50 Words or Less
The Tour Edge Hot Launch E525 driver is forgiving with a neutral ball flight. The Tour Edge Hot Launch X525 driver has equal or greater forgiveness plus a strong draw bias. Both clubs launch the ball high with plenty of spin.
Introduction
In the 2025 Tour Edge Hot Launch line, some things have changed, some things have stayed the same. One thing that has changed in the nomenclature. Last year, we got the C524 and E524 drivers [review HERE], named for Competition and Extreme. For 2025, that’s been shifted to E525 and X525. The one thing that hasn’t changed is that Hot Launch still represents strong performance at some of the most affordable prices in golf.
Looks
The two new Tour Edge Hot Launch 525 drivers share some key visual hallmarks. Both clubs sport a matte black carbon fiber crown that’s bisected by the ridgeback rail. They also share a long, stretched shape, though the E525 is closer to symmetrical, the X525 has a clear lean toward the heel.
In the bag, both the E525 and X525 drivers feature a large golden weight at the rear of the sole. The positioning of the weight – centered on the E525 driver, toward the heel on the X525 – speaks to their performance differences. I like Tour Edge’s color choice in this line and the tasteful use of it.
While these two clubs do have a lot in common, there are substantial differences at address. Chief among them is the offset. Where the Tour Edge Hot Launch E525 driver has a traditional neck and hosel, the X525 driver has offset to combat a slice. More evidence of the Tour Edge Hot Launch X525 driver’s preferred ball flight can be seen in the placement of the ridgeback rail – it’s closer to the heel, as is the “525” alignment aid.
Sound & Feel
The two Tour Edge Hot Launch 525 drivers create almost identical sensations at impact. They have an impact sound that’s high pitched. The volume varies depending on the quality of the strike. On center, it’s mid-volume; it gets louder off center.
The feel of impact contrasts with the sound. I associate louder, higher pitched sounds with thinner, faster feeling clubs. Both the E525 and X525 drivers feel more solid than fast. Your hands also get a fair idea of where impact happened. I wouldn’t describe this feedback as pinpoint, but it’s more than enough to know if your strike was poor or pure.
Performance
Before I dive into my testing results, let’s establish the type of golfer that each of these drivers is built for. The Tour Edge Hot Launch E525 driver is the more traditional option, designed for players “seeking fast ball speeds, optimal launch spin rates.” Tour Edge bills it as mid launch and low spin with high forgiveness. The Tour Edge Hot Launch X525 driver is meant for players with slower swings who need higher launch and more help fighting a slice. Tour Edge describes the X525 as high launch and mid spin with extreme forgiveness.
The first thing I noticed when swinging both drivers is how light they felt. The stock shaft – UST Helium Black – is aptly named, as it feels lighter than air. For players who want to generate more speed or simply prefer the effortless feel that a light shaft can provide, this is a big plus.
Another commonality between these two drivers is strong forgiveness. Despite Tour Edge’s different descriptions for their forgiveness – high vs. extreme – I found them to be comparable. Both use Tour Edge’s Diamond Face VFT and Ridgeback Technology to get more ball speed out of more areas of the face. I found that I didn’t lose more than a few MPH when comparing centered strikes to off-center ones.
For me, both of these drivers launched the ball very high with high spin. In fairness to the heads, the stock shaft is softer than what I normally use, so my numbers are likely somewhat “inflated.” Also, I tested both these heads at 10.5 degrees of loft, not my usual 9. All that said, I didn’t find the X525 driver to be higher launching than the E525 which can likely be explained by the draw bias.
The draw bias in the X525 is the biggest differentiator of these two drivers. As you can see above, the Tour Edge Hot Launch E525 driver has its sole weight centered in the head for a more neutral ball flight. Below, you can see that the Tour Edge Hot Launch X525 driver has its weight toward the heel. This and the offset work in concert to promote a draw.
I found that the Hot Launch X525 driver is very effective at promoting a right-to-left ball flight. The stock shot is a strong draw. I had to put in meaningful effort to hit the ball straight and creating a fade took a very exaggerated swing. The Hot Launch E525 was much closer to neutral. It showed a slight preference for the left side of the fairway, but straight shots were easy to hit and fades were possible without tremendous effort. If you are constantly yelling, “Fore right!” the X525 is probably the best choice for you.
Conclusion
Whether it’s C, E, or X, the Hot Launch name continues to be synonymous with value. While this line doesn’t offer all the customization options of the Tour Edge Exotics line, it can’t be beat if you’re looking at yards per dollar.
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Tour Edge Hot Launch E525 Driver Price & Specs
Tour Edge Hot Launch X525 Driver Price & Specs
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