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Tour Edge Wingman 700 Putters
“Talk to me, Goose.”
Get ready to buzz the tower. Tour Edge has released a new version of their Wingman putter, the Wingman 700 line. Kudos to Tour Edge for their promptness, as the Wingman sequels were finished 34 years faster than the transition from Nick to Bradley Bradshaw. Obviously, Rooster’s sweetly savage stash took some time to become flight ready. Perfection can’t be rushed, I suppose, and Tom Cruise’s lack of aging proves he truly is an alien.
Enough about naval aviators. Let’s get into the Wingman 700.
Tour Edge has hit the afterburners this time around. The Wingman 700 putters take the beloved features of the original Wingman and push them right into the danger zone. They’ve kept the parts of the Wingman that customers liked and added new models and technological improvements to make sure that Wingman loyalists won’t lose that loving feeling. Tour Edge says it’s time for the big one.
Yes, I can do this all day. (Sorry, wrong movie.)
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FREE FITTINGUpdating Tour Edge’s Original Wingman Technologies
“The original Wingman putters enjoyed a cult-like success and, over the past two years, we’ve been improving upon that success in every way possible. The feedback we received was that the Lock-On Alignment and the extreme stability of the putters were truly revolutionary for golfers. We put our focus on expanding the series to fit more player preferences in the shaping and to really upgrade the look, sound and feel of the putters in a big way.” David Glod, Tour Edge President and Chief Designer.
Lock-On Alignment Technology
The Wingman 700 retains the Lock-On Alignment Technology of the original Wingman. How does this work? Basically, the upper and lower lines on the putter will line up when you are correctly positioned above the putter. Ultimately, you should be able to consistently line up your body to the putter, making your stroke consistent as well.
Does this technology work? For some, it’s likely a game changer. Anything that makes you more consistent with your putting should improve your putting. Lie-angle tools such as the Lock-On Alignment Technology should do just that. That’s one of the reasons that multiple companies through the years have had various takes on the technology. My favorite was the Odyssey Red Ball.
While this alignment scheme will work for some, it can also put golfers into incorrect positions. Golfers will be lining up their eyes with the putter, which is good—unless the putter is not positioned correctly. It’s not foolproof but that doesn’t mean that it should be discounted or that it couldn’t be exactly what you are looking for.
Multi-Material Construction
Multiple material usage is a hallmark of modern putter design. Like their competitors, Tour Edge knows that using multiple materials is one way to max out the MOI of a given putter design. High MOI equates to less twisting during the stroke. Who wants to play with a putter that feels like a trout on a line during the stroke?
To reach their MOI goals, Tour Edge placed heavier stainless steel near the perimeter of the putter while filling the center with a lighter hollow carbon sole plate. In fact, 34 percent of the stainless steel was removed to boost perimeter weighting.
Interchangeable Sole Weights
The Wingman 700 putters all feature removable sole weights. Though weight kits must be purchased separately, the adjustable weights will allow you to dial in the swing weight that fits your stroke.
Tour Edge also suggests using the sole weights as a way to adjust the opening and closing of the putter. Need the face to close faster? Drop a heavier weight in the heel. Face closing too fast? Put a heavier weight in the toe. Basically, do what you have been doing with your adjustable driver for years. Perhaps something like a SLDR Spider is on the horizon to do just this.
When fitting a putter to your stroke, selecting the right neck is likely the first step to take. However, if you just can’t dial in the opening and closing, maybe mess with the weights a bit. Golfers have tried crazier things to achieve that perfect fit.
MicroGroove Face Technology
Rounding out the Wingman 700’s multi-material construction is the thermoplastic face insert. This insert is touted as promoting a “soft, yet pure feel on contact.” Additionally, the insert will once again feature Tour Edge’s MicroGroove technologies. The idea behind the grooves is that they help to promote forward roll.
That’s enough about the technologies. Let’s take a look at the new Wingman 700 models.
Tour Edge Wingman 700: 701 and 702
The 701 and the 702 models are the big kids on the Wingman 700 team. The large profile of these mallets generates the highest MOI values in the Wingman 700 family. Peripheral wings and rearward adjustable weights push the differential weight back and to the edges. A classic plan for kicking up the MOI.
Though the bodies are the same with the 701 and 702, the necks are not. The 701 features a slant neck, providing the putter with a touch of toe hang. If you play a blade but want to try a mallet, the 701 is the place to start. The face-balanced 702 features a more traditional mallet neck design, promoting more of a straight stroke path.
Tour Edge Wingman 700: 703 and 704
As the Wingman 700 model numbers go up, the heads get smaller. The 703 and 704 models ditch the wings found in the 701/702. This makes the 703/704 profile more compact overall. For these, the 703 has the slant neck and the 704 has a double-bend hosel.
There is another interesting change when it comes to the removable weights. For the 703 and 704, the weights have moved forward. This move likely drops the MOI a bit but it also moves the center of gravity forward. We’ve seen this move from a few companies recently. TaylorMade did it with the Spider FCG, and Odyssey pretty much moved all the weights forward in their 2022 putter lines. All these companies seem to be seeking the ideal recipe for CG and MOI.
Tour Edge Wingman 700: 705 and 706
At the small end of the still large putter scale, we have the 705 and 706 models. The 705 reminds me of the Cameron Phantom X 5.5. Overall, the Wings are shorter than the other Wingman 700 models and they are a bit on the husky side. Keeping with the odd-numbered plan, the 705 model features the slant neck and a little toe hang.
The 706 veers off the neck flight plan a bit. The 706 is still face-balanced. However, this putter features a center shaft rather than a double-bend shaft. Center-shaft seekers surely should celebrate!
“This is what I call a target-rich environment.”
With three head choices, each with two neck options, you should be able to find a Wingman 700 that fits your flight plan. Tour Edge really thinks that they are rolling out something special with these new putters. On paper, I’d agree with them. The Tour Edge Wingman 700 putter line is packed with technologies designed to help you make more putts. They want your golf game to improve so they won’t have to worry about you making your living as a singer.
Ultimately, it all comes down to making putts. Remember boys, no points for second place. As it turns out, two versions of the original Wingman putters competed in the 2020 Most Wanted Mallet competition. How did they do? I’m not gonna sit here and blow sunshine up your butt. They placed middle of the pack.
The thing is, middle of the pack is a solid placement for a new design from a golf company not really known for innovation in putters. When talking hybrids and fairway woods, Tour Edge clubs are respected. With the Wingman 700 putters, it seems like Tour Edge has made a commitment to refining the Wingman design. Could they be one to watch in the 2023 Most Wanted Mallet test?
If you are already thinking a Wingman 700 can be your wingman anytime, they are available for pre-order through the end of the month and in shops Aug. 1. Take them to bag or lose them forever.
Order yours at TourEdge.com
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