About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the driver, which I tested for one day in June of 2023.

My take

The Tour Edge Hot Launch C523 is a solid driver. It offers great distance, averaging around 280 yards for me while maintaining decent consistency. It has a very sharp aesthetic appeal with its all-black and red accents. I am pleased with my results off the tee and believe the average golfer would benefit from adding this club to their bag.

About the club I tested

• Model: 2023 Tour Edge Hot Launch C523 Driver
• Loft setting: 10.5°
• Shaft type: UST Mamiya HL-SST 50
• Shaft flex: Regular

About me

• Average score: 79
• Handicap: 7
• Experience: 23 years of playing golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-Handed
• Typical ball flight: High
• Golf ball used: Titleist Practice Ball
• Club swing speed: 97mph

Test conditions

• When I tested the club: June 2023
• Days tested: 1
• Where I’ve used it: Simulator/range
• Weather and wind conditions: N/A (inside simulator)

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking for a driver with a lower launch angle, as I tend to have a higher ball flight. In addition, I was also looking for something workable, especially for my go-to cut shot. I also have a friend looking to make an upgrade and wanted to see if this would be a viable option for him.

Why I chose to test this club

I decided to test this club because I have heard a lot of positive feedback about its performance and overall consistency. I heard it was forgiving and had a mid-launch which would create less spin, thus creating more distance. I ultimately would not buy this for myself as I feel my current driver as its loft setting is better, and I would have a tough time moving on from it.

What I love about it

• Distance: The distance was consistent, averaging around 270-280 yards, which I currently average with my Callaway XR16.
• Sound: The sound is pretty typical, nothing flashy, which I prefer. I tested others on the market with a loud ting or a low thud, but this has a crisp metallic ping that is easy on the ears.
• Aesthetic Appeal: As mentioned, the aesthetics of this driver are sharp. The all-black finish with the red accents is what makes this driver look sweet.
• Grip Feel: The grip has a standard Lamkin Crossline. It had a nice feel to it overall.
• Spin: The spin was lower than my current driver at 3,100rpms on average, which helped my overall distance by creating more rollout consistently.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Forgiveness: The forgiveness wasn’t what I had hoped as it was inconsistent in its distance if stuck anywhere but dead center on the face.
• Feel: The face is large and should help more than one would think with the feel, but it ended up disappointing as there wasn’t much softness within the face to help determine the mishits.
• Workability: With the 10.5° loft, I couldn’t work the ball as much as I would have liked because the ball flight was much higher than I was used to.
• Adjustability: It has zero adjustability, which is a downfall in today's drivers, as adjusting the shaft and head is essential in creating the ball flight people want to hit.
• Shaft Feel: The shaft feel was good but too lightweight.
• Shaft Performance: The 55g shaft was lighter than I normally play with (65g). I believe it was too light and created some inconsistency within my swings. I would have liked to test again with a 65g shaft.
• Launch Angle: The launch angle was higher than I would have liked. I play with a 9.5° but tested the 10.5°, so my ball flight went higher than I would have preferred.

Best shot with this club

My best shot was three shots in when I could carry the ball 263 yards, and it rolled out to 288 yards right down the middle of the fairway. I think this was partly due to the lower spin rate creating the distance.

Value for the money vs. other options

The value is solid as it retails at around $270, which is great for its performance in relation to cost. I believe there are other options out there, like the Callaway Mavrik or the TaylorMade M4, as they fall in similar price points, but I think it comes down to personal preference.

Final verdict

The Tour Edge Hot Launch C523 is a great option for its value. The mid to high handicapper would benefit from adding this driver into their bag as it creates consistent distance and is lightweight.