Cleveland HiBore First Impressions

[iacas]

First the specs: 9.5, RH, UST ProForce V2 stiff, stock grip, 45"...

I can summarize this driver in two words. FORE LEFT!!!

I'm not sure if it's the scoop or what, but the driver didn't look closed to me at first. In fact, it didn't look closed to me the first nine holes I played today (shot about 45, thanks to finding the left trees on every hole).

When I finally adjusted on the 10th tee - by opening the clubface five to ten degrees , drives started flying at the proper trajectory (height) and line (straight, with a little draw at the end). I'm not going to adjust my setup (i.e. forward press, etc.) to "fix" a driver that wants to go left if it's the only club going left, so opening the face was what the only way to get the ball to go straight.

The 11th hole at my club is about a 375-yard slight dogleg right, uphill par 4. I typically hit a low bleeder cut off the tee to follow the fairway. I hit twelve - yes, twelve - balls off the tee. The ones on the proper height went straight or slightly left. The only ones I could cut were way up in the air. Why? Opening the face 5 or 10 degrees to get it back to square adds so much loft, you'd really have to change a swing to keep the hands well ahead of the ball to get it lower.

The feel was good. On center hits it felt VERY solid. On off-center hits, the ball still got out there. The sound was more pleasant than some of the other "big" drivers out there. It didn't take any time at all to adjust to the appearance.

Cleveland doesn't seem to have a "Tour" version of the driver with a square face and neutral weighting (I don't know if this is heel weighted or neutral, or just closed, I'm just saying...), so if you're a better player who likes neutral face angles and whatnot, at this point, I've gotta say the HiBore may not be for you.

P.S. Shot a pretty typical 38 on the back, by the way. So there you go: 7 shots difference, the same number of driving holes per nine...

[SheriffBooth]

Good review - I did find it curious that Cleveland didn't appear to be releasing a tour version or player's model. Are they just conceding victory over low handicappers to Titleist, Callaway and TM? I'll try to demo one when it comes into the pro shop but I'm much less interested in this club now.

[iacas]

Good review - I did find it curious that Cleveland didn't appear to be releasing a tour version or player's model. Are they just conceding victory over low handicappers to Titleist, Callaway and TM? I'll try to demo one when it comes into the pro shop but I'm much less interested in this club now.

I don't know if they have or what. It's very closed. And once you get past looking at the cutout in the back, it's pretty obvious too.

[georgep]

I didn't have as much of a left issue with the Hibore as Erik did, but then my typical ball flight with the driver is a fade. The exception to this is if I tried to get after one or, even worse, tried to turn one over. Then it was going left with a vengence. I agree, fading this club reliably is fairly difficult. I kept hitting it high and short ... like wedge high and 3-wood distance short.

I really wanted to like the Hibore. I was looking for more forgiveness than my SMT afforded, but I was hoping for similar distance (OK, I was hoping for 300+ and the middle of the fairway every drive). So after just two rounds I exchanged mine for a Ping G5. I know that's not giving it much time, but guys that I can normally hit with (like, the week before) were blowing it by me. I'm hoping my honeymoon with the Ping lasts longer than the one with the Hibore. If not, I can always go back to the SMT.

[flap]

I have not played a KNOCKOFF in years but in my BASEMENT I have a Kevlar driver that Golfsmith put out years ago that looks just like the Hi Bore scoop.I used to kill this driver and even put a Aldila HM40 shaft on it.{this is where I think I caught mt HO disease}.HMMMMM what comes around goes around?

[iacas]

HMMMMM what comes around goes around?

Exactly:

http://www.bogeylounge.tv/archives/2...iver_like.html .

[stevengolfs]

My home course has a Hi Bore demo available to test. It's a 9.5 degree stiff flex Fuji shaft (the stock one). I was pleasantly surprised after hitting my first tee shot. It went down the middle and carried 265 yards (and plugged in the wet turf). Launch angle, sound and feel were very nice. Since nobody was behind me, I pulled out my SMT Nemesis with a 9.5 Accuflex stiff shaft and was fortunate enough to hit another good drive (hitting 2 in a row on the sweet spot isn't always easy for me!). The results weren't as good as the Hi Bore, about 12 yards shorter. The rest of the day went pretty much the same with impressive results from the Hi Bore. I'm just about ready to order one, but I want to get properly fit for the best shaft that Cleveland offers for that driver. My club head speed was recently tested and averaged around 106 mph, so I think that stiff is the right flex for me. I just need to find the optimum launch angle and kick point in the best shaft. If anyone has any experience with other shafts for this club, or other useful information, please let me know.

Good golfing!
Steve

[xd3vilx]

Surprise. I heard from some of my mates, they have good review for this club. I though of testing this club out but will it going to be a problem to adjust to this club given that I use a Netural Head r5?