Tour Edge Hot Launch C522 Hybrid Review

Tour Edge Hot Launch C522 Hybrid

Tour Edge hybrids have been firmly in my bag for the last few seasons because of their incredible feel and performance. They’re just so good every year in and year out. Now you can get that same elite feel and performance in a more affordable package by way of the Tour Edge Hot Launch C522 hybrid. The premium technology and performance packed into the “competitive spec” C522 hybrid make it one of the best values in golf equipment this season.

The Looks

The Tour Edge Hot Launch C522 hybrid has a traditional medium hybrid footprint. It’s not super compact like a “player’s hybrid”, but it certainly doesn’t venture into the mini fairway wood category. Overall, the HL C522 has a classic hybrid shape that more competitive players will prefer.

The top of the club has a smooth black metal flake crown that cleanly transitions into the black 360º Cup Face. Tour Edge continued the use of the Hot Launch black/blue/white color scheme as seen on the sole of club. Like the C522 driver and fairway wood, the C522 hybrid has a more refined and premium look exceeding its price point.

How Does it Feel?

There are 40 diamond shapes behind the face of the Tour Edge Hot Launch C522 hybrid. These diamonds of varying sizes act as “mini trampolines” at impact to create more “spring”. Tour Edge calls this “Diamond Face 2.0 Technology” and it makes the face faster and more forgiving, especially on mishits. There’s also the 360º Cup Face which works with the built-in Power Channel to increase face flex. These three aspects combined increase ball speed for more distance across the entire face. The end result is a lot of jump at impact and a pretty clean, sweet feel on reasonable misses.

Tour Edge placed the center of gravity (CG) low and back in the head. Placing the CG low and back has performance implications, but it also impacts the feel of the club. This CG location increases the MOI which makes the club feel more balanced and easier to control throughout the swing. Paired with the stock Fubuki HL shaft, this makes the C522 feel extremely smooth and very well balanced.

How Does it Sound?

Working alongside Tour Edge’s titanium 360º Cup Face and the Diamond Face 2.0 technology are the “Acoustic Resonance Channels” or “ARC”. You can actually see these channels on the sole of the club. They work by strategically redirecting the sound vibrations through the club head at impact. The resulting sound is a slightly metallic “tick” that’s appropriately forceful, but not overly loud. Even with testing indoors on a launch monitor, the sound was a nice medium tone that’s comparable to more expensive hybrids of this size and shape.

On-Course Performance

The Tour Edge Hot Launch C522 hybrid’s low and back CG make it incredibly easy to launch with a controlled ball flight. I was concerned that I might have too much ballooning with the softer Fubuki shaft, but I was able to achieve a more penetrating flight with a slight rise. This gave me plenty of distance and I could shape the ball both directions with ease. I also had no problem flighting the ball up or down as needed. Basically what I’m saying is that I could play a wide range of shots on command with a tight dispersion. (Misses caused by bad swings omitted, of course. That’s not the club’s fault!) If I had to throw this hybrid in the bag, I could certainly have success with it.

Final Thoughts – Tour Edge Hot Launch C522 Hybrid

Out of both the entire E and C series of the Tour Edge Hot Launch 522 lineup, the C522 hybrid was the biggest standout performer to me. Not that the rest of the Hot Launch line isn’t great, but the C522 is legitimately a really good hybrid and possibly the best value under Tour Edge’s umbrella. It has great feel and premium performance that holds up against competition that’s exponentially more expensive. As Tour Edge says, “pound for pound, nothing comes close.” Following my testing of the Hot Launch C522 hybrid, I think this club really lives up to that claim.