Cleveland 588 Custom Driver Review

[dbigstick]

It's my understanding that opening the face is lower loft so you are playing with 7.5° of loft on your driver? Just curious as that's a pretty low loft.

You are correct, I had to get the booklet out and double check the settings on the club because I did not have my readers with me at the range last night. It was set at +2.25 and I was getting a higher ball flight but only when teed lower today and hitting slitghtly down on the ball. Teed normal or slightly higher and I had to hit up on the ball but they looked like to spin lobs falling out of the sky at about 210 yards at the range today. So I tried the -225 and I was hitting high 20 yard hooks that I could control, but I don't trust that shot shape. So I went back to neutral and was hitting straight as a string with the medium piercing ball flight. I tried the 3 gram weight which lowered the flight and a lower tee raised the flight. I am back at neutral with the 11 gram weight. So now I am going to see about a heavier weight or adding some weight to get back to D8. As for my distances at N with 11g I was hitting next to a CSUF back up player and their #1 player from last year that just got some status on the Canadian tour and I was holding my own. I was a little shorter on carry but I think it would be close based on the run out. I was more accurate than I was before shorting the club and was piping 5 or 6 in a row before i missed. But when I missed it was further from our "fairway" and they hardly missed and if they did it was by only by a couple of yards. They could also draw and fade at will. But it was fun to be in the same area code and gives me something to work on.

 

[Jersey Nate]

This driver was Jekyll and Hyde for me yesterday, as a few THPers can attest to.

I do believe that the stock Matrix shaft is a bit light to flex (I'm hitting my 588 in stiff), and when I hit my good drives of the day I had to smoothen out my transition. This resulted in a nice mid-high to high ball flight that either went dead straight or faded just slightly. My natural transition is a bit quicker however, and I ended up spraying a few tee shots left, left, left as a result. Much of the miss is of course the swing, not the club, but I just can't seem to get a comfortable feel with the stock shaft. I love the feel of the face as I struck the ball, and my misses toward the heel and toe still got out there very nicely distance wise. If I had to go with the stock setup, I'd definitely ponder going to X flex. Need to get that 11 gram weight and see how that feels.

 

[majBC]

Does anyone know if this driver head is lower spin than the Classic XL custom, assuming the same shaft is in both heads?

 

[Wicked Cool Bearded Man]

This driver was Jekyll and Hyde for me yesterday, as a few THPers can attest to.

I do believe that the stock Matrix shaft is a bit light to flex (I'm hitting my 588 in stiff), and when I hit my good drives of the day I had to smoothen out my transition. This resulted in a nice mid-high to high ball flight that either went dead straight or faded just slightly. My natural transition is a bit quicker however, and I ended up spraying a few tee shots left, left, left as a result. Much of the miss is of course the swing, not the club, but I just can't seem to get a comfortable feel with the stock shaft. I love the feel of the face as I struck the ball, and my misses toward the heel and toe still got out there very nicely distance wise. If I had to go with the stock setup, I'd definitely ponder going to X flex. Need to get that 11 gram weight and see how that feels.

I really like your progression through the test of this shaft Nate. I feel like your conclusion is very logical and makes sense. We need to find you a shaft that doesn't force you to change anything substantial

 

[kcp04]

I have this head new in the plastic and am trying to decide if I should keep it or sell it. Is it equal to or better distance wise with the other top brands? I would be tossing it on a Phenom by the way. Just want a forgiving driver with good distance! I would also be considering the Amp Cell, Xhot or possibly the xcg 6.

Secondly does anyone here either have or know here to get an adapter?

 

[mikedean441]

I have this head new in the plastic and am trying to decide if I should keep it or sell it. Is it equal to or better distance wise with the other top brands? I would be tossing it on a Phenom by the way. Just want a forgiving driver with good distance! I would also be considering the Amp Cell, Xhot or possibly the xcg 6.

Secondly does anyone here either have or know here to get an adapter?

I think the distance will depend on the golfer. For me I'm guessing it's shorter than my amp cell and xhot and all similar on forgiveness.

Not sure on the adapters...maybe ebay

 

[MPlefty]

I think you can get them from cleveland web site

 

[dbigstick]

I thnk they are available from ebay and also golfworks. It is the same adapter that the classic custom xl and srixon use for their adjustable drivers.

 

[doctorjedi]

For me the 588 is longer than my amp cell. The xhot was longer on the simulator for me but I could not control it. As for forgiveness I feel the 588 is more directionally forgiving but the amp cell was more distance forgiveness. JMHO.

I have this head new in the plastic and am trying to decide if I should keep it or sell it. Is it equal to or better distance wise with the other top brands? I would be tossing it on a Phenom by the way. Just want a forgiving driver with good distance! I would also be considering the Amp Cell, Xhot or possibly the xcg 6.

Secondly does anyone here either have or know here to get an adapter?

 

[MPlefty]

I still love the feeling of this driver and the lenght of it, on my round this morning I managed a grand total of one good driver swing and it gave me a stagering 272 yards drive down the middle. I know I ahve it in me, I know this is the right driver for me, I just need to learn how to golf.

I just ordered an extra shaft sleeve and the 7-11g weights to tinker a bit, see if a shorter/heavier combo would help me in any ways.

 

[Jersey Nate]

Spent a little time with the 588 today at the shop on the monitor with the 11G weight installed and three different shafts (stock Matrix 6Q3, B Asha, Kusala Blue) cut to 45". First impression: everything felt more stable. Swinging this driver at a length I'm comfortable with made a heck of a difference, at least according to the monitor at the shop. Tightest dispersion that I've seen, plus a pretty consistent 230-240 ish in distance. I'm no long hitter, so that's some pretty nice distance for me. The shorter length combined with the heavier head helped the stock Matrix feel a bit less whippy. Biggest drive of the short session was a nice 259 yarder with the B Asha 5S installed. The lowest ball flight of the three was the Kusala (not surprisingly, as the heaviest shaft of the bunch), with the highest being the Matrix. All three were in the mid to mid high range.

Excited to test things further!

 

[Wicked Cool Bearded Man]

Spent a little time with the 588 today at the shop on the monitor with the 11G weight installed and three different shafts (stock Matrix 6Q3, B Asha, Kusala Blue) cut to 45". First impression: everything felt more stable. Swinging this driver at a length I'm comfortable with made a heck of a difference, at least according to the monitor at the shop. Tightest dispersion that I've seen, plus a pretty consistent 230-240 ish in distance. I'm no long hitter, so that's some pretty nice distance for me. The shorter length combined with the heavier head helped the stock Matrix feel a bit less whippy. Biggest drive of the short session was a nice 259 yarder with the B Asha 5S installed. The lowest ball flight of the three was the Kusala (not surprisingly, as the heaviest shaft of the bunch), with the highest being the Matrix. All three were in the mid to mid high range.

Excited to test things further!

Nice dude! I like the route you are going with this. Methodical and smart- I hope you find a setting and shaft that you love bro!

 

[Wicked Cool Bearded Man]

For me the 588 is longer than my amp cell. The xhot was longer on the simulator for me but I could not control it. As for forgiveness I feel the 588 is more directionally forgiving but the amp cell was more distance forgiveness. JMHO.

I love the directionally forgiving statement love love love love it.

 

[doctorjedi]

I gamed a hibore xls from 2008 to 2013. I gamed what felt like 10 drivers in 2013. I always said that I would keep my hibore no matter what because when I struggled I would always go back to it. I put it up for sale yesterday. I am all in on 588 custom; in 3 years it will be the club I go back to when im struggling.

 

[Wicked Cool Bearded Man]

I gamed a hibore xls from 2008 to 2013. I gamed what felt like 10 drivers in 2013. I always said that I would keep my hibore no matter what because when I struggled I would always go back to it. I put it up for sale yesterday. I am all in on 588 custom; in 3 years it will be the club I go back to when im struggling.

Wow man. This speaks volumes. When you bounce the security blanket that sure is saying something.

 

[greggdrews]

So after really struggling all over the place with my BB over a few rounds and in Indy, I tried Coers 588 custom and put 4 straight bombs for me down the fairway. I knew I had to get one. I sold the BB and ordered a 588 Custom, reg flex. I got it late last week and cut it down to 44.5" and adjusted it to what Coers had his set at (minus the 11g weight). I golfed on Sat and hit some really great drives but I was still a little all over on certain shots. Well yesterday I got the 11g weight in and headed out to the range today. What a difference that made! This club was just automatic for me, it's been forever since I've felt so confident standing over the ball off the tee. This club needs to get more looks by everyone for sure!

 

[doctorjedi]

Hmmm... I have been very happy but now maybe I need some weights. Where is a good place to buy?

So after really struggling all over the place with my BB over a few rounds and in Indy, I tried Coers 588 custom and put 4 straight bombs for me down the fairway. I knew I had to get one. I sold the BB and ordered a 588 Custom, reg flex. I got it late last week and cut it down to 44.5" and adjusted it to what Coers had his set at (minus the 11g weight). I golfed on Sat and hit some really great drives but I was still a little all over on certain shots. Well yesterday I got the 11g weight in and headed out to the range today. What a difference that made! This club was just automatic for me, it's been forever since I've felt so confident standing over the ball off the tee. This club needs to get more looks by everyone for sure!

 

[Jersey Nate]

Hmmm... I have been very happy but now maybe I need some weights. Where is a good place to buy?

You can buy the weights directly from Cleveland's shop online.

 

[Wicked Cool Bearded Man]

So after really struggling all over the place with my BB over a few rounds and in Indy, I tried Coers 588 custom and put 4 straight bombs for me down the fairway. I knew I had to get one. I sold the BB and ordered a 588 Custom, reg flex. I got it late last week and cut it down to 44.5" and adjusted it to what Coers had his set at (minus the 11g weight). I golfed on Sat and hit some really great drives but I was still a little all over on certain shots. Well yesterday I got the 11g weight in and headed out to the range today. What a difference that made! This club was just automatic for me, it's been forever since I've felt so confident standing over the ball off the tee. This club needs to get more looks by everyone for sure!

This is great to hear too. I really agree that the weighting can make all the difference.

 

[MUTiger]

I'm sorry to say I've given up - at least for now - on gaming the 588 Custom. I pretty much tried everything but cut the shaft down, which I was reluctant to do fearing it would affect it's trade-in value. I first got the 9.0 degree which I could bomb, but somewhere along the way caught a bad case of the snap hooks. I then traded that in at Golfsmith for a 10.5, and could hit that went decently too, but the shot dispersion was very poor. I'd hit some good ones, and then hook a couple, fade some, and then hit another couple of good ones. I bought and tried the weights, but the results were about the same.

Yesterday I went to a fitting specialist in the KC area to see if I could find something a little more reliable, which I think I did. My numbers for the Ping I25 were much better than anything else I hit. I'm going to give it a try for a couple of weeks, and if it doesn't work I'm prepared to cut down the 588 to see if I get more control, but as for now the Custom is in the dead club bag in the basement.

 

[doctorjedi]

Only missed 2 fairways today had 2 driver lob wedge holes (I play from whites). Still super happy I might need a mid season regrip. My iline seems to wear pretty quick. I think morgan cuppers will be using a secret new srixon driver but if they have the 588 custom I don't think that will be a consolation prize.

 

[Jersey Nate]

It certainly won't be. I'm excited to be gaming this in the MC - I think the head/shaft pairing I'm going with will serve me well.

 

[Matthew]

I tried this driver out yesterday at my fitting, I was pretty impressed with it aside from how light it was. I felt like I was losing it on the back swing. Swing speed went up a little but I could never figure out where the head was.
The ones I pured, were really nice shots but the misses were terrible for me.


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[ball striker]

ran across this driver on ebay the other day and was intrigued. I like the aesthetics and overall look of the clubhead.

 

[doctorjedi]

Matthew the reason I love it is because of the weight. It weighs the same as a bonded driver. I was very late to change to the adjustable drivers and the covert and r1 feel like sledgehammers to me. You can also add weight to the 588 as needed.

I tried this driver out yesterday at my fitting, I was pretty impressed with it aside from how light it was. I felt like I was losing it on the back swing. Swing speed went up a little but I could never figure out where the head was.
The ones I pured, were really nice shots but the misses were terrible for me.


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