Earlier this year, THP highlighted the release of Tour Edge’s Hot Launch 524 iron. Like their Exotics lineup, the Hot Launch irons are separated into two categories. The C524 represents the competition line, with a more traditional and streamlined game improvement iron look. On the other hand, the E524 irons are known for their extreme style, placing more emphasis on forgiveness and launch to help golfers improve their game.
Today, we are focusing on the Hot Launch E524 irons, which Tour Edge CEO and Master Club Designer refers to as “the easiest iron you will ever hit.” This is quite a statement coming from a designer known for delivering forgiving clubs. This quote stuck in our minds as we tested the E524 irons. Let’s find out how easy they really are to use.

With the goal of the Hot Launch E524 irons set to deliver effortless launch and increased forgiveness, every piece of technology inside this release plays an important role in helping golfers achieve more consistency throughout the set.
Tour Edge refers to the irons as iron-woods. When you add a set of these to your bag, they even come with headcovers, but there’s no requirement to use them. These irons are classified as such because of their hollow-body design. Golfers have come to understand that hollow body irons provide more perimeter weighting, which improves forgiveness. They also generate more ball speed due to more room for the face to flex. Inside the hollow head, more mass is positioned low and deep, with additional internal heel weighting to help golfers reduce their slice and achieve a straighter ball flight.

Tour Edge has also made several shaping improvements that not only help make these iron-woods more appealing to the eye but also play a role in achieving the goal of the E524 line. While there might be other things to catch one’s eye, the topline of these irons has been thinned out compared to previous generations. While the topline shrunk, the sole has been widened from front to back. Combining these elements helps push the center of gravity lower, and adding the new shallower face produces a higher initial launch angle.
One of Tour Edge’s signature technologies is the Houdini Sole, which stands out for its visual tech element on the club’s sole. This design combines a raised steel mass area at the rear of the sole with a rounded leading edge. While the keel design may not seem as aggressive as in previous releases, the Houdini Sole still reduces the sole area, decreasing drag and turf interaction by 35%.

Out on the course, the E524 irons represent a vastly different type of iron than what is typically in my bag, which excited me to see what they could bring to my game. For this review, our set of E524 irons came with True Temper Elevate 95 MPH steel shafts as stock.
Despite all the discussion about redesigning the E524 irons, there are still some appearance factors to consider. The black cavity is quite noticeable when using the mid-to-long irons, although it becomes less prominent with the scoring clubs. There is also a noticeable offset, which could be off-putting to some, but it serves the greater purpose of these irons. Personal preferences will determine how quickly these aesthetic concerns fade into the background. During our review period, they became less noticeable midway through the first round. After that point, looks became a non-factor, and the focus shifted to performance, which did not disappoint.

From the very first swing, the E524 irons delivered on their promise of increased launch. When hitting a six iron from the middle of the fairway, the ball shot up into the air with a touch of draw and landed on the green. Thanks to a towering ball flight, the ball came down, hit, and remained within a couple of paces of its pitch mark. After dropping extra balls and replaying that shot, the results were very repeatable. It was certainly an eye-opening moment.
Throughout the bag, club distances were on par with expectations. Tour Edge designed these irons with slightly weaker lofts than the Hot Launch C524 irons because the golfer who gravitates toward this design doesn’t always generate a lot of speed. As a golfer with an above-average swing speed, this meant these irons produced towering shots that carried into my normal distance range. A concern going into this was that the extra loft and height might be detrimental to distance, but that just was not the case.

The forgiveness level impressed me the most because no matter where I hit the ball on the face, the ball flight was remarkably similar to one that came off the center contact. There was some distance loss, which should be expected, but in terms of ball flight and reaction when landing on the green, even subpar contact was still producing solid results. Often, it felt like these clubs were cheating because we were getting away with something we shouldn’t be.
Tour Edge offers a set AW on their site, although it was not in the bag for testing, which provided an excellent opportunity to test partial shots with the nine iron and PW. Some may think that a club of this style loses the ability to effectively execute partial shots. However, during our rounds, we found no reason to believe that golfers could not hit long pitch shots or flight the ball slightly lower with the PW. Additionally, the Houdini Sole works really well around the greens when it comes to chipping because it helps keep the leading edge from digging into the ground.

As a hollow body design, there was an expectation that these clubs would be on the louder side. With no mention of using their VIBRCOR technology, the expectation was that these would not produce a mild tone. Surprisingly, the sound profile is more restrained than anticipated. Scoring and mid-irons produced a duller sound that translated to a soft yet solid feel. When moving towards the longer irons, there was a more distinguishable higher-pitched sound at impact, making those long irons feel powerful, which paired perfectly with the higher ball flight we were seeing.
After some impressive outings on the course and range, it was time to capture some data with the SkyTrak+. When our dry ball data sessions started, we were very comfortable with the level of performance we would see out of these irons. As you can see from the data below, each of these clubs launched on the high end, reached a consistent peak height, and had descent angles, highlighting the stopping power witnessed during play. Of all the numbers captured during testing, the one thing that surprised me was the spin numbers, which were higher on the spectrum than anticipated. Another aspect confirmed on the SkyTrak+, especially in the mid and scoring irons, was that the heel weighting worked well at keeping my shot shape neutral or with a bit of a draw.
E524 | Ball Speed | Launch Angle | Spin | Carry | Height | Descent |
5 | 121 MPH | 21° | 4846 | 180 | 34 yards | 48° |
7 | 113 MPH | 23° | 5632 | 158 | 32 yards | 49° |
PW | 100 MPH | 29° | 8272 | 124 | 34 yards | 53° |
After spending considerable time with the Hot Launch E524 irons, it’s clear why they are so popular. They deliver on their promise of excellent forgiveness and help golfers launch the ball high into the air. In addition to their performance, they are priced perfectly at just $99.99 per club or $699 for a set. It’s also important to note that when ordering from Tour Edge, the entire Hot Launch 524 series is included in their 48-hour custom ship program, meaning all orders will be shipped within 48 hours.

Is David Glod right when he says these will be the easiest irons you will ever hit? After our experience, it’s hard to argue against that point. One thing is for sure, from now on, whenever a golfer talks about looking for a “point and shoot” iron, the Hot Launch E524 has reserved its spot near the top of the list.
More information on the entire Hot Launch 524 series is available at www.touredge.com.
Really good review.
Not often talked about but this company was an innovator in the hybrid iron space with the original Ironwoods.
One area of note is in your testing, the spin was in a pretty good place for this category. While I realize the lofts are not crazy strong, the data suggests a very playable set from the long side to scoring side.
Crazy launch and height there. Really could be game changing for somebody that isn’t able to get the ball in the air. This HL E series really has accomplished what it set out to do imo.
[QUOTE=”Hawk, post: 12511205, member: 1193″]
Crazy launch and height there. Really could be game changing for somebody that isn’t able to get the ball in the air. This HL E series really has accomplished what it set out to do imo.
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These were certainly eye opening for me. They are just crazy fun and consistent. Jenn wants them reshafted for her bag. She hit them on the range and indoors and couldn’t believe how easy they were to elevate.
[QUOTE=”ddec, post: 12511251, member: 782″]
These were certainly eye opening for me. They are just crazy fun and consistent. Jenn wants them reshafted for her bag. She hit them on the range and indoors and couldn’t believe how easy they were to elevate.
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That’s a great idea.
[QUOTE=”Hawk, post: 12511252, member: 1193″]
That’s a great idea.
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I’m not sure I’m ready to kick them out of the bag yet.
Well done [USER=782]@ddec[/USER] !!! Very interesting to see your feedback on these.
[QUOTE=”ddec, post: 12511255, member: 782″]
I’m not sure I’m ready to kick them out of the bag yet.
[/QUOTE]
Relatives and spouses are always trying to raid our bags. My kid was tearing through my stuff last night and claimed four clubs and a range finder.
[QUOTE=”Hawk, post: 12511286, member: 1193″]
Relatives and spouses are always trying to raid our bags. My kid was tearing through my stuff last night and claimed four clubs and a range finder.
[/QUOTE]
Baseball is done. Time for golf which means raid your stuff.
I was at a retirement party for a doc Jenn works with. Can’t tell you how many times someone came up to me and asked if I was the “golf guy” and what I had laying around or currently in my bag.
[QUOTE=”ddec, post: 12511305, member: 782″]
Baseball is done. Time for golf which means raid your stuff.
I was at a retirement party for a doc Jenn works with. Can’t tell you how many times someone came up to me and asked if I was the “golf guy” and what I had laying around or currently in my bag.
[/QUOTE]
Meanwhile I can’t find a damn golf partner of the life of me.
I do really like turning people on to Tour Edge stuff. It’s such an accessible brand that makes sense for a really big segment of consumers.
[QUOTE=”Hawk, post: 12511312, member: 1193″]
Meanwhile I can’t find a damn golf partner of the life of me.
I do really like turning people on to Tour Edge stuff. It’s such an accessible brand that makes sense for a really big segment of consumers.
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esp if you have a place nearby that has some in store. When you take the price and performance into consideration, it could be such an easy win for many. Plus they look good quality wise…so you aren’t stuck with something that’s cheaper on the wallet but looks like it’s going to fall apart after the round.
I usually book as a solo and get randos every time. The group that I sent you a photo of last week…the one guy was big into gear. He hit the irons…shafts were too stiff for him, but he was seriously impressed.
[QUOTE=”ddec, post: 12511331, member: 782″]
esp if you have a place nearby that has some in store. When you take the price and performance into consideration, it could be such an easy win for many. Plus they look good quality wise…so you aren’t stuck with something that’s cheaper on the wallet but looks like it’s going to fall apart after the round.
I usually book as a solo and get randos every time. The group that I sent you a photo of last week…the one guy was big into gear. He hit the irons…shafts were too stiff for him, but he was seriously impressed.
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Yea, I really mean it when I say I don’t feel like this line is cheap. I’ve obviously just hit the metalwoods, but I assume it carries through the whole line.
As for visibility, we have a shop that carries them here. The biggest surprise for me was I saw the entire line in the pro shop at the country club I played on Saturday.
[QUOTE=”JB, post: 12511193, member: 3″]
Really good review.
Not often talked about but this company was an innovator in the hybrid iron space with the original Ironwoods.
One area of note is in your testing, the spin was in a pretty good place for this category. While I realize the lofts are not crazy strong, the data suggests a very playable set from the long side to scoring side.
[/QUOTE]
I was really surprised at the spin numbers. I expected them to be quite low, but that wasn’t really the case. Super playable top to bottom and really consistent throughout. Not to mention the confidence factor. It’s a silly thing, but something that sticks in my mind….there is a par 3 at a course I do most of my playing. It’s not an overly long hole either, but depending on the pin it can be either a hard 8 iron or 5 iron because the green is so deep. With these, I missed the green once, and I’ll tell you that my track record is to miss this green way more than I hit it as I’m usually right of it.
[QUOTE=”ddec, post: 12511621, member: 782″]
I was really surprised at the spin numbers. I expected them to be quite low, but that wasn’t really the case. Super playable top to bottom and really consistent throughout. Not to mention the confidence factor. It’s a silly thing, but something that sticks in my mind….there is a par 3 at a course I do most of my playing. It’s not an overly long hole either, but depending on the pin it can be either a hard 8 iron or 5 iron because the green is so deep. With these, I missed the green once, and I’ll tell you that my track record is to miss this green way more than I hit it as I’m usually right of it.
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Yea, knowing your numbers I was surprised to see that spin up there like that. Can you imagine how many guys out there could benefit from something like this?
[QUOTE=”Hawk, post: 12511703, member: 1193″]
Yea, knowing your numbers I was surprised to see that spin up there like that. Can you imagine how many guys out there could benefit from something like this?
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I think that number is way larger than people want to admit.
[QUOTE=”ddec, post: 12511707, member: 782″]
I think that number is way larger than people want to admit.
[/QUOTE]
I know that the E hybrid and fairway wood flew significantly higher for me. Lots of “higher launch” adverts out there, but I’m not sure I’ve seen it executed to this degree very often.
Still reading, but needed to bring attention and appreciation to this quote:
[I][B]Tour Edge refers to the irons as iron-woods. When you add a set of these to your bag, they even come with headcovers, but there’s no requirement to use them. [/B][/I]
This is a set of irons that would really benefit someone like my Dad, who as he has gotten older, has lost some swing speed and needs all the help he can get to get the ball elevated.
Sadly, I think this set will get overlooked.
[QUOTE=”Jeff Spicoli, post: 12512010, member: 10545″]
Still reading, but needed to bring attention and appreciation to this quote:
[I][B]Tour Edge refers to the irons as iron-woods. When you add a set of these to your bag, they even come with headcovers, but there’s no requirement to use them. [/B][/I]
[/QUOTE]
appreciate it. I had to mention the iron covers. They are currently floating around in the bed of my truck.
[QUOTE=”ddec, post: 12512028, member: 782″]
appreciate it. I had to mention the iron covers. They are currently floating around in the bed of my truck.
[/QUOTE]
Not using them was a test. And you passed.
[QUOTE=”Jeff Spicoli, post: 12512043, member: 10545″]
Not using them was a test. And you passed.
[/QUOTE]
[IMG alt=”Macaulay Culkin Yes GIF by filmeditor”]https://media2.giphy.com/media/xUySTUZ8A2RJBQitEc/200.gif[/IMG]
Nice write up [USER=782]@ddec[/USER]
Any testing done out of light or heavy rough? The sole on these looks like it could cut through pretty easy. I had a shot from light rough over the weekend where one of my hybrids probably should have been too long and iron too short. Ended up fatting it with a hybrid, but thinking something might have been the way to go.
If I’m able to play in my 80s I would have no problem playing a set like this.
[QUOTE=”hartman29, post: 12515584, member: 19952″]
Nice write up [USER=782]@ddec[/USER]
Any testing done out of light or heavy rough? The sole on these looks like it could cut through pretty easy. I had a shot from light rough over the weekend where one of my hybrids probably should have been too long and iron too short. Ended up fatting it with a hybrid, but thinking something might have been the way to go.
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I definitely don’t hit as many fairways as I’d like so these got a good workout of punching out of the trees and hitting shots from the rough. Houdini sole does a good job out of basic rough. I thought it actaully serverd well out of that spongey rough you get from time to time. Did not hit out of any deep deep rough, where it might struggle a bit. As you know, strike is king when playing from the rough.
[QUOTE=”ddec, post: 12516408, member: 782″]
I definitely don’t hit as many fairways as I’d like so these got a good workout of punching out of the trees and hitting shots from the rough. Houdini sole does a good job out of basic rough. I thought it actaully serverd well out of that spongey rough you get from time to time. Did not hit out of any deep deep rough, where it might struggle a bit. As you know, strike is king when playing from the rough.
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Thanks for that.
One more question about the sole – It looks a little thinner to my eyes in pictures than say the last couple E52x series models, and a lot thinner sole than an old J-Max Bazooka iron-wood I still have lying around, Is it a thinner sole thanks to Houdini?
Great clubs.. I play the 6-AW and also have the E-524 GW and SW. The head covers are provided for a reason…. These clubs are painted on the sole and the paint will chip if the head covers aren’t used.