Cleveland Launcher Driver

Loft Options & Stock Shafts

Technology

Game Improvement Driver

The Cleveland Launcher from 2017 is the club that pulled Cleveland back into the driver conversation. For years the brand was known for wedges and short game gear, then they showed up with a 460cc game-improvement head built around one clear idea: get the ball up in the air and keep it easy to hit. No dials, no movable weights, no fitting cart of shaft settings. Just a driver you tee up and swing.

The headline feature is the HiBore crown, a stepped-down section on the top of the head that pushes weight lower and deeper. That drops the center of gravity, which is why this thing launches the ball high without you having to lean back and try to help it. Cleveland paired that with a sole design they called Flex-Fin, a set of ribs meant to let more of the face flex at impact so off-center hits keep their ball speed. The face itself is a cup design that wraps around the edges for the same reason.

What you give up is adjustability. There is no adjustable hosel and no sliding weights, and that was a deliberate call. Cleveland kept the head light and the price down, and aimed the Launcher at golfers who would rather have a club that works out of the box than one they have to tinker with. If you swing it and it flies straight and high, you are done.

• Higher handicappers who fight a low, weak ball flight and need help getting the driver airborne.
• Players who want a straightforward driver and have no interest in adjustable hosels or sliding weights.
• Bargain hunters, since the Launcher came in well under the premium drivers of its year and shows up cheap on the used market now.
• Moderate swing speeds that benefit from a light head and a low, deep center of gravity doing the launching for them.
• Anyone who valued forgiveness on mishits over shaping shots or dialing in a fade and draw setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Cleveland Launcher 2017 driver adjustable?

No. It has a fixed hosel and no movable weights. Cleveland built it that way on purpose to keep the head light and the price low, so you buy the loft you want and there is nothing to tune afterward.

What does the HiBore crown actually do?

It is a stepped-down section on the top of the head that moves weight lower and deeper in the club. That lowers the center of gravity, which raises launch and adds forgiveness. It is the main reason the Launcher gets the ball up so easily.

Is the Launcher a good driver for high handicappers?

Yes, that is exactly who it was built for. The low, deep center of gravity and the shallow 460cc face make it easy to launch and forgiving on mishits. If you struggle to get your driver in the air, this is a friendly one to swing.

How does the Launcher compare to adjustable drivers from the same era?

You lose the ability to change loft, lie, and shot bias, so you cannot fine-tune a fade or draw setting. In exchange you get a lighter, simpler head at a lower price. If you never touched those settings anyway, the tradeoff works in your favor.

Is the 2017 Launcher still worth buying used?

For a high-launch, forgiving driver on a budget, it holds up. It will not match the ball speed or tuning of newer heads, but a used Launcher is cheap and still does its one job well, which is getting the ball high and straight for slower and moderate swing speeds.

Alternatives to the Cleveland Launcher

Other game improvement driver models from different brands, closest to its model year.