Tour Edge Exotics 721 Hybrid
I’m just going to open this review by getting straight to the point. I think the Tour Edge Exotics 721 hybrid is the standout star of the new 721 metalwoods family. Trust me, that’s saying something in this line of clubs. I absolutely LOVE the driver, and the fairway wood is also great, but this hybrid is impressive. Much of the same technology that’s found in the driver and fairway wood is also implemented in the hybrid. With all of that being said, let’s just get to it!
The Looks
I think the Exotics 721 hybrid is the best looking “larger” hybrid Tour Edge has ever made. (Shout-out to the EXS Pro and CBX 119 as the best looking in the overall hybrid category.) The profile from address has more of a hybrid look to it whereas I thought the previous EXS 220 looked a little more like a mini fairway wood. Obviously you can’t miss the carbon fiber crown which flows beautifully into the black topline and face. Aside from just looking good, the carbon fiber removed a ton of weight from the crown so Tour Edge could relocate that weight to other areas in order to optimize the center of gravity (CG) and MOI of the club for better performance. I may be mistaken, but I’m pretty sure this is the first time we’ve seen carbon on a Tour Edge hybrid crown.
Overall, the 721 hybrid looks incredibly smooth and has a confidence-inducing profile.
How Does it Feel?
Like the other 721 metalwoods, the Tour Edge Exotics 721 hybrid utilizes the updated Diamond Face 2.0 technology. If you haven’t read the other reviews, the concept is that there are 41 diamond shapes of various thicknesses behind the face of the club. These diamond shapes increase forgiveness and add speed to the ball at impact. Think of them as acting like mini trampolines/springs launching the ball off of the face. As a result, the face feels a lot hotter and more forgiving with a larger sweet spot. Don’t worry, there’s still plenty of feedback so you know where you caught the ball on the face. Diamond Face is the real deal, just trust me.
We’ll talk more about CG later, but its optimized placement mentioned earlier makes the club feel much more balanced. The end result is a smooth swinging club that feels like an effortless rocket launcher. I’m well aware that may sound like extremely exaggerated hyperbole, but I stand behind the statement. The ball just gets up and goes.
How Does it Sound?
The Tour Edge Exotics 721 hybrid features the same “Sound Diffusion Panel” technology as the other woods. These panels work by “directing and diffusing” vibrations in the head at impact to provide a more ideal sound (and feel). As a result, you get enough tone for good shot awareness, but an overall tighter and more muted tone.
Tour Edge hybrids have historically relied on titanium as their metal of choice. Titanium impacted the performance and feel of these clubs in many positive ways, and it also impacted the sound quite a bit by giving them a more metallic overtone. The sound was perfectly fine, don’t get me wrong, but the Exotics 721 hybrid sounds quite a bit different. Though the face is made of a new lightweight “Hyper Steel”, the use of the carbon crown really changes the overall tone of the club. Rather than a muted “ting” you get a firm “whack” at just the right decibel level.
On-Course Performance
In my opinion, the Tour Edge Exotics 721 hybrid is a big step up from the EXS 220, and I thought that one was a bomber too. I’m not sure if there’s one specific “thing” that boosts the 721, but rather the total package just really comes together. To put it simply, the Exotics 721 hybrid is really long, easy to hit, and super forgiving. The CG is low and back in the head which promotes a higher launch and a little more spin. In theory, this makes it easier to hit and gets your ball up and carrying in the air for greater distance. Add in the speed and forgiveness from Diamond Face 2.0 and you’re going to get plenty of length.
In this category of “larger” hybrids meant for distance, I often find they aren’t really made for shot shaping. The goal is to get them carrying long and straight, and not so much getting creative with your shots. I thought the EXS 220 hybrid fell into that group a little bit. Let me be clear, that’s completely acceptable. It’s a certain shot that people need and want to hit. So when it came time to test the 721, I expected something similar. Instead, I found a hybrid that was easy to launch missiles with, but I could also easily shape my shots and manipulate trajectory if I needed to.
Final Thoughts – Tour Edge Exotics 721 Hybrid
The Tour Edge Exotics 721 hybrid should certainly be on your radar if you’re a player looking for long and easy distance in this area of your bag. At $220, the 721 hybrid is a tremendous value that will hold its own against the top dollar competitors in the market. In many cases, I bet it will even outperform them. The point is, the Exotics 721 hybrid has great feel, is very forgiving, and is really easy to hit a long ways. Like I said earlier, Tour Edge delivered a total package that does everything well. It’s as simple as that.
Stock Tour Edge Exotics 721 Hybrid Specs
| Club | Loft | Length | Stock Flex | RH/LH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 17º | 40.75″ | X, S, R, A, L | RH |
| 3 | 19º | 40.25″ | X, S, R, A, L | RH |
| 4 | 22º | 39.75″ | X, S, R, A, L | RH |
| 5 | 25º | 39.25″ | X, S, R, A, L | RH |
This is more of a question than a comment. My question is does this hybrid have a tendency to draw or hook like many hybrids with a high ball flight do?
Tough to say. I know exactly what you mean. I’m not saying no, BUT I didn’t personally experience any massive gear effect. I think the extreme MOI Tour Edge has been working with helps with that quite a bit. My co-host on our weekly YouTube show has put one in the bag and doesn’t seem to have any issues with it.
And remember, I said it’s easy to launch and get carry, but I don’t think you’re going to see any balooning unless it’s a product of a swing “flaw”.
We actually talked about it quite a bit on our show if you want to watch it here.
Where are the left handed clubs?