016 at 10:45 am

Just bagged XCG7 7w 21* / Fujikura Speeder 757 TSx Evo un-tipped. My 105 SS is perfect for this. Best 7w ever, repeatable shot after shot hitting greens. Its a looks like a bid head, yet gets through the ground fine. The tungsten weights offer incredible stability…its like shootn fish in a barrel!. This is the most forgiving FW I have ever bagged & 757 turns it into a rope. Beat out my fav 3i off a tee vs xcg7 on the turf and that’s say’n something. TEE FW’s are always good!

Pingback: Tour Edge Fairway Woods Reviews – PC1Q5 | Tour Topic

Rod McDonald

May 17, 2014 at 11:30 pm

Just played my first round today with my new 15.5 degree CB Pro. I couldn’t believe the drives I was hitting! Consistently about the same distance I would get from my driver, and everything was right down the middle. Easily 25-30 yards longer than any other 3 wood I have hit. The only two mistakes I made all day were on par 5’s when I pulled driver and missed both fairways. I may not hit driver ever again!

Mar 12, 2014 at 7:27 am

Soon to be 159 at Rockbottom Golf..these things never sell.

Mar 11, 2014 at 2:01 pm

…that is all

Mar 10, 2014 at 12:25 pm

These things are outstanding. With a slight fade I gained 5 yds over my standard straight shot. The 13* is great, but I do not know if the 11.5 would be useful for anything other than replacing a driver.

Driver SS – 109 avg

Feb 24, 2014 at 11:56 pm

Awesome review, owned XCG5, XCG6, looking to try the CB5 AND CB6 when the prices come down.

Love WRX….

Feb 19, 2014 at 5:43 pm

When the CB2 first came out with a $350 price tag for a fairway wood, the sticker shock reaction was very similar to what we are seeing now with these new offerings from Tour Edge. If you are properly fit and the numbers create optimal results than the purchase is more of an investment. There is than no need to buy another fairway wood for at least 4 years or until you want to change. I have personally dealt with the company on a professional level and there is no other fairway wood out there that has this construction / technology behind it to even sniff close second. Considering the many Tour Players who play the clubs with no endorsement deals speaks volumes. This is a classic scenario of ” you get what u pay for “. Ball speeds equivalent to a driver from a fairway wood certainly deserves a test drive. Have at it!

Jan 28, 2014 at 5:05 pm

Wish people would TEST clubs against others instead of REVIEW them. It’s all opinion, no real accurate testing. Equip heads with the exact same shaft and have the robot test them to show real results as to which is longest, best ball speeds, etc.

Jan 28, 2014 at 3:38 pm

The beta 15* with the 6Q3 S gets about the same numbers as my 910 17* ahina S. I’m a chronic low ball FWY hitter, and would prefer a 70 mid-trajectory shaft.

Way better than the X2Hot for me though.

Jan 27, 2014 at 1:49 pm

Where is the “review?” How can you “review” anything in January in Michigan? Nice press release regurgitation as usual.

Jan 21, 2014 at 4:40 pm

…Tour Edge makes great Fairway metals… I still have a CB2 that I love. Why can’t they apply their design expertise and technology and make a great Driver? (also, agree that graphics on the crown are bad!)

Jan 19, 2014 at 4:27 pm

These are the BEST and easiest fairway woods to hit in all of golf, both off the deck and off a tee. There is nothing on the market that is longer or more forgiving.

Jan 19, 2014 at 11:04 am

My XCG6 15 Deg / Tour issue Matrix Red Tie 8Q3 Stiff Tipped 3/4 at 264cpm. Face cryo freezed. This Bomber is the best 3 wood I have “EVER” owned !!! Long, Stable, Hot, Massive Sweet spot, MOI

The Big Cup Face off the tee, and can hit it off the deck 250, 260 off the tee ‘like a rope all day long’…more accurate than my 3 iron

I just cant imagine any more improvements!!!

Tour Edge ‘are the real deal’…

Jan 17, 2014 at 4:00 pm

For the love of god stop putting graphics on the crown of golf clubs. People know what they are hitting, they don’t need to look down and be reminded. If it is that important to their ego, they can just flip the club over.

Jan 17, 2014 at 11:56 am

so which would have better success for a 12 hc who historically has issues hitting a fw off the deck? Thanks!

Zak Kozuchowski

Jan 17, 2014 at 2:46 pm

The XCG7 has the shallowest face, which will probably be the easiest for most mid-handicap golfers to hit off the deck.

– Zak

Lefty Light Hitter

Jan 17, 2014 at 4:25 pm

I’m thinking that none of these would be a treat to hit off the deck, but a beast off the tee. Agree?

Jan 18, 2014 at 8:00 am

Yes, and no…ithought the same and got the xcg5 11.5. The faces are so small its hard to get them goig off the tee. Just me two cents

Galaxy tab . Still learning to type on this thing.

Jan 17, 2014 at 11:26 am

When do these come out?

Jan 17, 2014 at 11:49 am

They’re already out. I’ve seen them at my local Golf Headquarters.

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Members Choice: The Best Fairway Woods of 2017

In this edition of Members Choice, we attempt to answer the question, “What’s the best fairway wood of 2017?”

Admittedly, it’s a bit of a loaded question since golfers use fairway woods for different reasons and in different situations on the course. Some use a fairway wood strictly as an alternative to their driver off the tee; other golfers use them almost entirely as approach clubs from the turf on long par fours and par fives; the rest use fairway woods for some combination of both situations. So are we looking for the longest and straightest fairway wood, or simply the most accurate and forgiving?

The best way to determine the best fairway wood, therefore, is to pose that question to golfers who have hit them all and let them decide. Thus, we have Members Choice: The Best Fairway Woods of 2017, where GolfWRX Members describe their experiences with the latest fairway woods. With in-depth descriptions from their testing, GolfWRX Members illuminate the pros and cons of each fairway wood, providing the real information you need when making your purchasing decisions.

Members Choice: The Best Drivers of 2017
Members Choice: The Best Irons of 2017

Our advice when reading through this story is to think about what you want from your fairway wood. Do you want max distance, max forgiveness, or a combination of both? The feedback from GolfWRX Members on each fairway wood will lead to toward a few models that match your needs and desires. Then test them out for yourself. Everyone interprets the performance of golf clubs differently, so personal testing and professional fittings are imperative, especially in this particular category. View the full results from the poll testing here .

Note: Responses from GolfWRX Members have been minimally edited for brevity and clarity.

Callaway Steelhead XR (4.08 percent)

SwingMan: I r ecognize that the Steelhead XR is late to the game, having just entered the market, but for a club that does everything well for GI and Players (the + models), they are long rocket launchers. Light, hot feel with pleasing metallic crack, deep face for ease off the tee, low CG (center of gravity) for ease off the deck, rounded sole gives you versatility from rough and bunkers. Forgiving and long. J36 carbon weave crown moves weight low. Because of the deep face with lot of bulge you need to lay it on the ground and it sits square. Take care when you pick it up so as not to close it. I hit it long off the tee with an R-Flex, obtaining 260-270 yards under favorable conditions — this club produces an urgent, direct trajectory with loads of roll in the lower lofts. Off the deck, 220+ with light wind; against a strong wind, 200. This club is surprising. Even the 7 wood off the deck with a higher trajectory gives you great yardage. Only caveat is that if you are in low speed range and insist on a 3 wood, you may want to order a high launch shaft instead of the mid-launch Tensei. But that’s the same advice with all 3 woods — you must be able to launch them. Callaway has several no cost shaft options. Otherwise, go with the 5 and 7 woods, which are loooong and versatile. The + models, for players and pros, are more weight forward and fade bias and arrive with a 65 Tensei CK Blue fairway shaft — smoother than the CK Blue driver shaft.
DWtalk: I just finished testing the 15-degree Callaway Steelhead with the Tensi Blue shaft, and it’s a great club. It’s long and my misses are either a little right or left, but very solid. I also have a 15-degree M2 that is very good also with the stock shaft but I’m going to reshaft it with the Tensi blue. You couldn’t go wrong with either club.

Further Reading: Callaway upgrades a classic, introduces Steelhead XR fairways

Titleist 917F3 (5.28 percent)

Peanut191: I thought the Titleist F3 was the best combination of looks and feel, but they didn’t offer a 16.5 version, so I ordered the M2 Tour HL. I thought the M2/M2 Tour were the best distance wise, with the Callaway Epic, then the Titleist 917F3 just behind.
II PigBimpin II: I used to be a Taylormade loyalist when it came to woods, but I recently switched to a Titleist 917F3 15-degree and it has single handedly put me in prime position to make three eagles within two weeks. Very predictable ball flight and distance, easy to hit off the deck.
DuckHook02: I did try the Titleist 917F2, and if I was using it off the deck more, I’d probably gravitate towards the F2 and it’s shallow profile. However, I like the more compact look of the F3 and the lower ball flight it produces.

Review: Titleist 917F2 and 917F3 Fairway Woods

Cobra king f7 (6.40 percent).

Steveko89: I didn’t do nearly as much testing for my 3 wood after going up and down the racks picking out my Cobra F7+ w/ Hzrdus Yellow shaft. After settling on the driver, I said, “That 3 wood that matches looks pretty slick, let me hit a few with it.” and immediately fell in love. Has a nice traditional note at impact and the ball just flies off the face, especially with the weight forward. Probably could’ve tried a few different shafts, but the stock-stiff shaft works well enough and was able to find one used-mint on the bay for $150. Unfortunately, this was before the Cobra BOGO promo. Most of the positive shots that stick in my head from this season have come with the 3 wood, won’t be seeking out a replacement for a while.
carcharodan1977: Cobra F7 fairway, currently playing at 4 wood loft… it’s fantastic. Easy to swing, impact sounds great and it’s a rocket from the fairway and even bad lies. The baffler rails really work well. Such a forgiving club.
herbst20: Have played the Titleist 910 fairway woods since they came out. The Cobra F7 finally kicked them out of the bag. I have had an easier to hit whether it be off the team, fairway, or especially out of the rough. I love the baffler technology. I play it at 13 degrees because I am sporadic with my driver.

Further Reading: Cobra’s King F7 and F7+ drivers, fairways and hybrids

Callaway GBB Sub Zero (7.39 percent)

Warrick: The (Sub Zero) 3+ was the first Epic in my bag, and it is never leaving. I have never hit a long club so consistently.
Dobbs983: This is a fantastic year for fairway woods. I game the Epic Sub Zero 15-degree, set to 14 degrees. Easy distance, mid launch and penetrating flight. Easy to hit off the deck and a tee. I can move it left and right, if I need to, but why bother when straight and long is so easy. The Titleist 917’s are both very close to the Epic SZ, but not quite as forgiving. They are the best looking of the bunch. The Exotics EX10 Beta is amazingly long and straight and the sole is fantastic out of the rough.
belacyrf: I currently game the TaylorMade SLDR fairway woods as I’ve never seen enough improvement from any new woods to make a change. However, IF I were to make a change, I would definitely move to the Callaway Epic Sub Zero. They are so forgiving and their flight is exactly what I like, plus they are long.
PreppySlapCut: I was very pleased when messing around with the Epic Sub Zero this week. I was able to launch the 13.5 degrees off the deck, which has literally NEVER been a strength for me. Very impressive stuff from Callaway. The Ping G400 also just seems like the next wonderful iteration from Ping.
kejoal11: I put the Epic Sub Zero 3+ in my bag and love it. Long off the tee, long from fairways. I love the ball flight and the fact that it doesn’t balloon on me. Very consistent with the club and by far my best purchase of 2017.
golftech: If you like smaller, traditional shaped fairway woods, then Callaway’s Epic Sub Zero 15-degree is the best I’ve played. For that matter, it’s the best 3 wood I’ve had since my Toney Penna persimmon in the early 80s. It’s versatile off the tee and the fairway. I’ve been hitting career shots all season including the 18th at the famous Monterey, CA course.
ago33: I’d choose the Epic Sub Zero over the M2 Tour. Adjustable hosel is better, looks better behind the ball and more forgiving.

Further Reading: Callaway GBB Epic and Epic Sub Zero Fairway Woods

Ping G400 (7.67 percent)

Mwiseley10: Love my Titleist 917, I hit it so well off the deck I use it without a tee! The Cobra Baffler felt great and has good sound but didn’t purchase. Hit the Ping G400 this morning, it hits great but d*** that profile is low!
DNice26: I tried the Ping G400 against my Ping G, both using my own shaft… little to no difference. The G400 looks and sounds better, but any performance benefit seemed negligible from the Trackman numbers I saw. My swing speed is about 109 mph with the driver.
PrettyGood: Hit the new Ping G400 fairway this morning. My current 3-wood is the 2016 PING G series, at 14.5-degrees. So, between the two models: Turbulators on the G400 are definitely more pronounced. Footprint of the G400 looks bigger, and it’s a rounder shape somewhat ( PING.com says G400 is ~12cc larger). Sole of the G400 does look a bit flatter, but no difference hitting shots. G400 face feels more lively, and it’s louder… but no more or less pleasing to hit, just different. Switching my own shaft between the two, performance looked pretty close… G400 maybe a shade higher, if anything. G400 headcover much nicer, big improvement. That’s about it.

Further Reading: Ping introduces new face material with its G400 Fairways

TaylorMade M1 2017 (7.88 percent)

lowball5732: My TaylorMade M1 15-degree is a wonder! Either off the deck or on the tee — optimal performance for me. My wife swears by her M2. She’s straight and true!
Rdarling18: I really hit Taylormade’s entire M family pretty good. I went with the M1 because it was most consistent for me. However both M2 models (M2 and M2 Tour) are very long.
AWD430: TaylorMade’s M1 was giving better distance than M2 when I hit them. I do agree that the M2 head on this year’s model seems very big when hitting off the deck.
gpleonard: My two cents is the TaylorMade M1 HL 2017 is a monster both of the deck and from the tee… It is a go to club for me on long Par 5’s and on short Par 4’s off the tee.
Mob: I have the TaylorMade M1 2016 and tried it against the M1 2017 and preferred the 2016 model for some reason. I know that I am supposed to prefer the newer model, but I consistently hit the 2016 straighter. Distance was a wash.

Further Reading: TaylorMade 2017 M1 Fairway Woods

TaylorMade M2 Tour (8.94 percent)

AThompson_3: Best fairway wood by far is TaylorMade M2 Tour. Exceptional feel, workability, and forgiveness. Great off the tee while also able to launch the ball off the fairway very easily. Fantastic club. Expecting it be in my bag for years to come.
Bomber_11: TaylorMade’s M2 Tour would get all 3 of my votes if I could do that. Wins out on distance, accuracy, forgiveness, versatility, and feel.
Roadking_6: M2 Tour HL is an absolute beast this far (in my testing).
halfsumo: M2 Tour: best look, sound, feel and performance. M1: awesome look and feel, I just decided to go with a 3HL version and since the M2 Tour spins less, I went with that to counteract the extra loft. Mizuno JPX900: second best look and feel and best stock shaft of anything out there by far.
DeCuchi: M2 Tour. Higher launch and less spin makes it an excellent choice. Forgiveness is on par with other top fairways makes it the cream of the crop.
Scratchat50: M2 Tour HL with a Project X HZDRUS 75g shaft (6.5-flex, -1 inch under std). Been searching for a great 3 wood for over 10 years. This is it!
john443: M2 Tour is THE 3 wood of 2017.

Further Reading: TaylorMade 2017 M2 Tour Fairway Woods

Titleist 917F2 (10.13 percent)

bazinky: I’ve spent years searching for a fairway wood that I could hit with a consistent shot shape/pattern, and I finally found it in the Titleist 917 F2.
tleader: I went from the Titleist 915F to the Titleist 917F2. Found them very similar, perhaps a slight increase in launch and more consistent across the face on mishits. Went with the 16.5-degree so it was an easy decision.
MJL313214: I’ve hit the 917F2 at 16.5 degrees a good bit. It’s crazy long compared to the previous fairway woods. I like the slightly bigger look than the 917F3.

Review: Titleist 917F2 and 917F3 Fairway Woods

TaylorMade M2 2017 (12.60 percent)

Gnomesteel: (The TaylorMade M2 2017 fairway wood is) l ong off the tee and easily hit off the deck with control. Best of both worlds.
kush614: My vote is for M2 2017, as well. Gaming a 15-degree M2 2017 with an Oban Kioyshi White shaft. Mid launch, low spin monster.
venturagolfer87: There’s nowhere even remotely close to me that has the M2 Tour, but my 3HL normal M2 is as close to automatic as I’ve ever been. I’ve n ever been able to hit 3 woods, to the point where for the last few seasons, the next club in my bag after driver was a 5 wood that was shortened an inch. The M2 2017 is somehow just as easy to hit, and looooooong.
johnnylongballz72: M2 3HL with AD DI 7X; probably the single best golf club I have ever owned.
qwetz: I’m playing a 3HL M2 with a Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue and it’s just a bomber from the deck or the tee.
lordemsworth: How do those that have hit Epic fairway feel about the sound? That dull thwack is awful. As another opinion, I found the M2 2017 easier to hit consistently than the Epic fairway. Both from tee and deck.
Porsche928: I had the M2 2017 and it was huge too hard off the deck. Never hit the M1 2017 but had the old M1 2016 for a demo and loved it.

Further Reading: TaylorMade 2017 M2 Fairway Woods

Callaway GBB Epic (13.37 percent)

mcgem: Hands down, without a doubt, Callaway’s GBB Epic fairway is the best of this year’s crop.
Sean2: I have three Callaway Epic fairway woods and am quite enamored with their performance at 16/20/24 degrees. I am comfortable standing over the ball with any of these woods in my hands. I have no problem hitting the 16-degree off the turf and I find it a very good club on tight driving holes. The 7 and the 9 fly high and land soft.
aussieb: Tested the Mizuno JPX-900 fairway wood on a few occasions now and it’s really the best off the deck, adjustable from 13-17 degrees and the sliding weight dials it in, has a great stock shaft and sounds as good as it looks. Ping’s G400 was really solid and forgiving, didn’t spin too much and set up well for my eye. A bit of adjustability and stock Tour shafts are great. Callaway Epic had the smallest head and best ball speeds off the tee. I didn’t really care for the sound and lack of forgiveness compared to the previous two, was dead feeling but that’s mostly shaft I think.
leftshot: I went through a thorough fitting at Club Champion last month and had access to most of the heads on this list. So I know the answer FOR ME. Notably none of the top fits involves a club head with the standard shafts offered off the rack. The results of my testing was: 1. Callaway GBB Epic: Distance #1 (Tied), Dispersion #1, Off-center hits #1 2. Titleist 917F3: Distance #1 (Tied), Dispersion #2, Off-center hits #3 3. TaylorMade M2 2017: Distance #3, Dispersion #3, Off-center hits #2
rony10: Epic. Accuracy, forgiveness and flight, distance is very good to.
Benkross: I just put an Epic in the bag. I tried the M2, M2 Tour, M1 (2017 and 2016) and was playing a Titleist 915F and prior a 913Fd and 909 F3 before that. The Epic sounded the best and feels awesome. The 2016 M1 was the worst feeling 3 wood I’ve ever played. I’m replacing the shaft in the Epic so I’m excited to use it this weekend.
kgeorge78: The Epic looks much smaller than the M2 2017 for some reason and easier to hit off the deck.

Pros: Dialing in trajectory and spin is more in the hands of the player than ever with SureFit CG adjustability. Feel and sound have improved, and 915 users will likely see a jump in distance.

Cons: If you preferred the black finish, you’re out of luck with the return of silver.

Who they’re for: Everyone who plays a fairway wood should give the Titleist 917F2 and 917F3 fairway woods a shot. They provide everything most golfers want from a fairway wood.

Models: 917F2 (13.5, 15, 16.5, 18, 21 degrees), 917F3 (13.5, 15 degrees)
Release Date: Oct. 21
Price: $319 (MAP)

Right off the bat, you’ll notice a number of changes to Titleist’s new fairway woods: name, color, center of gravity (CG) adjustability, and if you’re really attentive a change in the Active Recoil Channel. I break down each of the major changes below.

Related: See the results from the Ultimate Titleist Driver Fitting Experience

What’s in a name?

In its most recent fairway wood releases — the 913 and 915 models — Titleist used the F and Fd naming system. “F” was a larger, more forgiving fairway wood that launched higher and spun more, while “Fd” was a smaller, deeper-faced, lower-launching fairway wood that reduced spin. It was a bit confusing, and didn’t mesh well with the D2 and D3 naming system the drivers were using, so Titleist went to F2 and F3, which is what Titleist used in previous models such as the 909.

If you’re confused: F = F2, Fd = F3 (easy to remember since this rhymes).

Now, the F2 (179 cubic centimeters) is the larger, higher-launching and more forgiving model, while the F3 (169 cubic centimeters) is smaller, deeper and more workable. The relationship hasn’t changed, just the names.

As with the 917 drivers, the 917 fairway woods have SureFit CG technology to give golfers the ability to tweak the draw/fade bias of the clubs. In the fairway woods, the SureFit CG system is also positioned slightly crooked, as seen in the driver, which has the same purpose; lower-spinning fades and higher-spinning draws. When in the draw position, the weight system will add spin to keep the ball in the air longer, and will decrease spin in the fade setting to keep shots from ballooning. The design also maintains the moment of inertia (MOI) of the fairway woods, keeping forgiveness high regardless of the weight setting.

In the SureFit CG system, weight is changed using interchangeable weights* or tubes, made of a mixture of different materials. The neutral weights have a uniform weight throughout, while the draw-fade tubes have a heavier side.

A Peek Inside: A 14-gram, neutral SureFit CG fairway wood weight.

When adjusting the system, golfers should look for the “+” sign, which indicates a fade setting, while a “-” sign indicates the draw setting. Note that this is opposite of the 917 drivers, as the entry port is on the opposite side (toe side) of the club head in the 917 fairway woods. A solid red circle indicates a neutral setting. Like the 917 drivers, the 917 fairway woods also have Titleist’s 16-way adjustable SureFit hosel, which offers independent adjust loft and lie settings.

*Note: SureFit CG driver weights cannot be used in fairway woods, and vice versa, due to their different sizes.

Active Recoil Channel 2.0

While the 915 fairway woods had an Active Recoil Channel behind their faces, designed for higher ball speeds on off-center hits, the area was hollow. The channel in the 917 fairway woods is filled with elastomer, helping produce more ball speed across the face and lower spin, according to Titleist. There’s is also a face insert with variable thickness for increased speed on off-center hits.

Another change for the better is the sound and feel of the 917 fairway woods. They have more of a muted sound and softer feel at impact, which is no doubt helped by filling the Active Recoil Channel. Another benefit is that golfers won’t need to frequently clean the dirt out of the channel, as they needed to do with 915 models.

Titleist’s 917F2 (right) and 917F3 fairway woods at address.

The “liquid slate” finish on the crown is a throwback to Titleist woods of yesteryear, which is something Titleist fans may very much appreciate. Some of the classic Titleist fairway woods, such as the 980F, had a similar gray finish.

Overall performance

So what’s to be expected of the 917F2 and 917F3 in terms of performance? According to Titleist, golfers hitting the 917 versus a 915 should expect higher ball speeds, a higher launch, slightly lower spin and 4-7 yards in increased distance. It just so happens I hit the 917F2 and 917F3 versus the 915F and 915Fd, and you can see the numbers below.

The Numbers

I took the 917F2 and 917F3 fairway woods to the Launch Pad at Carl’s Golfland in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. , where I tested them against Titleist’s 915F and 915Fd models on Trackman with premium golf balls. The fairway woods were set to my specifications (C2 hosel setting, neutral weight setting in the 917 models) with the same Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana Limited D+ 80X shaft. Shots were hit with each club — order was constantly rotated, and outliers deleted — until 10 shots with each club had been recorded.

917F2 v. 915F:

The 917F2 generated slightly less spin (-60 rpm) and a slightly higher launch angle (+0.7 degrees) than the 915F.
The 917F2 offered more ball speed (+1.5 mph), more carry distance (+1.6 yards), and more total distance (+3.6 yards) than the 915F.

917F3 v. 915Fd:

The 917F3 offered slightly less ball speed (-0.8 mph), a slightly higher launch (+0.3 degrees), and a little more spin (+74 rpm) than the 915Fd.
The 917F3 increase carry distance (+4.3 yards) and offered more total distance (+6.3 yards) than the 915Fd.

Specs, pricing, availability

Titleist 917F2 and 917F3 fairway woods ($319 MAP) will be available on Oct. 21 with the following stock shafts: Aldila Rogue M-AX, Fujikura Speeder Pro Tour Spec and Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana Limited D+, S+ and M+.

With the purchase, consumers will receive either a 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18-gram neutral weight (the 12-gram is stock) and a matching draw-fade weight. Additional weights can be purchased for $40, or SureFit weight kits are available for $180 with every weight.

Titleist_917_fairway_woods_review_917D2_917D3

Any golfer with an older version of a Titleist fairway wood, especially one with a silver finish, will find the switch to a 917 fairway wood an easy and valuable transition.

Not only do the fairway woods offer CG adjustability for fine tuning trajectory, but they also have a softer feel and more muted sound than the 915 versions while providing more carry distance and more total distance. You’d be hard pressed to show me an all-around better fairway wood in the current market.

See what GolfWRXers are saying about the 917 fairway woods in our forum.
Our review of Titleist’s 917D2 and 917D3 drivers.

Review: TaylorMade M2 Fairway Woods

Pros: Driver-like ball speeds in a fairway wood that’s forgiving, workable, and the more affordable option in TaylorMade’s 2016 lineup.

Cons: No adjustability. The sound and feel is different than other fairway woods.

Who’s it for: The M2 fairway woods can be played by golfers of all skill levels, from beginners to PGA Tour players.

Available Lofts: 15, 16.5, 18, 21, 24
Stock Shafts: REAX 65 (X, S, R flexes), many custom shafts available free of charge.

“1.49? Really? Again? Man, these new fairway woods are amazing.” That was me during my launch monitor testing for this review. I kept getting pretty high smash factors for a fairway wood. To quickly explain, smash factor is ball speed divided by swing speed, and the average PGA Tour smash factor for a 3 wood is 1.48.

I am not a PGA Tour player, so getting a 1.49 the few times I did was pretty impressive, and shows an advance in technology — not that my swing has actually improved.

To say there’s been a revolution the past five years in fairway wood design is an understatement. Hotter faces are the norm now. I’ve actually heard people say they hit their 3 woods “too far,” which sounds absolutely insane. But with fairway woods the way they are now, many are providing the same relative ball speeds as drivers, and just as much distance.

When TaylorMade released the M2, there was some chatter that it was a price-point fairway wood, and it wouldn’t be as good as the company’s M1 since it didn’t have the moveable weights and changeable shafts. This is simply not the case. The M2 contains every bit of technology as the M1, and while I didn’t test them head to head, the feedback from most golfers has been that the M2 launches higher, spins less and offers more ball speed than the M1. For that reason, it will be the longer-flying TaylorMade fairway wood for most golfers.

When viewing the clubs in the address position, it’s hard to tell the difference between the M1 and the M2. The M2 has the “ball” grooves, where there’s a centering point of no grooves in the shape of a ball. The only other difference is the M2 has a new “fluted” hosel construction, which moves a few grams of weight lower in the club head, and is said to improve sound and feel. I’m also a fan of the black-and-white painted composite crown. It seems to give off a more compact feeling to me, and makes it easier to line things up.

The face also sits square, which is a major requirement for me as well. I’ve bought and immediately sold 3 woods that have faces that are closed. I was actually worried about this, as in years past TaylorMade has sold a TP line of fairway woods, which have a more open face angle than standard models. There is no TP model in the M2 line, and what TaylorMade seems to have done is focused on making the M2 sit perfectly square.

The Results

To do my testing, I took the M2 out to my course and played a few rounds, and then took it to the range and also had a couple of simulator sessions. The data above is from The Professional’s Golf Shop using Trackman and premium golf balls. The M2 was 15 degrees with a Fujikura Pro Tour Spec 73X shaft at 43 inches (untipped).

On Trackman, I was attempting to hit fade shots off the deck each time. The results are the 10 shots that best represented the fade. Overall, the numbers are pretty consistent. There were a few really good hits that made me say, “WOW!” But there were also several shots in this bunch that I hit thin, and I expected them to come up much shorter. That is until I got the results and was impressed that the shot still carried 225-230. I left those in, as I wanted to show how forgiving this club can be.

On The Course

On the course is where the M2 fairway wood really shines. Off the deck, I was getting great numbers on the simulator, but on the course I was hitting the M2 places where I have never hit a 3 wood before.

I came close to muttering those words “too far” at one point. I used it on a par 4 to stay short of water, and I ended up only a foot short of the hazard. We’re talking 280 to the water! And distance isn’t even the best thing about this club. Well, maybe … the distance IS pretty awesome. But there’s something else that’s really good, too. It goes back to the shape, sole design and face angle. I’m able to work this club with ease around the course. I can draw, fade, hook, slice, everything really easily with this club. Whether it’s from the tee box or behind 40 trees, I’m able to do some really fun things.

As you might have seen in the data above, I was able to compare the M2 to my gamer, a Nike Vapor Fly (15 degrees with the same shaft, measuring the same length) both on the course and on the simulator. The only difference between the two clubs was that the Nike Vapor Fly’s shaft was tipped 0.5 inches.

Overall, they are pretty similar fairway woods. When hitting the fade shot on the simulator, they were almost identical. Both have great ball speeds, both are forgiving, and both pretty easily hit that shot.

But on the course, the M2 ended up being a better club for me. The Vapor Fly has an open face angle, and it is harder for me to work shots both directions. I can hit fades with it all day, but I struggle to square the face and hit draws with it. The best hits on the simulator showed the M2 as the longer of the two, and that showed up on the course as well, especially off the tee. I thought I loved an open face, but it ended up not being good for me overall and my testing proved it.

The M2 is a fairway wood that anyone can play. It’s built with a square face, neutral weighting, and offers incredible distance. It should absolutely be on a list of fairway woods for any player to check out. It has a great combination of everything that I look for in a fairway wood. The feel and sound is the only knock I have.

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Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Fairway Wood Review (Clubs, Review)
Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Fairway Review
Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Fairway Wood Review (Clubs, Review)
Tour Edge Exotic XCG5 Fairway Wood Review
Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Fairway Wood Review (Clubs, Review)
Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Fairway Wood Review (Clubs, Review)

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Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Hybrid
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Tour Edge
Callaway Diablo Edge Fairway Review from the PGA Show
Tour Edge Exotics XCG Fariway Wood

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Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Fairway Wood Review
Tour Edge is proud to say that "the XCG5 is the only fairway wood on the market that uses a titanium cupped face and tungsten sole." The titanium offers exceptional distance while the tungsten allows for a smaller more traditional-sized head with a low center of gravity.
Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Fairway Woods Review
The XCG5 is the only fairway wood on the market to use a titanium cupped face and tungsten sole. Now that's technology! What does this mean for you? According to Tour Edge, distance. And lots of it. Unlike other fairway woods, they've eliminated welding the club together by brazing the titanium and tungsten parts.
TourEdge XCG5 11.5 Degree Fairway
I hit two series of shots with the TourEdge XCG5 (super) strong fairway wood. The first set I hit from the tee, the 2nd from a fairway lie. For most fairway wood tests I'll be hitting a 3-wood off the tee for pure distance, and the 5-wood of the fairway to a target (accuracy). Practically speaking, the11.5Â° clubs is likely one you'd bag ...
TourEdge XCG5 Driver
Distance & Launch. With the TourEdge XCG5 Driver our testers averaged 229.86 yards of total distance. Comparatively speaking, that's quite a bit shorter than several of the drivers we've previously tested, however; as it did in our last review, Tim's absence brings the overall average down substantially.
Tour Edge Exotic XCG5 Fairway Wood Review
Oct 2012 Fairways Test. The XCG5 split opinion. David and Mick were big fans of the distance and feel, particularly off the tee, but pro James thought the head was on the large side and didn't feel balanced. Anthony liked the looks but struggled with control. TG Ratings (out of 5) FIRST HIT - Tested by David Connor (10h'cap) The first ...
Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Fairway Wood Review
In short, the Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 fairway wood is designed to give you the kitchen sink as far as technology and high-quality materials are concerned. But these clubs look good, too, with a deep black, pear-shaped crown. The face angle is neutral (fairly unusual in a club not designed for the pros) and the club sits up nicely to the ball.
Tour Edge Tour Edge Exotics XCG Fairway Fairway Woods user reviews : 4
Sits dead square at address, looks magnificent behind the ball and the performance is everything Tour Edge Exotics fairway woods are renowned for. I have little doubt that they would be the most played on Tour if no-one was being payed to play other brands. If you have good skills and haven't tried Tour Edge Exotics, you're missing out, big-time.
4 Tour Edge fairway woods tested and reviewed
Tour Edge Exotics Pro 721 fairway woods $299.99 The straight-from-the-tour-van Exotics Pro 721 fairway wood is a limited-edition small batch production of three lofts that is being offered to the ...
Tour Edge Exotics XCG Fairway Wood Review
Pro says: One of the classiest models on offer but I found it hard work, even though others loved it! The new Tour Edge Exotics XCG is redefining the fairway wood category once again. The XCG fairway boasts the longest distance and greatest forgiveness of any Exotics fairway wood yet. Contact: 001 800 515 3343. Web: www.touredge.com.
Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Fairway Review
Pete McGough-Pose, 2nd Swing Golf club expert, reviews the Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 fairway.Visit http://www.2ndswing.com for more info!
Tour Edge Exotics XCG Fairway Wood Review
According to Tour Edge, Combo-brazing the face and crown to the XCG's heavier steel body displaces more weight to the sole for less spin, a higher launch and greater distance. This fairway wood also utilizes a 4-way cambered sole to allow play from a myriad of lies. All models set square, aside from the 13 degree model which sits one degree ...
Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Fairway Wood: Golf Clubs
Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Fairway Wood The Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Fairway Wood is ultra long in the Exotics tradition. It features a titanium cup face and crown, a special beta titanium face insert for added distance and an even heavier tungsten sole plate that weighs 151 grams, or 68% of the club heads total weight.
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 […]
Tour Edge Fairway Woods Reviews
Tour Edge Geomax 2 Fairway Wood Review. RRP: £109. TG Rating. TG Rating. 3.5 out of 5. Tour Edge Geomax 2 Fairway Wood is designed to offer outstanding performance, the GeoMax boasts a Custom 450 Maraging Steel face and a hyper steel body. The face has been made ultra-thin to generate exceptional power and a quick launch for added...
Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Fairway Wood
They all have about 65-68 gram weights and torque ratings around 3.5) This is perfect for my 100-105 driver swing. Considering the xcg5 is an 11.5* the xcg 3 and xcg 4 are 15, it might launch relatively a bit higher but I think that is more club head design rather than shaft.
Tour Edge XGC5 Fairway Wood Review
Tood H has a great review on the new Tour Edge Exotics XGC5 Fairway Woods. http://www.thehackersparadise.com/?p=15670
Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Hybrid Review
Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Hybrid Review. 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.
Tour Edge Exotics EXS Fairway Wood Review
The EXS fairway wood is designed to fit a different player than Tour Edge Exotics's CBX model. Where the CBX is a "spin killer" for the accomplished player, the EXS is a more accessible, playable club. This comes through in the look. Where the CBX fairway wood has a very compact head free of alignment aids, the EXS is larger and has TEE ...
My Review
The CB5 delivers the same punch as the classic CB2 and CB4 but it's just that much more pleasing. This is where the CB5 has a big advantage over the XTD. I'll keep it short and sweet; this is not a game improvement fairway wood, so it's no G20 - but it does have some forgiveness for a players' club at 170cc.
Review: Tour Edge Exotics XCG7, XCG7 Beta and CB Pro Fairway Woods
Jan 17, 2014. By. Evan Bartley. Pros: Second-to-none ball speeds. The XCG7, XCG7 Beta and CB Pro have three distinct profiles that will please a wide range of golfers. Cons: All three models produce a similar launch and spin, and they're on the expensive side ($249+). Made-for shafts in the XCG7 and XCG7 Beta. No adjustability.
Tour Edge Hot Launch fairway wood: ClubTest 2021 review
Check out our full review of the Tour Edge C521 and E521 fairway woods from ClubTest 2021. Read test results, and see photos and videos to learn more.

Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Fairway Wood Review

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