Equipment
Tour Edge launches new Hot Launch 523 series drivers, woods and hybrids
Tour Edge has today introduced their new Hot Launch 523 Series of golf clubs that will be available at retail starting November 1.
The 523 Series offers two distinct ranges, the E523 and C523. The latest additions are designed to cover both ends of the Super-Game-Improvement and Game-Improvement club categories in separate driver, fairway, and hybrid designs.

“One of the biggest reasons Hot Launch has been such a successful endeavor for us has been our ability to simplify and take custom fitting to the mainstream. Hot Launch custom fitting has increased 700% over the years and I feel we have created a space that did not exist before for budget-minded golfers to consider the custom fit process.” – Tour Edge founder and President David Glod
Retail prices will be $269.99 for both the E and C drivers, $169.99 for both E and C fairway metals and $149.99 for the E and C hybrids.
Hot Launch E523 Driver

The Extreme Game Improvement Hot Launch E523 Driver is designed to be the easiest driver to hit in the market for slower to medium swing speeds.
Here’s a rundown on the technology:
- Houdini Sole Technology: The Houdini Sole includes an area of mass concentrated on the trailing edge of the sole of the clubhead, as well as a curved leading edge under the face. This unique and patented design allows engineers to precisely position weight in the head for an ultra-low and deep CG, optimizing launch conditions and greatly improving stability.
- High Moment of Inertia: An extremely high MOI makes this driver an extremely stable and powerful weapon off the tee. This increased MOI will improve ball speed on miss-hits and will keep shots straighter, while the back and low CG positioning creates high-flying, powerful tee shots.
- Ridgeback Technology: TE engineers have brought the Ridgeback Tech concept from Exotics to Hot Launch on the E523 Driver with a Ridgeback rail on the crown. The Ridgeback rail provides increased structural properties that help produce more power on across the entire face, including the extreme perimeters. The Ridgeback activation also is utilized as a unique alignment aid at address.
- Diamond Face VFT: Diamond Face Variable Face Thickness technology is a breakthrough in face technology that features 39 different thick and thin diamond shapes or “minitrampolines” behind the face. Diamond Face VFT produces a hotter face with faster ball speeds and better performance on off-center hits, as well as reduced spin.
- Heel Weighted/Slice-Fighting Offset Design: Offset designs are combined with a heel sole weight to provide the ultimate in slice fighting technology. The offset design of the E523 Driver added with a heel sole weight allows the face to square up at impact for straighter ball flight.
- New Power Channel: The Power Channel on the sole of the club behind the face is new to the E523 Driver and provides a myriad of performance benefits. The Power Channel distributes weight to promote increased face flexing, amplified ball speed and less spin, as well as added forgiveness on shots struck lower on the face.
- Ultra-Light Premium Shafts: The E523 Driver comes stock with an ultra-light UST Mamiya HL-SST graphite shaft that ranges from 49 to 65 grams depending on the flex. The UST Mamiya HL-SST shafts feature Stabilized Shaft Tech, a softer tip, and a mid-range flex. Stabilized Shaft Tech is an added cross weave that reduces ovaling for better stability during the loading and unloading of the shaft.
Hot Launch C523 Driver

This Competition Spec Hot Launch C523 Driver features a more traditional design and setup that aims to deliver maximum ball speed for medium to fast swing speeds. The Hot Launch C range is for the player seeking optimal launch and spin rates, while still enjoying the benefits of extreme ease of use, forgiveness, and accuracy.
Here’s a rundown on the technology:
- New Sole Rail Design: The C523 driver features a new sole rail design that extends from leading edge to trailing edge. The new sole rail produces a super-low CG for high-launching shots with optimized spin rates and maximum ball speed off the face.
- MOI-Boosting Rear Sole Weight: A back weight is strategically placed to the extreme rear of the clubhead that places more mass at the trailing edge of the clubhead. The back weight creates an extremely high MOI rating, an 8% increase over the previous iteration, and surpassing 5,000 grams per cubic centimeter squared for top in-line stability.
- Diamond Face VFT: Diamond Face Variable Face Thickness technology is a breakthrough in face technology that features 39 different thick and thin diamond shapes or “mini-trampolines” behind the face. Diamond Face VFT produces a hotter face with faster ball speeds and better performance on off-center hits, as well as reduced spin.
- Larger Power Channel: The Power Channel on the sole of the club behind the club face is strategically deeper and wider in the C523 design. The 85% larger Power Channel featured on the C523 Driver distributes weight to promote increased face flexing, amplified ball speed and less spin, as well as added forgiveness on shots struck lower on the face.
- 360-degree Cup Face Design: The premium 6-4 Titanium head features a deep 360-degree Cup Face design. Cup Face construction increases the amount of face flexing on off- center hits to achieve higher ball speeds and creates a more solid feel.
- Ultra-Light Premium Shafts: The C523 Driver comes stock with an ultra-light UST Mamiya HL-SST graphite shaft that ranges from 45 to 60 grams depending on the flex. The UST Mamiya HL-SST shafts feature Stabilized Shaft Tech, a softer tip, and a mid-range flex.
Hot Launch E523 Fairway Metal

The Extreme Game Improvement Hot Launch E523 Fairway Metal is designed to produce higher-flying shots with extreme accuracy.
Here’s a rundown of the technology:
- Houdini Sole Technology: The raised steel mass area of the Houdini Sole at the rear of the clubhead reduces the amount of sole area to reduce drag and turf interaction. The Houdini Sole design element has proven to be one of the most effective technologies at getting balls out of tough lies by reducing turf interaction by 35%.
- Super-Shallow Face Design: The super-shallow Cup Face designs in the Hot Launch E metals are designed for extreme playability and high-flying launch characteristics. These shallow faces produce higher launch angles and extreme ease of launch with extreme forgiveness.
- Diamond Face VFT: 39 different thick and thin diamond shapes or “minitrampolines” behind the face that produce a hotter face with faster ball speeds and better performance on off-center hits.
- Heel Weighted Slice: Fighting Offset Design: The offset design of the E523 Fairway added with a heel sole weight allows the face to square up at impact for straighter ball flight.
- Ultra-Light Premium Shafts: The E523 Fairway comes stock with an ultra-light UST Mamiya HL-SST graphite shaft that ranges from 49 to 65 grams depending on the flex.
Hot Launch C523 Fairway Metal

This 17-4 stainless steel Competition Spec Hot Launch C523 Fairway Metal features a classic design and setup for the player seeking optimal launch and spin rates, while still enjoying the benefits of extreme forgiveness.
Here’s a rundown on the technology:
- New Sole Rail Design: The C523 fairway features a new sole rail design that extends from leading edge to trailing edge. The new sole rail design produces a super-low CG for high launching shots with optimized spin rates, decreased turf interaction and maximum ball speed off the face. The rail design lowered the CG and allowed for a 42% increase in hitting area on the face of the fairway, making it easier to achieve greater power and increased forgiveness.
- MOI-Boosting Rear Sole Weight: A back weight is strategically placed to the extreme rear of the clubhead that places more mass at the extreme trailing edge of the clubhead. The back weight creates an extremely high MOI rating, an 11% increase over the previous iteration, for top in-line stability. This weighting dramatically affects a lower and deeper CG positioning of the club for ease of launch and more forgiveness off the face at impact.
- Diamond Face VFT: 39 different thick and thin diamond shapes or “minitrampolines” behind the face that produce a hotter face with faster ball speeds and better performance on off-center hits.
- Larger Power Channel: The Power Channel on the sole of the club behind the club face is strategically deeper and wider in the C523 design. The 75% larger Power Channel featured on the C523 Fairway Metal distributes weight to promote increased face flexing, amplified ball speed and less spin, as well as added forgiveness on shots struck lower on the face.
- Player Preferred Shaping: The more compact profile and deeper face of the C523 Fairway were designed with the competitive player in mind. The C523 Fairway design sits open and has a more pear-shaped traditional design that player’s look for at address.
- Ultra-Light Premium Shafts: The C523 fairway comes stock with an ultra-light UST Mamiya HL-SST graphite shaft that ranges from 45 to 60 grams depending on the flex. shaft.
Hot Launch E523 Hybrid

The Extreme Game Improvement E523 Hybrid includes the patented Houdini Sole along with a super-shallow face, slice-fighting offset designs and heel weighting for added draw bias.
Here’s a rundown of all the technology:
- Houdini Sole Technology: The raised steel mass area of the Houdini Sole at the rear of the clubhead reduces the amount of sole area to reduce drag and turf interaction. The Houdini Sole design element has proven to be one of the most effective technologies at getting balls out of tough lies by reducing turf interaction by 35%.
- Larger Footprint Hybrid Design with a Super-Shallow Face Design: The super shallow face coupled with a larger footprint design in the Hot Launch E metals are designed for extreme playability and high-flying launch characteristics. These larger hybrid design with an extremely shallow face produces higher launch angles and extreme ease of launch with extreme forgiveness.
- Diamond Face VFT: 39 different thick and thin diamond shapes or “minitrampolines” behind the face that produce a hotter face with faster ball speeds and better performance on off-center hits.
- Heel Weighted Slice-Fighting Offset Design: The offset design of the E523 Hybrid added with a heel sole weight allows the face to square up at impact for straighter ball flight.
- Ultra-Light Premium Shafts: The E523 Hybrid comes stock with an ultra-light UST Mamiya HL-SST graphite shaft that ranges from 49 to 65 grams depending on the flex.
Hot Launch C523 Hybrid

The Hot Launch C523 Hybrid provides an extremely high Moment of Inertia (MOI) that tightens dispersion and increases overall accuracy in a compact design. This hybrid is for the player seeking optimal launch and spin rates in a minimal offset design, while still enjoying the benefits of extreme playability.
Here’s a rundown on the technology:
- New Sole Rail Design: A new sole rail design on all C523 metals that extends from leading edge to trailing edge. The new sole rail design produces a super-low CG for high launching shots with optimized spin rates, decreased turf interaction and maximum ball speed off the face. The rail design lowered the CG and allowed for a 36% increase in hitting area on the face of the fairway, making it easier to achieve greater power and increased forgiveness.
- MOI-Boosting Rear Sole Weight: A back weight is strategically placed to the extreme rear of the clubhead that places more mass at the extreme trailing edge of the clubhead. The back weight creates an extremely high MOI rating, an 11% increase over the previous iteration, for top in-line stability.
- Diamond Face VFT: 39 different thick and thin diamond shapes or “minitrampolines” behind the face that produce a hotter face with faster ball speeds and better performance on off-center hits.
- Larger Power Channel: The Power Channel on the sole of the club behind the club face is strategically deeper and wider in the C523 design. The 90% larger Power Channel featured on the C523 Hybrid distributes weight to promote increased face flexing, amplified ball speed and less spin, as well as added forgiveness on shots struck lower on the face.
- Player Preferred Shaping: The more compact profile and deeper face of the C523 Hybrid were designed with the competitive player in mind. The C523 Hybrid design sits open and has a more pear-shaped traditional design that player’s look for at address. This versatile hybrid will play from the tee, fairway, rough and around the green.
- Ultra-Light Premium Shafts: The C523 hybrid comes stock with an ultra-light UST Mamiya HL-SST graphite shaft that ranges from 45 to 60 grams depending on the flex.

Equipment
Neal Shipley, AKA, the “Big Fridge’s,” custom stamping
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.

“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
Equipment
From the GolfWRX Classifieds: L.A.B. Purple DF3 with Masters cover
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.

From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Whats in the Bag
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4

3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms

Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80

Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105

Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
