About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the club, which I tested for one day in December of 2022.

My take

The Cleveland Launcher XL Lite is a solid driver. It offers stable distance while maintaining its consistency. I was pleased with the results off the tee. The average golfer would benefit from adding this club to their bag.

About the club I tested

• Model: 2021 Cleveland Launcher XL Lite Driver
• Loft setting: 10.5
• Shaft type: Project X Cypher 40
• Shaft flex: Regular

About me

• Average score: 79
• Handicap: 7
• Experience: 22 years of golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Left-Handed
• Typical ball flight: High
• Golf ball used: Titleist Practice Ball
• Club swing speed: 97mph

Test conditions

• When I tested the club: December 2022
• Days tested: 1
• Where I’ve used it: Simulator
• Weather and wind conditions: Inside

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking at drivers for my dad that were lightweight and offered more opportunities to create distance off the tee.

Why I chose to test this club

I decided to test this club because I read a lot of positive feedback about its lightweight performance from experts online; however, I didn’t buy the XL Lite. Although I was looking at it for my dad, I didn’t feel it best suited my game. I wanted to see how it compared to the Cobra Air-X Driver, as that one is lighter.

What I love about it

• Distance: The distance consistently averaged around 260-270 yards which was a pleasant surprise given that I currently hit a 60g Callaway XR16 driver myself. The lightness increased my swing speed, but I felt it didn’t travel as far as it should due to its lack of weight.
• Forgiveness: Forgiveness was a plus to this driver. Each swing traveled within 15 yards distance-wise of one another, whether it was hit square, on the toe, or heel.
• Workability: The workability was nice as I set up normally to hit a fade and could easily work the ball from left to right. Even though I don't tend to hit a high draw, I also liked that I could pull it off when I tried.
• Aesthetic Appeal: The blue and black aesthetic appeal had a simple yet sharp look to it.
• Grip Feel: The grip was a standard Lamkin. Overall, it had a nice feel, and I would not swap it out for another grip.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Feel: The feel was inconsistent, and I thought it might offer more consistency with it being lighter. I didn’t feel the “pop” off the face of the club like I do with my Callaway XR16 driver, which was hard to tell if I hit the ball off center or the heel/toe.
• Sound: The sound was louder than anticipated. I had a Cleveland Hibore back in the day, and it was extremely loud but wasn’t quite as loud as that driver.
• Adjustability: There is no adjustability feature within this driver, which is a negative in today’s line of drivers. The ability to adjust the driver and set a fade, draw, or neutral setting is a plus to fit any game.
• Shaft Feel: The shaft feel was good but too lightweight for my liking. I think a senior who needs more swing speed would find this a plus, but I know it probably sacrificed 5-10 yards of distance due to the lightness of the shaft.
• Shaft Performance: The 40g shaft was lighter than I normally play with (60g). It was too light and created some inconsistency with my swings. I would have liked to test again with a heavier shaft.
• Launch Angle: The launch angle was higher than I would have preferred. I believe with a lower angle, it would have rolled out more and had a greater average distance.
• Spin: The spin was higher than my current driver and created less rollout than my current driver, which sacrificed 5-10 yards.

Best shot with this club

My best shot was when I decided to hit a cut on one shot and then was able to follow it up with a draw on the next. This showed its capability to work the ball based on personal preference and shot-making ability.

Value for the money vs. other options

I think this club is a good value for the weekend golfer. However, I believe there are other good options, like the Cobra AIR-X, and I would lean more toward this club as it does not have an offset face.

Final verdict

The Launcher XL Lite is a great option for its value. It is forgiving but doesn’t sacrifice distance, especially for the older player. The mid to high handicapper would benefit from this as its lightweight increases swing speed and power.