50 Words or Less
The Tour Edge Exotics Wingman 803 putter has exceptional feel. Strong forgiveness in a slightly smaller mallet size. Tremendous value. Unique blue finish.
Introduction
Tour Edge bills their clubs as “Golf’s most solid investment.” Their new putter line is living up to that claim and then some. Priced at just $169, the Tour Edge Exotics Wingman putters feature modern shapes, high MOI, and a premium feel. If you’re looking for a break from the $300+ flat sticks, this is a family worth trying.
Looks
Nothing about the look of the current Wingman family has any significant connection to the original line from 2020 [review HERE]. What most sets the new Tour Edge Exotic Wingman putters apart is the “anti-glare navy PVD finish”. To balance the vibrant blue finish, Tour Edge kept the sole fairly quiet, putting all the branding on a rectangular plate in the middle of the putter. I would prefer it if the various tech callouts on the edges of the sole weren’t there, but I like minimalism.
When I got the Wingman 803 in hand, the thing that I found most surprising was the size. As you can see above, this is not a “full sized” fang-style putter. The face is a bit shorter from heel to toe and it tapers more dramatically toward the rear. I applaud Tour Edge for putting a unique spin on this style.
The other standout element at address is the white alignment stripe. This contrasts sharply with the blue body and gives players a few ways to find their best aim. I tend to ignore the black sight line, using the wide white stripe instead. For me, this feels like it allows a more free stroke. Players that like the traditional thin sight line will have an easy time seeing it against the white background.
Topping it all off is a high quality head cover. This cover is made of a premium-feeling material and has a strong magnetic closure. I also like the navy base color; a subtle way to standout in a sea of black covers.
Sound & Feel
In addition to the blue finish, the Tour Edge Exotics Wingman 803 putter stands out with its “W” face milling. I mention this here because, per Tour Edge, this milling is done to ensure a “consistent soft feel.” Tour Edge also placed a VIBRCOR insert behind the face to further soften the feel of the strike.
Their efforts to engineer a soft feel paid off. With a tour-style ball, the Wingman 803 feels soft and solid at impact. I would rate as equal to putters that are more than twice as expensive. Interestingly, there is limited feedback through the hands – only really big misses feel different.
The sound complements the feel nicely. At short and mid range, it’s a bright “thud.” When you get outside of twenty feet, it shifts to a very dull “tock.” Like the feel, the sound is very robust on mishits which limits the amount of feedback the player receives.
Performance
The Tour Edge Exotics Wingman 803 putter is one of six models in the Wingman 800 putter series. This is a fang-style mallet with a slant neck that produces 35 degrees of toe hang, per Tour Edge. If you prefer a face balanced putter, the Wingman 804 is this same putter shape with a double bend shaft. The Wingman 801 and 802 are Spider-style mallets with the same neck and shaft options, respectively. Most unusual are the Wingman 805 and 806. These are widebody Ansers with a long middle flange. They have slant and plumbers necks, both of which produce 35 degrees of toe hang.
Moderately-sized mallets with toe hang are some of my favorite types of putters, so I got along well with the Wingman 803 from the start. While not as nimble as a traditional Anser, the Tour Edge Exotics Wingman doesn’t feel bulky or clumsy. I felt it had a natural flow that aligned well with my slightly arcing putting stroke.
Each model in the Tour Edge Exotics Wingman family weighs in at 365 grams. This is a little heavier than average, but, at least in the Wingman 803, swinging it doesn’t feel laborious. I felt like I was able to put a gentle touch on shorter putts and make an aggressive stroke on longer putts. Tour Edge offers in the Wingman in 34″ and 35″ only, and these putters will have a heavier swing weight at 35″.
The biggest performance feature of the Tour Edge Exotics Wingman putters is the “Highest MOI Design.” By hollowing out the center of the putter, Tour Edge pushed more weight to the edges which makes it more stable on mishits. In my testing, I found that putts inside of seven feet held their intended line, even on fairly bad mishits. Moving to longer range, as long as my strike was on the thick white alignment aid, the ball got to the hole. This is a lot of room for error. Despite not being one of the larger mallets I’ve tested, the Tour Edge Exotics Wingman is impressively forgiving.
Conclusion
The Tour Edge Exotics Wingman putters offer golfers a unique look, premium feel, and strong forgiveness, all at an affordable price. With a variety of modern head shapes and neck configurations, most players should be able to find something that fits their eye and their putting stroke.
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