“Come on a GUARANTEED +20 YARDS with a fairway wood?! Now that is what you call a bold statement. Well that and the hype surrounding this club of late were definite reasons why this was a MUST club for us to review for you.”
And guess what: The data suggests that on our testers best of swings, those assertions are probably correct, some testers achieved distances they don’t normally reach with drivers we test!
TourEdge Exotics CB4 Fairway Wood
(Written By: GolfSpy T) We’ve been a little light on fairway wood reviews since the inception of the Ultimate Review System. In part that’s due to the fact that there simply hasn’t been a ton of innovation on the fairway front. We understand, however, that these clubs are still a staple for many of you. Whether as alternatives to the driver off the tee, or as your roll-of-the-dice gamble to hit a par 5 in two, fairways perhaps present the greatest risk/reward scenario in the game. For that fact alone, I find fairway tests compelling.
While TourEdge will happily supply you with every club in your golf bag, many golfers think of them as a fairway wood specialist. Even those golfers who’ve never hit a TourEdge fairway probably have a friend who bags one, and is often the case, that friend is always happy to tell you how wonderful his TourEdge is.
When the opportunity presented itself to dip our feet into the TourEdge pool, we elected to test the Exotics CB4 fairway wood. We had considered others in the lineup, but the buzz we were hearing about this particular club was simply too much to ignore.
From a marketing, and presumably performance standpoint, the Exotics CB4 line is generally targeted at the better player. The 170cc head is designed with the player who favors workability over forgiveness in mind. Unlike most club designs on the market today that emphasize a low center of gravity, the CB4 has a higher-than-average center of gravity to help reduce spin. The short of it is that if you have problems getting your fairway woods airborne, you probably need to look elsewhere.
Techs and Specs
Stock shaft offerings include: the Aldila RIP 70 Sigma, and for those seeking a heavier shaft, and a slightly lower launch, the Fujikura Motore Exotics Tour 80. Both shafts are “Made for” variants. The stock grip is is a white and black Exotics Golf Pride Decade Multi-Compound.
How We Tested
The 6 golfers for whom we collected detailed performance data were asked to hit a series of shots on our 3Track Equipped simulators from aboutGolf. As usual, testing was done at Tark’s Indoor Golf, a state of the art indoor golf facility located in Saratoga Springs, NY. Detailed data for each and every shot for which we collected data is now viewable in the interactive portion of this review. This data serves as the foundation for our final performance score. As a supplement to our 6 performance testers, a subset of additional golfers were given the opportunity to test the TourEdge Exotics CB4 Fairway Woods (3&5) and provide feedback in our subjective categories (looks, feel, sound, perceived distance, perceived accuracy, perceived forgiveness, and likelihood of purchase). This information, which we also collected from our performance testers, is used as the foundation for our total subjective score. Data was collected for testers using the 15° 3-wood in both regular and stiff flex.
PERFORMANCE SCORING
Distance
Yes, you are reading the sticker on that face correctly. And yes this is a fairway wood NOT a driver. Any time you put a sticker on the face of your product that reads “GUARANTEED +20 YARDS!”, you’re opening yourself up for some serious scrutiny. Of course, when you don’t clarify exactly what it is you’re 20 yards longer than, you give yourself a little bit of wiggle room. It’s safe to say that the CB4 is going to be 20 yards longer than my pitching wedge, but could it really be 20 yards longer than other 3 woods?
During our tests not a single golfer came close to besting the only other fairway wood we’ve tested (at the time of publication), well at least not by 20 yards. Of course, that other fairway wood was the PING K15, which happens to be one hell of a fairway wood. Having said that, a few of our testers did tell us that they believe the CB4 is in fact 20 yards longer than any fairway wood they’ve ever hit.
The data suggests that on the best of swings, those assertions are probably correct, as on their best swings those same testers achieved distances they don’t normally reach with the drivers we test! Our scores are based on averages, however; not a select few very good swings. That’s not to say the distance numbers weren’t really, really good, because, in fact, they were just that.
MGS Distance Score: 97.41
Accuracy
For the sake of truth in advertising I should probably let you know right now that I don’t actually carry a fairway wood. Like most golfers I started with the textbook 3, 5 combo. Eventually I switched to a 3+,4 combo. A season later I dropped the 3+, and this season I dropped the 4.
Talking with our testers, I discovered this one a fairly common occurrence with only PGA Teaching Professional Kent, and PGA Apprentice Dan suggesting they had any degree of confidence with their woods. Left with 4 guys who admittedly struggle with fairway woods, and a club with a 1° open face, I was anticipating a disaster.
While the results weren’t extraordinary, they weren’t that bad either. The open face doesn’t appear to have caused any serious issues, and overall the numbers (adjusted average of 15.95 yards from the center line), we’re almost identical to the other fairway we’ve tested thus far.
MGS Accuracy Score: 87.60
Consistency
If you’re surprised that a group of guys who largely don’t hit fairway woods with laser-like precision would put up less than stellar consistency numbers, you’re playing the wrong game. As we’ve pointed out in the past, consistency scores tend to run in the high 90s, and very seldom dip below 95. The exception to that rule is the fairway wood.
Only a single tester came close to the mid-90s, while I struggled to get out of the 70s. Other testers were in the low 90s range, which is quite frankly, what we expect from a fairway wood, and certainly explains why fewer and fewer golfers are keeping them in their bags.
Don’t let the score in the 90s fool you. This consistency number is better than average.
MGS Consistency Score: 92.01
Overall Performance
One thing that simply must be considered about the CB4 is that it’s designed to be the least forgiving fairway wood in the TourEdge lineup. Despite that consideration, the club performed extremely well in the hands of golfers of varied ability levels. While we expect that more forgiving, and potentially straighter, fairway woods exist, if you’re still carrying one, and you have even a modicum of confidence in your ability to hit one, on performance alone, the TourEdge Exotics CB4 is dangerously close to being a must bag club.
MGS OVERALL PERFORMANCE SCORE: 92.46
SUBJECTIVE SCORING
At MyGolfSpy we believe that performance should matter above all else, which is why our performance testing accounts for 90% of the overall score. Still, it’s impossible to totally discount the importance of the subjective qualities of a golf club. We know that when presented with two golf clubs, if the other isn’t an absolutely beast, most golfers are always going to buy the prettier one.
We’ve seen smaller golf companies struggle to tune the look and feel of their clubs to a measure that appeals to the everyday golfer. As I often say, more often than not, the only things that separates the little guy from the big are paint and polish. TourEdge probably isn’t what most golfers would consider an industry giant, so as I often am, I was curious to see what our testers would think of a club from slightly outside the mainstream.
Looks
Aesthetically there is absolutely nothing not to like about the TourEdge Exotics CB4. The head is compact with medium depth (shallow enough to hit comfortably off the fairway, yet tall enough to confidently hit off the tee). The shape is classic pear with no visible technology…or even an alignment aid for that matter. The black face blends seamlessly with the glossy black grown and dark gray leading edge. Sole graphics are perhaps a bit more than is necessary, but not nearly enough to override the impact of small details like a sliver and black ringed ferrule and black Aldila RIP shape (merits of the “made for…” variants not withstanding).
Though the descriptions were often simple (“looks great”, “looks nice”) nearly every golfer who had the pleasure of testing the CB4 found it to be nothing less than exceptional in design.
MGS Looks Score: 96.75
Feel
While I would tell you that I think the Exotics CB4 feels a little dead on mis-hits, I’m also inclined to agree with our testers that it feels nothing less than exceptional on solidly struck balls. One tester described it as “Crazy solid at impact”. Everyone simply told me they really like it.
MGS Feel Score: 98.90
Sound
In the grand scheme of things sound counts for next to nothing in our tests (5% of what accounts for only 10% overall), still, we do think it’s important to gauge how our testers respond to the sound a club makes at impact. For my money there’s no better sound in golf (save the ball hitting the bottom of the cup) than a crisply struck fairway wood. When you catch a fairway just so, it’s incredible. In that regard, the TourEdge Exotics CB4 delivered.
While not rated as highly as it was in other areas, our testers were generally quite pleased by the impact sound, though I expect the dull thud on mis-hits might have dropped the score just a bit. One tester likened the impact sound to that of shell casings being spit out of a machine gun. However you want to describe it, it’s fair to say we like it.
MGS Sound Score: 92.45
Perceived Distance
Truthfully, with all of our testers talking about their perceived distance gains, I wouldn’t have been shocked to see 10’s across the board. When it came time to circle numbers, however; some of our testers were a bit more stingy with their scoring. That’s not to say there weren’t 10s (there were), but Dan, who admittedly hit other clubs longer, went in considerably lower.
In the end, the survey results are reasonably close to the actual results, which translates as the CB4 is long…and our testers noticed.
Tester Perceived Distance Score: 94.60
Perceived Accuracy
The average golfer simply does not hit a fairway wood consistently straight. While our PGA Teaching Professional was able to keep the club within 10 yards of the center line, everyone else struggled a bit (and they knew it). It’s not unusual to see our testers being less accurate with fairway woods and even hybrids than they are with drivers, so the fact that most were better with the CB4 than with the drivers we test suggests that for some, the CB4 is plenty accurate enough.
Tester Perceived Accuracy Score: 86.00
Perceived Forgiveness
I would have expected perceived forgiveness scores to be lower, and quite frankly I think they probably should be. Though none of our testers seemed intimidated by the 1° open face, I can’t in good faith tell you that most of us on the panel wouldn’t benefit from a club with more forgiveness. That said, many of us still play what appeals to us aesthetically. So even though I think our testers are probably being overly generous when it comes to forgiveness, considering the better player-centric design of the club, the Exotics CB4 is more forgiving than I anticipated.
Tester Perceived Forgiveness Score: 90.30
Likelihood of Purchase
LOP never fails to separate the clubs our testers like from the ones they love. In the case of the CB4, while the accuracy numbers could cause some to take pause, our testers (with a single exception) overwhelmingly indicated that the TourEdge Exotics CB4 is for lack of a more elegant phrase, the one they want to take home to mamma. 9’s and 10’s were circled in abundance, and while I can’t say I’d purchase any fairway wood at this point in my life, if the situation every called for it, the CB4 would be on the top of my list as well.
Tester Likelihood of Purchase: 92.45
I can’t in good faith tell you that I completely agree with the assessment of our testers. I think both the feel score, and the forgiveness score are a tad bit higher than I’d personally go. Having said that, based purely on the subjective “stuff” there’s absolutely nothing about the TourEdge Exotics CB4 that isn’t worthy of an overall A grade. Our testers vote 92 and change, so that that’s what we’re going with.
TOTAL SUBJECTIVE SCORE: 92.62
CONCLUSION
Over the years I’ve encountered more than a handful of guys whose bags are made up of a legion of TaylorMade, Callaway and other big OEM clubs surrounding a single TourEdge fairway. If you look at those guys, and their single TourEdge club a little crosseyed you’ll almost always see the slightest of smiles come across their face. Those guys think they know something you don’t, and judging by the results of this test, they probably do.
It’s safe to say that while TourEdge isn’t the most popular brand on the market today, there are plenty of guys who love their fairway woods, and apparently do so with good reason. While I can’t say the TourEdge Exotics CB4 is an absolutely game changer (for most the consistency isn’t there for that designation), anybody looking to put a little pop in their long game should probably start their search here. From a distance perspective the Exotics CB4 is an absolute beast, that despite a design that doesn’t exactly scream game-improvement, is a long way from being unhittable for the average golfer.
As I said, I don’t carry a fairway wood anymore, and it’s extremely difficult to envision a scenario under which I would go back, but IF the need ever arises again, the CB4 will be the first club that comes to mind.
MGS TOTAL SCORE: 92.62
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Brian Cass
12 years ago
I’m reconsidering this stick…GolfSpy Tim is absolutely correct that 10-15 yards puts a 7 iron in your hand vs 6 iron and well…that’s meaningful for sure. I never dissed the club itself, just the search for a 3 wood that hits it as far as driver, I want yardage gaps in my bag-not a 3 wood that goes as far as my driver. Don’t like the look of RBZ or the slot in the top of the Adams so I’m probably going to give this thing a whirl. I hit the Titleist 910f at 14.25 with an Accra Tour Z 74 (strong flex) with a plus (stiffer than standard) tip section. I’m thinking the 15 degree with a standard RIP 70 gram stiff combinded with more cc’s (910 is 155 cc’s vs CB4 at 170 cc’s) would provide some forgiveness. I’d also probably hit it more (played 6,800 yard track yesterday and only hit 3 wood twice, just didn’t need to hit it).