There is nothing subtle about the Tour Edge Hot Launch X525 Ironwoods. Their oversized heads, alongside a futuristic matt black cavity insert, certainly make them stand out. Promising to be some of the easiest to use ‘irons’ on the market, I was keen to see if the Tour Edge Hot Launch X525 ironwoods could rival some of the best game improvement irons on the market…
From an ‘in the bag’ perspective, brash would be the most accurate description I can come up with. I can imagine that some people will love them while others will be nothing short of offended by the unorthodox looks on show. Whichever side of that you fall, I would wager that you would still take a second glance at them on a shop floor.
From a technology standpoint, this is very much a hollow-bodied iron - or even ironwood, as Tour Edge is calling it. Try imagining if a game improvement iron and a hybrid had a baby, and you should be somewhere close.
Because of the design, there is significant perimeter weight, and the hollow cavity section has been filled in with a TPU material to save weight. There is some serious offset on show to help slicers square that clubface up, and we also have what Tour Edge calls the ‘Houdini’ sole. This is basically an area of mass strategically placed on the trailing edge of the sole of the clubhead, as well as a curved leading edge under the face. Tour Edge engineers have positioned extra weight in the clubhead to create an ultra-low Center of Gravity designed to promote high launch and improve stability.
From a performance standpoint, I was genuinely impressed by the Tour Edge Hot Launch X525 Ironwoods. I tested them using Taylormade TP5x golf balls and my FullSwing KIT launch monitor, and the data was pleasing. The only other iron I have tested at Golf Monthly that provided me with a higher peak height is the Cobra Limit3d iron from 2024. The height was required, though, as spin rates were on the lower side of what I would expect from my gamer irons, so the steeper descent angle from the peak height was very welcome.
The ‘Houdini’ sole is really interesting, and I think many different golfers will find good results with it. On the tight links turf that I generally play off at Saunton Golf Club, the sole width provided a lot of forgiveness to shots struck a little heavy, in particular.
These ‘ironwoods’ do have a very lively, springy feel, which I actually very much enjoyed. The sound and feel at impact is probably a little more hybrid than iron, but that conveys a genuine sense of power, which will be reassuring to more moderate swing speed players. As you would imagine from a design of this type, versatility and workability are not high up the priority list; however, they really do offer a very user-friendly hitting experience.
The Tour Edge Hot Launch X525 Ironwoods are available in 4-PW (there is an AW too if required) and can also be purchased as single irons. A 4-PW composition will set you back $629.99/£485.00 while a single iron is $89.99/£70.00. This represents an enticing entry point into the game for those just starting out.
The stock steel option is a True Temper Elevate MPH 95, while the graphite option is the UST Mamiya Helium Black.
