Equipment
Powerbilt launches Air Force One DFX
Though not one of the “big-name brands” in golf equipment, Powerbilt has striven to push the envelope in club innovation with its patented Nitrogen N7 “Nitrogen Charged” technology in its new Air Force One DFX driver.
The cavity of the DFX (Deep Face Extreme) is filled with highly pressurized Nitrogen (80 pounds per square inch), which independent testing has shown increases distance through a trampoline effect when the club face strikes the ball. This pressurized effect allows Powerbilt to reinforce the driver head without adding weight, which further increasing the trampoline effect of the club face to the maximum allowed by the USGA and also enables Powerbilt to increase forgiveness on less-than-perfect hits.
The DFX also has a 5 millimeter deeper face than the previous version, and six more grams of weight have been moved low and forward in the head to improve smash factor, the company says.
“We reduced the nitrogen pressure to 80 pounds, for better impact feel,” said Ross Kvinge, president of PowerBilt. “This new amount of nitrogen generates a tremendous trampoline effect for increased ball speed. In fact, now the trampoline effect is up to the USGA maximum limit. Shot dispersion is also the tightest ever in our drivers.”
The Air Force One DFX features a forged titanium body and titanium face and will be available for both right-handed and left-handed golfers in lofts of 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 and 12.5 degrees. Several shaft options will be available, including premium options from Fujikura, Fubiku, and Aldila. The Air Force One DFX will retail for $299.
Tour Edge Golf has today introduced the all-new Exotics mini driver, engineered to deliver a powerful combination of speed, control, and versatility in the long game.
The Exotics Mini combines a titanium face with a stainless-steel body in design to balance ball speed with stability and control, creating a versatile option at the top end of the bag.
At the core of the design is Tour Edge’s proprietary Combo Brazing technology, a high-precision thermal bonding process that seamlessly fuses a titanium cup face to a stainless-steel body into a single, continuous structure. By eliminating energy loss found in traditional multi-piece constructions, Combo Brazing is designed to deliver faster face response, more efficient energy transfer, and a uniquely powerful yet controlled feel.
The multi-material construction also allows mass to be positioned lower and deeper in the head in a bid to increase stability, while the thin titanium face is engineered to maintain ball speed across a wider impact area.
“While the initial goal was to enhance control and versatility in the long game, Combo Brazing ultimately drove measurable gains in ball speed and distance within the mini driver category. In robot testing, we’ve documented higher ball speeds, higher launch, reduced spin, and increased carry and total distance compared to leading models.” – Vice President of R&D Matt Neeley
In addition to distance performance, the Exotics mini emphasizes forgiveness through a heavier stainless-steel body that shifts mass toward the perimeter. This configuration increases MOI relative to traditional all-titanium mini drivers, helping preserve ball speed and directional stability on off-center strikes. Paired with Pyramid Face Technology from the Exotics metalwood line, the design is intended to support consistent speed across the face.
To further enhance MOI, a lightweight carbon fiber crown frees additional mass that is strategically repositioned low and deep in the head in design to improve stability and promote optimal launch with controlled spin.
“We designed the Mini to be about five millimeters shallower than other mini drivers on the market. That change improves playability off the deck. From a clean fairway lie, it can function as a strong 3-wood alternative while still providing control off the tee.” – Tour Edge CEO David Glod
An adjustable hosel system allows for loft and lie tuning to dial in trajectory and shot shape, while a fixed 13-gram rear weight helps stabilize the head through impact to improve dispersion consistency. The Exotics Mini Driver is available in 11.5 and 13.5-degree lofts in right-handed models.
Pricing & Availability
The Exotics Mini Driver is available for pre-order beginning today for $399.99 USD at touredge.com, and will be available for purchase at retail outlets worldwide on May 22, 2026.
In our forums, our members have been pitting a Srixon ZXi combo against a TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo. WRXer ‘edutch22’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons and kicks off the thread saying:
“Looking at picking up a new set of irons and think I’ve narrowed it down to Srixon ZXi combo or Taylormade P7CB/770 combo. I am currently a 5 cap and allbeit I feel irons are my weakness. My miss is a little to the toe side. I am decently steep at 4-5 down. Always thought I am high spin but recently on trackman my 7 was spinning at 5800 roughly.
My question or looking for thoughts on which one would benefit me more from a forgiveness standpoint? Or is there another iron is should be looking at entirely? I only get to play about once or twice a week, if I am not playing a 2-3 day event. Thanks in advance.”
And our members have been sharing their thoughts and suggestions in response.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- manima1: “You just can’t go wrong with Srixon ZXi7.”
- MattM97: “You have to hit them to know, the V-Sole on the Srixon can be make or break for many.”
- dmeeksDC: “P7CB is more forgiving for me than ZXi7 because my main miss is low middle and the P7CB still flies and spins great on that miss. These are both really nice irons but I like the P7CB more than the Zxi7 and the P770 (or P790) more than the Zxi5. The Srixons are larger so if that gives you confidence that is the way to go. I don’t feel like I get any benefit from the V-sole and the P7CBs live up to their high Maltby forgiveness rating so the TaylorMades have been great for me.”
Entire Thread: “Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @pianoman0123 has a 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo up for grabs.
From the listing: “2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade Combo. 4-8 irons are CB’s and the 9,PW are Blades. 5-PW have Project X 6.0 Shafts and the 4 Iron has a Steelfiber CW110 Stiff Shaft. Standard Length, Lie and Lofts. These are in very good condition the shafts just don’t work for me. Like new Lamkin Grips on the 5-PW and a stock Golf Pride on the 4 Iron. $525 OBO.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Martin
Jul 31, 2014 at 5:06 pm
I was just fitted w/this driver. It’s for real. Did it on a launch monitor. Compared it to my SLDR and titleist 913 D3. Also used a new Adams head. Switched out a bunch of shafts and heads over 2 fitting sessions Adams was longer than both of my drivers. Performed great. The Power Bilt was just a notch above the Adams. Carry distance was a few yards longer. Spin was down and launch was up. ( About 2400rpm and 12+ on the launch) difference for me was the smash factor. Was around 1.45+ w/the Adams. Was 1.5 nearly every time w/Power Bilt. Had a few max out at 1.52. Went from low launch high spin with my sldr that gave me about a 240-245 carry to a 260+ carry with the right launch and spin w/Power Bilt. Swing was 105-110. This will surely help my game.
jtizzle
Apr 7, 2014 at 3:49 pm
The top end jdm brand Kamui Pro has a nitrogen driver that is supposed to be one of the longest out. I am actually waiting on one to arrive right now. I have also heard that the Powerbilt drivers are fairly long too.
Jack Nash
Mar 24, 2014 at 11:45 am
I remember when My brother and I were kids, we had the old style wooden matches we’d put between the ball and the old wood driver head. We’d do it in a corner of the course where we were surrounded by trees. When hit properly it would sound like a gun going off, making a scotch mark on the ball and club head. I would imagine that with this new driver that act wouldn’t be recommended? Would this new driver come with the appropriate warnings?
Taylor Made
Mar 22, 2014 at 8:54 pm
Do I have to yell “POOOWWW!” “BOOOMM!” when i swing it? Air Force One??? Even the name is gimmicky. Ill pass.
Jed
Mar 23, 2014 at 5:53 pm
Leave it to somebody with the name Taylor Made to talk about being gimmicky.
You hitting 400 yard bombs yet?
Travis
Apr 16, 2014 at 12:32 pm
Yea, because TaylorMade “ROCKETBALLZ” and “JETSPEED” isn’t gimmicky…
The dude
Mar 22, 2014 at 6:51 am
Awesome!!…..now they can get Fuzzy and Jodie Mudd back 🙂
Perry
Mar 22, 2014 at 1:34 am
Nice to see a different manufacturer for a change. Get a bit sick of only seeing Taylormade and the other biggies. This site sure must be greeting some good kick backs.
RadioActive
Mar 21, 2014 at 2:57 pm
isn’t everyone up to or near the .830 limit?
Jack
Mar 26, 2014 at 12:05 am
That’s what I thought. So the hydrogen brings it up to (or close to) the limit that everyone has been at already. Wonderful. Thanks for no advantage. Isn’t this the definition of a gimmick?
Beau
Apr 6, 2014 at 1:59 am
Um, its nitrogen not hydrogen that powerbuilt uses. They have been using nitrogen in their drivers since the mid 90’s so would that really be a gimmick?? At least they can think outside the box for a change… maybe stop mocking companies that don’t conform to what is seen as normal? cheers
Joe
Mar 28, 2014 at 10:42 pm
Actually, the .830 limit is no longer used as the standard for top limmits. What is used is something called Characteristic Time, which is how long the ball stays on the face when being struck.
That said, I agree with your premise about everyone being at that limit.
Supposedly though, there can be a lot of variance amongst clubheads, even though they are all “supposed” to be at that limit.
Adams Golf, for example, claims that they test all of their clubheads to make sure that they are at the top limit. That’s something other companies do not do. With most companies, the goal is to make a clubhead where the top limit of the best one is at the limit, but many of them may not reach that level. That’s why pros test many of them, looking for that “hot driver” amongst the group, according to legends like Lee Trevino.
As for Powerbilt, I really don’t understand how the Nitrogen gas helps that trampoline effect, but I’ve heard that somehow it actually does so. Perhaps it helps on mishits somehow? In any case, Powerbilt drivers usually get extremely high marks in the distance category every year when numerous drivers are indepently tested, such as on sites such as this. Not bad for a brand that most folks don’t give a second thought to, and one that many stores don’t even bother to carry because of that.