Billed as clubs to make the hardest shots in golf easier, the new Cleveland Launcher XL HALO fairway woods deliver on this promise. Featuring Rebound Frame technology and a patented GuideRail sole, these might be the easiest fairway woods you’ll ever hit.

Launcher XL HALO Woods Technology

Starting in the clubhead, the Launcher XL HALO woods are supported by two GlideRail “bars” on the sole of the club. These work as tracks that “glide” through the turf, slightly lifting the clubface off the ground ever so slightly. This promotes a clean impact no matter the lie, including off the fairway, out of the rough, or off the tee.

The clubhead itself is also larger than what Cleveland Golf has ever produced for a fairway wood. This promotes a confident look at address while producing an insane amount of forgiveness at impact. Coupled with the same Rebound Frame technology found in the Launcher XL driver — which includes dual flex zones in the head to produce a trampoline-like effect — the Launcher XL HALO woods are designed to mimic that of a mini-driver with more versatility.

Also of note in this release is Cleveland’s attention to counterbalance weighting. The addition of a small 8-gram weight in the butt-end of the grip promotes an easy-swing feel to offset the weight in the larger clubhead. The result is a golf club that is effortless to swing while boosting overall clubhead speed without much more effort.

Feel and Performance

At impact, the Cleveland Launcher XL HALO feels extremely sturdy and strong. A loud, crisp sound greets you immediately at impact, and ball flight ranges in the mid-to-high trajectory category at your shot’s peak. I found my golf ball to jump forward more aggressively after its initial landing, which I contribute to lower spin overall.

The Launcher XL HALO feels soft at impact in your hands despite the louder sound. Center-strikes emote a muffled sensation that is very similar to that of the Launcher XL driver. I was able to work the ball in both directions as well with no problem despite the high MOI and forgiveness features of the club.

Distance was incredible for a fairway wood as I routinely saw carry yardages 10-15 yards farther than my gamer. Total distance, of course, was also longer overall. This is bay far the longest fairway wood I’ve tested this year, and perhaps ever. There’s no doubt that par-5’s and tight par-4’s would be ideal for this fairway wood with zero concern of sacrificing too much distance.

Overall Impression

The Cleveland Launcher XL HALO fairway wood is an incredibly well-designed option for your game. You will be hard-pressed to find a fairway wood easier to hit anywhere on the market, let alone one that produces similar distances and control. The Launcher XL HALO was designed for distance, control and launch, all of which were observed during my review in spades.

For more information, visit the Cleveland Golf website here.