Popular Post GolfSpy Barbajo Posted March 29, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted March 29, 2019 Had a few hours to kill in Suburban Chicago yesterday - so a quick call to marketing chief Jon Claffey wound up with a nice tour and demo session at Tour Edge HQ our in Batavia. Tour Edge is owned by David Glod, and has been since he founded the company. Someone once asked David how long it took him to be profitable, to which he famously replied “I’ve been in business 33 years and have been profitable every one of them.” Jon gave me a quick tour of the facility, which houses sales, marketing, R&D, assembly and shipping. David owns the building as well. The assembly section was brilliant - it’s set up for a logical flow from receiving of raw parts through shipping of finished, packaged goods. Jon told me the set up has been designed to handle a 300% increase in sales and they’d only have to add, at most, 15 people. They’re able to turn around custom orders in less than 48 hours. The real treat was on the second floor. There’s a putting and chipping green, as well as three bays equipped with Trackman for fitting. I got to try the full EXS line and was more than impressed. I’ve hit the driver before and it’s an incredible value at $299. The 3 wood was excellent as well, but I did not get along with either the EXS or CBX hybrids at all (then again, hybrids and I have a love/hate relationship anyway). The irons were an eye-opener. As I get older distance is a factor, and in the last year I’ve begun to notice a bit of a distance loss - hell, I’ll be 59 this summer, so it’s to be expected. After warming up I started wailing the bejesus out of the EXS irons, posting some numbers that made me feel young again. That’s with the 7-iron. It had a regular flex Tensei Graphite shaft, which didn’t hurt - and it had a 27.5* loft, which also didn’t hurt. But the spin, trajectory and decent were all what you’d want in a 7-iron. For reference, I’m usually around 160 with a 7-iron. With the 5-iron I was right around 200-205. As for the hybrids, I was not liking them much - at best I was hitting an 18 degree right around 205 - same as the EXS 5-iron, so there would be no point in bagging one. Did much better with driving irons. Got to try their forged blades, too. The difference in tech and loft was remarkable - 34 degree loft was going right around 150. Do I need a set that goes 20 to 30 yards farther than what I have? No. Do I want one? You bet your ass! TE putters are pretty basic and truth be told, non-description, and their wedges are solid and head heavy, like the old Hogan Rivieras, which I also like. TE is pretty proud of their fitting studio - rightfully so - and they even rent it out over the winter to local club pros for lessons. They’re installing an R&D robot right next to the studio, which should be pretty interesting to see. Jon told me they’ll have lunchtime and after hours chipping and putting tourneys on the putting green, and have given some the holes some R-rated names . Anyway, it’s always cool to see different OEM HQ’s - Tour Edge is by no means big (the facility is much smaller than the Srixon/Cleveland HQ, for example), but it’s right-sized for where their business is now, and they’re well-prepped for future growth. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy MaxEntropy, Webz59, JohnSmalls and 10 others 13 Quote What's in the bag: Driver: TSR3; DynaPWR Carbon FW Wood: DynaPWR 3-wood; TSR 2+ Hybrids: PXG Gen4 18-degree Utility Irons: ZX MkII 20* Irons:; 699/699 Pro V2 Combo; D9 Forged; MT86 (coming soon!); VIP 1025 V-Foil MB/CB; Wedges: RTX6 Zipcore Putter: HB Soft Milled 10.5; Newport Special Select; Willamette, BB8; 8802; MATI Monto Ball: Tour B RXS; Z-STAR Diamond; Triad Stat Tracker/GPS Watch: Follow @golfspybarbajo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucky CC Posted March 29, 2019 Share Posted March 29, 2019 Great write-up! Do they give this kind of tour to the regular public? If so it might be worth the 2 hour drive south from Milwaukee.Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy Rtracymog and GolfSpy Barbajo 2 Quote Driver: RADSPEED 10.5°, Project X Even Flow RIPTIDE 60 6.5 Fairway Wood: Rogue ST LS 16.5°, Mitsubishi TENSEI AV White 75 X 3 Hybrid: F9, LA Golf Tour AXS Red 85 X 4 Iron: Ping G410 Crossover 5-PW: JPX 919 Forged, KBS Tour Stiff Wedges: Jet Black 50°08F, 54°12D, 58°08M, True Temper Dynamic Gold Black S200 Putter: StrokeLab White Hot OG #7, 35", Evnroll Tourtac grip Putter2: Array model????? Currently testing the Edel Array putter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay0808 Posted March 29, 2019 Share Posted March 29, 2019 This is awesome to see. Long time supporter of Tour Edge woods. And I 100% believe they are the best on the market. The crazy thing to me is David's comments of being in business 33 years and profitable every one of them, truly remarkable. GolfSpy Barbajo 1 Quote In my bag: Driver: Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS 10.5* (set to 9.5) UST Lin-Q Gunmetal 6f5 Wood: Tsi2 15* Project X RDX Black 70 6.5 Hybrids: King Utility 19.5* Diamana Tensei White Pro 90TX Irons: Cobra King Tour MIM 4-PW Dynamic Gold 120 X100 Wedges: Milled Grind 3 50*, 54*, 58* Tour Issue S400 Putter: Nashville Z1C 34" Ball: Pro V1x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony@CIC Posted March 29, 2019 Share Posted March 29, 2019 Great write-up!Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy Quote Left Hand orientation SIM 2 D Max with Fujikura Air Speeder Shaft Cobra Radspeed 3W/RIptide Shaft 410 Hybrids 22*, 26* Cobra Speed Zone 6-GP/Recoil ESX 460 F3 Shafts SM7 54* Wedge Glide 3.0 60* Wedge O Works putter V3 NX9-HD - 4 Wheel EZGO TXT 48v cart - too many shoes to list and so many to buy And BAG Boy Golf Balls: Vice Pro Plus 2020 Official Tester Beginning Driver Speed - 78 2019 Official Tester 410 Driver 2018 Official Tester C300 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shankster Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 So those blades... I asked them a while back if they were conforming because I couldn’t find them on the USGA site. Any idea John? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ole gray Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 Awesome review big guy!Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy GolfSpy Barbajo 1 Quote Ping G430 Max Driver 10.5 Degree Titleist TSR1 4, 5, & 6 Hybrids Titleist T350 Irons 7 - W48 Cleveland CBX ZipCore 52 56 & 60 Degree Wedges LAB Mezz Max Broomstick Putter / TPT Shaft (Platinum @ 45/78) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolfSpy Barbajo Posted April 1, 2019 Author Share Posted April 1, 2019 On 3/29/2019 at 8:57 PM, Shankster said: So those blades... I asked them a while back if they were conforming because I couldn’t find them on the USGA site. Any idea John? Hadn't heard that they weren't comforting - don't see why they wouldn't be.They may not have bothered to submit, but I'm just guessing... tony@CIC and Shankster 2 Quote What's in the bag: Driver: TSR3; DynaPWR Carbon FW Wood: DynaPWR 3-wood; TSR 2+ Hybrids: PXG Gen4 18-degree Utility Irons: ZX MkII 20* Irons:; 699/699 Pro V2 Combo; D9 Forged; MT86 (coming soon!); VIP 1025 V-Foil MB/CB; Wedges: RTX6 Zipcore Putter: HB Soft Milled 10.5; Newport Special Select; Willamette, BB8; 8802; MATI Monto Ball: Tour B RXS; Z-STAR Diamond; Triad Stat Tracker/GPS Watch: Follow @golfspybarbajo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shankster Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 Hadn't heard that they weren't comforting - don't see why they wouldn't be.They may not have bothered to submit, but I'm just guessing...That’s what I figured. Thanks! tony@CIC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fozcycle Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 Great stuff! Makes me wanna get fitted for the exotics.Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy Quote Driver: 0311 XF 10.5* w/Project X Cypher 40 gram Senior shaft or 0811 XF 12* w/Evenflo Riptide CB Senior shaft Fairways: 0211 5W & 7W w/ Evenflo Riptide CB regular shaft and Tour Edge E521 9W w/Fubuki HD50 regular shaft Hybrid: None in bag at the moment Irons: Titleist T300 5-PW w/Fubuki MV Senior graphite shafts w/Golf Pride Tour Wedges: Edison forged 49*, 53* and 57* wedges with KB PGI Senior shafts(80 grm). Putter: 33” Evnroll ER6R or ER2 or Bellum Winmore Model 707, or Nike Method Core Drone w/Evnroll Gravity Grip Bag: Vice cart bag(Black/Lime). Ball: Snell MTB Prime X, Maxfli Tour/S/X CG, Titleist Pro V1x or Titleist TruFeel Using Shot Scope X5 and Pinned Rangefinder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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