'An Unrivalled Value Proposition' - Tour Edge Exotics LS Driver Review

Tour Edge has carved a respectable niche in the equipment market by consistently delivering high-performance metalwoods at prices that often undercut the established manufacturers. The Exotics LS driver is its latest offering aimed squarely at the better player, replacing the well-regarded C725 driver, which tested brilliantly for me last year.

This driver is engineered for low spin and high stability, the two attributes demanded by faster-swinging golfers. I put the Exotics LS through its paces to see if Tour Edge continues to offer what I've now come to expect, even with a refreshed aesthetic.

In terms of looks, I have to say the looks are somewhat of a disappointment to me compared to last year's equivalent, the C725. I personally preferred the slightly rounder head shape of the previous model; this version is a touch angular for my taste, although many will feel the exact opposite (let me know in the comments).

If you were a fan of the Cobra DS Adapt range, you will also likely be a fan of this profile as there are genuine similarities in shape.

Furthermore, I preferred how the 'alignment logo' on the top of the crown was both slightly longer and positioned a little further back on the head last time around; whereas it now sits on a top edge banner strip, which, for some reason, doesn't suit my eye as well as it did.

While we are talking aesthetics, I also don't love the new logo - it is lacking the subtlety and sophistication of the previous branding for me.

On a more positive note, the sound has seen a slight improvement from the C725, which I found to be a little tinny if I were being super picky. The Exotics LS delivers a more solid, pleasing, and lower-pitched acoustic at impact, which I think most players will enjoy.

The impact feel remains pleasingly solid, giving you immediate feedback that you’ve struck the ball well (or otherwise), fitting the expectations of a high-end, low-spin carbon driver.

Despite my visual reservations, I was pleased to see that the Exotics LS performed equally as reliably as the C725 model, which I was a big fan of. The Exotics LS is engineered for speed, utilizing a multi-material design that concentrates mass precisely where it maximizes ball speed and minimizes spin and that seems to ring true in the data. This was captured on a Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor.

While it isn't sitting right at the very top of the current crop of drivers in terms of raw ball speed, we are talking less than 2 mph below the top performers in this category. For a club in this price bracket, that difference is pretty negligible in the real world and a fitting could well help to close the gap. Its stability and consistency in flight also more than make up for those marginal losses.

The driver had reasonably low spin without being overly aggressive, which is a great characteristic and will make it accessible to more players than some other low-spin offerings. It delivered a strong, penetrating flight ideal for maintaining distance into the wind, and stayed pretty stable even in fairly strong crosswinds, offering up a nice, tight dispersion pattern.

Furthermore, the handling of mishits was dealt with very well for what would generally be deemed a less forgiving, low-spin model.

Tour Edge continues to excel in its dedication to value and customization. The fact that the Exotics LS is priced at $499.99/£379, along with its performance output, makes it a bargain compared to competitors, particularly when you factor in the shaft options.

The brand offers an abundance of custom shaft options at zero upcharge, allowing golfers to dial in a premium shaft - a feature many major OEMs still charge extra for. Furthermore, Tour Edge even offers a trade-in program, lowering the barrier to entry even further.

The Exotics LS is a very impressive low-spin driver for the price. While I may not prefer the new aesthetic, its performance, sound, and unrivalled value proposition make it worthy of testing for any serious golfer.