Many don’t realize that Tour Edge has been around for 35 years in golf, and in that time there have been some significant successes and a whole lot of industry firsts in terms of technology and designs. For most, however, it is the last few years that have more than likely brought the brand to attention, and that hinges around their PGA Tour Champions presence, yes, but also the fact that they are making clubs from top to bottom that flat our perform.
Last year was a big one for Tour Edge and the Exotics line where the company saw sales successes the likes of which the company hadn’t seen before, particularly when it comes to driver. THP reviewed both the EXS 220 and EXS Pro drivers and honestly I believed we had seen the formula of design the company would follow for the foreseeable future. Boy was I wrong.
The C721 driver turns all of that on its ear. A unique from the ground up design to follow impressively successful predecessors, and yes, it very much works.
Quick Take
No evolution here, the C721 is yet another revolution for Tour Edge and their Exotics line. This is one of the absolute lowest spinning drivers on the market for 2021, but with a playability that is unheard of for the low RPM’s it pumps out. This driver has outside the box looks, but all of the sound, feel, forgiveness, and sheer firepower we have come to expect from the Exotics lineup. This is a must try.
From the Ground Up
I’ll be honest, I really don’t believe that David Glod and Tour Edge get enough credit for their ability to design and innovate. Yes, there are multiple layers to Tour Edge as a company with options across the spectrum, but the Exotics lineup in particular has always been one that is unafraid of being different for the sake of chasing performance. That is the C721 driver in a nutshell.
The only true design carryover from the EXS 220 line is the 2.0 version of Diamond Face. With this evolution there are 7 different thicknesses and 43 diamonds on the backside of the face which create variable thickness. Worth noting is that the first version had only 3 thicknesses. Even more impressive is through material and design changes, Diamond Face 2.0 has actually reduced the perimeter thickness by 20% according to Tour Edge. Reduced thickness means more ball speed potential, and also more forgiveness particularly at the extremes of the face.
The C721 is also utilizing an Adjustable Rear Backweight which optimizes the CG to promote an easier launch and increased stability by way of an increased M.O.I. The weights will be available in 5g, 10g, 15g, and 18g options with 10g being standard in the driver.
Tour Edge is also taking carbon fiber to the limit through what the company is calling their Ridgeback Technologyand Dual Carbon Wings. Ridgeback is a titanium spine that goes down the middle of the club connecting behind the top center of the face and running all the way around the head. This is Tour Edge’s answer to creating stiffness in the right places to increase ball speed in the middle of the face while allowing the heel and toe sections to flex and maintain more power there as well. Wrapping around Ridgeback are the Dual Carbon Wings which help shift the weight internally to optimize that low/back CG for launch and stability.
Tour Edge Exotics C721 Driver
So, on to performance, yeah? I’ll put it this way, as impressed as I was by the EXS 220 and EXS Pro last year, and as shocked as I was that Tour Edge was essentially scrapping those designs, this is about as well rounded as a driver can get.
Obviously, the looks are getting the biggest share of discussion, and I was one who was admittedly pessimistic when I first got to see the release images. Even then, the same old story reigns true, it looks better in the in-hand pictures than the release images, and then when actually in-hand it’s even better. Is it different and a little abstract? Absolutely. But before the internet gets up in arms about it, think about the fact that Tour Edge is adamant that on both the PGA and PGA Tour Champions circuits who are made up of the pickiest players on earth, that the feedback on the looks has been good. I know for me, the way that the Dual Carbon Wings wrap around in hand is what stuck out as utterly unique.
Where the overall footprint goes, it’s not a small driver and it does fill out its 460cc. However, it still keeps a nice flow and curve to the rear of the head, not at all angular or pancake like. The face depth is, to my eye, quite close to the EXS 220 which is a good thing. Ironically, the sole is what took the most getting used to for me as I was so accustomed to the different iterations of the slip-stream sole that has now been retired by the company. Its on the plain side now, but it’s also clean and lets the rest of the aesthetic package do the talking.
With so much carbon fiber I was curious if we would end up with a sound more on the composite side of the spectrum, but instead it’s a pretty satisfying melding of composite and titanium with the Ridgeback design. Tour Edge has clearly continued their commitment to sound/feel and the materials combined with the use of Sound Diffusion Panels internally have created something pretty unique. The best way I can describe it is solid but crisp and while sound preference is personal, I just don’t see many coming away anything but impressed with the C721 in that department.
On the course, impressive might be selling this one short for me. The forgiveness of the Diamond Face 2.0 melded with the way the company has manipulated the CG and MOI of the head turned into a surprising level of playability. The head itself for me is very neutral overall and with that the ball flight took on the nature of the swing I put onto it without any concern. The fact that I was able to move such a forgiving head either way when I wanted to is something that I honestly didn’t expect. All that said, when I got the C721 on the Foresight GC2 things became even more interesting.
As you can see above, there is a lot to digest. First, I will put out there that the data session shown was recorded in some very cold temperatures, so while the environment for maximizing compression wasn’t at its most optimal, it does a great job of telling the story. Paired with a Project X HZRDUS RDX Black, this is one of the lowest spin drivers I have reviewed. Ever. Even outdueling the EXS Pro in that regard. One thing to mention there is that the C721 is astoundingly consistent in its spin rates with misses high and low, not jumping or dipping too far outside of solidly struck shots.
Combine the low spin with the fact that even in the 9.5° head I tested I was able to achieve solid launch angles at good ball speeds, and there is ample distance potential here. While peak speeds have not been quite where I was with the EXS Pro, it makes sense given this isn’t the same low/forward design as that head. If anything, the low/back CG nature of this design makes it that much more impressive from a distance and forgiveness blend.
Bottom line, this might be the most forgiving and easy launching low spin head on the entire market in 2021. This is a driver that wants to stay as stable and square as possible regardless of strike location on the face, which is another nod to Diamond Face and what Tour Edge has accomplished with that technology. Something in all that to keep in mind, however, is that with a head that spins as low as this is capable of, fit is going to be even more important to take advantage of it. All in all, Tour Edge has somehow managed to take the Exotics lineup to an even more impressive performance level, one that truly stands on its own against anything else out there.
Have you hit the C721 driver yet? Plan on it? Jump into the discussion below as well as on the THP community thread where golfers just like you are putting it through its paces as part of TEEm Tour Edge!
The Details
Price: $399.99
Lofts: 9.5°, 10.5°, 12°
Shafts: Fujikura Air Speeder, Fujikura Ventus Red 4T Core, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX
yes, this happened to me recently, I had such high expectations on the c721, I proceeded to flip it to the right off the tee like hitting a pitching wedge, twice, first two tee shots. I guess it was too much thought going on and high expectations,
Well I have pounded it since i had it the last 6 months. I hit it pretty straight most of the time, maybe a slight draw…..just have no idea what happened yesterday. I love the driver
I love the feel and sound when you catch one in the center. You know it, and you feel the ball explode off the face. Hoping to have fixed my driver swing issue, because I love the C721 when it’s on!
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Just got the Arrcos downloaded and tips on all the clubs so let’s see what comes up Saturday am, supposed to be a little chilly, but tee time is 0800
My link has worked really well.
That could be a interesting paring for sure…..I had one of my group hit my C721 a couple of times today…..then he put it in his bag….aw heck no
FIR went from 40% to 47%: In addition, I’ve also been incurring .5 less penalty strokes with this driver. I think a lot of this has to do with the forgiveness. If I do miss it’s not as far off line. It may be in the first cut, instead of the woods. But either way, I have confidence in this driver that I haven’t always had in others in the past.
Average has gone up 12 yards per drive: Went from averaging 250 per drive, up to 262. Long drives before were in the mid 280’s, now I’m at or just above 300, with a long of 308 this year. I think some of this distance gained is due to the low spin, resulting in more roll out than what I typically saw in the past.
Forgiveness: I’m still astounded by the forgiveness. Misses on both the heel, and especially the toe, want to stay in play. It’s definitely not down the middle of the fairway, but on most courses with reasonable sized fairways, you are on the edge, or just in the rough. I think this will continue to keep me out of trouble.
Sound and Feel: The sound and feel of the C721 are very good. I believe that TEE definitely got it right. On solid, center of the face shots, I know it by the sound and feel. On misses, I also knew it by the sound and feel. It’s exactly what I want. Confidence when I hit a good one, and feedback when I hit a bad one. Overall, I don’t know what else I would want in this area. It checks the boxes for me. The sound and feel, to me, are just what I’m looking for. I would describe both as solid. You feel and hear the power when you catch one just right, and the ball jumps off the face.
Looks: The Ridgeback and Carbon wings look incredible on the course. Nothing distracting and nothing out of the ordinary. Just a great look. I do enjoy the Ridgeback as a sort of alignment aid. It helped me ensure I got the clubface square, as least before I started my swing. I prefer the matte of the Pro lineup, but the gloss is still very well done, so no complaints here.
Stock Shaft Pairing: Based on the Speed Analysis from TEE, and my swing speed, I fit into the HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX, and after one round I think this pairing is fantastic. It feels a bit less stout than the Smoke yellow and Smoke green I’ve played in the past, which is a welcome change. I think I can get after it a bit more with Smoke Yellow or Green, but my swing isn’t overly aggressive, so it felt too stiff and had me swinging out of my shoes to try to match up with the shaft. I’m not fighting the RDX Blue, and I have enjoyed that aspect very much, so kudos to the staff at Tour Edge getting this pairing right. This pairing allowed me to get my tempo back, and a smooth controlled swing was rewarded. May try some other shafts next year just for fun, but honestly I have no reason other than just trying them out. The stock shaft has been great!
Overall: As you can see my performance with the C721 has improved over my previous driver. The head and shaft pairing just work, both in distance as well as dispersion. The sound and feel are as good as anything I’ve played in the past. I’ve had more playing partners tell me this year that I’m hammering it off the tee, than in years past. Another example that shows me I must have something here, when others take notice. Then to have the data in FIR % and Distance to back it up, just confirms this is a great driver, and one that people need to take a look at if they haven’t already.
Thanks to THP and Tour Edge for the opportunity to be on the TEEm this year, as the C721 driver has been outstanding!
Just wanted to bump this up, and it’s fallen too far down! As I’ve been unable to get out lately due to the holidays and weather, I keep thinking about how good this driver was. From increasing FIR and distance, to really liking the overall visual package, not to mention sound and feel, this is a driver that deserves a look from those thinking about upgrading!
Man, you can’t argue with those stats!
I finally saw a C721 in person the other day. It looks WAY better than I expected.
The Ridgeback and Carbon wings are a lot better in hand than in pictures. It’s something I’ve come to like during my season with it in the bag.
I agree, and it’s something I’ll be keeping an eye on.
Best of luck, and I’ll be interested in the differences you see. I really like this shaft in my pro 3w, great overall feel and performance.
The feel and performance of it in 3 wood is what got me considering it for the 721.
It’s good!
Got shaft early in the week. About the same time I got Covid. Finally felt like doing some experimenting today. Blue raw launches higher than the smoke blue. I added a little weight back to the head may add a little more. Feel and performance were good on sim. More time needed to compare them. From 1st session it looks promising.
Thanks for the update.
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What driver did you play before this? I’m still playing the TEE EXS and have had no urge replace it. Once I dialed it in, I’ve always been in the fairway and consistently longer than most of my peers. Of course, to be one of my peers, you have to be over 75.
I have the HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX. Been a really good pairing with the C721 head.
I played the Cobra Speedzone before this. I’m found the C721 more forgiving for me and my swing, and about 10 yards longer too, if memory serves me right. I’m not in your peer group, but for my peer group I’d say I’m in the fairway more, and a bit longer. But all that depends on the day and my swing
Launches high for me with c721. Turned it down to lowest launch. It then worked pretty well. Only wish is it was slightly lighter. I pulled adapter from it and put it in an LTDx. Put RDX blue back in C721.
I can really get after it with the Blue RDX, so I think with you’re swing you’ll like it.
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Is that image from Shot Scope online?
Yes it is. Under Performance, Tee Shots, then I selected only Driver off the tee.
I’ve rarely been on their website…mostly on the app, I’ll need to check the website out
I like it, gives you a better view of the data and allows you to drill down and analyze a bit deeper.
SS max’s out mid 90’s if I’m going for it so not fast. Currently using a ltdx, stiff im10 but feel I really have to connect otherwise is goes nowhere. Bit of lot of low bullets lol. Pavg dist on shotsscope 240yards.
thinking of dropping to a reg and swinging easier but can’t decide between the 2 shafts. ?
Any advice massively appreciated from over the pond.
I had the regular air speeder for my c721 first and it had too much flex. I really like the ventus red regular in the C721. I have a slow to medium swing speed. But, never clocked it. Haven’t played the Rdx blue. But, you’ll be happy with the red. It looks really nice with the red shaft, black club head and Lamkin 360 gray grip.
If you work directly work with TourEdge, they may alow one swap out. They have great customer service.
Thank you – sounds like the red will work. All about increasing my carry rather than relying on roll.
Can I ask your usual carry distances? Or speed please
Thanks. So a fair bit faster than me in which case reg should be fine. Thank you