When it comes to drivers, it’s a jungle out there. All the major equipment makers are clawing for market share as they pop out a steady stream of innovative new models in an effort to win your annual $400 contribution to the industry.
By most accounts, Cleveland’s introduction of the original HiBore last year was something less than the blockbuster they’d hoped for. In fact, here in the U.S. they’re giving them away free now through the end of January with the purchase of a set of CG4 or CG4 Tour irons.
The concave crown and overall performance characteristics seemed to produce a ball flight higher than many better players wanted to see. Plus, word was that you had to tee the ball lower to really catch the sweet spot. It looks to me like the two new HiBore XL models are meant to fix all that.
Changes at a Glance
As we wrote in our review last May, the original HiBore came through with what appeared to be a closed face and a propensity to launch the ball on a higher trajectory than its loft might suggest.
Both the “regular” (on the left) and Tour XL models have deeper faces for increased MOI. Note the longer hosel on the XL Tour that will make it possible to adjust loft, lie, and face angle.
The redesign that Cleveland is now launching includes two versions – a “regular” model and, as has become fairly commonplace in the industry, a “tour” model.
Both feature a much deeper face likely to move the sweet spot a little higher. Both have a higher MOI (moment of inertia, resistance to twisting). Both also have a different sole finish that’s been reported to be subject to scratching, although really, who cares about what you can’t see at address?
But the fact that there are now two different models seems to indicate that Cleveland recognizes that most golfers need a different kind of club than most strong, low handicap players. On the other hand, it seems that pros and low-handicap players are the ones driving the buzz in the market. So now there are two.
The HiBore XL
While Cleveland apparently is loathe to tell you what the volume of their heads are – is it 450cc? 460cc? Something in between? – they are letting on that the new head carries 15% greater MOI and an 11% larger face area than the original.
Those changes are the result of a considerable re-design. As mentioned before, it’s a much deeper and, seemingly, wider face than the original.
Still present, though, is that distinctive scooped-out crown which is meant to push weight low, back, and to the perimeter of the head to provide more forgiveness and align the sweet spot with what they call the “hot spot.”
The HiBore XL will be available in five lofts: 8.5°, 9.5°, 10.5° 11.5°, and something called “Super Loft.” God, please let me live long enough to need Super Loft. Left handed versions will be available in 9.5° and 10.5°.
The black pearl finish looks pretty cool. But its durability on the sole may be an issue.
The shafts are by Fujikura, my current personal favorite. The standard shaft is called Fit-On M Gold, which Cleveland labels as “standard trajectory.” As you might guess, it’s got gold graphics. The other shaft is called Fit-On M Red, which they label as “Tour Trajectory” and is commensurately bedecked in red trim.
The HiBore XL Tour
There are several differences in the XL Tour Version. It’s a smaller, more compact pear-shaped head. Still, it has 10% greater MOI than the original HiBore and an 11% larger face area.
Perhaps more important to low handicappers is that the face is 3° open and that it carries a lie angle one degree flatter than the “regular” HiBore XL.
Still more interesting is that it has something called a “Tour Hosel.” What that longer neck means is that this club is much more easily tweaked for loft, lie, and face angle than the average driver today.
So what the long hosel takes away in the designer’s ability to move weight to optimum areas of the head, it gives back in adjustability.
That doesn’t mean I’d let the average club guy at a GolfSmith store touch it, but a very experienced, well-equipped clubfitter/clubmaker could make this thing sing in your hands. If you can hold a note, that is.
The HiBore XL retains the same scooped-out back as the first versions did as a way to move weight low and away from the face for more forgiveness.
That Jerry Kelly won with one of these in the recent Merrill Lynch Shootout leads me to believe that this driver, much more than the original, may have some possibilities for those pros still left on the Cleveland staff. Let’s see if Vijay ends up with one in the bag.
The HiBore XL Tour will come in three lofts: 8.5°, 9.5°, and 10.5°. Left handed comes only in 9.5°.
The standard shaft, naturally, is the Fit-On Red tour trajectory, although the Fit-On M Golf shaft can be ordered.
Availability and Pricing
Both clubs are scheduled to begin shipping from Cleveland on January 15 and be available to we panting consumers on February 2. Although you can find them both right now at our friends at Edwin Watts here and here and who say they should be in stock by January 18.
The regular HiBore XL will have a MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) of $390 and a street price somewhere around $299. The HiBoreXL Tour will go for a MSRP of $450 and a street price around $349. And those street prices are exactly what Edwin Watts is asking for these clubs.
In the End…
Talk among a couple of guys over at GolfWRX.com who have hit the club is that it’s pretty hot. I haven’t yet, but that brings up a closing thought.
With so many new models coming out every year, all year long, it almost behooves golfers really serious about their games to make time to test new models on a regular basis. Yeah, I know the costs involved and the restrictions that puts on swapping out clubs frequently.
But it’s a golden age of innovation in club design. There’s no reason not to try out the latest and greatest. You owe it to your game.
Plus VJ won the Mercedes yesterday with it.
Even saw VJ hit it off the deck at one point..
So, should I buy the XL or XL tour?
I’ve already ordered my 9.5 degree, red shafted(stiff) Hi-Bore XL with a 15 January projected shipping date.
I have bought every generation of Launcher and Hi-Bore and each has added joy and confidence to my game. I’m now 63 and grieve every 5 yds I lose each year due to slower swing speed.
The original Hi-Bore has an NV shaft (also stiff) and 9.5 degree loft. It’s the best driver I’ve ever hit and the most consistently long club I’ve ever owned. I carry it 275 yds and hope the new one will enable me to continue to keep-up my need to feel like the big hitter I used to be.
I’m much longer and more accurate off the tee than 95% of my older colleagues, Cleveland drivers have helped me more than any other factor.
At $299, it will probably become the biggest bargain in history.
Everyone I know bangs it so well w/my original (last year’s) high bore, I can only imagine how great these new ones are, though some of the appeal of the hi-bore is lost–it was nice to see some slenderness moving away from the danged toaster-oven direction it’s all going…and now hi-bore goes back that direction. I suspect they’re wonderful, though, definitely the most forgiving I’ve used.
Just seems like many are leery of Cleveland due to unfamiliarity, a shame
I purchased the standard XL this past weekend from Golf Galaxy. It appears to be really hot. I have a 2006 HiBore and a Tour Exotics driver and the new HiBore XL clearly hits further. It also has a really cool sound when you hit good. I look forward to taking it from the driving range to the golf course this coming weekend.
well if you hit shots that are outside in than tour good but if you hit a fade than the reg. is the best
This weekend, Cleveland had a van event at the Edwin Watts Buckhead store in , Atlanta, GA. After about 45 Minutes comparing my TaylorMade to the brand new Cleveland HiBores, the boys from Cleveland and I decided on the 9.5 lofted Tour, red label stiff flex. I hit it better than the regular (and larger model) as I tend to a hit a high draw or hit it to the left side of the fairway and the regular is set to draw a little left and give a bit more loft. I could see with the launch monitor the difference in ball speed off the face (about 15 to 20 miles faster) and it went (on screen anyway) a minimum of 10 yards, but mostly 15 to 20 yards more than with the TaylorMade 10.5, blue Grafloy shafted model I had. My swing speed is between 92-102 MPH. We had to re-hit and play with the shafts a little bit, so I would recommend this kind of Cleveland event, or using a good club fitter to test out the various shafts to see which one is better for you. They had the Van there so they made my club while I waited (about 35mins). Also, bigger, normally better, was not the case as the Tour model fit my driving style better
Just purchased and played three rounds with the new 2007 Hibore XL, 9.5 loft with stiff gold shaft. Shaft is a soft stiff and cycles @ 250. The club was very impressive. Strong boring flight into and with the wind. Very little side spend but you can work the ball. The club sets up great with the 3* open face. I had some concern about that, but I’m still able to work the ball right to left. The shaft is pretty solid and you can feel it work, but I’m going to my local club fitter tomorrow and have a Diamana redboard M63 in stiff instead in to it. I’m not a Cleveland man other than the Browns, but this driver is a very solid performer and will be in the bag this year.
i think the hibores XL is the sweetst driver ever!
😀 😆 ❗ ❗
I got fitted on the launch monitor at roger dunn here in southern cal, swing speed 100-107
They recommended either shaft in the non tour in stiff and liked the 10.5 for me
So I took a 10.5 gold home and loved it, but exchanged it for the 9.5 red which i really love… as long as my 8.5 905S with a Grafalloy Blue, but for sure way straighter and much farther on bad hits!
tried out the demo club at my club, just fell in love with it after few rounds. The ball blasts off the club face and it is far the best sounding club to my ears. Love it!
Traded up an original HiBore to the new XL Tour with Fiton Red shaft. Straightest driver I ever hit, and I can back off and swing almost gently and still hit it a LONG way…
my clubhead speed is about 110-112, and I’m hitting this one 280-290 effortlessly. And it’s VERY hard to make a hook mistake. That’s the benefit of that laid open face… straight or a gentle fade are the two shots I end up with.
And I don’t know if it’s this design or just the big heads in general, but I’m astonished at how long and straight it goes when I miss the ball almost completely! Way out on the toe, only half the ball making a mark on the top half of the club, it still is a playable drive. The design is just amazing. 🙂
Hey Dave,
I have the original HiBore in 10.5 with a Grafalloy Blue stiff shaft. I really like this driver but if I miss hit it is a pull or hook to the left. Have you noticed a big difference in playability in general with the XL Tour over the original? Did you try the non tour XL? Not sure of my swing speed but I consistently hit my current driver around 270-280.
Thanks
I am a 76 year old, with a 15 handicap. I love my Cleveland Launcher 460cc w/Fujikara stiff shaft. I am about 220 yds driving. Would you think I would gain any distance with the Hi-Bore and which shaft would you recomend?
Gil,
The XL is a more forgiving driver than the launcher, and creates more distance on center and off center hits. I would recommend the gold fujikura in the stiff flex. It has a softer tip and more distance and feel. I would recommend and increase in loft over what your currently using. You won’t be disappointed.
Im a 16 year old tall female with a 15 handicap. I have been using the TaylorMade R7 425, 10.5 degrees with a regular shaft. I have been playing golf now for just under two years. I draw the ball naturally, get a lot of distance, and I have a considerably quick club head speed, however too much loft. What is for me? The XL or tour?
I just learned that my 10.5* XL is non-conforming and that the exchange program with Cleveland is long over. BEWARE.
How did this never come up when I could have exchanged it for a conforming one last summer?
If your 10.5* XL has a bump on the “H” on the bottom of the head, it is NON-conforming and illegal.
I bought a new club. This stinks.
if you are looking for a great club that gets great distance and loft this is the club for you. i hit it about 50 extra yard with this than the r7 superquad…. my little bro also gets about 25 extra yards