Tour Edge Hot Launch E522 Fairway Wood
Tour Edge set out to design the “easiest fairway wood you’ll ever hit.” The final product is the Tour Edge Hot Launch E522 fairway wood. Following my testing, it’s a pretty tough claim to argue with and great for any player looking for extreme “game improvement” (GI). If easy launch, anti-slice sounds like what you need in a fairway wood, this review is for you.
The Looks
The first thing I want you to remember with the Tour Edge Hot Launch E522 fairway wood is that it’s an extreme GI golf club. This means it’s for the players looking for every bit of forgiveness and help they can get from the golf club. As such, you should be expecting to be signing up for some offset. The offset is definitely noticeable, but is by no means offensive or difficult to look down at behind the ball. The head itself has a rounder profile, but is far from oversize.
While definitely intended for the extreme game improvement crowd, it really is a playable look for anyone seeking the performance benefits that the Hot Launch E522 fairway wood provides. Like I’ve said in the other HL 522 reviews, the overall aesthetic in this series is much more refined giving the clubs a more premium look.
How Does it Feel?
Tour Edge introduced their Diamond Face 2.0 technology to the Hot Launch lineup. There are 42 diamond shapes of varying sizes behind the face that act as mini trampolines. Working in tandem with the Diamond Face is the 360º Cup Face, which allows the whole face to flex more at impact creating more “jump”. Overall, the E522 fairway wood’s face is generous with a lot of pop and precise response.
Additionally, the E522 fairway wood has a super low and deep center of gravity (CG) courtesy of the Houdini Sole (more on that later). This basically means the club’s balance point is in the sole of club toward the trailing edge. I found this CG location made the HL E522 feel exceptionally well balanced and easy to control through the hitting zone. That led to me having more confidence over the ball and feeling in control of every shot.
Houdini Sole also impacts turf interaction quite a bit. The Houdini Sole reduces friction with the ground so the club cuts through the turf cleaner allowing for more club face to make contact with the ball. This also helps with more ball speed and better feedback at impact as it reduces drag through the grass.
How Does it Sound?
I would describe the Tour Edge Hot Launch E522 fairway wood’s sound as firm and direct with a metallic tone to it. The generous Diamond Face maintains this tone across most of the surface. It’s a sort of “pop” mixed with a good “whack”. As you approach the extreme ends or super low on the face, the tone becomes a bit more metallic and slightly more rigid as should be expected with extreme mishits.
On-Course Performance
| Club Speed | Ball Speed | Launch Angle | Spin | Carry (Yds) | Total (Yds) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 108.6 | 157.5 | 13.2º | 3400 | 252.9 | 265.1 |
Like its predecessor, the Tour Edge Hot Launch E522 is extremely easy to launch courtesy of the Houdini Sole. This also adds more spin to the shot to help keep the ball in the air for greater carry distance. While better players may be looking for more piercing launches and less spin, the player that the E522 fairway wood is geared toward needs all the help they can get with launching the ball and holding it in the air.
The same player is likely looking for all the help they can get fighting a slice and hitting it straight. Well, slicers rejoice! Tour Edge combined elements such as built in offset and a heel weighting to to address this miss. This design helps square the face at impact so your shot will be straighter and take the right side of the course out of play. Admittedly, I am not the target audience for this club, but the HL E522 fairway wood is about as anti-right as I’ve ever seen.
Final Thoughts – Tour Edge Hot Launch E522 Fairway Wood
The Tour Edge Hot Launch E522 is about as easy to hit as it gets with a fairway wood. I said it last year, and I’ll say it again…the Hot Launch E series is an absolute cheat code. Just swing away and let the club do the work! Shot after shot resulted in a towering draw whether my swing deserved it or not. In my opinion, the HL E522 fairway wood is a great option for the beginner that will gladly accept all the help they can get. That said, it’s also a great option for veteran players that slice their fairway woods or struggle to get them carrying in the air. The forgiveness is nothing short of impressive and the $160 price tag makes the Hot Launch E522 fairway wood quite accessible to a wide range of golfers.
Stock Tour Edge Hot Launch E522 Fairway Wood Specs
| Club | Loft | Length | Stock Flex |
RH/LH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 16º | 42.5″ | X, S, R, A, L | RH |
| 5 | 20º | 41.5″ | X, S, R, A, L | RH |
| 7 | 23º | 41″ | X, S, R, A, L | RH |
| 9 | 25º | 41″ | X, S, R, A, L | RH |
| 11 | 27º | 41″ | X, S, R, A, L | RH |
108 club head speed ? That is really fast. The average on tour is 107. I’m guessing most handicaps between 3-10 are swinging 85-95 mph. You are crushing it. I’m going to hit this club at my local golf store. I’m a 7 handicap and don’t carry a three wood because I’ve never been able to hit one as good as I want too. But I’ll give this club a try. Thanks.
Does tour edge make a 9.5 degree 522 offset driver?
Yes, you can find both Hot Launch 522 driver reviews on our site!
I play Tour Edge E722 Exotics Driver, 3 wood, 5 wood, 3 hybrid. Traded in my Mizuno ST-Z woods. Dropped 5 strokes with the Tour Edge.
Why not get reviews from people that need game improvement
I e people that swing in the 80″s
Analysis from someone swing 108. Is of no value
1) I disagree that it’s no value. The benefits of this club do not purely equate to club speed. It’s about forgiveness, ease of launch, and anti-right. We can still commentate on the club’s ability to do those things.
2) I’m not sure what expectation are in people available to test, write, and provide insight necessary on our schedules to produce content. We have a lot to do at any given time, and when necessary or available, we will try to work with other resources. That said, I still don’t think we are unable to provide the insight people are seeking for this club.