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.
“As our R&D research has developed hand in hand with advancements of our AI simulation capabilities, the realization came that removing the constraints of a ‘traditional’ looking Driver shape would allow for new and exciting performance opportunities,” said senior product manager Casey Shultz in a release. “By taking advantage of the unique HiBore philosophy of a performance first design, we were able to unlock levels of forgiveness and distance that weren’t possible before. But there is one key difference with the new model compared to that of the past… it also sounds great!”
Here are six things to know about the Cleveland Launcher HiBore XL drivers.
Triangular chassis
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.
ActivWing
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.
Counterbalanced
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.
HiBore XL Lite
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.
Adjustability
Cleveland is upping its game in the adjustability department with both drivers in the lineup featuring a brand-new 1.5-degree loft sleeve. The HiBore XL driver will also feature a 12-gram adjustable weight in the rear of the club head so players can dial in the swing weight of their preference.
Availability
Both the Cleveland Launcher HiBore XL and HiBore XL Lite ($399) are available now for pre-order on Fairway Jockey with a launch date of Dec. 6.
