Cleveland Launcher XL Driver

[bogey777]

So on a whim I bought a Launcher XL with the mind set of using one of my several Srixon driver shafts i have ....the club sit ok to my eye not ideal but ok ,not expecting much i threw a Atmos blue in it an WOW this thing is keeping up with my TSI3 AN CALLY MAX LS both have exotic shafts in them so for 399.00 I was very surprised to see this type of performance now that being said the sound an feel are a little strange but when i'am in the middle of the fairway swing after swing i will get use to sound an feel 

[bogey777]

So basically if you love the ZX5 driver you will like this one also ....maybe even more because i have hit more fairways an just as long 

[xkilgorextroutx]

Did you hit it with the stock shaft first before swapping it out?

[Billfitz]

I find my Launcher HB driver likes Callaway Supersoft balls better than harder balls like Pro V, and the sound isn't as severe. You're right about hitting fairways. Even better, I haven't put a ball into the woods this season.

[bogey777]

6 hours ago, xkilgorextroutx said:

Did you hit it with the stock shaft first before swapping it out?

Actually i didn't which i probably should have to compare but i'am happy with the shaft i put in 

[xkilgorextroutx]

1 hour ago, bogey777 said:

Actually i didn't which i probably should have to compare but i'am happy with the shaft i put in 

I’ve heard it’s extremely light which is why I was curious if you had a before/after comparison. 

[Billfitz]

The stock Cypher 40 shaft is around 50 grams. My stock Miyazaki is about the same, works fine for me, but with senior flex there's not much point in going exotic.

[Lobber]

spent time on a launch monitor yesterday and tried lots of things - TSi2/3, Epic Speed, Ping G425 LST, Sim Max 2 and Launcher XL with Stock 6.0 55gm shaft.  Going in I said no way this will have a chance against the others.  I was wrong.  Launcher XL produced best numbers for me and it just wants to go straight.  I have read reviews which state it is very loud but I did not find that to be the case.  I have a ZX5 which has been very good to me so the XL would have to be an improvement and I have not compared them head to head yet.  

[mantan]

I'm really curious about this driver. I bought the Cleveland Launcher Hy-wood and absolutely love it. It is one of the best golf purchases I've ever made. I reshafted my PING G425 the last two rounds and the shaft just isn't a good fit for me. There were holes today where I punched out and had 215-225 left. I didn't have that distance in the bag and the Hy-wood gets me there consistently...and is as easy to hit as a 7-iron.  I used it off the tee down the stretch and hit every fairway.  It has the Cypher 40 shaft as well.  You can go after it as hard as you want and it just goes straight.

 

Now I'm interested in the Launcher driver. Probably because my driving was so erratic. I don't know why we do this to ourselves. I'd had a great days driving with the G425 stock shaft, but told myself an exotic shaft may get a little bit more out of it.

 

Cleveland clubs have slowly taken over my bag.

Edited October 23, 2021 by mantan

[Billfitz]

I had a full bag of Taylor Made, now the only one left is my putter.

[xkilgorextroutx]

9 hours ago, Billfitz said:

I had a full bag of Taylor Made, now the only one left is my putter.

And that's a solid bag you're gaming too. Change the flex to R and I'd easily be happy playing that setup 👊

[bogey777]

12 hours ago, Lobber said:

spent time on a launch monitor yesterday and tried lots of things - TSi2/3, Epic Speed, Ping G425 LST, Sim Max 2 and Launcher XL with Stock 6.0 55gm shaft.  Going in I said no way this will have a chance against the others.  I was wrong.  Launcher XL produced best numbers for me and it just wants to go straight.  I have read reviews which state it is very loud but I did not find that to be the case.  I have a ZX5 which has been very good to me so the XL would have to be an improvement and I have not compared them head to head yet.  

Seriously i have pretty much every driver out there an alot of high end shafts an i will say this launcher XL (NOT THE LITE VERSION) is just as long as everything i have hit an the ZX shafts i have fit nicely into the launcher head that was another reason why i grab the driver to began with ....rite now i have an atmos blue in it an it feels great 

[Lobber]

Heading out in a bit when the sun gets up for my 1st 18 with the Launcher.  Will report results later today. Taking my ZX5 just in case

[Billfitz]

1 hour ago, xkilgorextroutx said:

And that's a solid bag you're gaming too. Change the flex to R and I'd easily be happy playing that setup 👊

Maybe. Real world testing indicates that there may not be much advantage to stiffer flexes. A friend hit mine the other day, not to test the driver or shaft, but to see how he liked my JumboMax grip. He's half my age and his swing speed is easily 20MPH more than mine. I cautioned him that my senior flex might be a bit soft for him. He proceeded to hit what he called the best drive he's hit all year, a towering high draw that went close to 300 yards dead center in the fairway. 🤑

[bogey777]

1 hour ago, Lobber said:

Heading out in a bit when the sun gets up for my 1st 18 with the Launcher.  Will report results later today. Taking my ZX5 just in case

Enjoy i did the same thing last week 

[Lobber]

First round and I am impressed. Great combo of forgiveness and distance.  As long as anything I have gamed and that’s with the stock shaft.  The stock shaft is good but I’m going to switch it out and try my Rogue from my Srixon ZX5 to see if I can get a bit more out of it.  Sets up well behind the ball, feels hot off the face and is moderate in sound.  Not an ear piercing sound but you can hear it.  I’d say if anyone is in the market and doesn’t want to break the bank this is worth a try.  Overall, I was very pleased with distance, dispersion and forgiveness.  Finally, compared to the last model HI BORE XL the feel is much softer off the face 

[bogey777]

16 minutes ago, Lobber said:

First round and I am impressed. Great combo of forgiveness and distance.  As long as anything I have gamed and that’s with the stock shaft.  The stock shaft is good but I’m going to switch it out and try my Rogue from my Srixon ZX5 to see if I can get a bit more out of it.  Sets up well behind the ball, feels hot off the face and is moderate in sound.  Not an ear piercing sound but you can hear it.  I’d say if anyone is in the market and doesn’t want to break the bank this is worth a try.  Overall, I was very pleased with distance, dispersion and forgiveness.  Finally, compared to the last model HI BORE XL the feel is much softer off the face 

the adaptor is different( obviously) but you can figure it out ....i agree totally with your findings going to play tomorrow to get more results 

[Lobber]

3 minutes ago, bogey777 said:

the adaptor is different( obviously) but you can figure it out ....i agree totally with your findings going to play tomorrow to get more results 

Oh snap. I thought the adaptor would be the same. Thanks for the heads up. 

[bogey777]

31 minutes ago, Lobber said:

Oh snap. I thought the adaptor would be the same. Thanks for the heads up. 

I'AM sorry they are the same as far as fitting goes but the set up is different as far as terminology 

[Lobber]

Thanks!

[Gr3asyMustache]

On 10/22/2021 at 5:32 PM, mantan said:

I'm really curious about this driver. I bought the Cleveland Launcher Hy-wood and absolutely love it. It is one of the best golf purchases I've ever made. I reshafted my PING G425 the last two rounds and the shaft just isn't a good fit for me. There were holes today where I punched out and had 215-225 left. I didn't have that distance in the bag and the Hy-wood gets me there consistently...and is as easy to hit as a 7-iron.  I used it off the tee down the stretch and hit every fairway.  It has the Cypher 40 shaft as well.  You can go after it as hard as you want and it just goes straight.

 

Now I'm interested in the Launcher driver. Probably because my driving was so erratic. I don't know why we do this to ourselves. I'd had a great days driving with the G425 stock shaft, but told myself an exotic shaft may get a little bit more out of it.

 

Cleveland clubs have slowly taken over my bag.

I have been very curious about the Hy-wood. Sounds like i need to get into a dealer and hit some in the Sim room.

 

Cleveland has been my go to since HS in 06-10'. I wish they made players clubs like they used to back then.

 

[rainkingjr]

Can anyone shed some light on the standard XL heads? Is it just one model that is adjustable from 9-12 or is it three different heads at 9, 10.5 and 12?

[T.B.]

Cleveland has been making very good woods and hybrids. I’ve hit the XL driver and thought it was very good. A friend of mine was in the market for a new driver and was planning on getting the ZX5 or ZX7 and ended up with the Cleveland.  A little more forgiving and very easy to hit straight.  

[m3fuz]

30 minutes ago, rainkingjr said:

Can anyone shed some light on the standard XL heads? Is it just one model that is adjustable from 9-12 or is it three different heads at 9, 10.5 and 12?

I believe they’re 3 different lofts, each with their own adjustability.  Some of the pictures online make it seem the adjustable hosel provides for all 3 lofts, but I’ve read a couple reviews that indicate they’re three separate heads.

[rainkingjr]

After researching a little and checking out the Cleveland sight, it appears it's just one head that can be adjusted from 9-12. 

[Billfitz]

It's confusing. The order page shows three different lofts, 9.0, 10.5 and 12.0. The technology page says 'Adjust your loft from 9 to 12 degrees to optimize your launch angle, distance, and shot shape. Loft can be adjusted at 0.5 deg increments with 12 positions in all.'   On the specs page it shows the three different loft options, but below that it shows the 12 different loft positions from adjusting the hosel sleeve. Then when you do a fake order to see what it says in the cart it says 9, 10.5 or 12 degrees. Even reviews I saw said it came in three lofts. I guess you should just order it in the loft you want and que sera, sera.

[jsmcdon]

I have this driver in the bag and love it. I had the launcher 460 years ago and to be honest that’s why I bought this new series. The loft is adjustable. If I remember correctly you can have a 9.5 if you wanted, when unscrewed there are digits between the 9,10.5 & 12.

[ode]

It looks like a nice deep face!

 

Stock shaft offerings are trbl...and the non-exotic shaft upgrades are $50, and exotic upgrades are all $$

 

👎

Edited March 1, 2022 by ode

[xkilgorextroutx]

8 hours ago, ode said:

It looks like a nice deep face!

 

Stock shaft offerings are trbl...and the non-exotic shaft upgrades are $50, and exotic upgrades are all $$

 

👎

 

This isn't a driver aimed at someone who's going to want to drop a real deal $400 shaft in it. 

[ode]

1 minute ago, xkilgorextroutx said:

 

This isn't a driver aimed at someone who's going to want to drop a real deal $400 shaft in it. 

I would say most don't want to do that anyway...but the lack of no up charge offerings is 👎. You cannot get a shaft over 60g without paying up 👎.