Cleveland Golf resurrected the Launcher name back in 2017 when they released the Launcher HB. Two years later, it underwent a significant facelift with the Launcher HB Turbo. If you happen to be a golf fanatic who follows the release trends within the industry, there will be little surprise when reading the following sentence. Today Cleveland Golf ushers in not just one but three new models of the Launcher XL driver: Launcher XL, Launcher XL Lite, and Launcher XL Draw.
During its review period, the Launcher HB Turbo driver tested out to be a sneaky good driver for both ball speed and forgiveness. Based on what Cleveland Golf is saying, the Launcher XL aims to offer improvements in nearly every way. Size-wise, we are looking at a driver head that will be longer front to back, which helps boost the MOI properties by 11%. While the driver head itself is more elongated, many golfers will prefer the look versus the crown of the HB Turbo, which featured the HiBore crown step accompanied by several airflow ridges and micro nubs. Gone is all of that, including the HiBore crown. In its place is a much more traditional-looking crown in a matte finish with some graphics along the rear rim. Overall, it is a much cleaner look and won’t be as polarizing as the previous generation.
Without a doubt, the most significant addition to the Launcher XL line is the inclusion of the Rebound Frame. If that term sounds familiar, it’s because we were introduced to Rebound Frame in the Srixon ZX5 and ZX7 drivers earlier this year. As the year has gone on, those two drivers are still heavily talked about regarding what they offer in speed and consistency. Those same characteristics are what Cleveland is counting on with these Launcher XL drivers. How does Rebound Frame work? We all have come to understand that the face flexes upon impact, and that is the most prominent player when talking about ball speed. With Rebound Frame, Cleveland engineers have thinned out the titanium that sits behind the face-supporting frame. By creating this second flex zone, the frame and the face both react at impact to produce more speed and efficiency through the ball. As Cleveland Golf would tell you, think of this as a spring within a spring.
We see another change from the two previous releases for the Launcher XL as Cleveland has implemented an adjustable hosel. This hosel will afford the golfers 12 different settings to help dial in their perfect ball flight. In my case, I had the 10.5° Launcher XL, which I played at 9°, meaning the face was slightly open with a flatter lie angle. The adjustable hosel is replaced with a weight-saving bonded design for both the XL Lite and XL Lite Draw. Thanks to this glued hosel, and a lighter shaft, the XL Lite models come in a full 12 grams lighter than the Launcher XL. For those golfers who have more moderate swing speeds, or are looking to mitigate their slice, the XL Lite and XL Lite Draw models are ones to look at.
Performance-wise the Launcher XL has shown to be a very well-balanced offering. In our initial on-course testing it has held its own in the distance department and continues to be a forgiving option. Unquestionably, my favorite improvement that Cleveland has made is the upgrade in the sound department. Anyone who has spent time with the Launcher HB Turbo knows that its sound was rather lively. Launcher XL offers a much more muted sound comparably, but still sits in that medium to high pitch range, which is a big upgrade in my opinion.
Cleveland has gone with Project X Cypher shafts throughout the Launcher XL driver range. Launcher XL Lite and XL Lite Draw drivers are paired with a lightweight Cypher 40 shaft, while the XL gets the Cypher 50. All these drivers are rather long in shaft length, with the XL measuring in at 45.75″ and the XL Lite models being an extra .25″. Through custom ordering, Cleveland is offering an “Accuracy Build” which brings the lengths down to 44.75″ for the XL and 45″ for the XL Lite series. They also all feature Action Mass technology, which is created by using an 8-gram weight in the butt end of the shaft.
Cleveland Launcher has become one of those long-standing names that just resonates with golfers. As the VP of Research and Development at Cleveland Golf Jeff Brunski says “The Launcher XL drivers hit the ball long and straight – plain and simple.” While it may lack some of the frills you get with other drivers, the upgrades in the MOI, dampening of the sound, and the addition of the Rebound Frame make the Launcher XL a worthy upgrade.
More information on the Launcher XL lineup can be found at www.clevelandgof.com.
The Details
Available: August 20, 2021
Models: Launcher XL(9°, 10.5°, 12°), Launcher XL Lite(10.5°, 12°), Launcher XL Lite, Draw(10.5°)
Price: Launcher XL – $399, Launcher XL Lite – $349, Launcher XL Lite Draw – $349
Here is the Lite version next to B21.
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Thats a good question. When I get home I can check.
Awesome. I think this head is really good. Might be fun to go internet golfer on it.
I haven’t spent enough time with it, but the Hy-Wood was a flat out performer today.
Well we all know that club is magical
I don’t know if you remember the previous version. But this one, is much more on the tame side vs that one. The Turbo was like that loudmouth at the movie theater or party that nobody wants to be around.
Outside of that, it’s definitely a nice and forgiving driver with plenty of pop to it. Cool to see you are having some success with it.
I think some will be shocked by how good the irons are.
I need a new driver like a hole in the head especially with the season ending in 3 weeks however I think I will hit this.
I demo’d the XL lite driver on a demo day and these felt great. Too many choices these days!
The funny thing is they were out a few weeks ago and I tried the 5W…but had no clue about the Hy-Wood. The rep didn’t even mention it. I bought it later and loved it. My bag is getting more and more Cleveland gear in the bag. 3 wedges, a putter, a hy-wood. The PING driver and hybrid are getting nervous.
Had Lite Version in the cart and had to let it go – Just too close to the end of the season to spend the money and let it sit for 6 months.
Wow that 46" driver length is something to get use to in the Lite version.
Hit both in Regular Flex. Went back and forth on both versions and the Standard stood out as being the better fit.
Actually did better with it set at 10.5 FL – I think playing around with the setting could get me really dialed in.
Was able to get one up to 128 Ball Speed which is pretty good for me at a PGATSS using their Range balls.
I could see myself gaming it and being consistent on the course.
Overall I liked the driver and if it was April, might have walked out with it however with the my season ending soon, I just couldn’t justify it.
I saved a search on eBay to see if I can pick one used or someone clearing them out.
Might be a Black Friday purchase.
Thanks for taking the time to give some feedback. I hope some people give these drivers a look. Were I not extremely happy with the B21, I would consider these offerings from Cleveland.
The weight, or lack thereof, is the main thing that has me kind of avoiding trying these out. I have a D7 driver right now that I was completely ready to give up on until I loaded it with lead tape. I’m not a fast swinger by any means, but lightweight drivers and I don’t get along. I tend to spray them everywhere because I just can’t feel anything in the swing.
Feel- Feels great. I have the 3,5,7 FW Woods and I love them which is what made me purchase this Driver. I have no issue feeling where the head is in my backswing and getting it through the ball solidly.
Control/Distance- Easy to control the face. I hit this club in the dead center more than my Radspeed XB or my G400Max. I adjusted it to 11 degrees and the ball flight is perfect. High enough to get some carry. Low enough to get some roll. Distance is not quite as far as the Radspeed XB when hit dead center but on average it’s longer because of the overall better contact.
Shaft- I have the same Project X Cypher Shaft as my FWWs. Again I like the controlled kick I get.
Sound- This Driver is loud. It has a nice “crack” to it. Which I like. Never been a fan of a muted Driver sound. When I hit it on the button I can hear it and feel it.
Overall- I will be playing this Driver all winter. The more comfortable I get with it the better I seem to hit it. That’s just from the confidence I’m getting. I like the looks, feel, accuracy and distance. The Cobra is staying on the shelf for now. For a shorter but accurate hitter like me it’s perfect and getting better each round.
Do we still have this in the bag? I know with all of the other releases that have hit in the past 2 months this one gets lost a bit, but definitely a very capable and forgiving head.
ddec, last week I put a 2017 460cc M1 10.5 driver in play, turning it down 3 clicks to make it close to 9*. Heard some good things about this 2017 release and got a nice one off eBay. After putting a jumbo grip on I’ve had 5 rounds with it and it’s longer, as straight and a better sound/feel than the Launcher XL 9* and the previous to that Launcher HB Turbo 9* driver. I’m amazed at the 2017 design and engineering on the M1. Couldn’t be happier.
Cypher is such a good shaft.
Agreed. I have the XL 3,5,7 woods as well. And I like the Cypher shaft so much I put them on everything all the way to my wedges.
I didn’t do a head to head on the same day, but using the same GC2 I always found the B21 to be a bit on the spinnier side. Nothing eggregious but higher than I normally see so it was always a hair shorter than my norms.
On the other hand, the Cleveland has always hung in there with any of the 2022 drivers on both a grass range and indoor monitor. if I didn’t stumble onto the G425 Max late last year, I think the Cleveland would have gotten serious consideration for my bag. Both the lite and lite draw versions were really long and surprising and on the lowerish spin side for me. The only knock is the sound is not the best, but coming from the Ping, sound honestly doesn’t bother me on clubs. I look at the scorecard.
i believe it’s a 3 way answer…
hibore crown was a way of making things thinner in areas, effecting weight and CG. For this driver Cleveland went with a thinner crown than before so not necessarily needed for that purpose.
hibore crown has always had an adverse effect on sound, and coming from HB Turbo, they needed to reign that in.
Where I am confident that the first two are accurate, I think the addition of rebound frame didn’t play well hibore crown.
I love my G400 Max. I just got another one after I foolishly sold mine a couple of years ago and spent 2 years in the driver desert.
I have been banging the Hy-wood drum since last fall. I added the Halo 4H last week and absolutely love it.
With the price drop announced, I’m a bit curious about the XL Launcher driver. I’m digging the Cypher shaft and how point and shoot the other woods are, I should have given the Launcher XL driver a shot before repurchasing the G400 Max.
Bought Cleveland originally for their SW, and listened to this forum about the Hy-wood. Loving what Cleveland is doing these days.
Very nice! That’s the one perk of them not being overly known for their Drivers. Even though they make very quality ones. They don’t hold their value as much. Advantage buyer. Seller? Not so much lol. Enjoy!!
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Turbo driver released in September 2019. This one in August 2021. So, I would guess late Summer 2023?????
Interesting they would drop them in price this soon.
Srixon release is this week. Not sure if that has anything to do with it?