Last year I replaced my Ping Si3 Driver with a Cleveland HiBore XL (9.5 degree, S-Flex, Gold shaft). I love it. I spent the time to get on the launch monitor and got it fit perfectly. Trevor tried out for the golf team and as incentive, and reward we told him if he made the team we would get him a new set of clubs. He had been using my wifes set of Golden Bears because he was in this weired transitional period where he couldn’t fit a full set but out grew his junior set.
So to cut to the chase he got fit as well and ended up with this years model of the HiBore XLS (12 degree draw, R-Flex, Gold Shaft). Despite the differences in bias and shaft I will have to say it feels great. It has a little bit more of that buttery feel and the acoustics are a bit louder with the increased size.
You can see the most prominent difference in size in tis photo of the Sole as they stretched and widened it.
Here you can see the stretch in depth as well as the change in scalloping on the XLS.
This also show how the slope on the back has changed. I was surprised it didn’t look more pronounced.
On the face of the XLS you can see how they widened the contour on the bottom and it looks a little more like a boat. They also deepened it up. How can you miss the ball with a face this large? Answer: YOU CAN’T!
They also differentiated the XLS with a reverse color scheme on the head cover, new graphics on the shaft and grip as well as the coloring on the club head itself. Also there is a logo on the toe that changes color in sunlight and UV lights to help prevent counterfeiting.
I am definately a gadget and tech junkie so clubs fit right into that, as the golf marketers have found out. I would love to have a new one but one years change in tech just doesn’t justify it for me. I will say Cleveland has figured it out better than any of them by pricing their driver line $100 cheaper than Taylormade and $150 cheaper than Callaway’s FT-5. They are turning out some fantastic clubs that perform as good as they look and feel. These will be flying off the shelf.
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