Cleveland Launcher HiBore XL drivers: Full reviews, player testing, photos and more
HIGHLIGHTS
Triangular AI head shape
ActivWing stability
Counterbalanced design Club Comparison
PLAYER TESTING TAKEAWAYS
“If I owned a spaceship, it would look like this. The feel is awesome, ball came off great, able to hit the center. It was very forgiving too.” – Alain Brunet on the Cleveland HiBore XL driver
“I like the triangle alignment aid but my trajectory was too flat.” – Heidi Dalton (16.6-handicap) on the Cleveland HiBore XL driver
“Don’t like the cone shape. Felt heavy. Didn’t work for me.” – Greg Caster (15.1-handicap) on the Cleveland HiBore XL driver
Cleveland Launcher HiBore XL Drivers
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Cleveland Golf is the latest OEM to venture into the world of Artificial intelligence to craft a golf club.
In bringing back the legendary HiBore name for its Launcher HiBore XL drivers, the company turned to AI to fine-tune the shaping of the new driver, which it says is its most forgiving ever.
One of the first things golfers will notice about the new HiBore drivers is that they feature a triangle shape, as opposed to the round or pear-shaped drivers that are typical today. The sharp angles are aimed at increasing forgiveness and the shape was created using AI simulations to narrow the head, allowing it to meet the desired head volume.
This also helps support a face that is 19 percent larger than the company’s previous driver, which translates to an expanded sweet spot.
The triangular design also means the driver’s sound profile is audibly optimized without the use of internal ribbing.
Cleveland Golf Launcher HiBore XL Drivers: 6 things to know
On the heel side of the crown are small airfoil-like shapes Cleveland is calling ActivWing technology. As the heel of the club leads the clubhead through the downswing, the company is using ActivWing to tune the aerodynamics and enhance consistency at impact.
The new tech is specifically designed to provide added stability through the downswing.
The new HiBore drivers will come stock with an 8-gram weight tucked into the end of the shaft to slightly counter balance the club. The Action Mass CB will help players retain control of the club, without any extra effort.
For players who struggle with a slice or need a little extra distance, the HiBore XL Lite is the ultralight option in the lineup. The Lite version also has weight concentrated in the heel to produce a draw bias, but also maintain MOI and ball speed benefits of the standard version.
