One of the first new drivers to start building buzz on the PGA Tour in 2006 is Cleveland Golf’s HiBORE driver. Vijay Singh is one of the players to use the interesting-looking new driver as a prototype.
The HiBORE cat is officially out of the bag, as Cleveland has announced the details of the new driver and a host of new products for the 2006 season. Read on to see what Cleveland has in store for golfers this year.
Entering 2006, Cleveland Golf had already released three drivers at the USGA/R&A limit for size: two versions of the Launcher Ti and a Launcher Comp, all measuring 460cc.
Now Cleveland has announced a new 460cc driver that, like Nike’s Sasquatch and Callaway’s FT-3, attempts to improve on performance with a different shape. The Cleveland HiBORE driver has a distinctive shape that makes it look a bit like the world’s biggest hybrid club.
The crown, or top, of the HiBORE slopes dramatically from front to back. This means that less volume is devoted to the top portion of the club, which designers used to make the rest of the clubhead bigger. As a result, Cleveland claims that the HiBore’s “chassis,” or main part of the body, is actually 15 percent bigger than other 460cc drivers.
I haven’t seen a HiBORE driver in person, so I haven’t checked out its chassis. But Bag Drop operatives who’ve had a chance to hit it say it’s a handsome club.
In addition to changing the dimensions of the club, the HiBORE driver’s unique shape is also meant to change the location of the club’s sweet spot. Cleveland claims that other supersized drivers must be hit above the center of the clubface for the best launch conditions, but that dynamic sacrifices distance. The low, deep center of gravity in the HiBORE is designed to help golfers get their longest, straightest drives from hitting the ball in the center of the clubface. Sounds good to me.
The HiBORE is scheduled to ship on March 25 with a suggested retail price of $498. With the newest version of the Launcher driver selling at a street price of $249, I’d expect the HiBORE to actually sell in the neighborhood of $399-$449.
Cleveland also provided deets on several other new products, including:
A new version of the CG1 blade irons with a Black Pearl finish, milled faces, a harder-edged muscle shape, less offset and a sharper toe and straighter topline than the chrome CG1 irons.
A Tour version of the CG4 irons, with a more compact blade size, a thinner topline and longer hosel than the standard CG4 irons.
Launcher LP irons aimed at high-handicap, value-conscious golfers. At $399 per set, these 17-4 stainless steel irons are aimed at the Big Bertha irons crowd.
A new version of the venerable 588 wedges called the DSG, for Dynamic Sole Grind. These wedges have a dual-cambered sole for more versatility around the greens, and are the first 588 wedges will milled faces and grooves.
CG11 wedges with the Black Pearl finish that accounts for more than 30 percent of Cleveland wedge sales, along with a women’s version with a pink cavity plaque (with a portion of the proceeds donated to breast cancer research)
A Launcher Ti460 High Loft driver with 15.5° of loft for golfers with slow swing speeds.
W-Series drivers and fairway woods for women, including a ladies’ version of the Launcher Ti460 driver with a lighter swingweight.
All told, that’s a pretty big group of new gear from Cleveland in its first season as part of the Quiksilver family. If you’re a Cleveland Golf fan, start looking for demo days where you can give all these products a whirl.
I use Cleveland stuff. I’m pretty stoked about the new driver to go along with my CG4s and CG11 wedges!
I just bought the Cleveland HiBore Irons replacing my Titleist 822-OS. They are a GOD send.
I was at a Demo Day at my club (The Hills Club in Lakeway just outside of Austin, TX) and picked up the weirdest looking 6 iron I had ever seen. Looked like an oldschool driving iron. I hit a ball and it looked like I knew what I was doing. Musta been NCS – New Club Syndrom so I hit it again. 20 or so balls later I went to my car pulled out my 6 from my bag and it was night and day. I then picked up their 3 iron and hit it too. It looked like a 3 iron should look, at least for me. It had hang time and was fairly straight. This went on for over an hour with me hitting all the clubs, different shaft composition and settled on the Regular Flex Graphite clubs. I bought the Demo set the Club had and went out and played 9. This was after hitting almost an entire pyramid tray of balls.
I also Demo’d their HiBore Driver but as yet have not made a decision on that one. I have a 2y/o Cobra driver that I cannot make work and it’s me and not the clubs fault. So until I can hit my driver somewhat consistently and by that I don’t mean 260 and straight but more like 210/225 and slightly right I don’t see a need to spend the money on a club that will, for the moment, give me minimal and marginaly return on the investment. As far as I’m concerned the irons have already paid for themselves.
I am excited about playing golf again, even if it is with clubs that Vijay endorses. :mrgreen:.
Barry
I have purchased the Hibore and love it. I got a great deal on it because it was barely used. I am driving the ball off the tee at least 260-280 every time. Can’t say enough about it pick one up and try it.