Tour Edge Wingman Putter

wing·man (noun): a pilot whose putter is positioned behind and outside the leading aircraft in a formation.

That’s the exact definition of a wingman in the dictionary.  You can look it up if you want.  On the golf course, you need your putter to be your wingman more than any other club in the bag.  You need to be able to lean on it in the most critical and tense moments.  You need to know that when you’re full of nerves and scared over a putt, your putter will take back off as soon as it hits the carrier and circle back around to guide you home while it’s low on fuel.  That’s what Tour Edge spent two years designing for golfers of all abilities in their new Wingman putter.

The Looks

From address, the Tour Edge Wingman has a moderate wing sweep where the adjustable sole weights are located.  While this helps create a confidence-inducing frame behind the ball looking like a stealth B2 Bomber, it also raises the MOI of the putter making it more forgiving and stable during the stroke.  The contrasting black with white color scheme is great for alignment and really helps your eyes practically missile lock onto the target.  So much so, Tour Edge even calls it “Lock-On Technology”.

The Lock-On Technology is actually pretty neat in how it works as an alignment aid.  With the contrasting lines being on two different levels, along with the angles cut into the fins of the flight (top) deck, it’s easy to square up the putter face.  In short, if you’re looking over the putter and the two black lines don’t line up, the face isn’t square to where you’re aiming.  Get them lined up straight and you’re locked in.  Is it an optical illusion?  I have no idea, but it 100% made a difference to me when lining up my descents to the bottom of the cup.

Flip the putter over and the aviation theme comes through in the branding and materials.  A carbon fiber sole plate not only looks cool but also allows Tour Edge to redistribute weight to other areas of the putter to contribute to the high MOI.

How Does it Feel?

Depending on which configuration you choose, the balance will differ.  Tour Edge offers the Wingman in two heel-shafted configurations – face balanced for a more straight-back-straight-through stroke and a mid-toe hang for more of an arc.  There’s a face-balanced center shaft option as well.  Regardless of the configuration, the balance is smooth due to that high MOI and the Lamkin Sink Fit grip really reduces the turbulence on the greens.  (Ok, I know that one was bad, but I had to…)

The face insert is a Surlyn that is tuned to optimize sound and feel.  It’s a really interesting feel.  I won’t lie to you though, it’s a very different feel at impact and it did take some getting used to.  Once I adjusted, however, it wasn’t an issue at all.  In my hands, it almost feels like a soft ceramic.  It’s like it’s soft, but there’s some firm click to it, a little pop, and a lot of response.  Maybe you could say it falls somewhere between a soft-ish insert and a milled steel face.  Even with the thicker putter grip, you still get very precise feedback for good control.  Pair that with the stability and you’re in business.

How Does it Sound?

Similar to the feel, the Tour Edge Wingman’s sound is a little unique due to its Surlyn face and carbon sole plate.  It’s not loud or empty like many putters in its category, but it has a very distinct click to it.  Not like an overhardened metal by any means, but firm enough to have a sweet, albeit different, click to it at impact.  If you miss the sweet spot, the sound mutes up a little.  The sound really contributes to the precise response and feedback to let you know how well you just struck the ball.

On-Course Performance

The performance highlight of the Tour Edge Wingman is far and away its stability, which we’ve spoken about already.  This stability made me feel like a man with ice in his veins to the point where I could drain the nerviest of sliders from inside ten feet, avoiding a bogey or six.  As mentioned earlier, the Wingman has an extremely high MOI which is as high, or higher, than many putters in the industry.  For you fellow gear geeks, with the stock 3 gram weights, the MOI is over 5000 g/cm² and goes up with heavier weights (available here). With the 15 gram weight, the MOI nears 6000 g/cm².  In basic English, this means that the Wingman is extremely stable and very forgiving.  Stability is also helped by the stock black KBS CT Tour putter shaft.  For more details on that shaft, you can read or review here.

Whether you’re flying over the wrong line on some map or rolling putts, you want a smooth ride.  The Surlyn face of the Wingman has horizontal micro-grooves that promote a forward roll and reduce skidding.  The end result is a reliable pure roll of the ball.  I will say, regardless of where I hit the ball on the face, the Wingman produces a nice end-over-end roll.

Final Thoughts – Tour Edge Wingman Putter

If you look at that picture above and don’t immediately hear this song in your head, I’m disappointed.  The Tour Edge Wingman is a unique and extremely reliable putter.  The Lock-On Technology is really slick and makes alignment very simple and intuitive.  Admittedly, it won’t be for all folks, but those looking for a quality high MOI putter with a lot of stability should consider the Wingman.  Even better, it competes with similar models in the market that cost twice as much so you can also save quite a few dollars that you can put toward my favorite fairway wood.

If you’re anything like me, your ego is probably writing checks your golf game can’t cash.  Might be worth trying out a Wingman to get your back.

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