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USA Today
9 minutes ago
- USA Today
Tour Edge Exotics 725 irons
Tour Edge's Exotics 725 irons use shared tech in three designs, giving golfers distance, forgiveness and launch fit to their game. When it comes to the Tour Edge Exotics 725 iron family, the Illinois-based brand has tried to make three irons that offer varying levels of distance, stability, forgiveness and shot shaping for three different types of golfers. Many of the same technologies are found in each club, to varying degrees and levels, which allowed designers and engineers to level-up certain traits and attributes based on what players typically want. The Exotics C725 (competition spec) is a better-player's distance iron, while the E725 (extreme spec) is a classic game-improvement club. The new model, the X725, is a max game-improvement offering for moderate and slower-swinging players who need the most forgiveness, height and distance. Here's what you want to know about each club: Tour Edge Exotics C725 irons Price: $128.99 per club ($899.99 for 7-piece set) with True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid steel shafts and Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 grip; $142.99 per club ($999.99 for 7-piece set) with Project X Denali Blue 80 graphite shafts. Specs: Hollow-body design with maraging steel face and 17-4 stainless steel body. Who it's for: The Exotics C725 irons are engineered for single-digit handicap players who want distance and forgiveness in a more compact iron. What you should know: The hollow-body design and perimeter weighting allow these better-player distance irons to create more distance and forgiveness while still looking like a club that belongs in the bag of a golf who plays in the A Flight in the club championship. The deep dive: The Exotics C725 irons are a 'player's distance' iron that merges game-improvement technologies into a compact, workable shape. The hollow-body construction enables Tour Edge to place the center of gravity (CG) low and deep, which increases the launch angle and helps produce a higher ball flight. The maraging steel face, which is welded to a 17-4 stainless steel body, is L-shaped and wraps into the sole, creating a hinging effect that improves face flex. By using a thinner steel face in combination with the hollow design, Tour Edge engineers have been able to increase ball speed across a larger portion of the hitting area, which means the C725 irons maintain their speed and consistency more effectively on mishits. Internally, Tour Edge injected VIBRCOR, a thermoplastic polyurethane gel, into the hollow cavity of each head to dampen vibrations and improve feel. On the back of each C725 iron, a multi-material dampening badge made of carbon fiber and high-grade TPU further enhances acoustics and feel. On the inner-facing side of the face, Tour Edge added its 3D Diamond Face technology, which includes 92 diamond-shaped areas of various thicknesses. Tour Edge claims they act like mini trampolines to help golfers generate more ball speeds and protect speed on off-center hits. The Exotics C725 has the shortest blade length, thinnest topline and least amount of offset among the Exotics 725 iron family. The 14-gram weight on the back of the head is adjustable for fitters and allows them to change the swing weight of the clubs easily based on length or a player's preferences. Tour Edge Exotics E725 irons Price: $114.99 per club ($799.99 for 7-piece set) with True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid steel shafts and Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 grip; $129.99 per club ($899.99 for 7-piece set) with Project X Cypher graphite shafts Specs: Hollow-body design with 360-degree undercut cavity, multi-material badge and injected thermoplastic polyurethane. Who it's for: The Exotics E725 irons are made for mid- and higher-handicap golfers who want more distance and forgiveness. What you should know: The Exotics E725 irons have a low and back center of gravity to boost forgiveness, increase the launch angle, and add distance. The deep dive: While the Exotics C725 is designed for players who want a compact look with an extra punch that maintains shot-shaping attributes, the Exotics E725 irons are game-improvement clubs for golfers who shoot in the mid-80s and low 90s who want more forgiveness and more distance. As it does in the other irons, the 3D Diamond Face technology broadens the sweet spot to protects ball speed on mis-hits. However, with a larger size than the C725 irons, the E725 irons boast 103 diamond-shaped elements on the inner-facing side of the hitting area instead of 92. The E725 irons utilize a one-piece, high-strength steel body construction with a 360-degree undercut cavity that reduces weight in the center of the head and pushes the CG location lower and deeper. According to Tour Edge, the CG is 10 percent lower in the E725 than in the E723, the iron it replaces, so golfers should find it easier to get the ball up in the air. To improve feel and dampen vibrations, Tour Edge injected VIBRCOR into the pocket of each E725 iron. The TPU treatment enhances sound and feel without impeding the face from flexing or reducing distance. The new multi-material badge also stiffens the heads for better energy transfer at impact. On the sole, a heavy rail helps the club glide through the turf, minimize digging and maintain more speed through impact. The Exotics E725 has a thicker topline, more offset and a wider sole than the Exotics C725. Tour Edge Exotics X725 irons Price: $114.99 per club, with Project X Cypher shafts and Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 grip. Specs: 17-4 stainless steel body with VIBRCOR and 3D Diamond Face technology. Available in 5-PW, AW and SW Who it's for: The Exotics X725 irons are designed for slow and moderate-swinging golfers looking for maximum forgiveness and stability, especially if they struggle with a slice. What you should know: The Exotics X725 is Tour Edge's attempt to translate its 'iron-wood' technology into max game-improvement irons, emphasizing high launch, more distance and slice-fighting offset. The deep dive: With the Exotics X725 irons, Tour Edge has tried to make its most forgiving, easiest-to-hit iron ever. The shallow-face design, large size and long blade length are meant to inspire confidence in the address position. That large size also gave designers space to pull the center gravity location down and exceptionally far back, away from the hitting area, which should add spin and create a higher launch angle. Moving the CG lower and further back in the head also increases the stability and reduces twisting at impact, making the X725 irons more resistant to mis-hits. That should give golfers more confidence when they miss the center of the face, as the irons deliver straighter and more consistent shots across a larger area of the clubface. Tour Edge added its thermoplastic polyurethane material, VIBRCOR, deep inside the 360-degree undercut cavity to soak up excessive vibrations, improve sound, and enhance feel. You can't see it because the back of the head features a carbon and TPU back badge that stiffens the entire head at impact while helping to dampen vibrations and enhance sound. On the inner-facing side of the face, Tour Edge added its 3D Diamond Technology, which includes 92 diamond-shaped areas of various thicknesses. Tour Edge claims they act like mini trampolines to help golfers generate more ball speeds and protect speed on off-center hits. Finally, the sole of the X725 irons features a heavy rail, which improves turf interaction by allowing the club to glide through thick grass without digging in. The rail also has extreme heel and toe relief, which, combined with the significant offset, should help players square the face more easily through impact. The Exotics X725 should produce the highest ball flight and be the most forgiving of the three new 725 irons, while also having the most offset and thickest topline.
Business Wire
9 minutes ago
- Business Wire
American Integrity Insurance Group Surpasses 400,000 Policies In-force, Marking a Major Post-IPO Milestone
TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--American Integrity Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: AII) ('American Integrity' or the 'Company'), a Tampa-based property and casualty insurance holding company and one of Florida's leading providers of residential property insurance, announced today that it has surpassed 400,000 policies in-force—a historic milestone for the Company and a powerful signal to the market. The achievement comes just weeks after the Company's successful initial public offering and listing on the New York Stock Exchange and underscores the Company's momentum, market trust, and long-term growth trajectory. 'This is more than a number—it's a statement,' said Bob Ritchie, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of American Integrity. 'Surpassing 400,000 policies reflects the grit, execution, and values-driven culture that have powered our journey from day one. It tells our customers, our distribution partners, and our investors that we're not just growing—we're building something enduring.' The milestone reinforces American Integrity's role as a market leader in Florida's challenging property insurance landscape. With strong underwriting discipline, deep reinsurance partnerships, and a focus on service excellence, the Company continues to scale responsibly and profitably. 'We've always believed our strength comes from something deeper than capital,' Ritchie added. 'It comes from integrity. That's the core of who we are—and it's resonating louder than ever.' About American Integrity Insurance Group, Inc. American Integrity Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: AII) is a leading provider of residential property insurance, focused on delivering innovative, reliable coverage to homeowners throughout Florida. Built on a foundation of integrity, resilience, and service, the Company's mission is to be the most trusted and responsive insurance solution in the markets it serves. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Tampa, American Integrity is committed to protecting policyholders with strength and purpose—today and for generations to come.
11 minutes ago
UnitedHealth Group shares climb as Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway discloses stake in the insurer
Shares of UnitedHealth Group are surging before the market open Friday as Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway disclosed that it recently purchased shares of the beleaguered insurer. Berkshire Hathaway bought around 5 million shares of UnitedHealth last quarter, according to a regulatory filing. The stake was valued at about $1.57 billion. Buffett plans to retire as CEO at the end of the year after six decades of building Berkshire Hathaway. Many investors comb through Berkshire's filings every quarter because they like to follow Buffett's moves. The filing doesn't make clear who at Berkshire handled the investment. Besides Buffett, Ted Weschler and Todd Combs also pick stocks, but they generally handle smaller portfolios and Combs also serves as Geico's CEO. Besides stocks, Berkshire owns dozens of companies in a variety of industries including Geico insurance, BNSF railroad, several major utilities and an assortment of manufacturing and retail companies. The Omaha, Nebraska-based company's holdings include many well-known brands like See's Candy and Dairy Queen. UnitedHealth has been dealing with a series of difficulties. Last month the company said that it was cooperating with federal criminal and civil investigations involving its market-leading Medicare business. The health care giant said at the time that it had contacted the Department of Justice after reviewing media reports about investigations into certain elements of its business. Earlier this year, The Wall Street Journal said federal officials had launched a civil fraud investigation into how the company records diagnoses that lead to extra payments for its Medicare Advantage, or MA, plans. Those are privately run versions of the government's Medicare coverage program mostly for people ages 65 and over. The company's UnitedHealthcare business covers more than 8 million people as the nation's largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans. The business has been under pressure in recent quarters due to rising care use and rate cuts. The Journal said in February, citing anonymous sources, that the probe focused on billing practices in recent months. The paper has since said that a federal criminal health care-fraud unit was investigating how the company used doctors and nurses to gather diagnoses that bolster payments. UnitedHealth Group Inc. runs one of the nation's largest health insurance and pharmacy benefits management businesses. It also operates a growing Optum business that provides care and technology support. UnitedHealth's stock has mostly shed value since December, when UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in midtown Manhattan on his way to the company's annual investor meeting. A suspect, Luigi Mangione, has been charged in connection with the shooting. In April, shares plunged some more after the company cut its forecast due to a spike in health care use. A month later, former CEO Andrew Witty resigned, and the company withdrew its forecast entirely, saying that medical costs from new Medicare Advantage members were higher than expected. UnitedHealth's stock jumped more than 12% in premarket trading on Friday. Still, the stock has lost roughly half its value in the past year.
