It may seem unfair to say it, but when discussing players distance irons, Tour Edge is not typically a name that comes to mind. Nonetheless, the Exotics iron lineup certainly merits recognition, as Tour Edge has become renowned for delivering strong performance at a more affordable price. After choosing not to release any Exotics irons for the 2024 season, Tour Edge made a significant impression by unveiling three irons in the 725 lineup. THP has already reviewed the two most forgiving models, E725 and X725, so now it’s time to take a closer look at the smallest iron profile in the line, C725.
Tech Talk
Tour Edge has built a reputation for their innovative use of advanced technologies in its Exotics line. With the C725 irons, the Tour Edge tackles a common challenge: incorporating advanced technology into a smaller iron head while maintaining the desired look and feel preferred by skilled players, or as Tour Edge refers to them, C (for competition) players.
Tour Edge incorporates speed-enhancing technologies into their clubs by using a hollow body design. This design features a military-grade Maraging Steel L-Cup Face, which is plasma-welded to a 17-4 stainless steel chassis. This combination of materials and design enables the face to be thinner than ever before, making it the thinnest face used in an Exotics iron, according to Tour Edge.
To boost consistency and increase ball speeds, Tour Edge has implemented a new 3D Diamond Face. This design utilizes varying depths and heights within diamond-shaped patterns to optimize performance. The Exotics line is known for employing a variable thickness pattern, and the C725 irons feature 92 of these mini-trampoline structures. While this number is lower than what is present in the E and X irons, it is not unexpected based on the profile of the iron head.
Looks – Tour Edge Exotics C725 Irons
Tour Edge has been refining the looks of the Exotics C irons for quite some time. Tour Edge has worked to slim it down since launching the C721 irons, which set the design mold for their recent player’s distance irons. For both the C722 and C723, we were told that the overall clubhead was 15% smaller than its predecessor. While there is no doubt those clubheads shrank, they still appeared slightly larger to the eye compared to other players’ distance models on the market, not a bad thing mind you.
With the C725, these irons may have undergone the most drastic-looking change that the Exotics irons undertook throughout this timeframe. Looks are always subjective, but behind the ball, the C725 might be the best-looking player’s distance iron that Tour Edge has ever made. Clearly, when Tour Edge says they are leaning more into the player’s preferred shape, they mean it.
There has been a noticeable change in the appearance of the “cavity,” and it seems that Tour Edge took a bold step with this design. A small section of carbon fiber has been added as part of the refinement, visually connecting the 725 iron range. Additionally, a 14-gram multi-material weight has been incorporated, which draws extra visual attention and helps lower and deepen the center of gravity within the clubhead. At the time of this writing, extra weights do not appear on the Tour Edge website, but the weight can be swapped out while partaking in a club fitting to help dial in swing weight. Overall, the look has sparked much discussion, but I appreciate that these irons bring an aggressive look to the bag.
Feel/Sound
Inside the hollow design of the C725 irons is VIBRCOR, Tour Edge’s TPU material that enhances the sound and feel of the iron. VIBRCOR helps mask the fact that these irons are hollow, giving the impression that they are more comparable to a solid head design. The real benefit lies in the sound produced. Having previously tested both the C722 and C723 irons, I found the advancements in sound between the two models impressive, with the latter offering a much more cohesive tone than the previous model. While working with the C725 irons, I found that the sound conveys a feeling of speed while maintaining a softer undertone at impact. What stands out is that this sound remains consistent unless contact is significantly off-target.
Performance – Tour Edge Exotics C725 Irons
Let’s talk about the performance, shall we? For testing purposes, we were able to get some swings to win with a C725 five, seven, and nine iron. While that is less than a complete set, it helped give a good representation of how these three areas of the set will play. All three irons were paired with a Dynamic Gold Mid 100 shaft, a delightful change from the Elevate 95 MPG shaft that has served as stock for the previous generations. Since we are still battling Old Man Winter up here in NY, testing was mainly conducted inside with the help of a SkyTrak+ launch monitor. /
Reviewing our seven-iron data, I averaged a carry of 165 yards with a swing speed of 82 MPH. That number is certainly at the top end of the spectrum for me when I look back at some other seven irons I’ve hit in the past. For reference, the longest average carry I have for seven in the last several months was 170 yards, which was achieved with a game improvement style iron and a loft three degrees stronger. To me, that helps illustrate that there is plenty of power potential here. Additionally, the spin numbers are well positioned, allowing me to control the ball’s flight and manipulate its trajectory if desired. The descent angle is also favorable, enabling the ball to stop comfortably on the green.
Long irons have never been my favorite, and these days, I consider the five iron to be classified as a long iron. Achieving carry numbers at 185 yards, with several in the data topping the 190 mark, is pretty good for someone who doesn’t regularly play such a club. Meanwhile, generating a peak height of 31 yards, which is just 2 yards shy of the seven-iron peak height, is particularly nice to see as it’s one of the reasons a five-iron isn’t consistently in the bag. Whenever a company enters the discussion about how irons have gotten smaller, part of me always worries about how that will appear in the long irons. I’m happy to report that visually, this club gave me no reason to be concerned.
Tour Edge lists the C725 irons as having a medium amount of forgiveness, and when compared to the E and X irons, it’s not going to pack as much friendliness as those two irons. However, among the three irons tested, there is more than enough forgiveness to get by if you are looking for something with a smaller shape than those other two Exotics models. Give credit to the L-Cup face and Tour Edge’s 3D diamond face, as the C725 irons handled all of my typical misses, which are low and toe side, without any drastic drop-offs in speed or carry distance.
Final Thoughts
Consider this a friendly reminder to stop and notice what Tour Edge is achieving with their Exotics iron lineup. Not only have the C725 irons improved in their profile, but they also pack in plenty of performance. As for the price, Tour Edge prices these irons at $128.99 per club, which adds up to $899.99 for a set of seven irons. With as much as they have packed in, that price tag makes these an incredible deal for those looking for players distance iron.
More information on the entire 725 line is available at www.touredge.com.
