You would be hard pressed to find a club type in which all companies follow specific trends more than with hybrids. What we see in the present day is a far cry from the iron-like options of yesteryear. Tour Edge however, believes there is a place for both and with the 725 release, they are sticking to that idea of providing something for everyone.
Quick Take
You will not see two more different hybrid options under one brand. The E725 is staggering in its wide range playability, while the C725 is likely the most player driven design in all of golf. There isn’t a better example of why Tour Edge continues to offer two different options for each club-head in the Exotics releases than these hybrids. Each is a uniquely designed tool for a specific player type, and each check all of the boxes they could hope for. Not to mention, no one does bang for your buck like Tour Edge.
Performance
Tour Edge Exotics E725 Hybrid
As you may have already gathered, the E725 hybrid is the bigger of the two options this for Tour Edge, however the profile honestly isn’t all that different size wise from the E723 we reviewed last year. It isn’t a super large hybrid, but it is in that “tweener” realm, although that seems to be becoming more the trend in the industry right now. The carbon crown with 360 Ridgeback frame helps to create a more balanced size at setup, but the move to matte this year makes the biggest difference.
Of the two hybrids, the E725 is the bonded option, so the only adjustability here is with the Flight Tuning System that uses a single 10g weight placed in the middle-back of the clubhead at a unique angle. According to Tour Edge this meant a 10% lower CG, but also more stability. On the monitor, this all equated to a very playable setup with ample spin for a 19-degree option, though that spin did keep the distance perhaps a bit tamer than anticipated, it also meant that the downrange dispersion was quite good during testing.
At impact, the E725 is a lot of fun. There is a crisp, crunchy feedback which avoids being overly bright, it avoids being metallic and overly dense. On the course, the sound made it even more fun to hit, because every strike just feels like it jumps off the face. All that in mind, the Diamond Face 3D might be the biggest star here as shots low, towards the heel, or toe-side kept impressive spin numbers as well as direction. One thing to keep in mind, though it isn’t really a draw biased head, the size and shaping makes it easy to get the toe through impact, so it also isn’t anti-left.
Forgiving. Repeatable. Fun. The E725 certainly brings all of those things to the table.
Tour Edge Exotics C725 Hybrid
The C725 hybrid is scary if you aren’t prepared for what you are getting into. Not scary in terms of how it performs, but rather that it is a daunting visual if you aren’t prepared for it. There is not a more “player” driven hybrid profile out there in the opinion of this reviewer. In all honestly, it is a direct throwback to the days of Adams hybrids in size and the face shape. You see, though we have seen some companies come with their versions of a square-toe iron like hybrid face, this is the closest we have seen to what Adams was doing so many years ago.
With that in mind, it also means that this is a design with a very specific audience. It is as compact as they come, sure, and it also has a bit of a triangular flow to it at address, but it is that face shape as well as depth that separates things. You have to hit this hybrid like an iron. During testing, the more iron like the strike, the better the performance benefits. However, if you are a picker of the golf ball with your hybrids, it might be best to look towards the E725. Also, as an added bonus, the C725 hybrid does utilize Tour Edge’s +/- 2-degree hosel adapter system.
What you will see in the data averages matched perfectly experiences on the course as the C725 hybrid brings a flatter trajectory to the table which really has it working to the apex. That isn’t to say that the ball flight is low, it is simply getting to its peak in a much different way than the E725 did for me. Given the size and emphasis on being iron like, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the sole design which uses Tour Edge’s Ryzersole shaping cuts through turf and rough well during descending angles of attack.
The feedback at impact does have a slight metallic “pop” to it, but the overall sensation is as solid as the ball flight which confident strikes result in. While it is not what you would call a “forgiving” hybrid, it does offer more playability than most long irons given its added size and placement of mass. In the end, if you seek an iron replacement that isn’t oversized but still offers the iron-like ability to flight and work the ball, then the C725 sits in its own realm among other player’s hybrids.
The Details – E725 and C725 Hybrid
Though the drivers and fairways will inevitably get the most eyeballs on them from golfers when it comes to the Exotics offerings from Tour Edge, this is an area which they are quietly excelling. Despite having many of the same technological bells and whistles at the biggest OEM’s, Tour Edge has kept the 725 hybrids at an unheard of $199.99 price point. With looks, tech, and ample options for players of all types, the company has done it once again.
For more information on either of these hybrids or the entire Tour Edge product lineup, check out their website at www.touredge.com.
