Gear: Tour Edge Exotics Milled wedges
Price: $119.99 each with a KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 115-gram shaft and Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 Black grip
Specs: Milled 304 stainless steel with CNC milled grooves. Even lofts from 50 to 60 degrees with three bounce options
Available: Sept. 14
Who it’s for:
Golfers seeking a budget-friendly wedge with bounce options designed for different swing types, turf conditions and bunker sand.What you should know: Tour Edge’s Exotics Milled wedges combine three bounce profiles with a versatile Tri-Grind sole and CNC-milled grooves to protect spin in wet conditions.
The deep dive: Last year was a big one for Tour Edge. The company re-branded itself, debuted a new logo and entered the golf ball market for the first time ever. The heart
of Tour Edge, what it strives for, however, didn’t change. Tour Edge wants to bring high-performing equipment to golfers at less than ultra-premium prices, and the company’s new wedge family, the Exotics Milled wedges, is the next example of that philosophy.
Each head is cast from soft 304 stainless steel, with extra mass positioned behind the impact area to enhance sound, feel and feedback. The heads are covered with a triple-chrome plated satin finish that is brilliant resting in your bag, but the hitting area has a glare-reducing matte look so you won’t be blinded on sunny days. Tour Edge claims the plating should also help the grooves maintain their sharpness over time.
So, if the wedges are cast, why are the wedges called Exotics Milled? The word “Milled” refers to Tour Edge’s new CNC-milled SuperSpin grooves. They have the maximum depth and face roughness allowed under USGA rules, along with steeper sidewalls, tighter edges and are packed together more tightly in the hitting area. The is to create more groove area, increase friction and give grass, water and debris more space to move away at impact.
Tour Edge’s testing showed the Exotics Milled do a better job of retaining spin in wet conditions, and that should mean more predictability for golfers.
Each Exotics Milled wedge has a Tour Edge’s new Tri-Grind sole that features three distinct sections. A chamfered leading edge is designed to keep the leading edge from digging. The center section is flatter to encourage crisp contact, while heel and trailing edge relief helps the club sit lower when players open the face on tricky shots around the green.
The Low Bounce grind is for golfers who tend to sweep the ball off the ground and players who typically encounter firm turf, compact bunker sand and tight lies. It is offered with 8 degrees of bounce in the 54- and 56-degree wedges, and 6 degrees of bounce in the 58- and 60-degree lob wedges.
The Mid Bounce grind is the all-around style in the group. Offered in every even-numbered loft from 50 through 60 degrees, each model has 10 degrees of bounce. It should fit the widest range of golfers because it is designed for neutral deliveries and varied course conditions. It is also the only profile available for left-handed golfers, with 52-, 56- and 60-degree options.
The High Bounce grind is designed for golfers with steep swings and players who regularly play on courses with soft turf or fluffy bunker sand. The 54- and 56-degree models have 14 degrees of bounce, while the 58- and 60-degree have 12 degrees of bounce.
David Dusek is a senior writer at Golfweek covering equipment.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Tour Edge Exotics Milled wedges offer three bounce profiles
