Cleveland Launcher HB Fairway Wood

Wood Options & Stock Shafts

Technology

Max Game Improvement Fairway Wood

Cleveland spent years focused on wedges and short game before the Launcher HB brought them back to the top of the bag in 2018. The HB stands for HiBore, a nod to the stepped crown design Cleveland has used off and on since the mid-2000s. The idea is simple. Drop the crown down behind the face to push weight low and deep, which raises launch and gets the ball airborne without a steep angle of attack.

This is a driver built for one job. It launches high, flies fairly straight, and asks nothing complicated of the golfer. There are no movable weights, no adjustable hosel, no settings chart to memorize. You buy the loft you need and you go play. That decision was deliberate, and it let Cleveland come in well under the price of the adjustable flagships from TaylorMade and Callaway that year.

If you swing in the 85 to 100 mph range and struggle to keep drives in the air, the Launcher HB is aimed squarely at you. It won't win a long-drive contest against a tour-caliber head, and it doesn't want to. What it does is make a solid strike feel easy and a slightly missed one still playable.

• Moderate swing speeds around 85 to 100 mph who need help getting the ball up and carrying it.
• Players who lose distance to a weak, low ball flight rather than a slice.
• Anyone who wants a simple driver with no settings to fiddle with and a lower price than the adjustable flagships.
• Golfers coming off an older driver who want easier launch without paying premium money.
• Higher handicappers who value a straight, high-flying miss over squeezing out maximum ball speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Cleveland Launcher HB adjustable?

No. The Launcher HB has a fixed hosel and no movable weights. You choose your loft at purchase and that is what you play. Cleveland left adjustability off on purpose to keep the price down and the setup simple.

What swing speed is the Launcher HB best for?

It suits moderate swing speeds, roughly 85 to 100 mph. The HiBore crown lowers the center of gravity to launch the ball high, which helps players who don't generate enough speed or spin to keep drives in the air on their own.

What does HiBore mean on this driver?

HiBore refers to the stepped crown. Cleveland drops the top of the head down behind the face, which moves weight low and deep. That lower center of gravity is what produces the high, easy launch the HB is known for.

Does the Launcher HB help with a slice?

The standard HB flies fairly straight but isn't a heavy anti-slice head. Cleveland made a Launcher HB draw model with weighting biased toward the heel if you fight a persistent slice and want more correction built in.

How does the Launcher HB compare to the newer Launcher HB Turbo?

The 2020 Launcher HB Turbo built on this design with a hotter face and more offerings, including a Turbo Lite for slower swings. The 2018 HB is the original, and it can be a good value on the used market if you want the same high-launch, no-fuss formula.

Alternatives to the Cleveland Launcher HB

Other max game improvement fairway wood models from different brands, closest to its model year.