50 Words or Less
The Tour Edge Hot Launch C524 irons are strong game improvement irons with good forgiveness. The Tour Edge Hot Launch E524 irons take consistency to the extreme, almost daring you to try to get a bad result.
Introduction
Last year, Drew examined the Hot Launch C523 and E523 irons
Looks
The “C” in Tour Edge Hot Launch C524 stands for “Competition.” That means this is the set designed for more skilled players, at least compared to the E524. At address, this iron set features a very thick, boxy top line and a significant amount of offset. The blade length is about average, but the overall impression is that this is a big club meant to forgive mishits.
“E” in Tour Edge Hot Launch E524 irons stands for “Extreme Spec,” referring to extreme performance and forgiveness. This focus on forgiveness is immediately obvious from the Iron-Wood design. These are very big irons with huge, rounded faces which should fill golfers with confidence. There is a great deal of offset in these irons, and the back of the club protrudes from behind the thick top lines.
Comparing the 7 irons side-by-side, you can see that the C524 (left) actually has a slightly thicker top line, but it doesn’t have any “extra” behind it. Both irons have similar offset. The leading edge of the E524 is more rounded – a subtle difference that, to my eye, helps to make the face look larger.
Sound & Feel
I started my testing with the Tour Edge Hot Launch E524 irons and was shocked by the sound and feel. Given the hollow body design, I was expecting a loud, hollow sound and a feel that was quick and explosive. Instead, I got a surprisingly soft, solid feel and a quiet impact sound that’s closer to a “thud” than the “pop” I was expecting. The sound did get louder as I worked into the long irons, but the feel remained solid.
Having had my expectations rewired by the E524, the Tour Edge Hot Launch C524 irons had a high bar to clear. Thankfully, they delivered the same traditional impact sensations as their larger brother. The feel is more solid and soft than quick or explosive, and the sound is quiet throughout the set.
Both sets also share the desire to make you feel good about every swing. While you can feel the impact location through your hands, the sound of impact doesn’t change dramatically from flush shots to mishits. Additionally, mishits don’t sting – the character of the feel is very similar across the face.
Performance
I tested these two iron sets in parallel to evaluate their similarities and differences. I’ll dive into the specifics, but my overall takeaway is that Tour Edge did a great job creating two sets that are highly forgiving while also being clearly differentiated.
Starting with the wedges, I noticed immediately that the Tour Edge Hot Launch E524 irons spin quite a bit. This was a pleasant surprise as I expected this set to be all about distance. When I looked at the specs, I saw that the lofts are strong but not near the “cutting edge” of strong lofts. The E524 irons put more emphasis on consistency rather than raw distance.
Switching to the Tour Edge Hot Launch C524 irons, I saw slightly lower launch and spin, but both were still higher than expected. The pitching wedge is one degree weaker in the C524 – 44 degrees – which is bordering on weak by today’s standards. Again, this points to a focus on consistency and forgiveness. Every shot I hit with this wedge went straight and carried a similar distance.
Moving into the mid irons, the extreme forgiveness of the E524 irons really started to show. I had a series of three shots that were flush, low heel, and on the toe, yet each one landed within a couple yards of the others. The launch angles were extremely consistent, even when the contact wasn’t. The mid irons is also where this set’s draw bias really started to show, pulling most shots to the left of the center line. This anti-slice tendency will be a boon for most high handicap players.
Changing back to the Hot Launch C524 irons, the launch and spin were lower despite the weaker lofts. The lofts on the C524 irons are three degrees weaker from 4I-8I, but this difference is balanced by the Iron-Wood design of the E524. For me, the C524 irons were slightly longer, but the forgiveness was still very good. My notes state, “Impact location barely matters,” reflecting the consistency of the ball speed and carry distances.
The two sets showed the most difference in the longest irons. The E524 4I is one of the easiest-to-launch long irons I’ve ever hit, and it has 20 degrees of loft. In contrast, I found the C524 – with 23 degrees of loft – to launch lower, and it required more effort. Looking at the big picture, the C524 4I is still fairly easy to hit, but it’s nowhere near the E524.
Overall, both the Hot Launch C524 irons and the Hot Launch E524 irons are forgiving and consistent, but the E524 takes it to a much higher level. The E524 irons are in the “You need to try to get a bad result” class. Players with more speed may find more distance in the C524. As always, getting a fitting is the only sure way to find the set up that will maximize your abilities.
Conclusion
The Tour Edge Hot Launch family continues to be a champion for golfers seeking the most bang for their buck. In the Hot Launch C524 irons, players will find a set that’s forgiving and consistent without fully abandoning a traditional look. Those that want extreme forgiveness and maximum fun should look to the Hot Launch E524 irons.