Tour Edge is not afraid to be different, and the creation of the EXS lineup in 2019 showed that in full force. The decision to provide all the tech of other clubs, but at a lower price was a bold one…and it worked. So, what do you do for a follow up? Well, most companies would ride the wave and make a tweak here or there, but that isn’t Tour Edge. Instead, the EXS 220 lineup offers more tech, some significant design changes, and are perhaps the best-looking golf clubs they have ever produced.
Quick Take
Not a rehash of the highly successful EXS, the EXS 220 is its own entity in many ways. Larger profile that screams forgiveness, with the staggering MOI that Tour Edge has achieved, and backed that up in testing. More than that, it wants to put the ball in play, not the lowest spinner out there, but it packs a surprising punch. Probably the most complete driver Tour Edge has ever released.
Technology Tells a Story
Who doesn’t love a good story in golf equipment? Well, Tour Edge is writing one as well as anyone in golf. I’m talking beyond the better-than-almost-everyone pricing as well as the “48-Hour Custom Fit” delivery. While the price of the EXS 220 does come in at $349.99, $50.00 higher than the EXS, when you realize what is going on under the hood, it makes sense.
First and foremost, the shape has changed, a lot. The 220 features a shallower face and much more elongated overall body than its predecessor. Those changes in particular were part of the goal David Glod and company had of increasing the MOI to produce one of the most forgiving drivers out there. By altering the shape, moving 9g of weight low and back, utilizing double the carbon fiber on the sole, and applying “Triple Carbon” which is lighter than that used on the EXS crown (this year it has a thicker appearing weave), they increased the MOI by 20%. What does that mean in layman’s terms? At a heel-toe MOI rating of 5,440 (max allowable is 5,900) you have a driver that is in a stratosphere with some very elite company.
Believe it or not, the bigger story is in the metal. Tour Edge utilized “impact simulation software” to create what they believe is a better face, and better sound. Using this software, a face made up of 42 different diamond zones of variable thickness out of 8-1-1 Titanium as well as placing an internal “sound diffusion bar” that mimics concert hall acoustics, the idea was to take the established MOI and kick it up a notch with face driven speed and additional forgiveness wrapped in a more pleasant sound/feel than the EXS.
Was all of this actually verified in terms of performance? Read on to find out!
Tour Edge EXS 220 Driver
I received the EXS 220 driver in the 9.5° head paired with the PX HZRDUS Smoke Yellow shaft in 6.0. For the gear heads at home, the head weighed out at 193g without the adapter, this includes the 9g weight in the back (Tour Edge is going to offer other weights), fully assembled the club swing weighted out dead on D3.
Before we get to the ins and outs of what I saw in terms of the typical performance parameters, I do want to talk about the sound/feel since it was something specifically addressed in R&D this time around according to Tour Edge. To be blunt, the EXS 220 it isn’t a quiet driver. Initially, I was taken aback by the sound because it is more hollow and somewhat sharp than one might expect given the amount of carbon fiber in the head. That said, before sitting down to write this I hit the EXS for the first time in a long while and quickly realized the sound/feel here has improved drastically. It isn’t going to be a feedback that everyone loves, but I do think it will please far more than it bothers, plus, there is a sensation of power behind it all that makes it more enjoyable.
While forgiveness is the big story from Tour Edge, and we will touch on that here in a moment, I think the biggest performance story here is the launch. In the two sessions worth of data recorded on the Foresight GC2 that are displayed throughout the article you will see 12.2° and 11.5° with both also hitting average peaks over 100 feet. That might not seem a big deal to some of you high ball hitters out there, but for me, in a 9.5° head those numbers are a very big deal. If I can elevate a driver like this, then it’s got some launch to it, and I nevereven had to adjust the adapter.
Time for what everyone is waiting for – forgiveness talk. To be real, with the 220 it is…well…real. I don’t like to draw comparisons with other clubs into my reviews, that isn’t how I roll, but that said this one offered some Max forgiveness. The diamond face combined with the elongated clubhead and high MOI rating makes for a combination that wants to do everything it can to keep the ball in play. Heel-side, toe-side, high, low, in all situations the gear effect of the head seemed pretty mitigated overall. The big thing here is me coming off of an injury let me really see just how forgiving this one could be. Honestly, I couldn’t think of a better setup to work with coming out of that situation.
The rest of the picture sits with the spin numbers, and when you consider the changes in head style/shape from the EXS, it’s not much of a surprise that I did see a little more spin (2,907 and 2,765 RPM averages in the sessions here) given the weight placement in the head. Beyond that though, I have to say there was the rust factor as well as the Smoke Yellow 6.0 not being the best fit for me could have played a role there. Given the spin averages, the total distances given the ball speeds I was seeing were about what I expected. I do think there is some intrigue as to what the EXS 220 can do when fit to the user, and I definitely don’t want the data to automatically lead people to just fall on the belief that it’s a mid-spin head.
Last year was a huge year for Tour Edge, the EXS lineup and in particular the driver put them right back into the thick of people’s minds. With their 48-Hour turnaround program for fitting now extending into the EXS 220 clubs and based on the extreme playability here, 2020 could be even bigger. The key as always is going to be getting them into people’s hands, but with fitting carts expanding throughout the country they are on the right path.
Have you hit the EXS 220 driver? Have some thoughts? Be sure to jump in and comment to let the THP community know what you think!
The Details
Availability: Now
Price: $349.99
Loft Options: 9.5°, 10.5°, 12.0° (+/- 2° with adapter)
Shafts: PX HZRDUS Smoke Yellow (6.0, 6.5), Fujikura Ventus 4t Core (R, S), Fujikura Air Speeder 40A (R3, R2, R)
I hit some awesome drives over the weekend with my Flash so the desire to tinker is fading. If I had easy access to a monitor and other shafts, I’d be more inclined to have a showdown between the two.
You’re gonna love it!
I do. Put some range swings on it…(I hate that we have to use mats at my home range…all the tees are super high) so I ran around the course with it…I’ve been struggling with my driver lately so I was a bit anxious about hitting it right away but I got my some of my set up issues worked out enough to put some good tee shots on this. the sound is definitely different but I adjusted to it quickly. center face strikes are music to my ears and the feel is really nice. I hit a couple of 250 yarders (with rollout) and a few in the 230s but I was straight…ish for the round so I just need to get back with my instructor and work on the driver. I have the hzrdus yellow smoke on it and at first, I thought it might be too flexy but I didn’t notice it while playing…I definitely want to swap out to a mid sized grip, tho…to be honest, I bought a certified pre-owned model (since this is my first big TE buy) but it looked immaculate (posted above) so for $236, I am very happy with this. Can’t wait to put some more rounds on this…
I can say that the EXS220 seems to hit a tighter dispersion window for me than the SZ X. Nothing really pushed too bad to the right (I haven’t hit a slice or fade in years) and while I can get OTT pull hooky at times the shots with the 220 don’t seem to dive as hard left on me. Off center shots don’t seem all that punished and the distance is there too.
I aim for a green with a pin that is 235. On the course when dry and firm I might get 3-4 drives that end up 230-255 range so to get it onto the 235 green is a poke for me (I know….short knocker…not an internet golfer here by any means ).
Out of about 60 drives with the 220 and SZX I managed to hit 3 balls that rolled through the green with the 220 and only 1 that rolled up to the pin with the SZ X.
I made an adjustment with about 10 balls to go adding a bit more tilt to my address position and liked the ball flight better (less sweeping push draws and more straight with baby draw action). So I hope I can take it to the course.
But as I have stated on here many a time, the 220 holds its own with anything I have tested. It sounds better than the SZ X and Epic Flash too. I noticed that again yesterday on the range when hitting all 3 side by side.
Also one thing I am noticing is the stock Ventus Blue 4t seems to hold up really well. Not to say that other stock shafts are sloppy but I would say the tip on it seems a little firmer that most R flex shafts I have swung yet the launch is still there. I feel like with it I can go after it a bit more than I usually do.
Lots to like here for the price. And as @chile mentioned above I noticed they are now starting to show up on Tour Edge’s preowned area on the website for under $250.
I almost popped for a used 220 hybrid yesterday but they didn’t have the loft and flex I wanted to try.
Remember too guys that Tour Edge has a 30 day money back guarantee trial period if you buy through them. I have tried a few of their 6i’s on their demo program and they were always great to work with if you needed to return the club.
Oh and by the way, the finish on the driver is holding up perfectly. No paint chips, no nothing. I will clean it up tonight and snap a pic. Still looks as good as the day I got it.
Curious did it come with the matching head cover?
yup.
I was able to hit them each on 9 of the various driving holes and played a little scramble off the tee with myself. All were marked with a Bushnell GPS.
Results (red bold indicates it won that category):
EXS220 12* (Ventus Blue 4t 5R at 45" set to U/+)
Avg distance: 230
Shortest drive: 213
Longest drive: 249
Fairways in Reg: 5/9
# of drives used: 4
# of drives over 230 yds: 5
Epic Flash 12* (Even Flow Green 55g 5.5 at 45" set to +2/D weight in fade side)
Avg: 222
Short: 203
Long: 239
FIR: 7/9
# of drives used: 2
# of drives over 230: 3
Speedzone Xtreme 12* (GD YS-5 Nano Reloaded 5R at 45" set to +1.5)
Avg: 220
Short: 171 (hit a tree)
Long: 263
FIR: 5/9
# of drives used: 3
# of drives over 230: 4
EXS220 simply keeps winning these challenges that I throw at it. My only knock is the 4 misses I had with it were all drives that went left and left me blocked in the tree line.
So that has me a bit concerned. If I could eliminate that miss I’d be a 100% happy camper. Going to mess with the hosel settings. I had it in U/+ for the test.
May try O/+ next time out as I like the height I get in the + setting.
The SZ X seems to have an extra gear on the longs, but my poor swings are really punished which is odd given it keeps being touted as the most forgiving driver of 2020.
It is my favorite of the three to look down at though. And I like that the face doesn’t seem to rock closed in the higher loft settings. I also enjoy the upright lie angle.
The Flash has always been my steady Eddie driver. Not Flash-y (see what I did there ) but it usually keeps me in play and finds fairways. I have been gaming this combo for about a year now so there is definitely familiarity there and likely why I seem to just put an easy swing on it and it finds the short grass more often than not.
My next round I’m going to make the hosel adjustment and see what happens. All 18 with the EXS220. No other testing. Give it its fair due
Nice !! Good luck with it.
As for the updates, just trying to provide as much feedback as possible. Glad you are enjoying it.
The testing had me a bit flustered today though I must say.
First off, I had the first tee time and there was another single behind me. I was riding and he was walking. So I had tried to build up a good lead ahead of him but he kept pushing me along. I hate making people wait but the testing was my top priority !!
Then I have a 14 way bag but when testing clubs (I had 17 with me today) it gets overwhelming. At one point I went to tee off on #6 and the EXS220 was not in the riding cart with me. Instead of putting it in my bag I had put all 3 drivers into the basket in the back of the cart. All I can figure is when I hit a bump it must have fallen out. Thankfully a group 2 holes behind me found it and gave it to me. Crisis averted. So if anyone knows of a stand bag with an 18 way divider system… I am all ears
Inspired by this head to head to head… Before I was notified of TEEm selection I bought a 785, then went through lessons and changed my swing. I will be head to head these at driving range and course next time I play.
The exs is great and a fairway bomber for me. Consistent distance with great ball flight. Not sure if I’m leaving anything on the tee from the high flight with Smoke Yellow. Maybe look for Smoke Black to try.
Thanks for heads up on pre-owned. I want to try hybrid and 3w.
I don’t talk up a product that I don’t like, so believe me when I say, this is my gamer.
Looking forward to your thoughts. For some reason I’m pondering this driver.
@ApexFan i am contemplating a shaft change but not till i put a few more rounds on it.
1. Par 4 350 had pushed this to the right 125 left figured this was about 250ish based on shot.
2. Par 3 220 relaxed and watched the iron game show off
3. Par 5 473 – driver a bit into right rough 215 left… Getting better
4. Par 4 365 – bombed it 278 perfect fairway hit.
5. Par 4 419 great shot off to the the right side lasered to hole 110 don’t believe it was 300 assuming tee box was up, but don’t play enough to know better
6. Par 3… Yanked a wedge but we don’t need to talk about that here.
7. Par 4 335 went for broke and ended up 63 out… right hand side
8. Dog leg gave the 220 a break
9. 369. This was a cut corner that benefitted the hard pan ground out there… 71 left from the left rough cart read 274
10. Par 5 long grip and rip hole…pulled it a bit but just off fairway 265
11. Par 5 winning face 20 feet left of fwy and not a great hit… Prob 235/245
12. Par 3 n sniped
13. Hit left and ended about 88 to hole… Head scratcher on distance as it’s unfathomable how it landed where it was…discounting this hole to wind and hard pan…300+
14. Irons
15. Worst shot all day pushed well right…250 in right rough
16 – 3w
17 – par 3
18 – misaligned 258 behind tree lines. Good solid smash just worknin alignment.
What I would say about it is that it isn’t the absolute longest but I’ve never played a more consistent performing driver. It’s so stable, as close to point and shoot as an 11 cap will ever own.
It’s an incredible combo of everything, as time had gone in, the more impressed I’ve been.
Shot decently well for this course 42/42 (longest course I play from the whites – around 6400 yds)
But it was a very feast or famine round with the driver….well to be quite honest, mostly famine ?
I hit it 14 times:
Hole 1 – snap hook 192 yds miss left
Hole 2 – snap hook 198 yds miss left
Hole 3 – ugly snap hook – 169 yds miss left
Hole 5 – 174 yds in the middle – didn’t make good contact – did end up in the fairway though, luckily it’s a really shot hole.
Hole 6 – Snap hook into the trees – 196 yds
Hole 7 – Hook 192 yds- Missed left
Hole 9 – 263 yds – Pushed one a little that didn’t draw back. It had enough height to clear the trees and where the balls lands is extremely dry so it ran out forever. I haven’t been able to put one over these trees in a few years so that was cool to see.
Hole 10 – 184 yds low snapper that missed left
Hole 12 – 232 yds – Nice one down the middle with a gentle draw
Hole 13 – 251 yds – Nice one in the middle.. my playing partner said in terms of ball flight its the best drive he’s ever seen me hit
Hole 14 – 219 yds decent one in the fw
Hole 15 – 228 yds – Fairway hit
Hole 17 – 182 yds – another smother hook – miss left that put me into some really thick rough. Carded a triple bogey 7. meh
Hole 18 – 210 yds – Another miss left.
I seemed to catch a little lightning in a bottle on Holes 12-15 but the rest of the day was troubling for me and I couldn’t put my finger on why the other swings were so poor. Swing felt good but obviously something was amiss. Indian not the arrow for sure.
See if this is correct.
Basically what I got and the LINQ gunmetal is almost done curing – plan on a trip to the range today to compare.
missed my chance at a range day.
Bummer
I got afternoon meetings or else I’d be at Raintree. They just added new range mats today.
I really liked that course! Much better than anticipated…. let’s tee it up down there sometime.
It’s a TREMENDOUS driver. Im still amazed at how high I can hit it when I switch back from the EXS Pro, launch with ease.
For sure
Hangs with the best of them for me.
my only knock is the single cog adapter. Just like with a Ping, when I Loft up the face closes too much for my liking. I know one can square up the face and re grip but I like to let it rest as it wants to.
I played with my brother this week. He saw the EXS220 cover in my bag and he immediately grabbed it out of my bag and put it into his and said I will be gaming this today. He smashed it last time we played a couple months ago.
He goes all out with his swing and is longer than me. Because of his wreckless abandon for a swing he doesn’t always hit the sweet spot. He hit some way off the heel and toe side and the distance barely suffers.
I also used the driver and given the drier conditions out had some nice bounce and rolls. We played his home course (my home course many moons ago) and was getting the ball to my all time longs there. To be fair it’s a pretty wide open course so you can go after it pretty hard there. EXS220 is a great driver for that being so forgiving. He also commented that he likes the sound (his current gamer is a Cobra LTD – also another good sounding driver).
With my brother being a faster swinger than me (he gets it out there 240-270), would love to see what he could with a properly fit 220 Pro or 220. Thinking he would pick up nice gains with a 10.5 head and stiff HZRDUS yellow shaft. Maybe if I see one on Tour Edge preowned I’ll pick one up for his as a gift.
Long straight and drawing.
Playing partner loved the sound feedback and knew I hit them solidly off the face. It was a great pairing today!
This is the sleeper driver of the year by far.
agreed. while the bb21 has sounded appealing, the exs220 has kept any serious ponders out of mind. Looks great. Plays great. And yeah, that sound?
To be fair, I do think they’re a bit different beasts. But yeah, there’s ample forgiveness here, just not the heavy design to mitigate the right miss as much.
I’m curious to see how they stack up spin wise. Something I’m going to dive into next week.
and I’m not saying I wouldn’t love to try a bb21…but 3-4 months ago, I’d have been chomping at the bit try a driver like it. For now, my wallet…and marriage…are marked safe from golf purchases.
74% FW hit with 34 putts.
Used the 4h to tee off with on a couple of shorter holes. The flight is still a bit lower than I’d like but it gets the ball out there with a good amount of roll.
Ended up hitting 87% fairways with ample distance for me (231 Avg, with a 252 P Avg). Unfortunately my iron game was off and I only hit about 5 greens.
My buddy was asking me about the sound of drivers.
Of the drivers I have hit so far this year:
Cobra SZ Xtreme, PXG 0811 Gen 2, Callaway Mavrik, Callway Epic Flash, EXS220 and TM Sim Max, I would put the EXS220 2nd behind the Mavrik in terms of sound. Tour Edge really got the sound right with this line.
Once again I am a short knocker and play the 12* with the Ventus Blue 5R shaft.
Setups:
EXS220 lofted to U/+
Xtreme lofted to +1/D
Flash lofted to +2/D
Shotscope data:
Black = Xtreme
Yellow = Flash
Blue = EXS220
Avg distance counting all shots:
View attachment 8971408
PAvg (removes poor shots):
View attachment 8971409
As one can see the EXS220 hangs in there with the 2 best drivers I have ever owned in terms of distance.
As for accuracy:
Xtreme had a 55% FIR with a 13* miss left and 31* miss right
EXS220 had a 57% FIR with a 28% miss left and 14* miss right
Flash had a 57% FIR with a 28% miss left and a 14% miss right
So all very accurate drivers for me only real difference is the Xtreme wanted to not draw back as much as the other too when I got pushy with some swings.
It definitely kept up with my Flash and Xtreme distance wise. My only knock is it set up closed when I added the loft I needed. Then I drew it a bit too much. If this one had a double cog system it would have made my bag. The off center retention was really great. Nice sounding driver too.
it has kept me from buying another driver…I mean, I will anyway but…I don’t constantly ponder drivers anymore. The 3w is spectacular as well.
I’ve yet to see a Tour Edge driver in the wild but this year alone started seeing some older TEE hybrids as well as a couple box sets in peoples bags. Anytime I do I make sure to point it out to the person and show em my Exotics head covers.