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
Ya just read this, great write up.
I used to average around 220 or 240 yards on my good drives with my ’09 TM burner so a it older. With this driver I can hit those distances with a very light and easy swing. When I crush it so far I am getting 270 ish with roll out drives.
Now I just need to get a lesson to fix my out to in heep hit misses!
The way the diver is working and now John Daily jumping on all the new 721 clubs…. my birthday this summer might be a full bag of these!
In what way?
I’m curious too. Tough to beat a ping in the forgiveness category.
Yeah. The 425 is about 500+ higher moi than anything else. But I think a lot of that is due to weighing about 12g heavier head. I would like to possibly pair up with an Autoflex shaft but the Pings extra weight makes that difficult as you would have to remove 12g just to start even with other heads.
Couldn’t you just swap the stock weight with one 12g lighter ?
In all ways, unless you’re one who needs more spin, then the 425 is a better option. 721 is a low spin high launch laterally and vertically forgiving animal.
I’d argue many are on par with them, regardless of what their stability (moi) is.
I’m not going to argue with that. These days it’s more about the proper fit as most drivers have some type of ball speed retention face tech, etc on off center hits or do it more with shape and weighting like Ping. And ball speeds these days are pretty high with most drivers as well.
once I get my irons sorted out, I’d like to trial this one.
I have not played Ping since the originalG Series and i liked it, but when i hit a toe shot with it, it was a nasty snapper the ran deep in the woods and did not answer when i called out to it….The toe shots i hit with the C721 are low and running up the right side. and long
Yes. 12g is a lot and I think that extra weight is part of the extra forgiveness of the Ping. It probably would reduce the forgiveness to some degree.
MOI has become a catch all for forgiveness and a near arms race for some of these companies. I can make the case that above a certain threshold that most of these drivers are at (minus maybe SIM2), its a meaningless number.
Why minus the SIM2?
Just personal experience testing and seeing huge speed and spin jumps and drops when missing
So less consistent across the face? What about the SIM2 Max?
To be fair to Ping, you’re talking 2016 tech vs 2021. The 425 could produce the same result, it’s hard to say or not, but that would be a better comparison than a 2016 model.
A fairer comparison for the G would be the Tour Edge Ex9 driver. In that battle I’m guessing the G wins pretty handedly.
My preferred shot shape is a draw and my trajectory is on the low to mid side so I’m usually looking for loft as I tend to hit down with most of my clubs. 53 years old, current GHIN index is 4.5 and I’m fairly accurate with driver but could use a little more distance. Chipping and putting are my strongest skills. 185 yards – 225 yards is an area I’ve been working to improve and the current Tour Edge clubs I am gaming have helped me significantly in the past two years.
Currently have the EX 10 16.5 degree 4 wood in my bag and an XCG7 21 degree 7 wood and 28 degree hybrid. All three have the Fujikura Fuel Red 60 gram Stiff shafts in them. Was curious to hear from those of you that have had a chance to hit the Fujikura Ventus Red 50 R or 60 S shafts and get some feedback on whether they play true to flex, firm or soft? My driver swing speed is 95-100 MPH, so on the border between the Tour Edge recommended shaft selections. The other option is the Project X RDX Blue 5.5 or 6.0, but in the past I’ve hit other Project X shafts with a lower than desired trajectory and haven’t liked the feel.
The 28 degree hybrid is my 175 yard club and the 21 degree 7 wood is my 215 yard club. I love the 7 wood for off the fairway or tee. I’m better with the 4 wood off the tee than the fairway, but tend to draw it more than I’d like.
My current Driver is the Ping G410 LST 10.5 with the Alta CB Red 55 Stiff shaft, with shaft frequency of 246 CPM and it has been a good performer, bit thinking about the C721 driver as a replacement. Have any of you had a chance to compare the two?
Thanks for the great reviews and appreciate any insight you can provide on the shafts and a comparison to the Ping G410 LST.
Regards,
Browndog
I can speak to the shaft. I played a HZRDUS Smoke yellow 6.0 before moving to the RDX Blue 6.0 in the C721. RDX blue feels a lot less rigid than the Smoke yellow. It fits my smooth transition very well. I get more height,and more consistent results with the RDX Blue. I didnt get along with the yellow because u felt like I had to swing hard to get anything out of it, but the Blue has been great.
The RDX Blue and C721 have been a great pairing for me. Driver swing speed about 105. I’m averaging around 250 per drive, but that has been in wet cold conditions. Ine round in nicer weather and I was more around 260-270. Finding a lot more fairways lately, and finding the C721 to be very forgiving across the face.
as far as Ping, yes, that is all i have as far as Comparing it to, as i said. Although since the=n i have played a SLDR an M5 and SIM Max…It still out performs them all in my hands.
I can see that. My EXS220 was better than those for me too.
Based on all your posts over the years, this will be too low spin for you.
Probably so. The 10.5 lofted up was 1200-1400. The 12* would add what 500 rpm at most ?
View attachment 9007253
And 4 rounds worth of data on the C721. My misses on the shots left and right are not too far off line. Hitting 12% more fairways with this driver, added some distance and my longest drive has gone up. The pairing with the HZRDUS RDX Blue fits my swing very well, and allows me to point and shoot this, instead of trying to fight to get it in the fairway.
View attachment 9007254
Since I only had the Speedzone out for 2 rounds, some highlights with the C721 during my first 2 rounds:
64% Fairway during my 2nd round out with it.
Longest driver first round out with it.
I have played a lot of Drivers in my life, but this one, at my age and talent, and dome of you know i do not swing like a 60 something man. This Driver has greatly helped my consistency, my accuracy and my length off the tee….I feel like i love the game again and the C721 is a beast!
I don’t chase distance, but I do chase consistency and accuracy with my driver. The C721 gives you both. You don’t have to sacrifice distance or accuracy, I really think you get both with this club. And I think you get it with this club because the Diamond Face 2.0 is so good across the entire face. Ridgeback provides great stability. The combination of those 2 features make this a great club!
Good data, thanks for sharing.
Perfect @gkeller813 thats exactly the info I was hoping someone had. We can praise the driver bit info and data like that goes a long way in proving it.
It really does, and I cant wait to keep tracking. I wish I had more historical information to compare against, but this year should get lots of good data on the C721 driver.
I thought I decided to put this driver in the backup bag.
Now I need to get my hands on a smoke blue to try out in it.
What shaft is in it now?
I have the ventus red.
Have the smoke yellow in my SZ Xtreme so curious about the blue.
Can’t wait to see the results. It really is a great stick, at a great price!
Blue has more play and feels less stiff than the yellow. The blue is better for my smooth transition swing. Yellow would be better for an aggressive swinger. I’m getting more launch from the Blue also, but this could be due to head design.
And this is why I want to try the blue. It sounds like we have similar swings…just with opposite side misses
I actually like the CB feel
If I can ever get my sonar grips I’ll start using arccos. Last I knew that will be late June.
Even at a pedestrian swing speed, I still feel a little kick in the Haz yellow 6.0, but that’s partly due to the JMax grip I use.
I like the idea I need to stay aggressive with this shaft. It keeps my head in the game in terms of proper alignment, firm tempo, and just finishing off each shot. My practice session yesterday was solid. I still need to play with the loft, but so far having fun with the C721.
I would also like to compare the EXS against it side by side.
Hey Browndog,
I have the 10.5 degree driver with the ventus red 60 s shaft. I have a similar swing speed as you. Though I am a much less experienced and gifted golfer with a HCP of 15. I think the red stiff for me might be a bit too stiff. But for me I tend to rather stiffer than too flex as that is the feel I have learned to play with over the years.
I think one or two other guys on ther also have tried both the regular and stiff ventus red. I believe most, if not all, preferred the 60 S.
Have fun getting the new clubs, it is like Christmas during summer. ?
View attachment 9007422
Nice, have fun! Cant wait to hear how it goes!
Enjoy the trip, The first time i went to Colorado and played it was awesome
Will for sure. The 721 should be good for well over 300 at 7k
Youll see about 400-500 rpm difference