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Tour Edge E722 and C722 Drivers
With the release of its 722 series drivers, Tour Edge is again asking, “Are you an E or a C?”
Is that a personal question? Probably not.
The “E or C” thing speaks to the two families within the Exotics 722 line. On one hand, we can say each of the new Exotics models is designed for a different type of golfer. On the other, we would point out that it’s not much different than anybody else’s story.
Most of the industry prefers suffixes (LS, MAX, etc.) while Tour Edge uses a single-letter prefix to convey the same information.
So to put all of this in its proper context: the E in E722 is for Extreme. As you should be plenty aware of by now, that means higher MOI, increased forgiveness, that sort of thing.
The C in C722 as shorthand for Compact. With that, you get a slightly smaller head and a more forward center of gravity. You lose forgiveness but the idea that a segment of players (typically listed as better players) gets more speed and lower spin.
So again I ask, “Are you an E or a C?”
Before you answer, let’s take a moment to run through the common technologies before breaking down the individual models.
Ridgeback Technology
Ridgeback Technology is Tour Edge’s take on a T-bar style chassis. We first saw this design with the COBRA SpeedZone chassis though its perhaps notable that, with the launch of LTDx, COBRA has moved away from this type of construction.
Tour Edge says its Ridgeback Technology helps stabilize the center of the face which allows the heel and toe to flex more on off-center hits.
With the E722 series, Tour Edge has reduced the thickness of the Ridgeback by 20 percent. Any time you can take weight out of the top of a driver, it’s a good thing.
With the new drivers, Ridgeback Technology extends through the sole which gives both the E722 and C722 a bit of that dropped-tail look (SpeedBack, SIM, Rogue ST) that’s become common in driver design over the past few years.
Carbon Tech Wrap
The Ridgeback chassis is covered by a pair of carbon fiber pieces that wrap around the sole and crown. With the E722 driver, Tour Edge is using 34 percent more carbon fiber while the C722 leverages 26 percent more. The benefit in both cases is weight savings.
Enhanced Diamond Face VFT
Diamond Face VFT is Tour Edge’s approach to maintaining speed on off-center hits. The design features 61 individual diamond shapes and seven individual thicknesses. Diamond Face VFT effectively expands the sweet area so less speed is lost when you miss the true sweet spot.
Internal Sound Diffusion Ribbing
This isn’t so much technology as it is necessity. Any time you’re mixing materials and sticking huge weights on the back of your driver, unwanted vibrations and unpleasant sound are inevitable. By using sound dampening structures inside the head, Tour Edge can tune out the bad for more pleasing sound and feel.
Adjustable Hosels
It’s pretty much expected these days but it’s worth reminding you that Tour Edge drivers feature adjustable hosels. Tour Edge’s adapter offers +/- two degrees of loft adjustability and three degrees of lie angle adjustability.
With that out of the way, let’s take a closer look at the two models.
Tour Edge E722 Driver
The E722 is Tour Edge’s full-sized, max forgiveness option. That means a larger 460cc profile and a significant amount of back weighting to increase MOI.
The stock back weight is 30 grams which is among the heaviest in the industry. For those looking to dial in swing weight or, ideally, get the most out of their fitting, 20-, 25- and 35-gram weights are also available individually or as part of a kit.
As noted, the E in E722 means Extreme which is typically industry-speak for high MOI. If nothing else, it should clue you in to the idea that the E722 driver is Tour Edge’s entry into what most of the industry has adopted as the MAX category.
To that end, Tour Edge has boosted the MOI of the E722 driver by 18 percent over the previous model. To put hard numbers on it, Tour Edge put the MOI at 5500 g/cm2. That would place it just outside of the top tier which is limited to a select few drivers that are butting up against the USGA limit.
Bottom line: If the numbers prove true, the E722 driver easily qualifies as EXTREMELY forgiving.
The Tour Edge E722 Driver is available in 9.5, 10.5 and 12 degrees. Only the 10.5 model is available in left-handed.
Retail price is $399.
Tour Edge C722 Driver
The Tour Edge C722 driver is the company’s entry in the slightly undersized (455cc), front CG, low-spin category.
The core technology is the same found in the E722 with the notable differences being the smaller profile and the adjustable two-weight system instead of the large back weight.
The C722 driver ships with a 20-gram and five-gram weight standard. Moving the heavier weight to the forward position will drop spin by about 300 rpm, which is typical for the industry. You can expect launch angle to drop as well.
As you should expect given the compact design, the C722 is less forgiving than the E722. With the heavy weight forward, Tour Edge puts the MOI number at 4,400 g/cm2 which is by no means forgiving by current standards.
With the heavy weight in the back, the MOI number climbs to 4,950 g/cm2. I’d put that on the edge of forgiving while pointing out the design intent of the C722 isn’t to be super-forgiving. It’s also worth mentioning that the back position serves as a nice middle ground between the forward weight position and the E722.
The Tour Edge C722 driver is available in 9.5 and 10.5 degrees. Once again, only the 10.5 is available in left-handed.
Retail price for the Tour Edge C722 driver is $429.99.
Tour Edge 722 Series Drivers – Stock Shafts
For its 722 series drivers, Tour Edge is offering what it calls Speed Tested Stock shafts. The story is that each of the shafts has been robot tested to identify the optimal shaft for a given swing speed.
I would argue that shaft fitting isn’t nearly that simple but, if you’re looking to point someone generally in the right direction, it’s not the worst place to start. With that in mind, here’s how Tour Edge breaks down its 722 series shaft offerings by swing speed.
Less than 85 mph: Fujikura AirSpeeder Ladies (35g), Senior 40g – R2) and Regular (40g)85-95 mph: Fujiura Ventus Red 4T 50R/ 60S95-105 mph: Fujikura Ventus Blue 4T 60S/60X105+ mph: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw Blue 65 S/XAs a reminder, the Ventus 4T models feature the same construction and profile as the aftermarket/real VeloCore Ventus. The difference is that the 4T uses a 40-ton material instead of the premium pitch-70 fiber in the bias layer.
Where Tour Edge Fits
In a rapidly changing market, it’s fair to ask where Tour Edge fits.
The company bills itself as the “pound-for-pound industry leader in performance and innovation.” In this case, pound could be a literal reference to British currency. When it comes to bang for the buck, it’s been hard to beat Tour Edge over the last several years but with drivers priced at $399 and $429 respectively, Tour Edge is no longer the least expensive game in town and that could limit the appeal of the new models.
Tour Edge E722 and C722 Drivers – Availability
Pre-sale for the Tour Edge E722 and C722 drivers begins Feb 9. Full availability begins March 4.
For more information, visit TourEdge.com.
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