Cleveland HiBore XL Driver

Released in 2006, Cleveland’s original HiBore driver was infamous for its weird “scooped out” crown. Almost 20 years later, the new Cleveland HiBore XL driver features a similar out-of-the-box design.

This time it’s shaped like a Dorito.

Cleveland took a ‘bigger is easier’ approach with last year’s Launcher XL2 driver. But the new HighBore XL driver promises to supersize performance off the tee even more. The HiBore XL’s distinctive triangular head shape is aimed at creating the ultimate forgiveness and distance off the tee, for the segment of golfers who need it the most.

An unashamed game improvement driver, the HiBore XL is targeted at the casual golfer. If you’re the kind of golfer who doesn’t take lessons or obsess about swing planes and release sequences, the new Cleveland HiBore XL driver is for you. If you’re the kind of golfer who wants to maximise your enjoyment on the course, the new Cleveland HiBore XL driver is for you.

A TRIANGULAR HEAD AND GIANT FACE

The triangular head of the HiBore XL driver is unique. However, that’s only half the story.

The Cleveland HiBore XL driver also features what must be one of the largest driver faces in golf. In fact, it is 19 per cent bigger than the face of the sizeable Launcher XL2 driver. For the HiBore XL’s intended demographic, the huge face will no doubt inspire confidence and the vast surface area of the face exponentially increases the likelihood of half decent contact being made.

But to accommodate the HiBore XL’s extremely generous face, Cleveland needed to save some space elsewhere to stay under the 460cc maximum volume limit declared by the chaps running golf’s governing bodies.

With some A.I. assistance, Cleveland narrowed the chassis of the HiBore XL, which created the triangular head shape. The head tapers sharply to a defined point on its rearmost extremity, under which lies a 12g rear weight.

It’s a design that shifts weight extremely low and deep in the head to improve launch and forgiveness (the HiBore is so called for launching high drives that bore through the air).

MAINFRAME AND ACTIVWING

Cleveland is part of a triumvirate that also includes the Srixon and XXIO brands and it has resulted in a neat technology collab for the HiBore XL driver.

MainFrame technology, which also appeared in Srixon’s ZX MKII range and XXIO 13 line-up, has been put to excellent use in the HiBore XL driver. For golfers who missed the MainFrame memo, it’s a variable thickness face pattern that creates a large sweet spot and efficient COR across the width of the face.

The version of MainFrame that appears on the vast HiBore XL has been improved with some A.I. magic dust. It’s a more efficient MainFrame, offering greater ball speed and distance gains, particularly on strikes that miss the centre of the face.

Meanwhile, the HiBore XL driver also features ActivWing, an aerodynamic enhancer that appears on the crown.

ActivWing is a pair of aero “steps” that appear on the surface of the crown, near the hosel. It’s designed to redirect airflow over the HiBore XL head to make the clubhead delivery at impact more consistent, leading to tightened downrange accuracy.

COUNTERBALANCED GRIP AND ADJUSTABLE HOSEL

Cleveland have included a counterbalanced grip on the new HiBore XL driver to improve consistency and control.

Eight grams of weight is inserted into the end of the driver’s Lamkin Crossline 360 grip to balance the club. The extra mass sitting outside the hands on the end of the grip makes the club feel lighter on the takeaway, helps players raise the club into position easier and helps resist the destructive “club casting” habit that often occurs at the start of the downswing.

The HiBore XL also features an adjustable hosel that permits 12 possible lofts, with flight and launch able to be tuned in half degree increments in a three-degree spread.

CLEVELAND HIBORE XL DRIVER MODELS

CLEVELAND HIBORE XL DRIVER

The Cleveland HiBore XL’s distinctive triangular head shape offers the ultimate in forgiveness and distance off the tee. It's an unashamed game improvement driver for golfers who need it the most and is fitted with a Mitsubishi Tensei AV Series shaft and 12-slot adjustable hosel. Lofts: 9°, 10.5°, 12°  

CLEVELAND HIBORE XL LITE

The Cleveland HiBore XL Lite driver features a revised chassis that creates a slight draw-biased ball flight that should help many slicers find the fairway more often. It is installed with an Aldila Ascent PL 40 shaft. Cleveland also offer a HiBore XL Lite Women’s driver which is identical to the Men’s version except for a shorter and lighter Aldila Ascent PL 40 shaft in Ladies flex. Lofts: 9°, 10.5°, 12° Women's: 12°

CLEVELAND HIBORE XL DRIVER SPECIFICATIONS

Australian Launch Date: January 20, 2025
Hand: Right/Left (LH HiBore XL Lite driver only)
Shaft Options: HiBore XL: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Series Blue 55 (r,s); HiBore XL Lite: Aldila Ascent PL 40 (r,s,a); HiBore XL Lite Women’s: Aldila Ascent PL 40 Women’s (l)
Grip: Lamkin Crossline 360, Lamkin ST Soft (Women’s)
Cleveland HiBore XL driver lofts:  9°, 10.5°, 12°
Cleveland HiBore XL Lite driver lofts: 9°, 10.5°, 12°
Cleveland HiBore XL Lite Women’s driver lofts: 12°