Expert Review: Tour Edge Hot Launch E522 Wedge
All photos courtesy of David L. Brown
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the wedge, which I tested for one day in December of 2022.
My take
The Tour Edge Hot Launch E522 Wedge is a budget-friendly wedge with a wide face, allowing the lower-handicap golfer to strike the ball consistently on short and long approaches.
About the club I tested
- Model: 2022 Tour Edge Hot Launch E522 Wedge
- Loft: 52 degrees
- Bounce: 14 degrees
- Grind: VibRCor
- Finish: Chrome
About me
- Average Score: 79
- Handicap: 7
- Experience: 22 years of golf
- Right/Left-Handed: Left-handed
- Golf Ball Used: 2022 Callaway ERC Triple Track
- Angle Of Attack: Normal
Test conditions
- When I tested the wedge: December 2022
- Days tested: 1
- Where I’ve used it: Simulator/indoor chipping green
- Weather Conditions: Indoor
- Green Conditions: Turf, slow/medium
How it performs
Why I didn’t choose this club
I didn’t end up buying the Tour Edge E522. Its large face is ideal for someone wanting more consistency and strike ability. I think it’s suited for someone who doesn’t play a lot and struggles to find consistency, but for a mid to low-handicap golfer, they will find it bulky and not ideal for their game.
What I love about it
- Spin: The grooves are the maximum depth which makes for maximum spin on full-length wedge shots.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Launch: The toe-weighted design allows for shots to launch up quickly but, because of that, it sacrifices 10 yards on average for full-length shots.
- Forgiveness: On full-length shots, the forgiveness is not great and sacrifices distance if not struck in the pure center of the club.
- Feel: The Tour Edge E522’s large bounce makes it tough to be consistent around the greens within different lies that may be presented, especially tight lies, as it is hard to pick the ball off the turf cleanly.
- Bounce: The bounce is massive and way too big for someone who is a mid to low-handicap golfer because it doesn’t connect on tight-lying surfaces cleanly.
- Around the Green: The ball will spin but doesn't quickly check, as most shots should be played with a higher lofted approach.
- Aesthetic Appeal: The Tour Edge E522 is very basic, and I can't get over how big the bounce is and how it makes it look like a fairway wood.
- Grip Feel: It has a standard, a cheap slippery grip that creates inconsistency on shots because my hands slip.
- Innovation: The large bounce is ideal for high-handicap golfers on a budget, but other than that, it is subpar.
Best Shot with this Wedge
I had multiple shots roll within 10 feet of the pin on the simulator from 50–75 yards, which shows that the Tour Edge E522 can do the job on a consistent basis.
Value for the money vs. other options
If someone is looking for a budget-friendly option, I would suggest the Tour Edge VibRCor wedge over the E522. The VibRCor wedge is in the same price range and outperforms it in terms of spin, feel, and overall consistency on full-swing shots.
Final verdict
The Tour Edge E522 is an ideal wedge for the high handicap golfer who isn’t wanting to break the bank and doesn’t want a great deal of flash or expectation around the greens. Overall, it's a solid basic-level wedge.
