bens197

It’s the elusive club to me. Not sure if this one is the one but I plan to give it an honest chance.

Thanks RB. So far so good.

Hey Guys My Stage 1 Hope you enjoy.

Intro Stage 2 brings me to a point where I am satisfied with this club. After a half dozen range sessions, nights at the former golf course turned public park behind my parents home and another 10 rounds of golf I’ve been able to give this an honest run. It’s been fun to put this through the paces and watch it shake out my proclivity towards keeping a neat bag. What I mean by that is I have never cared for a cluttered and clogged golf bag. The top section of my bag was always a driver, fairway and a putter, it looked neat and organized and despite my compulsions, I can set that aside for a club that makes my life easier. Quirky? Yup. Looks (8 out of 10 points) Out of the box this felt like a very sturdy and well-built product. I was pleased with the weight and how balanced it felt during my first impression. As I mentioned in Stage 1, Tour Edge built a club that gave me the first impression that it truly felt like a $250 club. At address it looks like a hybrid with a narrower rear to face profile. Many traditional hybrid clubs have a very rounded back edge and straddle the line between fairway wood and hybrid. The difficulties I had swinging a hybrid until this club have always been attributed to confusion in how to swing them. I could not convince myself to take an iron style swing with a club that looked like a fairway wood. Tour Edge changed this for me and the looks have inspired confidence. I really enjoy the versatility around the course. Out of the rough, off a clean fairway or a first cut it is a solid club that makes solid contact. The results are consistent and I know that I can trust it from a squirrelly lie. A lot of my time is spent behind my parents home at a course turned park. During off-hours I’ll bring 3-4 rocks or scuffed balls and give myself some difficult shots. Sound & Feel (6 out of 10 points) The sound and feel of this club left me with something to be desired. If it were a test that were merely on this criteria, I would likely not continue to play it. It reminds me of a DCI Starship fairway sound with the feel of a metal spatula hitting a frying pan. There are more pro’s than con’s for me that will keep this in play but the sound and feel are not this clubs strong suit. There is a strong gear effect that I will hit on later; toe hits recover well but you’re kindly reminded that you missed the center of the face. I have purposefully tried to miss this club across the face and despite a very unkind feel, the result is consistent and routinely finds the fairway. Basic Characteristics (18 out of 20 points) In my experience, this club is a straight shooter. It provides a penetrating flight that has been engineered to correct off-center strikes. I’ve been within my target on nearly all shots despite a few poor swings. My goal with this 17* head was to hit it between 230-240 in order to gap between my 3 iron and 3 wood. Another check mark in the success column. It’s been slightly longer off the tee but that isn’t a surprise to anyone. I like that it is a fixed/epoxied head into a hosel without adjustments. While I would appreciate a more upright club, its a throwback to clubs a decade ago where you worked with what you had. This club does not require tinkering, its well-engineered and its clear that it was designed to keep the ball in play. It looks as if it was designed to fit a better player by design. Narrower face to rear profile and a taller face both raise COG and move it forwards. This design does limit the forgiveness, however the sole has been designed to ride along turf without digging. They’re not necessarily rails like you’d see on a Cobra, rather a design to just offer some guidance through contact. Each of these factors complement each other well in a very well performing hybrid. On-Course Performance (28 out of 30 points) How many of you play golf with a guy or gal who have that one club that they just pop down the fairway without even thinking? Set it down, swing and go and the ball just goes straight towards the target...That club has found my bag. I can honestly say that this club wow’ed me. The gear effect was a prevalent force in helping me on off-center strikes. Toe balls would travel about 5-10% shorter but would almost always find their way back to the target. Heel balls stayed low and ran like an old persimmon. It was actually amusing to hit the low runners; I can’t tell you if I have ever been able to do that with a metal club. Hybrid clubs have eluded me for years and I did not have high hopes for this model. I can keep this portion simple and just say that this club has not let me down. Off the tee I’ve been able to play a straight ball, a soft cut or a sweeping hook without issue. Approach shots played approximately 5-15 yards less in distance which makes sense, but did not have any ill-effect on my play. One constant is that my ballflight with the CBX119 is low. I have a tendency to hit a high arching ball even with high kick heavy weighted shafts. This was a pleasant surprise to me for holes that I play into the wind. It maintains a nice 230-240 yard distance which is precisely what I had hoped for. I chose the 17* degree and in retrospect, I would not change a thing. Miscellaneous (8 out of 10 points) The product arrived sturdily packaged in a box that would make the anal retentive chef blush. Once opened it was a kind reminder that this was a well-built product from a company that has been near the forefront of innovation. I remember Tour Edge from the early 2000’s when I was in the golf business and they were always a company that built quality products that would not empty your wallet. The quality of this build rivals any of the top tier manufacturers in the industry. Play it or Trade it? (19 out of 20 points) I could easily tout this product as amazing, pretend to hold it for a while and then dump it on eBay. Walking in blind, I had no idea that this would actually fulfill a gap in my bag and earn my trust. I am honest when I say that this club is the real deal, for me. It does not sound great, it’s not the most forgiving on the market (Thank you well-timed MGS best hybrid 2019 test) and it doesn’t feel smooth on solid contact. What it does is give me results. I can set it down on the deck and it helps me put the ball within a range of where I want it to go. It fits right in the middle of the pack of recently tested hybrids among the current market. For me, this is a top performer and it will be in my bag for the foreseeable future. Conclusion Don’t look at Tour Edge as a 2nd tier company. While the other test thread featuring hybrids and crossovers is receiving heavy traffic, this club is doing real work and offering solid results. Approaching your equipment purchases with an open mind will give you a chance to find something that may be overlooked in favor of a front-running manufacturer. Give it a shot and let it surprise you. Final Score: (87 out of 100 points) Just a note about the Final Score. In sum, the deductions were related to sound and feel rather than performance. The objective findings were a 94% while subjectively it scored an 80%. It’s interesting to note that someone’s opinion on a club could have a more negative effect on willingness to try. The objective scores weighed heavier for me which is the reason why it’s earning a spot in my bag.

Hi guys, I am excited to return to the testing forum this year. Last year I was chosen to put the NX7 through the paces with a product I never knew I needed. Now that we’re here with the Exotics hybrid testing, as you read through the thread you’ll see that I was never a hybrid guy. Try as I may, I’ve wanted to find a gap between my 3 iron and 3 wood. I never found a hybrid that really fit the bill and as opportunity presented itself with forum testing, I secretly hoped I would get the nod. On a personal note, I try to be selective with entering testing opportunities. This is a privilege more than a contest and generally speaking, I am satisfied with my bag. A hybrid from a company that beats to its own drum with a successful grassroots following drew my eye and fortunately, I have this opportunity. So here’s a brief re-introduction. I’m Steve, happily married to an incredible woman and father to a beautiful 20 month old daughter. I spent ages 14-26 in the golf business and worked every job from caddy to cart barn guy to club fitter, builder, salesman and closed it out with three years as 1st Assistant Professional. I walked on and played 4 years at a D2 college in Central, NY. Once I left the golf business I took 3 years off and did not touch a club. Spent two of those years attending EMT, Fire and Paramedic academies and currently work as a Fireman. Golf for me these days is casual and fun. I play most of my golf at public and muni courses in Western, NY and maintain a 6 handicap. My wife is a huge advocate for me to have a healthy work-life balance and rarely balks at me getting out to play. I plan to have some fun with this opportunity so I am going to present this as a theme from ABC’s The Bachelor. You guys ready? Let’s do this! First and foremost, this perspective is from someone who has had a fraction of success with hybrid clubs. When I say a fraction, I mean almost none. This all began for me in 2004 when Hybrid clubs were gaining some steam, I never really found anything I liked. There was the Callaway Heavenwood, Cobra Bafflers and a few others, like this...Makser...that I did in fact like even though it traveled the same distance as my 3 iron. So why did I lack trust / confidence? Every hybrid offered big cuts and push blocks. I couldn’t set one down and erase that thought from my head. So what are my goals? If I could manage 220-240 with this club, I could find more fairways and in general, play better golf...right. Let’s go one step further. I want to use this club to become more disciplined on the course. Leave the driver in the bag and play the smart shot. My father’s words echo in my head during my PAT in 2003; “Steve, it’s ok if you can’t hit every hole in two.” He’s right and as I approach 40, I remind him of that despite giving each hole my best effort! So let’s talk about the club. I’ve been able to play 27 holes with it so far. I was able to use it for half a dozen tee shots and two approaches into par 5’s. It took a little adjusting but the giant push blocks I was grown accustomed to were not a thing. I am still getting familiar with it but it’s off to a good start. In keeping with the theme here...It’s time for the first impression rose. Goes to...face height. Uh? What? Steve, you’re so shallow, there’s more to it than it’s face. Sure. But I want something that makes me feel like I’m hitting an iron rather than a wood or a hybrid. Most fairway woods and hybrids are low-CG faces and I really like how this sets up at address. I took one look when I unboxed it and really felt love at first sight. It really was a different impression than others that I have tried. There is plenty to admire; the packaging was clean and sturdy, the aesthetic is kind and the weight is distributed nicely. It’s a well-engineered product and the craftsmanship is top notch. It looks and feels like a $250 club. Despite all that, I needed to give it a personal touch. The stock grip was a tour velvet that I replaced with my Lamkin Sonar. I’m glad I chose the Even Flow Black 6.0 over the Hzrdus or Even Flow Blue. How did I end up picking this shaft? Honestly, it was a random choice. I have HZRDUS Yellow’s in my driver and 3 wood. I wanted to try something a little different of the three stock offerings. So far, I am pleased. Ball-flight is penetrating but has a nice trajectory that fits nicely between a balloon and a stinger. Now, for those of you who didn’t get a rose, please say your goodbyes. I’m excited to share this story with you and from someone who has been hybrid-averse for nearly 15 years, I hope I can help you find the confidence as well.

I’ve never heard of an event of which you described that wasn’t revenue neutral. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

It’s relative to hand size and finger dexterity. Let’s be real, there are seniors with arthritis who have ladies sized hands that need jumbo grips. Play what feels right but don’t be afraid to experiment when you notice inconsistencies. I play a standard sized Lamkin with three wraps of tape. So far. So good.

To what extent do you know what to look for when being fit? I think you could lean on some wise people here to steer you in the right direction if you absolutely cannot get to a fitter. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

I’m going to be brutally honest and say that my first impression of this club was [emoji1361] It looked cheap and didn’t deserve a second look. Then I read the testing results and despite someone’s confirmation bias, they end up gaming it. It’s really something to see how this has held up as a legitimate star. Excited to see how you guys tell your story through Stage 2. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

That’s amazing. I love it.

I’m trying to remember as well. In the interim I hoped some could chime in with their personal bias or beliefs.

What brought this up was a shot yesterday. It caught a limb and the only issue was a slight discoloration but no significant trauma. It didn’t appear to change the performance but I would be interested to see if that’s actually true.

There are two events during a round where I will swap out a ball for a new one. I’ve made a habit of always replacing a ball after a birdie or better with a new one. The second is when it becomes scuffed by a tree or a cart path. Without any scientific proof, my hunch would be that any physical change to a ball would effect flight and spin...how much however is still a question. How many of you continue to play a urethane ball after any physical changes and has it offered any significant change to your play?

Only embarrassing if you care what others think. Keep at it [emoji1363]

Wow. Today’s theme was survive. 82 with a quad. 29 putts (two 3 putts) 3 GIR and 5 of 14 fairways. Not pretty but it’s honest. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

From today 17* hybrid. Going old school with the magazine-era swing sequence.

Played the course I grew up on today with Dad. It was a way to just relax after weeks of studying for a promotional exam. Tomorrow, it’s early with my brother in law at his club. Today was my day to put the Tour Edge CBX119 Hybrid through its paces. Lots of good info to share for my Stage 1. We did not keep score just for the purpose of going to play. I Hit 6/9 greens and had 14 putts and two birdies. Fun day and hopefully that carries over to tomorrow where it’s slightly more competitive. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

I like it. Not for me but I like it. I save two videos on Instagram of whatever swing thought I’m trying at the moment. Currently it’s Hogan pumping his downswing and Rory hitting an iron into 6 at the US Open last week. These things work and I’m surprised it took this long for it to become a product. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

Consumer direct is likely your best bet. I play the OnCore elixir and I’m pleased. $25/dozen works for me. The Snell MTB series are very popular around here and would say you’ll get a lot of positive feedback from that ball. As a starting point, search the MGS ball testing results from a few weeks back. That will be the best resource to help make a decision. Good luck! Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

That’s the smart play. Thanks!

I appreciate it but we’re looking to see if we can do it...to understand this is to know my father. He is a builder, tinkerer and all around hands on guy. He built two homes, has done countless kitchens and baths and likes to figure things out by trying them on his own...:)

Dad found a twenty year old Cameron Laguna while working a kitchen job last week. It’s tired and neglected and we thought it would be fun to see what we can do. Before I go any further, I’m not interested in sending this to his shop. This is merely for fun and not worth sinking several hundred dollars into. First things first, where can I find a proper shaft with the appropriate flange? Second, for anyone who has tried this before, I am curious if you have any suggestions. Some photos are attached...it took a WD40 bath. Thanks!

Best looking...Wilson hands down. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

Egg on a Sal. I have no idea how or where or why it became an egg on a Sal, it’s just what I’ve come to know as a great breakfast. Mom and Dad started it it when I was a kid and that’s good enough for me. Over easy in the center of some good Jewish rye. And some black coffee.

I like this bag a lot. Play well! Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy