Though it has been said for many years now, and undoubtedly will continue to be, Tour Edge put itself on the map with the performance of their Exotics fairways and hybrids when they came onto the scene. Their processes and ability to implement premium materials started the great ball speed wars which we still see today in these segments. However, as time has gone on, Tour Edge has had the wherewithal to embrace that side of the Exotics line while also expanding it to include designs which blend forgiveness into their DNA. This year, the E723 fairways and hybrids are a platform which the brand is showcasing that breadth perhaps better than ever before.
Quick Take
While the “E” in Tour Edge’s E723 lineup officially stands for “Extreme”, when it comes to the fairways and hybrids it might be better tagged “everyman”. Both clubs stand out with massive playability not just through ease of launch and forgiveness, but with higher spin levels that most amateurs need in longer clubs like this. The result is a pair of great feeling options packed with technology and performance that truly exemplify how well Tour Edge has done at morphing the Exotics family into one that offers something for everyone and not just the best ball strikers out there.
Tour Edge E723 Fairway Wood
For this review I received the E723 3W in standard 15-degrees paired with Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue 65 (S) which is one of the stock options. The 3W plays at 43” and is a 170cc head, so there is a good size to it which definitely fits into the goal of the E offerings. When you put it down at setup, there is a lot of comfort, though the size is there, the shape leans traditional and avoids any angularity on the back edge and also doesn’t look like a pancake which some brands more forgiving option can tend to do. To my eye it also sits neutral to maybe the slightest bit closed, which makes it a confidence inspiring but still sleek look.
Finish wise, this is the second year in the fairways where Tour Edge has not used the Ridgeback in the design as they did back with the 721’s, and I love that they have gone back to this solid carbon crown look. The application and finish is top tier and though for me I would have preferred use of the Exotics “E” as the alignment aid throughout the lineup compared to the 723, it is still a premium look. On the sole, that continues and while the “MOI+” branding in the center is a little in your face, the quality of the application and the overall finish keeps it tied together.
The E723 fairways are built around the goal of maximizing the MOI and it definitely achieved that in my testing on the course as well as Foresight. It doesn’t have the adjustability of its C counterpart either through adjustable weighting or the Tour Edge shaft adapter, but frankly it doesn’t need to. This clubhead did exactly what it was intended to do for me. As you will see in the two data images in this section, the E723 3W was entirely capable of producing ball speed while keeping ample launch and spin which lead to impressive peak heights that mean notable playability from the tee or turf.
What you will also see is the fade tendency I had within my data set, and I do want to point out that I do not find this to be a fade biased head, rather that is the culmination of me trying to not overpower the 65g Tensei Blue (S) and the head not quite catching up through the zone. From a personal fit perspective, that isn’t the one for me, however, from a broad perspective it showcased just how well this head wants to stay in play.
The Diamond Face continues to show why it is one of the most dynamic face designs in golf, and the whole package left me feeling like I could get away with a lot using the E723. This is also a crisp feeling (sounding) fairway that nails what has become a trademark Tour Edge sound balancing carbon and metal. If you are this golfer who needs spin and height in their fairways but doesn’t want to sacrifice ball speed potential, this should definitely garner a look in 2023 for you.
Tour Edge E723 Hybrid
For years now I have been crowing to anyone who would read or listen about how Tour Edge’s Exotics hybrids should not be slept on, and the past two years now that centers around the E version. The E723 hybrid came in for review in the 3H (19-degree) version paired with Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue Hybrid 65 (S) and once again it may be a hybrid that is the sleeper of the entire lineup.
Visually, the E723 hybrids are on the bigger side, riding that blend of hybrid and fairway wood which meant in this case more space to situate the weighting and create a design fitting into the MOI+ focus that the entire E lineup has for 2023. This is not at all a cumbersome hybrid even though it has a much more fairway like shaping which should be more comfortable and confidence inspiring to a bigger section of golfers than the tiny C723 will.
The finish application and showcasing of the carbon fiber crown is as premium as anything else in the segment, and better yet, the feel is powerful and hot even on lateral misses thanks to Diamond Face which frees up the swings even more. Like the above with the fairway, I am including two data sets from Foresight in this one (all off the deck shots) that tell a great part of the story for me and the E723 hybrid. There is speed here, a lot of speed given the size, for me getting into the mid 140’s ball speed with a design like this is eye opening. Better yet, spin staying in the 4,000+ range on average for a 19.0 hybrid was unexpected and meant more ability to hit into greens from a considerable distance.
As you will also see, the downrange data does show how I was fighting the lighter weight shaft a bit, and that is totally expected coming from playing 90-100g in hybrids usually and not at all a reflection on the performance here. In fact, it is more a reflection on the potential of the E723 clubhead than anything else. The ball wants to stay in play, and that comes from the internal design and weighting culminating in a hybrid that is robust not just in speed potential but spin retention.
Add in how incredibly well the Ryzersole works for how subtle it has been made in-hand and this is once again an all-around hybrid that with the right shaft fitting will stand out for almost any skill level. While eyes will certainly wander to the super compact C723 for some, it would be a disservice to overlook the E723. Tour Edge needs a lot more credit for what they are doing in terms of hybrid designs than they are getting.
The Details
Every year I wonder if Tour Edge will be able to keep the Exotics lineup on the same rise which they began 4-5 years ago, and every year somehow they answer the bell. The E723 fairways and hybrids are a testament to how the company is focused on maintaining the high end performance demands of Exotics, but also in-tune enough to know that that performance comes in different shapes, sizes, and in this case with the E lineup, categories. These are not afterthoughts, these are well rounded designs that stand on their own and should be on a lot of lists to find and try for yourselves.
E723 Fairways: $279.99 – 15.0 (RH/LH), 16.5, 18.0 (RH/LH), 21.0
E723 Hybrids: $249.99 – 17.0, 19.0 (RH/LH), 22.0, 25.0
