This September saw Cleveland Golf roll out two new iron models. One is the Launcher XL, which is designed to give golfers accuracy and forgiveness in a set that features hollow-body long irons and cavity-back scoring clubs. The other is the Launcher XL Halo, which company officials describe as “hybrid-style, super game improvement” sticks. Different as the lines may be in some ways, they both boast several of the same technologies and are crafted to make it easier for players to hit more greens in regulation.
“The Launcher XL provides a new XL head design with a large, high moment of inertia and confidence-inspiring shape,” said Dustin Brekke, the company’s director of engineering. “MainFrame technology faces are optimized with artificial intelligence to guarantee shots all over the club face maintain distance and precision, while Action Mass CB, with a counterbalance weight in the grip end, helps players get on the correct swing plane, while increasing head speed for distance.”
A V-shaped sole is included with the goal of having these clubs glide through the turf with less drag. The intent is for golfers to maintain speed and power more easily. And the Launcher XLs come with loft-specific grooves. Those in the lower lofts are wider and flatter, and the ones in the higher lofts are deeper and more closely spaced together, so players may impart more spin.
The Launcher XL Halos also employ the MainFrame and Action Mass CB technologies and have loft-specific grooves. And as is the case with the XL Launcher irons, they come with a head design that maximizes MOI for “maximum forgiveness.”
In addition, they feature the company’s Gliderails in the long irons that gradually transition to a V-Shaped sole in the short irons and ultimately to a three-tiered sole on the dual and sand wedges. A stepped crown shape brings the height of the clubhead down, dropping the center of gravity and helping to elevate launch in the process.