By Leonard Finkel
Exotics by Tour Edge research and development has once again brought to market a groundbreaking material that benefits real-world players with everyday swing speeds. The material behind the new XJ1 fairway woods is a titanium so powerful, Tour Edge engineers refer to it as SUPERMETAL.
The XJ1 fairway wood body is constructed entirely of the new 9-1-1 titanium which is remarkably light, 10 percent lighter than 6A4v titanium, allowing engineers to save significant weight in the body. The unprecedented strength of 9-1-1 enables it to be thinner and more reactive, even at slower swing speeds.
“The Exotics brand was created to bring the best technology to the market. In previous modelsthat benefitted players with faster swing speeds,” said David Glod, president and founder of Tour Edge Golf. “I am thrilled that the XJ1 fairway woods perform betterforall golfers, but especially forlow to mid swing speeds. Finally, an advanced technological club, with the Exotics stamp of approval, that improves the game for those who need it most.”
The XJ1 fairway wood’s lightweight body allows the majority of the weight in the club to be placed in the sole. The heavy Tungsten sole holds 124-grams, two-thirds of the entire mass of the club head. The added weight generates higher launch angles and produces a low center of gravity which makes it extremely easy to hit shots from any lie with optimal results.The Tour Edge R&D team utilized combo brazing in the XJ1 fairway woods to adhere the titanium body to the tungsten sole. Experience dictated that combo brazing was the most effective method to combine the two materials and maintain the high level of Tour Edge quality control.
The XJ1 face technology is streamlined for effectiveness, featuring SP 700 Beta Titanium to create super high C.O.R., all across the face for impressive distance gains. The face is laser bonded to the body for consistent weighting along the seams, allowing for a larger face. Double V variable face thickness (VFT) technology offers multiple levels of thickness that maximizes the spring like effect from more points on the face. By thinning and thickening the face, the v-shapes produce a powerful launch for explosive distance even on off-center hits.
Designed with real-world golfers in mind, technicians included a 12-gram tungsten screw in the heel positioned strategically for draw enhancement and faster release of the club head through impact. Additional weights are available in a kit; 10, 14, 16 grams.
Ultra-stable lightweight Fujikura AIR SPEEDER shaft is 45 grams of added power. Tour Edge is the first company to put this shaft in production. Projected ship date is November 15, 2016. The XJ1 fairway wood is available in 3-wood (15 degree), 4-wood (17 degree), 5-wood (18 degree), and 7-wood (21 degree), right hand only.Suggested retail price: $449.99. Every Tour Edge club comes with a lifetime warranty and a 30-day play guarantee. touredge.com.
Leonard Finkel is the author of The Secrets to the Game of Golf & Life and former editor in chief of Golf Journeys Magazine. His work has been featured in almost 200 publications including Golf Magazine, Golf Digest, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Golf Illustrated, Golf Tips and Player Magazine. He has written more than a dozen cover stories for Golf Today Magazine. He has written extensively about golf and travel and has added poker to his writing repertoire. Finkel also works as a marketing and public relations consultant. His specialty niche is writing advertorial copy. Prior to his career in golf, Finkel owned a chain of retail stores and a consulting and import company based in Asia. He attended the University of Utah.