In August, Cleveland Golf launched its new family of XL drivers, woods, hybrids, and irons for players seeking maximum forgiveness.

The Launcher XL driver family (XL driver, XL Lite driver, and XL Lite Draw drive) are highlighted by an added MOI. The MOI is the highest ever in a Cleveland driver and is designed to deliver more forgiveness with a higher launch while adding a 27% tighter dispersion area when compared against the previous generation.

Each adjustable driver also contains Rebound Frame – a technology that aims to provide alternating zones of flexibility and rigidity that directs more energy into the golf ball on every drive helping golfers achieve greater speeds.

The Launcher XL Lite both feature the same head design as the XL. The former boasts a Lite-Weight Design that is designed to help moderate swing speed players dial-up their speed for more distance by saving 12g of weight, while the Launcher XL Lite Draw helps take the right side out of play for players who struggle with a slice off the tee.

Included in the Cleveland XL wood and hybrid family are the brand’s Launcher XL Halo fairway wood, Launcher XL Halo hybrid, and Launcher XL Halo Hy-wood.

As with the drivers, the Launcher XL woods and hybrids feature a larger overall framework with Halo perimeter weighting and increased MOI in design for added forgiveness. As with the drivers, the latest additions also a larger overall framework, increased MOI and a Rebound Frame club structure to direct more energy into the golf ball at impact for more ball speed.

In addition, each wood and hybrid includes Gliderail technology, which aims to help deliver a square face at impact for a pure strike.

The Launcher XL irons and XL Halo irons also feature a super-high MOI for added forgiveness, while they were both engineered using artificial intelligence, with MainFrame variable face technology designed to increase ball speed,

The XL irons are game improvement irons designed to give players a reliable ball flight and consistent control, while the XL Halo irons are a hybrid-style super game improvement iron.

GolfWRX had the chance to talk with Cleveland Golf Product Manager, Casey Shultz about the line, who it’s for, and the benefits of larger, higher-MOI clubs.

GolfWRX: Take us through the Launcher XL line from top to bottom, woods to irons.

CS: The entire Launcher XL line is designed with the foundational principle of providing forgiveness to help the game of amateur golfers. The drivers are designed with a massive XL Head Design with our highest MOI ever to give players distance and forgiveness across the face. Whether you fit into the adjustable XL or lighter weight XL Lite or XL Lite DRAW drivers, you can expect game changing forgiveness from these clubs.

This theme of forgiveness continues through the Launcher XL HALO fairway woods and hybrids with high MOI designs throughout the set, along with Gliderail technology on the soles for improved turf interaction from any lie. And that’s not even mentioning our brand new Hy-Wood, a cross between a fairway wood and hybrid that is a great option for any player who wants the distance of a fairway wood with the consistency and high launch provided by a hybrid. The Launcher XL woods are not short on distance either, all featuring our Rebound Frame technology for multiple flex zones and fantastic distance performance.

The irons continue the theme of forgiveness as well, with a XL Head Design boosting the MOI of both lines of irons significantly compared to last generation. Turf interaction didn’t go unnoticed either, with the Launcher XL HALO irons now featuring a Gliderail to V-Shaped to Three-Tiered Sole design through the set, and the Launcher XL irons all featuring a V-Shaped sole. To maximize forgiveness and distance across the face even further, this generation of irons have utilized artificial intelligence to create our MainFrame variable face technology for increased ballspeed and forgiveness no matter where on the face the ball is struck.

To top it all off, all clubs featured built in Action Mass CB, which included a counterweight in the but end of the grip to ensure better control of the swing with less effort. For those who find accuracy to be truly paramount to their game, the additional Accuracy Build custom option is also available for a specially designed shorter build that will help to improve the consistency of contact.

GolfWRX: What golfers should consider Launcher irons, in particular?

CS: Any golfer who is looking for more consistent performance with their irons should consider Launcher Irons. Whether you want distance and forgiveness in a more traditional looking combo-built set in the Launcher XL irons, or a hybrid iron set with a higher launch and maximum forgiveness with the Launcher XL HALO set, one of these irons will help the majority of amateur golfers improve their game.

GolfWRX: What key technologies in the Launcher XL line help golfers hit better shots?

CS: With the benefits of added MOI and MainFrame technology, off center strikes with these clubs will perform better than ever before. With the new XL Head Design, both iron sets have increase MOI by over 15% compared to the last generation, giving more forgiveness across the face. The Launcher XL irons feature a Hollow to Cavity combo set design to provide distance and forgiveness in the long irons and more control in the short, while the Launcher XL HALO irons feature a hollow hybrid-iron design to maximize forgiveness across the entire set. To supplement this forgiveness, both irons also feature AI designed MainFrame variable thickness faces to maximize the COR and ball speed on both center face contacts and mis-hits. Turf interaction didn’t go unnoticed either, with the Launcher XL HALO irons now featuring a Gliderail to V-Shaped to three-tiered sole design through the set, and the Launcher XL irons all featuring a V-Shaped sole.

Launcher XL Halo irons

GolfWRX: How do Launcher XL and Launcher XL Halo irons compare?

CS: The Launcher XL and Launcher XL HALO irons are both extremely forgiving clubs but do target different types of players. The Launcher XL irons are the perfect fit for a game-improvement golfer who is looking for maximum performance in a traditional looking set of irons. From address, these irons are tastefully designed with a clean topline view that hides the cavity throughout the set, and a non-offensive amount of offset. The combo set design featured in these clubs provides hollow long irons for maximum distance and forgiveness that transition into cavity back short irons for maximum control, all with a V-Shaped sole design. While both iron sets will launch high, players can expect a slightly more penetrating trajectory and a bit more distance out of the Launcher XL irons, along with some workability.

The Launcher XL HALO irons on the other hand are purely built for the super game Improvement golfer who can benefit from more forgiveness and an easier launch above all else. The large, hybrid-type irons are quite sizable at address, giving these players confidence inspiring appearance behind the ball. You can expect these irons to launch higher than the standard Launcher XL line with a straighter ball flight.

GolfWRX: Compare how a high-handicap golfer will perform/what shots s/he will hit with “better players” clubs vs. Launcher XL (can adjust the wording here).

CS: With all clubs in the Launcher XL line, golfers will find that missing the center of the clubface will not be nearly as penal as it would with better player designed offerings. They will find iron shots that may have originally come up short of the green carrying further and catching the surface, mishit driver contacts still long down the fairway and out of the rough. Overall, just a more enjoyable time playing the game without being penalized as much for missing the center of the face from time to time.

GolfWRX: Finally, here’s a not-just-Launcher XL-related bonus question: Suggest a driver-through-putter setup for a 20-handicapper who only plays a couple of times per month.

CS: Depends on a lot of things but generally: For driver, we recommend a 10.5 or 12.0 Launcher XL Lite driver for a lightweight, easy to swing option off the tee. Then, since many of these higher handicap players struggle so much with fairway woods, we recommend going with a Launcher XL HALO Hy-Wood 3+ to replace this trouble club. From there, likely a Launcher XL HALO 4H, and then either higher lofted hybrids or into hybrid irons depending on comfort. For this example, I’ll recommend going with a 5-PW in the Launcher XL HALO irons for maximum forgiveness performance for this player throughout the iron set. Then from there, either maximum forgiveness with a Smart Sole G and S or add a little more versatility with a CBX ZipCore 50, 54, and 58 degree wedge. For putter, I would choose something with a lot of forgiveness, the Frontline Elevado Single bend being a good option. By my count that leaves an opening for one or two more clubs, for which I would recommend either adding another hybrid, or a Smart Sole C to simplify chipping around the greens

Read more about the Launcher XL line

• Cleveland introduces new Launcher XL drivers
• Cleveland introduces three new Launcher XL woods
• Cleveland launches all-new Launcher XL irons
• Cleveland launches all-new hybrid-style Launcher XL Halo irons