Tour Edge Exotics Xtreme Spin

[G.Review]

Tour Edge Exotics Xtreme Spin Wedge

 

In the Exotics tradition, the Xtreme Spin wedge is a technology breakthrough. This high-end wedge feels awesome and generates extreme spin.

• Tour Edge Mens Exotics Xtreme Spin Wedges feature: Loft/Bounce: 50°/8° • 52°/8° • 54°/12° • 56°/12° • 58°/10° • 60°/8°
  
• Steel shaft available in Wedge flex
  
• Available in right-hand only
  
• Includes weight kit with wrench for weight adjustment
  
• Includes 3 screws: (1) 2-gram • (1) 4-gram • (1) 6-gram
  
• Lifetime Warranty
  

Tour Edge Exotics...The Passion For Performance!

 

 

[andre2you]

I was interested in this wedge when I first saw it at the Chicago Golf show this winter. I have never played a Tour Edge club before but have intrigued by them lately. I was finally able to find them at a local golf shop. Here is my review:

 

Looks (fit and finish): A very nice looking club (it looks better in person). The head has a nice shape but to me the top-line looks a little thick (it's the contrast of the dull finish face compared to the back of the club - shiny finish). It's not distracting to me but could be to others. The weight kit that comes with it is a nice touch though I'm not sure I will ever change the weight once set. Note: I purchased a second wedge 54* and found that the wrench did not fit in the weight screw a neatly as the other wedge.

 

Feel: I hit a few shots comparing my Adams Pugiliei 52* (bent to 50*, to the 50* Extreme Spin and found the Tour Edge Extreme Spin to be much softer and muted sounding. I have played Callaway forged (original), Mizuno MP's, Mizuno Black OX, BridgeStone J33 & West Coast wedges (all with-in the past 5 years) and I think I found the wedges that are worth keeping.

 

Performance: I installed the 6 gram weight as I like a heavier wedge. Playing two balls yesterday (only for the wedge shots) I was able to do a fairly good comparison between the two clubs. On bump and run shots the Pugiliei would sometimes run past or come up short, the Extreme Spin was very consistent on where the ball would stop (I had to adjust my landing area closer to the pin as I was coming up short using the Extreme Spin). I found the same characteristics with half shots with the advantage going to the Extreme Spin (Again, I had to adjust my landing area closer to the pin as I was coming up short using the Extreme Spin). Where the Extreme Spin really shined (and no adjustment was necessary) was Full swing to 3/4 knock downs (100-60 yard shots) the ball bounced once, twice and stopped (where I played the greens are hard not in the greatest shape so, this was a good sign). There were a couple of down wind holes where my playing partners were landing the ball in front of the green and rolling off the other side and I was landing the ball on the green (on the front) and stopping it just past the hole several feet but still on the green.

 

Final Thoughts: Though I only had 9 holes and ½ hour of pitching practice, I must say I really like these wedges. With the other wedges I have played there was always something I wanted to change, weight, length or shaft. There isn’t a thing I want to change about this wedge (the weight is good, I installed the 6 gram weight), (the length is right so, no need to change that), (The shaft, this is where it’s gets a little tricky, I have always been one to play the same shafts that are in my irons but right now I don’t feel like I need to. I don’t want to screw around with the way they feel).

I can’t say this is the best wedge made because I haven’t hit them all but of the brands I have used this one is tops on my list (and are in the bag) YMMV.

 

I liked the 50* so much I when back and bought the 54* (With the Pug I had to put a grind on to reduce the bounce, 15 was to much for me and the Extreme Spin only has 12* so it’s fine in that department) and I have the same opinion of it as the 50*. I will be buying the 60* (wanted to go to the 58* but 10* of bounce is too much for a lob wedge IMHO).

 

If you are in the market for a new wedge you need to take a look at Tour Edge Extreme Spin.

[eggs]

I demo'd one of these recently so I won't pretend that this review is anything conclusive but thought I'd just make a few notes for anyone who is curious about them, as I was.

The loft I tried was a 52* and it looked like I was the first to hit it. Can't remember what the stock shaft is (was).

 

For starters, it's a very nice looking wedge indeed. Really glossy on the rear with nice detailing that isn't colored in, so sort of flashy and understated at the same time, if that makes sense. The club's face and hosel were more of a satin finish, iirc. I must say that I really liked the look, I thought it was quality.

 

The other appearance factor that stood out was that it is quite a big-looking head, reminding me of a Cleveland 588 appearance compared to, say, a Vokey. A touch longer heel-to-toe than many of what I call 'Tour size' wedges out there - Mizuno, TM, Cally, etc.

 

The sole is also quite deep front-to-back so anyone who tends to dig, hit fat or play in soft conditions might benefit from this. This characteristic was shared on all the lofts I saw on the rack, 50* thru 60*. The leading and trailing edges were softly rounded - I can't remember much about the heel and toe relief. (Sorry!).

 

Giving it a whack was a pleasure. It set up nicely behind the ball and had lovely feel and feedback, I was very impressed. The milled face was doing its level best to take what it could out of the range balls I was using - plenty of traction there.

 

I don't know much about the thermoplastic filling behind the face, it was hard to really make a judgment on that.

 

At the same time as demoing this wedge, I was also trying a Scratch and two Clevelands - a CG14 Chrome and 588 DSG RTG. All had their plusses and minusses and I won't pretend I could recall every detail about each. However, the Exotics wedge more than held its own against the competition.

 

So there you go, not a full review as such but nevertheless, I was impressed.

Would I buy one? A definitely maybe. I can't pretend I wasn't tempted and I'd definitely like to try it out again.

 

I do think that anyone who is a little intimidated by the small size of many of the specialist wedges out there could do a lot worse than give these a go. The club's very slightly larger head size would complement some of the mid-size iron sets on the market very well indeed, particularly as a Gap wedge that is likely to be used for full shots.

 

To sum up, a very nice club indeed.