The evolution we are currently witnessing from Tour Edge with their Exotics lineup from visual as well as technological confidence standpoints should be studied by many other manufacturers out there right now. Sure the performance which Exotics brings to the table has always been top shelf, but there seemed to be a bit of an aesthetic identity crisis at times which led to a disconnect with consumers.
As we depart 2025 and head into the new year, it certainly feels like that is no longer the case with this most recent Exotics release from Tour Edge. Thanks to a clean and focused visual rebranding from the company, it looks as if they are more prepared than ever to talk the talk and walk the walk.
There is no better starting point to analyze this new evolution than via the irons which look to ensure they have something for everyone, the Exotics MB’s and CB’s. We have seen forged players irons from Exotics in past years with the BL Protos and even the 723 Pros, which we here at THP were seriously impressed by, but this feels different.
The Exotics MB and CB’s look to finally bring Tour Edge innovation to 1025 Forging to create not only void filling payability, but infinite blending options as well. Do they succeed? Settle in and find out.
Quick Take
The Exotics MB/CB’s give a definitive answer to those who have been asking the brand to bring new one-piece forged options to the table. From top to bottom, the irons are rock solid. Visually they present a modern-clean look that does enough to both blend into and differentiate from one another. Performance wise, there is an increased confidence which comes from the shaping of each iron, but without sacrificing the spin, speed, workability, or VIBRCOR backed “forged feel” most would expect from true players irons.
Tour Edge Exotics MB Irons
With the Exotics MB’s, Tour Edge is taking an approach built around the irons being a “forging steeped in tradition”. While that in itself does give off a very old school nostalgia driven messaging, the irons themselves are a blend of classic and modern, specifically with the implementation of VIBRCOR into the rear flange via a cleverly placed channel.
Visually, the word clean certainly jumps to the forefront when viewing them in-hand, specifically at the back of the club heads. The decision to keep the application of the new Exotics branding simple and clean allows the brushed finish as well as fine line milling to stand out.
At setup, the topline is not as beveled as one might expect, and though that fits with the overall aesthetic, it does make the iron seem a bit larger than you might anticipate, which is clearly part of the overall design plan. Although they do have modest offset (2.3mm across the set) for an MB, it again fits with the intention of creating a more playable and blend friendly situation. If there is one nitpick here, it might be that the transition point from the neck to the topline is a bit on the busy side flow wise.
In testing, the Exotics MB’s were much less scary than you might expect. Sure, there is only so much forgiveness that can be packed into this type of profile given the lack of weight which can be pushed to the perimeter, but the VIBRCOR application in the milled channel did improve things there.
The overwhelming feedback both on the course and the monitor was one of a crisp yet dense sound/feel which was met with a notable amount of workability. Strikes across the face responded with a gear effect reaction you would expect, but the channel as well as a more generous sole than most MB’s have kept things consistent. Through the turf, the sharper leading edge wanted to clear through quickly, though the aforementioned size of the sole didn’t produce any unexpected effects in terms of digging or from thicker lies.
As you will see from the data above for the 8, 9, and PW which we tested, there was a nice flow of launch, spin, and peak across them. Not only that, but the distance windows with the MB’s were also right around what this tester would expect for the profile, about ½ club shorter than the modern players-distance irons. One thing you also always look at in any MB is the ability to control the vertical flight window, something that the Exotics did very well, even with their slightly increased offset.
Tour Edge Exotics CB Irons
Given that we received a split set of the new Exotics for this review, it should be no surprise that the Exotics CB irons we worked with focused on the long irons. Honestly, it is a solid test for the overall design itself, as it not only shows the baseline spin and overall playability in what is a more difficult to hit portion of the bag for many amateurs.
Before we dive into that though, the visual aspect needs to be discussed. Honestly, the CB’s might be the best looking irons that Tour Edge have ever produced. Although the MB’s look good, the combination of satin finish and deliberately CNC’d cavity on the 1025 Carbon Steel body of the CB’s absolutely stands out. Not to mention, the new branding and restraint with which it was applied by Tour Edge keeps things even more enticing to the eye.
For as good as they look from the back however, there is a bit more to unpack at setup. There, you immediately notice a slightly thicker topline. Now, that in and of itself is expected going from an MB to a CB, but it is the squared off nature of the topline which makes it much more evident than the actual measurements alone would lead one to expect. This isn’t to say that it is a bad look, not at all actually, but it is much more pronounced when you go between the two models and perhaps a bit more camber would have created more visual flow.
With all of that in mind, the bigger thing to note is that these were a ton of fun to hit. The 5, 6, and 7 irons showed themselves to be extremely consistent with no unexpected directional flight tendencies. The VIBRCOR channel here combined with the increase in mass moved compared to the MB obviously helped these be noticeably more playable on mediocre to poor strikes, but that is the entire point.
When you look at the data, the expected speed increase as well as slight decrease in spin compared to the MB is indeed there. While it would have been interesting to see the similarities and differences in the same head given the identical lofts between the two, it still paints the picture you would anticipate. All that said, having reviewed the 723 Pro irons in the past, the slightly more compact heel to toe look here makes for a much more mentally comfortable shape for the better ball-striker who still needs workability but with the added playability you get from a CB.
Bridging the Gap – CB and MB Combo Playability
While each iron design is more than capable of standing on their own in terms of being the best option Tour Edge has produced for each classification, the foresight they had for potential blending takes things up a notch. The decision to create a constant offset (2.3 mm) across all of the irons in both the MB as well as Exotics CB irons ensuring they share the same loft and lie angles means the blending options are endless.
Fortunately, since Tour Edge sent in an already blended set for testing, we got to take a much closer look at things, specifically the flow point of the setup.
As you can see from the data above, the balance between the two models is quite impressive overall. Yes, there is a little more pop in the CB in terms of gap, but it isn’t something crazy like can be seen in the blending of a lot of other sets out there. Part of that is thanks to the decision by Tour Edge to keep the specifications constant in both sets.
From a feel/sound perspective, the MB’s are slightly firmer than the CB’s, but even then the feedback is extremely familiar as you bounce between the two shapes. No doubt both the forged material as well as the different placements and implementation of VIBRCOR help here. With all of this in mind, it will be the visual which is the biggest difference in terms of flow for golfers, as it is just different enough topline wise to take a bit of getting used to. Even then, the ability to blend at any club without having to alter specs is a major feather in the Exotics cap.
The Details
With their new branding in place, the addition of two one piece forged irons to the Exotics family is a win for both the brand and consumers alike. They might not be the flashiest in terms of a tech story, but the target audience for Exotics CB irons also doesn’t typically need that. Instead, they demand precision driven playability with workability, the these irons certainly offer plenty of each.
Both sets are offered with the True Temper Dynamic Gold MID 100 (R300, S300) and MID 115 (S300, X100) as standard, although as always there will be custom options available. The irons are available now, and priced at $1249.99 for a 7-piece set.
For more information visit their website at touredge.com.
