Last week, Cleveland Golf unveiled their latest rendition of the Launcher lineup by introducing us to the Launcher XL Drivers. For anyone who missed that release, you can read up on it here. Like the XL driver release, the matching wood line consists of three different variants. We have Launcher XL HALO Fairway Woods, Launcher XL HALO hybrid, and the newest addition to the scene, the Launcher XL HALO Hy-Wood.
One of the big themes throughout the Launcher XL lineup is how Cleveland has increased forgiveness over previous generations. Thanks to the larger size and Rebound Frame, we see an improvement in forgiveness tech baked within the fairways. Rebound Frame is constructed by making a thinner area behind the rigid frame of the clubface. A second flex zone is created and activated simultaneously as the face flexes at impact with this design. The results are more ball speed on center strikes and more overall ball speed retention.
Cleveland’s previous hybrid was perhaps my favorite Cleveland hybrid since the Mashie. One thing those two clubs had in common was that they both featured gliderail technology. Thanks to those rails, I always felt confident pulling those clubs from the fairway, rough, and even bunkers. If you remember, after seeing success with the rails on the Mashie hybrid, Cleveland came out with a Mashie fairway that also utilized gliderails. There is a pretty similar occurrence here as now gliderails are found on the fairway woods, hybrids, and the hy-wood. While this design is not necessarily new, it has proven pretty effective when hitting the ball from various lies and could even help produce straighter shots.
According to Dustin Brekke, Director of Engineering at Cleveland Golf, “The new Launcher XL HALO Fairway Woods are the most forgiving and confidence inspiring fairway woods Cleveland Golf has ever made. With an extreme high MOI design, GlideRail technology, and Rebound Frame, the Launcher XL Fairway Woods provide distance and consistency never before seen for game improvement players.”
A design feature that we did not see in the latest driver release was the HiBore crown. However, all of the Launcher XL HALO woods feature the HiBore crown design that has become one of the signatures of Cleveland Golf. Why bring the HiBore crown out for the fairways and hybrids? Well, it is Cleveland’s way of pushing the center of gravity even lower in the clubhead, which will help increase your launch angle, something many amateurs struggle with when it comes to fairway woods or hybrids. During my brief run with the XL fairway wood, I found the face to be a little deeper than I preferred. However, I could still easily get the ball up in the air, which I tend to struggle with at times when playing deeper-faced fairway woods. I’m not naive to say that the HiBore crown is the sole reason for achieving good launch characteristics, but it’s part of the equation.
We’ve gotten to this point, and I know the question that is on everyone’s mind: What on earth is the Hy-Wood? The Hy-Wood is designed for those who prefer hitting hybrids to fairway woods. Offered at 18°, this Hy-Wood will play longer than a traditional 3-hybrid but be shorter (41.5″) than what you find in a fairway wood. Cleveland Golf mentions that it is the perfect club for those who hate their current 3-Wood.
Once again, following the lead of the Launcher XL driver family, Cleveland is going with the same Project X Cypher shaft. In the XL Fairway Woods, the stock option is a Cypher 55, while the Cypher HB weighs in around 75 grams. These shafts can be customed ordered in an “accuracy build,” which shaves half an inch from the total length and excludes the 8-gram Action Mass CB weight found in the butt end of the shaft on stock builds.
Cleveland Golf has set forth to make the Cleveland Launcher XL wood lineup more forgiving and easier to hit. The addition of the glide rails to the sole of the fairway woods should be pretty welcome and make them more player-friendly. Also, not to be overlooked is the fact that Cleveland expanded the lofts of their hybrids. With the previous model, the highest lofted hybrid was 22°, and now players can opt to go as high as 27°.
More information on the new Cleveland Launcher XL HALO wood lineup can be found at www.clevelandgolf.com.
The Details
Models/Pricing: Launcher XL Halo Fairway Woods($229), Launcher XL Halo-Hy-Wood($219), Launcher XL Halo Hybrid($199)
Lofts: Launcher XL Fairway Woods (15°, 18°, 21°) , Launcher XL Halo Hy-Wood (18°), Launcher XL Halo Hybrid (18°, 21°, 24°, 27°)
Availability: August 13, 2021
It is 18 degrees.
My 3h and 4H seem to bunch up in distance. I hit the 4h much more consistent and I am thinking I put a 3 Hy-Wood in the 3h spot to spread that gap out a little.
It’s kind of funny you say that because the Hy-Wood does something similar to me. As a person that doesn’t carry a fairway wood, my first non-driver is a 4H and then 5-GW in my irons. The 4H and 5 iron can get a little close based on Shot Scope data, so I am thinking this could be a good gap fitter for me as well.
No coincidence that I have been able to figure this out since getting my Shot Scope for The Data Experience. Gives me incite on where to look for improvements and tweaks.
Lofts: Launcher XL Fairway Woods (15°, 18°, 21°) , Launcher XL Halo Hy-Wood (13.5°), Launcher XL Halo Hybrid (18°, 21°, 24°, 27°)
Just to confirm the Hy-Wood is 18°
Yes that was a typo….
and just double checking, the press release said 13.5, but the product manual has it at 18. So 18 it is.
I really like the changes they did do the fairway wood. Adding the rails is a really good move IMO and just like with the driver, they toned down the sound.
WIth the hybrid, my personal preference is that I still like the shape of the Halo. But this one plays really well and I’ve enjoyed having it in the bag for a couple of weeks.
I have to agree with you. I am always excited for new Cleveland products, but my real need is that 3 Hy-Wood. I don’t know if it will get a ton of play with the masses but it will fit a certain segment.
I always seem to have an open spot or 2 in the bag so it could easily be thrown in.
Next month you can take this one. It arrived after and is fantastic.
I really dislike the game improvement classification, but the launcher lineup is kind of geared that way. They are there to help inspire confidence, offer a lot of forgiveness, and still have enough to provide solid distance options. For me, a little deeper face makes clubs like this a great option off the tee and gets rid of any thought that you might go under the ball. With the rail design here, going with this face height to me makes sense. My preference is a shallower face design, I tend to spin those less and they just suit my eye better.
I look forward to getting some swings in with it.
Ok and I only caught it because I was so captivated with the writing that I read it intently and all the way to the end
I could really see me giving this a chance in my bag…. I have a spot where this could really fit in
If you like it, it’s yours. I have a feeling you will, based on what I saw in limited fashion I was impressed.
Me too. I always go between thinking easier to hit actually being easier to hit or just easier to hit if you’re already pretty able to hit a hybrid / wood well. I’ve found I have a fairly steep swing angel and that makes anything that isn’t an iron problematic for me because sometimes I dig in, but this can help solve that problem as well.
I think it’s easier to hit period. And the rails are a great feature. I’m intrigued by the 18 and 21 degree models.
It reminds me in many ways of the W/S Fybrid, which was before the HW and damn brilliant.
This thing has me super curious.
yup and I think that OG fybrid was like 19.5 degrees. I won’t lie, its what I was thinking of when seeing the info on this one.
Same. And you’re correct, it was 19.5, which makes me even more intrigued at this at 18
I don’t remember that club. I do know I will be hitting this one. Seems it could eliminate two clubs in my bag if I can make it function as intended.
Reminds me also of the F6 baffler. A great club that was never available to us lefties. Thank you Cleveland!
BOOM!!!
How did you pre-order?
Budget Golf lets you pre-order.
Not that I’m looking…..?
I did through Carl’s Golf Land. ?
This is the type of thing that I like to hear about this club. The need to have this in the bag is strong.
When I was playing with @Golfever earlier he had a heavenwood and sung it’s praises, he hit it very well. The BB21 driver and these long clubs may just be the answer to the top of my bag questions. That’s my least consistent spot.
Check budget golf. Not sure THP coupon can be used, but last I heard they are shipping at the appropriate time.
Best,
Henning
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