Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Driver Review
Cleveland have focused on extracting distance without adjustability in the Launcher HB Turbo
The Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo driver comes with the promise of “launching it” long and straight and extracting maximum distance off the tee.
There is no adjustability and option to play about with set up in the Launcher HB Turbo, but don’t let that think you don’t get a lot of performance out of the Cleveland driver.
Available in standard and draw models, the Cleveland have focused on getting the most of the Launcher HB Turbo driver without adding adjustability hosels and weights – and it is a no frills product that really provides exceptional value for money.
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What Cleveland say about the Launcher driver:
“Turbocharge your drives with the new Launcher HB Turbo. The Launcher HB Turbo Driver delivers more speed off the tee for avid golfers seeking higher, longer, and straighter drives.
“To go longer off the tee, you have to go faster. The new Launcher HB Turbo Driver features a Turbocharged Cup Face, Ultralight Hosel, redesigned HiBore Crown, Deep Weighting sole pad and a counterbalanced shaft. It all adds up to faster drives for more distance off every tee. The new Launcher HB Turbo Driver. Step Up, and Launch It.”
John Rae, Vice-President of R&D Cleveland Golf, adds: “Hosel sleeves and weight ports offer versatility, but don’t maximize distance. In fact, while adjustability has become increasingly popular over the last 5 years, average driver distance is down 10.7 yards.”
Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Driver Design
Cleveland have decided to forget adjustability, draw bias and fade set ups with the Launcher HB driver and instead focus on allowing golfers to launch it high and straight.
There are no features for you to constantly fiddle with the settings of the driver – just two versions to choose from: the standard and and the draw options.
Cleveland have used a variety of weighting in the club head to create a low centre of gravity and ensure you get a high launch regardless of swing path or speed, and are particularly targetting golfers in the 10-20 handicap range
The static weight deep on the sole pad is what does the work, creating what is actually a marginal draw bias that should ensure straight hits and add to your distance off the tee.
The HiBore crown (that’s where the HB name comes from) has a Turbocharged Cup Face to produce unmatched ball speed and carry, is a traditional round shape and features a silver line on the head to help you set up correctly at address.
The Launcher HB Turbo driver counterbalanced shaft available in stiff, regular or senior, which is light in weight yet stable throughout the swing. It also helps increase the MOI.
The driver is available in 9, 10.5 and 12 degree lofts – that is the only real compromise. No adjusting it by 0.25 degrees with a turn of the hosel like the majority of new drivers launched in recent years.
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Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Driver Verdict
We like Cleveland’s thinking in creating a driving that doesn’t have the levels of adjutability thrown at it like most of the drivers at the premium end of the market.
With the Launcher HB Turbo, you get a mid-range priced driver but one that performs more than acceptably well and can add distance to your game.
It is not about shot-shaping, and more about helping mid-handicap golfers find more fairways and extract maximum distance from their game. You will be surprised by just how good this driver from Cleveland is.
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James is an avid golfer and reviews golf equipment and new gear for GolfReviewsGuide.com as well as providing the latest golf news. You will find him on a golf course wherever possible.
