One factor I like about launch season is that there’s all the time that one shock launch that catches you utterly off guard.
This yr, that shock is new and old style, distinctive but acquainted, odd whereas oddly comforting.
We’re speaking in regards to the new 2025 Cleveland HiBore XL driver.
At first look, two questions come to thoughts.
First: Why would Cleveland convey again an 18-year-old driver franchise?
That one’s simple to reply. In case you’re Cleveland Golf in 2024, why the hell not? The corporate can afford to take dangers and the 2006-2010 classic HiBore is a driver many golfers fondly keep in mind.
Talking of dangers, that leads us to the second query:
Simply what within the identify of Vijay Singh am I ?
There’s loads, and I imply loads, to unpack right here. So let’s bounce proper in.
Cleveland HiBore XL: Get up the echoes
It’s simple to overlook how good Cleveland drivers had been again within the 2000s. The unique Launcher 460, Launcher 460 XL and Launcher 460 Comp drivers had been, nicely, launchers. In 2006, Cleveland broke the mildew, so to talk, with the unique HiBore. It was a radically completely different form for the day with a scooped-back design and a large, elongated physique.
The purpose was to maneuver the CG decrease to be in keeping with the middle of the face whereas additionally shoving it way back to potential to spice up MOI. That sounds run-of-the-mill in 2024 however Cleveland was coloring exterior the strains for 2006.
After a run of marginal if well-intended drivers, Cleveland is once more coloring exterior the strains with the brand new HiBore XL.
“That was the mindset that acquired us into the unique HiBore driver,” Cleveland Product Supervisor Casey Schultz tells MyGolfSpy. “Engineers are inclined to work inside boundaries. We simply threw all that out the window. If we merely got down to make the best-performing driver we may, the place would we find yourself?”
The place Cleveland ended up is with a driver that’s as unique-looking at this time as the unique HiBore was 18 years in the past.
Triangulation derivation
Yeah, it’s a triangle.
We’ve seen this form earlier than. Bear in mind the Titleist 907 D1? How in regards to the Callaway FT-iZ and its descendant, the Huge Bertha Fusion? The COBRA LTDx and LTDx Max had been additionally triangular.
None of them, nevertheless, had been as triangular as the brand new Cleveland HiBore XL.
“We all know some individuals are going to look down at it and be like, ‘What the hell is that this?’” admits Schultz. “How loopy is simply too loopy? In the long run, we let efficiency rule the day.”
The HiBore XL’s triangular form isn’t only for shock worth. Cleveland wished to begin with as large a face as potential. From there, the triangle simply form of emerged as engineers, with the assistance of AI, labored to make the pinnacle match into the 460-cc limitation whereas getting the CG as low and way back to potential.
“The triangular form permits us to shave off among the sides and get the load again with out having to go to a smaller chassis,” Shultz explains. “You get the huge face for forgiveness and you’ll nonetheless put all that weight low and deep for optimum MOI.”
I’ve proven the HiBore XL to no less than a dozen folks and all had the identical eye-bugging preliminary response. It’s a weird-looking stick, like one thing George Jetson would possibly sport.
“It’s a form of future-forward design and there are actually some people who find themselves going to be shocked by it,” says Schultz. “However every thing there may be useful that will help you hit higher drives.”
After all it’s AI-designed
You higher consider the brand new Cleveland HiBore XL driver was AI-designed. I’m not fully certain a human may or would provide you with a driver that appears like this.
“The period of geometric drivers got here and went however we nonetheless consider there are a variety of efficiency alternatives there,” says Schultz. “AI basically pointed us on this course to maximise efficiency.”
As talked about, the face is big – some 19 p.c bigger than Cleveland’s earlier drivers. And like most fashionable drivers, its variable face thickness is designed by AI to reduce ball pace loss on off-center strikes. There’s additionally a 12-gram weight within the rear of the usual HiBore XL. It’s not moveable, simply swappable to permit a fitter to optimize efficiency.
You’ll additionally discover a crown accent simply off the hosel referred to as ActivWing.
“ActivWing relies on years of analysis by XXIO,” says Schultz. “It’s aerodynamics that helps you get the membership within the slot a bit of simpler.”
Schultz admits ActivWing is a complicated expertise however testing has proven it helps preserve the clubhead within the correct place on the way in which down which ends up in extra constant contact.
“We’ve seen much more heart impacts with ActivWing, particularly after gamers hit it a couple of instances and get used to it,” he says. “It’s labored wonders for years on XXIO and principally helps preserve the membership on airplane.”
It appears completely different, however does it work?
If a driver goes to appear to be a Dorito, it higher carry out. Cleveland despatched us a ten.5-degree HiBore XL with the inventory Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue shaft. Our early casual testing is encouraging.
First, please perceive that at 64, I’m firmly within the Harry Callahan–Magnum Pressure driving distance camp.
A person’s acquired to know his limitations.
With a low 90s swing pace, the greatest I can hope for is perhaps 225 yards of carry and a few respectable roll. My first vary session with the HiBore XL was eye-opening. With no concept of distance (aside from it was within the ballpark of my PING G430 Max 10K), I cherished the consistency and ball flight: good attracts that had been going the place I pointed.
Launch monitor numbers, nevertheless, had been eye-popping. The HiBore XL should be a hair lighter than my PING, as a result of swing speeds averaged between 95 and 97 mph, with a prime pace of 100. That’s a gear I don’t usually have, mates. What’s extra, the ball nonetheless had a pleasant draw to it.
The numbers had been stable, too. Spin averaged round 2,300 rpm with sidespin averaging just below 400, suggesting a refined right-to-left draw. Ball pace averaged 137 mph, with carry averaging round 232 and complete distance simply over 250. Cheap heel or toe mishits didn’t spin off the planet, both.
For an off-the-shelf driver, I’ll take these numbers each single time.
For many who keep in mind the unique HiBore, you little question recollect it as head-snapping-at-the-driving-range LOUD. We have now to present Cleveland engineers a tip of the cap right here. The brand new HiBore XL driver not solely sounds manner higher than its forefathers, it additionally sounds manner higher than any present driver from both Cleveland or Srixon.
And, not for nothing, after a dozen or so related bombs that triangular sunuvabitch began wanting sexier and sexier.
Cleveland HiBore XL: Last ideas
The above outcomes have to be taken for what they’re: one particular person’s expertise on a single day of testing. We’ll see how the HiBore XL does subsequent spring throughout MyGolfSpy testing however I do assume Cleveland may need one thing attention-grabbing right here. For the fitting golfer, the brand new HiBore XL is unquestionably value a whack or two within the demo bay.
Even should you can’t get previous the actual fact it appears like a Dorito.
Additionally of be aware is the HiBore XL’s 2009-ish price ticket of $399.99.
“HiBore goes to be good for us as a result of it cuts via the motive force litter with a special story,” says Schultz. “It’s completely different from everybody else and it’s $399, making it a really aggressive becoming choice.”
Cleveland does provide a powerful array of no-upcharge shaft choices. That probably makes HiBore an interesting choice in comparison with earlier yr fashions on low cost.
Once more, if you may get previous the entire Dorito factor.
One more attention-grabbing be aware: the HiBore XL driver shall be out there in nine-, 10.5- and 12-degree fashions with an adjustable hosel. The attention-grabbing half is that they’re all the identical head, simply arrange at these lofts.
“It’s one head and we pre-select the loft,” says Schultz. “Basically it’s a driver that’s adjustable from 9 as much as 12 levels.”
Loft is adjustable in half-degree increments and lie can also be adjustable from normal to 2.5 levels flat. At first look in the usual configuration, the HiBore seems to have a barely closed face. When you set it down, nevertheless, it sits sq.. Lofting right down to 9 levels opens the face barely and the lie flattens a level and a half. That helps a ton should you are inclined to miss left. Rising the loft has the other impact.
Specs and availability
The Cleveland HiBore XL driver shall be out there in nine-, 10.5- and 12-degree fashions. As talked about, the heads are the identical, the adjustable hosels are set for every loft. At launch, the HiBore XL shall be out there in right-handed solely. We don’t know when or if Cleveland plans to introduce a left-handed mannequin.
The Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue 55 is the inventory shaft and the Golf Delight Tour Velvet 360 is the inventory grip.
Cleveland can also be introducing a HiBore XL Lite driver. Because the identify suggests, it’s a light-weight model of the usual HiBore XL, coming in at 291 to 294 grams, relying on shaft flex. That’s roughly 26 to twenty-eight grams lighter than the usual mannequin. It’s additionally noticeably extra draw-biased.
The HiBore XL Lite shall be out there in nine-, 10.5- and 12-degree fashions for lefties and righties. Left-handers should order theirs via Cleveland’s customized order division.
The Aldila Ascent PL40 shaft is inventory in S-, R-, A- and L-flexes. The Golf Delight Tour Velvet 360 Lite is the inventory grip within the males’s fashions whereas the Lamkin ST Tender is inventory for the ladies’s fashions.
Each the Cleveland HiBore XL and HiBore XL Lite will retail for $399.99. They’ll be in shops Dec. 6.
For extra data, go to the Cleveland web site.
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