Back in January Tour Edge invited me to their media golf tournament the Monday before the PGA Merchandise show started. Between bad weather and a busy schedule I had not had time to properly test the new club they provided to all media members to try and review. After a few range sessions and some holes on the course, I am ready to let everybody know about the Tour Edge Exotics E8 Tour 3 Wood. Here is a quick statement about what makes this club different from all the others:

“The new E8 Tour 3 wood features a 475 Carpenter U.S. steel cup face that is micro-bonded to the body via a 360-degree robotic laser beam bonding process. This new process utilizing a robotic laser beam ensures the most accurate and miniscule bonding points. Procured under lower temperatures, the edges are more round and the extreme perfection of the laser beam provides zero tolerance. The E8 Tour is the first club marketed in the United States to utilize this bonding process, continuing the Exotics reputation for being at the forefront of club technology.”

What does all that technical jargon mean for you? Keep reading and find out! Here are the specs of the club I tested: 14 degrees, Diamana S+ 70 X Flex Shaft with a Golf Pride Multi-Compound grip (3 wraps of tape). The first thing you will notice about this 3 wood is the size and shape of the head. It is a classic design and is slightly smaller (150cc) than many 3 woods on the market which is right in my wheelhouse. I am not a fan of larger 3 woods as I like the flexibility of hitting them in different situations such as out of a bad lie in the rough to get closer to a long par 5 green. The smaller head allows Tour Edge to move the center of gravity higher and closer to the face for better trajectory and lower spin. Next you will notice the adjustability that Tour Edge has built into this club. The standard setting is 14 degrees, but the loft can be adjusted from 12 to 15.5 degrees depending on where you need it to fit in your bag. There are also three upright settings (13-15 degrees) to give you some additional adjustability in the club. Starting with the standard 14 degree setting, and after loosening up a bit, I started right off hitting this club at a mid-level ball flight and dead straight. After hitting about 20 shots, with the ability to work both fades and draws while mixing in some higher and lower shots, I decided to play with the settings. I took the loft down to 12 and up to 15.5 degrees and the club performed as expected taking the ball flight down and then up with the reduced and added lofts. Every time I made contact with the ball it sounded like it was jumping off the clubface and even spinny range balls being hit into the wind held a boring ball flight to the back of the range. One major point of note for me was the feel of the club during the swing. I am not a fan of super light club heads and shafts as I like to have a feel of where the club is in my swing. I am actually planning on swapping the 70 gram shaft for and 82 gram shaft when I get one. The E8 Tour 3 wood comes standard with a 9 gram weight but allows you the option of purchasing a weight kit that would include a 6, 11 and 14 gram weight that can be changed out on the center of the soleplate. You can purchase individual weights as well.

Overall, I would say this is an exceptional club that Tour Edge has once again sent out to the marketplace. Tour Edge is not as well-known as a Titleist or TaylorMade because they don’t spend money paying players to use their equipment, but many use them. Instead, they spend their money on coming up with innovative ways to manufacture clubs that are as good if not better than the ones you play today. If you have not given Tour Edge clubs a try, I suggest you get out and do so. Be prepared to find out what I already know…that they make great clubs for any level of player that will exceed your expectations. One last thing…I think I just found me a new 3 wood!

To learn more about Tour Edge, visit their website at www.touredge.com.