When it comes to combining performance and value, Tour Edge is one of the leaders of the pack.

The company offers two distinct lines that push the boundaries of forgiveness and speed: Exotics, which is the premium line targeting total performance at a higher price, and then there is Hot Launch: a line designed specifically for the value-conscious recreational player. As golfers know, you can’t continue to lead without new innovation, and on that note, today marks the launch if the HL4 Driver.

Club designer David Glod has again gone out of his way to improve on the previous version while offering a bevy of options in a mid-tier driver. From David

“This is an early release to a product line that we developed for 2020. 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 an MOI that rivals that of a $500 driver. It’s an extremely forgiving design that all levels of players can benefit from.”

Speaking to the shape David goes on to say

“The HL4 driver features an all new sloped crown design that is deeper from face to back. N0 skirt where the sole plate meets the crown equates to a 12% increase in MOI over the previous Hot Launch drivers.”

Now, speaking to forgiveness, one of the other options the HL4 offers is an offset version — something you don’t find very often anymore because of the adjustable hosels found in most modern drivers. Those parts and additional SKUs add up. With the HL4 being a fixed hosel club, the cost savings can be passed to the consumer. This also opens the door for adding more actual versions of the driver. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know an offset driver is kinda ugly BUT you have to remember, it’s designed with a very specific player in mind — and speaking for a lover of offset drivers (my dad), this feature is a game changer for some players.

Since so much talk of 2019 is about face technology, it has to be pointed out that Tour Edge is not being left behind in this category either. The HL4 features a deeper cup face design and a rounder face shape than previous models for exceptional power and vastly improved acoustics, according to the company.

Combine the newly shaped Cup Face technology with Variable Face Thickness technology and you have a club that provides greater distance from more contact points on the face. All of this plus a Power Channel on the sole delivers amplified ball speed and less spin, as well as added forgiveness on shots struck lower on the face.

Price and options

The straight-neck HL4 driver comes in 9.5, 10.5, and 12-degree lofts, while the HL4 Offset driver will be available in 10.5, 12, and 13.5-degree lofts. The 10.5-degree HL4 Offset will be available in a left-handed model.

The HL4 series also features an upgraded UST Mamiya graphite shaft that offers enhanced tip stability. The drivers are available in ladies, A-flex, regular, and stiff shafts ranging from 48 to 60 grams.

The line has also been upgraded to a Lamkin Z5 multi-compound grip that features distinct hand-placement zones.

Both drivers will be available August 1 at authorized Tour Edge retailers and will retail for $199.99.