50 Words or Less
The Tour Edge Exotics EX10 fairway wood is hot and easy to elevate. Good looks. Sound is surprising – in a good way.
Introduction
There are some companies that you simply trust to do certain things well. I trust Apple to make a good, reliable smart phone. I trust Kentwool to make the world’s best socks. And after about a decade of creating some of the longest clubs in golf, I trust Tour Edge Exotics to make an outstanding fairway wood. I tested the EX10 to see if that trust was well placed.
Looks
The EX10 fairway wood has a conventional look at address with a gloss black crown, medium size, and just a touch of asymmetry. A small Exotics “E” alignment aid is the only indication of this club’s lineage.
When you flip the club over, there’s more to see. Most noticeable is the SlipStream sole which is designed to minimize drag through the turf. Beyond that, you’ll see a weight port that positions much of the club’s mass deep and far from the face.
Sound & Feel
Most “hot” fairway woods have a thin, metallic “tink” at impact. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and it’s definitely what I was expecting. When I hit the EX10, however, I got a quiet, solid, robust sound that I really liked.
The feedback is good enough, but the forgiving design makes it slightly less than precise. For almost all players, that’s a good trade to make.
Performance
Regular readers know that I’m not exactly Henrik Stenson with a 3W. I haven’t carried one in the bag for a while because, as a low ball hitter, I’ve had trouble finding one I can hit consistently. That may be changing in 2017.
Let me preface any further comments with a fact that will make them even more impressive: I did not get along with this club in its stock configuration. For some reason the shaft and weight never felt comfortable. That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with it, it just didn’t suit me. In spite of that, I love the way the EX10 fairway wood performs.
The most important thing for me is how easy it is to elevate. The EX10 has a lower, deeper CG and that meant that even thin shots launched above 10 degrees and produced solid carry distances. Shots that were hit flush took off on a beautiful trajectory with moderate spin and loads of distance.
Besides the easy launch, the other factor in these great distances is the new HT 980 steel cup face. TEE says that this face is thinner than any previous metal woods for “staggering COR.” What I can report is that the ball speeds were as high as any fairway wood I’ve tested and very consistent, even on mishits.
Conclusion
It’s very rare that my first “feel” of a club is negative, but the performance is good, yet that’s exactly what happened with the Tour Edge Exotics EX10 fairway wood. This head is so good and easy to hit that I’m really excited about working to find the right shaft and have it in the bag this year.
Buy the Tour Edge Exotics EX10 Fairway Wood HERE
Tour Edge EX10 Fairway Wood Price & Specs
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Hi Matt
You’ve tested the exotics cbx fairway, exs fairway and ex10 fairway. I just picked up a ex10 fairway but was wondering – how did it stack up against the cbx and exs? I know there’s no such thing as “better” clubs, just what suits better.
I just want to know what are the strengths and weaknesses of each against the others, as I didn’t have a chance to test the cbx or exs since the fitter didn’t have them and want to see if it’s worth testing the others before gaming the ex10.
Solomon,
As you said, I have full reviews of each of those clubs on the site. If you have a specific question, I can offer my opinion, but I’ve put all the information I think is important into the reviews.
Best,
Matt
Matt,
I am currently using the Tour Edge EX10 hybrids and they are excellent clubs. They have been in my bag for a while but I use the stock shafts.
Since they have a 4 wood (at 71, I have troubles elevating the 3 wood as well), I am quite interested in trying it out. Tour Edge has had some
very nice fairway woods in the past.
My question is about the shaft. Did you find one that worked better with club? Since I am 71 with an 80 mph swing, I suspect that the standard shaft will be good but I am curious if there are any other shafts that you might recommend. I have been using the Mamiya Helium shaft (senior flex) and it has been a solid performer with the Cobra F9 fairway. However, I welcome any suggestions or findings that you encountered. Thanks.
Gary,
Finding the right shaft is like finding a shoe that fits perfectly – it’s highly individualized. I’d recommend working with a quality club fitter like Club Champion to find the shaft that will best work with your swing.
Best,
Matt