Tour Edge Golf has a history of making clubs using the latest materials and designs selling them at prices that won’t break the bank. Both the Bazooka 460 driver and the Hot Launch club family reflect the company’s philosophy top performing clubs don’t have to be at the top of the price curve.
Last week the latest example, the Hot Launch 4 driver and fairway woods (the fourth iteration) were introduced. Originally scheduled to be at retail next year they are another example from Tour Edge of custom fit performance for a modest outlay of money which in the case of the HL4 driver is $200.
Tour Edge’s founder and master club designer David Glod provided us with some insight. “This is an early release to a product line that we developed for 2020,” said Glod. “We have spent the last 18 months looking at how to improve the best performance value drivers in the game and the end result is an all new shape that has a MOI that rivals that of a $500 driver. It’s an extremely forgiving design that all levels of players can benefit from.”
HL4 offers both straight and offset hosel versions, the latter to help those with a slice producing out-to-in swing path that robs distance while producing accuracy killing side spin. The titanium face cup has their proven Variable Face Thickness internal configuration to compensate when impact isn’t exactly in the center.
The most significant feature though is the HL4’s extremely high modulus of inertia or MOI which is a measure of a club’s resistance to twisting. Tour Edge tells me the MOI value is over 5,000 g/cc (grams per cubic centimeter) which is comparable to or higher than competitive drivers making the HL4 very forgiving on off-center impacts. Also, of note is the reshaped crown which improves aerodynamics along with the more rounded leading edges of the face.
The business of custom club fitting is growing quickly, and Tour Edge’s analysis is the value segment of custom fitting is “largely under-serviced.” Their plan is to carve out a niche they can dominate in that part of the business and to give each HL4 customer the proper fit an investment has been made in 750 custom fitting retailers across the country.
“We see HL4 as being the best value available in the custom fitting market,” said Glod. “That is why we created our 48-hour custom fitting delivery guarantee and why we are making a significant commitment to advertise HL4 heavily on the Golf Channel and elsewhere with the message of Get Fit. Spend Less. Play Better. We want to open up custom fitting to thousands of new golfers who are looking for innovation and performance at logical prices.”
Tour Edge Vice President of Marketing Jon Claffey amplified on Glod’s comment. “We are aggressively marketing the message that every golfer should be getting custom fit, and that it is especially mid to high handicap players who have the most to gain by getting fit. Our goal is to open the flood gates on custom fitting and HL4 has proven to be the perfect product to accomplish this goal with its advanced technology, top-tier performance and amazing price structure.”
The HL4 is well positioned to take advantage of its design and construction pluses producing a club anyone in the market for a new driver should put on their short list.
Brand & Model: Tour Edge Golf Hot Launch 4 driver 
Key Features: Forged titanium body with titanium cup face. High MOI design. Sole weight to deepen placement of CG. Power Channel in sole to increase face flex. Upgraded stock grip and shaft.
Price & Availability: August 1 at $199.99
Need to Know: Offset (10.5°, 12°, 13.5° loft) or straight (9.5°, 10.5°, 12° loft) hosel models. Stock UST Mamiya graphite shaft has more tip stability with choice of Ladies, A-flex, regular and stiff shafts ranging from 48 to 60 grams. Standard grip is Lamkin Z5 multi-compound and larger midsize grip is custom option.
