Cleveland ZipCore XL irons Review

The new Cleveland ZipCore XL irons are packed with tech, look great and are very competitively priced. This is my verdict on them.

Cleveland are owned by Srixon, who make some of the best irons of 2024. So while Srixon focuses on reasonably decent golfers, along with its tour players like Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry, Cleveland put all their attention into designing clubs for those who want the best irons for higher handicaps.

Cleveland also price them to hit that sweetspot, which means a set of ZipCore XL irons, with a quality KBS steel shaft, comes in at around £700 – great value in 2024.

Like the new Launcher XL2 driver, that’s exactly the brief of the new ZipCore XL irons, and there’s even more forgiveness in their sister clubs, the HALO XL Full-Face irons.

They are packed with features designed to make the game easier – larger heads and springier faces mean more forgiveness and more distance, but in a great looking package that doesn’t scream game improver.

The main improvements over the irons they replace are the addition of ZipCore and HydraZip technologies.

ZipCore – which is so popular in the best wedges of 2024 – is a unique low-density core, setting the center of gravity right where the ball is struck, to promote more consistency when it comes to launch, spin and distance.

HydraZip helps balance spin on every club with a dynamic blast that varies through the set, ensuring long Irons are maximized for distance and consistency, while shorter irons boost spin and control.

ZipCore XL irons also feature loft-specific grooves to further optimise spin performance.

Cleveland say these irons offer power where you need it, and control where you want it, all from a single set, and I’d agree.

These new irons also feature Cleveland’s MainFrame club face, which uses Artificial Intelligence to find the optimal shape and weighting for each club face.

The variable thickness pattern behind each iron face maximises COR and ball speed for more distance on every strike.

To help balance things, Cleveland have placed an 8g weight inside the end of every grip for more control without added effort.

A V-shaped sole is designed to help all players maintain speed and power through the turf with the elevated leading edge producing far less drag than a typical flat sole on heavy strikes.

Video: How does the Cleveland ZipCore XL compare to leading competitor Mid-Handicap Irons?

What we say about the Cleveland ZipCore XL irons

Everything about the ZipCore XL is oversized hence the name. Expect a larger than life head size but not in a hunky way – this is a refined looking golf club, which looks really playable at address for lots of abilities.

We love how there doesn’t appear to be oodles of hosel offset and how the lofts are set at a reasonable level so club golfers will comfortably launch shots to maximise carry distance.

The original Launcher XL was just four yards back from our second longest carrying mid handicap iron in 2023, and we imagine at lower speeds this new model is likely to be right among the most powerful available.

An excellent value for money iron option in 2022, particularly good for less confident ball strikers, and new players to the game.

What Cleveland say about the ZipCore XL irons

“We designed these irons with the intent to let the clubs do all the hard work with optimised tech features like our XL Head Designs and MainFrame to ensure maximum forgiveness,” said Joe Miller, European Product Manager, Cleveland Golf Europe.

“Our goal was easy. We wanted golfers to see better results on the course with products made specifically for their needs. They’re going to see better distance, consistent spin, with exceptional feel no matter the Iron they choose.”

Cleveland ZipCore XL irons: The key technology

ZipCore

ZipCore Technology in the 8-SW sets the center of gravity right where you strike the ball, giving you more consistent performance and enhanced forgiveness. By adding high/low and heel/toe MOI, Cleveland also say these irons deliver more control.

HydraZip finish

These laser-milled lines on the face creates additional roughness to enhance friction, optimizing spin for distance with long irons and control with short irons.

MainFrame

MainFrame is found in the 4-7-iron. It is a system of channels and cavities milled into the backside of the faces to maximize flex at impact for more ball speed, consistency and forgiveness.

XL dead design

A bigger head lets Cleveland more mass away from the center of the club for more MOI. That increases forgiveness to levels that help shots launch higher and fly straighter.

Action Mass CB

An 8g weight placed inside the butt end of the shaft offers better balance for more control without extra effort. This counterbalance makes the clubhead feel lighter on takeaway and helps deliver a square face through your downswing.

About the Author

Simon Daddow – Today’s Golfer Equipment Editor

Having tested and played more than 10,000 clubs in his life, what Simon doesn’t know about golf clubs isn’t worth knowing.

He’s a specialist in all things metal having spent a large part of his career as a golf club maker and product development manager, and has worked in the golf industry for more than 30 years.

He joined EMAP Active (now Bauer Media) as Equipment Editor in 2006 and has made todays-golfer.com the most reliable source for golf club testing.

You can contact Simon via email and follow him on Twitter for loads more golf equipment insight.

– Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections.

Cleveland ZipCore XL irons

RRP: £699 graphite; £719 steel

7-iron loft: 29°

Stock shafts: 

KBS Tour Lite steel

USE Helium Nanocore 60 graphite

Stock grip: Lampkin Crossline 360

Visit the Cleveland Golf website here