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
You get trolls on every forum.
Gonna stick with my cobra, but this one will go in the backup bag for sure.
Thanks buddy!
Here’s an address angle:
I currently have 5 of the current release drivers here, and this one legitimately goes toe to toe with all of them, and none of them are this low spin.
I’m holding out for that rumoured matte head! Are u going to be able to narrow it down to one head for the year or will u rotate between a few?
My miss is usually on the toe side and this one really helps that. I did have a heel strike yesterday that was a little weak squirter to the right. I wouldn’t be too thrilled if that was my consistent miss either.
Got a PM this morning asking me to give this link to the homepage review a nudge.
You going to be able to get it out on course with it this weekend. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Yeah, toe side misses are awesome with this thing. Nearly as good as a centered strike imo
It’s said for a lot of things, but having reviewed the last four TE drivers, this is light years different than the EXS. WAAAAAAAAAY lower spin, and the sound/feel is just eons better too.
It’s down to this and the ST-X
What are the biggest differences you’re seeing between the 2? Spin, forgiveness, speed?
Spin is lower here, speed average is SLIGHTLY higher there. About a 200 RPM difference
@gkeller813 Let’s put our mortal hands on both soon. I dont have all the fancy tech that Jman does have, but I have inconsistencies in swing and need to see what performs better given my swing is not polished.
Couple busy weekends coming up for me, but we’ll get together soon for some fun!
Shoot me the invite
When we start the planning, I will!
Heck yeah – TEEM 2020 and TEEM 2021 getting together to hit some bomb drivers!
What spin were you seeing
Understand. I’ve been done that incorrect path. Sucks.
We need to set up an Okie golf day
If i am not busy, maybe i’ll drive up for the day….
Anyone have this list?
Stay safe
Initially, I kept getting pushes right of Limbaugh. Even as I got warmer, the ball just went right. A LM would have started given me feedback like "do you know the definition of insanity?" As expected, trajectory was lower than my G400 Max, and just a lot of knuckleballs. I put it down, and figured I’d come back to it later in the session.
While hitting other clubs, I noticed everything was going a little right. Pushes and push draws. So, I just reset myself and my alignments. My stance was more closed than usual, and I just decided to go to a completely neutral stance. Perfectly parallel, just a little left of target. And, I decided to just swing the f-ing club. (Kind of like The Matrix where Morpheus says "Stop trying to hit me and hit me!")
The club came alive. It just wants to be hit hard. With a little more effort, what were low knuckleballs turned into "rise balls" that landed with plenty of roll. Once I got my alignment down, the HAZ Yellow was just point and shoot. If I let up on it, the ball pushed right. If I stayed aggressive, it would go straight or a nice driving bullet fade.
Nice club and definitely in the rotation. Compares favorably with my Ping G30 LST. But, as others have said, it seems to have more consistency and forgiveness than the typical low spin driver.
I’m game. Think we can get James to take part
Thanks
Don’t have any personal experience with the yellow. Really like the 721 coupled with the blue RDX. Last 2 rounds have driven ball very well. Hit the ball really high. Starting to adjust to lower ball flight when needed. Spin stays 2200 or less. Let’s us know more about the 721 with yellow combo.
I seem to get along really well with counterbalanced shafts. It started with a G30 LST shafted with ALTA CB. The G400 Max knocked the LST out of the bag and the ALTA CB stiff played well with the Max. But, my swing shape changed and the ALTA has been misbehaving. A Ping Tour 65 Regular flex has done really well. But, change is good. I could see the C721 getting the start when the fan’s blowing, and playing the Max is calmer conditions.
Great to hear your experience, I am not able to play this weekend myself, but should get out a couple of times this coming week. Spending tome with my bestie an d reworking all the flower beds with new dirt and mulch…
Solid move! I will try lofting up, too. Forgot about the adjustability of these…
I am using Arccos with the C721. What data are you interested in?
On course comparison in length and accuracy compared to your previous driver.
I’ll dig thru and get a comparison in the next few days.
@Jman has hit both. so have I.
much lower spin than 425. Very very very very very very very very very different sound
Thanks JB, interesting!
Do we know the MOI value on this driver? Just curious how it compares.
I immediately put on a Golf Pride Microsuede
Figured it might be info someone could be curious about.
Truth. WAY lower spin, and suuuuuuch a better sound.
Plus, I’d argue it’s more forgiving.
Soi have had this driver for a couple months ths now and this along with many of the other comments is exactly how I feel it plays.
I am not the best golfer so ya, I can spray it sometimes, but more often then not a miss hit is just off the fairway to the right (slicy) and still as long as my playing partners fairway balls. Sometimes the ball is even still in the fairway when I def did not hit it well.
This has been huge in instilling confidence in my game off the tee.
One thing I have noticed is heel hits are the worst part of this driver, but still not that bad. If you can get your miss hits to high toe as mentioned by many here. This driver is a pure fairway finder that is LONG.