Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Driver Review
The new Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo driver features a familiar clubhead design focused on helping you generate more speed and higher launch. Billed to “turbocharge” your drives, the Launcher HB Turbo packs a ton of technology into the head of the new Launcher family.
Technology and Specs
When Cleveland introduced their newest driver, I was admittedly skeptical on how it would compete in terms of tech with their Srixon Golf cousins. I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to say Cleveland is better known for their scoring clubs, so this new foray into the tee game is an interesting upgrade.
The Launcher HB Turbo driver features deep weighting in the clubhead, with much of it being pushed to the back of the head. The new turbocharged cup face is a wafer-thin titanium design that flexes at impact and reflects energy back into the golf ball at impact. These two attributes assist with boosting speed across the clubface, along with helping you get the ball into the air faster.
Cleveland Golf Launcher HB Turbo driver crown.
What many will notice, of course, is the new Hibore crown design that appears… similar… to a competing brand’s design. This aerodynamic design features ridges along the crown, and when combined with the club’s ultralight hosel and 35 grams of deep weighting, your golf ball is destined to get airborne easily.
Performance and Feel
Our initial test of the Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo included the stock Miyazaki C. Kua shaft, which features a nice counterbalance design. Our reviewer used the 9.0 degree clubhead model in the test.
Let’s just get this out of the way from the start: this driver is loud. The sound at impact is sharp, thanks to the thin face mentioned above. While the sound doesn’t suggest “cheapness”, players more accustomed to muted drivers will need to adjust.
The distances you’ll get from the Launcher HB Turbo helps you forget about the sound. Our reviewer averaged 17 more yards in comparison to his gamer, with spin rates averaging 2300 - 2600 rpm. Launch was a bit lower than expected, however, coming in at just under 12 degrees on average. This is likely due to the reviewer’s tendency to catch the ball lower on the face, as more solid drives saw launch increase to above 14 degrees.
Forgiveness and dispersion was very encouraging as well. Shots off the toe or heel geared back toward the center line nicely, and distance loss on these shots was noticeable but not punitive.
Overall Impression
The Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo ($349.99) is a great option for players who are looking for something different off the tee. This driver doesn’t have a lot any moving parts or adjustability options, and that’t not a bad thing. If you’re a player who knows what you need in a driver profile, you’ll love the simplicity of this club.
The driver performed admirably in our initial test, especially in terms of distance and control. Additional testing with a focus on launch conditions is needed, but early indications point to a winner from Cleveland Golf.
For more information on the Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo driver and the entire Launcher series, visit their company website here.
