Cleveland Golf Launcher XL Irons Review
Last updated:
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At a glance
- TG Rating
- Owner Rating
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Pros
– Less than £500 for a tech-packed set of irons
– Hollow-body long irons and cavity-back short irons
– Cleveland's most forgiving iron ever
– V-Shaped sole improves strikes even on heavy contacts
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Cons
– Counterbalancing in the grip won't suit everyone and removal only available through custom-fitting
– Strong lofts won't suit everyone
What we say...
Cleveland Golf’s Launcher XL game-improvement model combines hollow-body long irons with cavity-back short irons to create a set that balances distance, forgiveness and precision.
Following the theme of the Launcher XL woods, the Cleveland XL irons feature the brand’s highest MOI ever, targeting golfers who want forgiveness and accuracy and looking to secure a spot among the best golf irons and best mid-handicap irons.
The irons produce 3,081g-cm² MOI (in the 7-iron) – a 15% increase over the previous generation. Put simply it means the XL heads provide more forgiveness and help more shots find their desired target – ideal for the game-improvement market.
The new irons 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.
WATCH: Best 2022 Mid-Handicap Iron video
To help balance things, Cleveland have placed an eight-gram 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.
The Launcher XL irons feature loft specific grooves. The 4-iron to 7-iron have wider, flatter grooves, while the 8-iron to Dual Wedge (Cleveland’s version of a Gap wedge) have closely-spaced, deeper, and higher spinning wedge grooves. The higher lofts also feature laser-milled grooves for enhanced friction.
If you’re a player seeking more precision and control then Cleveland will offer a half-inch shorter version of the irons, removing the counter-balancing in the grip via custom-fitting.
Cleveland Golf Launcher XL irons: Key Technologies
XL Head Design
A bigger head means an MOI of 3,081 g-cm2 in the 7-Iron—the most ever in a Cleveland Golf game-improvement iron. It’s designed for maximum distance with maximum fun.
MainFrame
Designed using artificial intelligence, MainFrame variable face technology increases ball speed while unique weight pad designs ensure maximum forgiveness across the face.
Action Mass CB
An 8g weight placed inside the end of the grip delivers better balance for more control without extra effort.
V-Shaped Sole
An elevated leading edge glides through turf with far less drag than a typical flat sole to maintain speed and power on heavy strikes.
Loft Specific Grooves
The 4i-7i lofts have wider, flatter grooves. The 8i-DW lofts have closely-spaced, deeper, and higher spinning Wedge grooves. Higher lofts also feature laser-milled grooves for enhanced friction.
Verdict: Cleveland Launcher XL irons
Everything about the Launcher is oversized hence the XL name. Expect a larger than life head size but not in a clumsy off-putting way, this is a refined looking golf club, which looks really playable at address.
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. At 183 yards carry distance (for our TG Test Pro) the XL was just 4 yards back from our 2nd longest carrying mid handicap iron, so at lower speeds the model is likely to be right amongst 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.
How does the Cleveland Launcher XL iron compare to other Mid-Handicap irons in data?
Cleveland Golf Launcher XL irons: Specifications
What Cleveland Golf say about the Launcher XL irons
“The new Cleveland Launcher XL Irons provide a new XL head design with a large high MOI and confidence inspiring shape that results in more greens in regulation,” Joe Miller, European Product Manager at Cleveland Golf, said.
“MainFrame technology faces are optimised with AI to guarantee shots all over the 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.
“All in all, Cleveland Launcher XL Irons deliver a pin seeking iron for shooting your lowest scores.”
READ NEXT:
– Cleveland Launcher XL hybrids
– Best Cleveland Irons
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rob Jerram is the Digital Editor of todaysgolfer.co.uk
He has been a journalist for more than 20 years, starting his career with Johnston Press where he covered local and regional news and sport in a variety of editorial roles across ten years.
Rob joined Bauer Media in 2010 and worked as the Senior Production Editor of Today’s Golfer and Golf World magazines for ten years before moving into the Digital Editor’s role in July 2020.
He has been playing golf for almost three decades and has been a member at Greetham Valley Golf Club in Rutland for eight years, playing off 12.
Cleveland Launcher XL Irons
RRP £499 (Steel), £599 (Graphite)
Launched March 25, 2022
Availability 4-iron-SW
Women's? Yes
Left hand? Yes (4-iron-DW)
7-iron loft 30º
Stock shafts True Temper Elevate 95 (98g R, S); Project X Cypher Irons (59g A, 61g R, 62g S); Project X Cypher Irons Ladies (47.5g, L)
Stock Grips Men's Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 (52g, 58 round); Women's Winn Dri Tacc Ladies (35g, 59 round)
