About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the driver, which I purchased with my own money in February of 2023.

My take

The Cleveland Launcher XL Lite Draw Driver is ideal for golfers with more moderate swing speeds who need help increasing distance and launch angles.

About the club I own

• Model: 2021 Cleveland Launcher XL Lite
• Loft setting: 9°
• Shaft type: Hzrdus Green 6.5
• Shaft flex: X-Stiff

About me

• Average score: 70
• Handicap: +2
• Experience: 5 years of playing golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-Handed
• Typical ball flight: Mid-High
• Golf ball used: TaylorMade TP5x
• Club swing speed: 120mph

Test conditions

• When I bought the club: February 2023
• Days tested: 30+
• Where I’ve used it: TrackMan simulator and various golf courses
• Weather and wind conditions: Rain, wind, warm, and cold

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking for a driver that would help myself and other players increase launch angles and add more forgiveness to help hit more fairways. I also wanted to find a driver that had a sleek design and great sound.

Why I chose this club

This driver helped increase launch angles dramatically and had a great look and sound that added confidence when standing over the ball. Furthermore, the club provided great spin for added forgiveness and distance.

What I love about it

• Forgiveness: This driver is extremely forgiving due to the lighter weight and the rear weighting, which helps pull the center of gravity (CG) back. The CG being pulled back and directly behind the club's center offers extreme forgiveness across the entire face.
• Feel: This club has a very soft yet explosive feel off the clubface. The ball feels like it jumps off the clubface due to the lightweight and added speed which provides a strong feel while still having a very smooth, soft feeling across the whole clubface.
• Sound: The Cleveland Launcher XL Lite sounds amazing. The sound is very firm and fast, making other players look over when I hit the club because it sounds so good.
• Shaft Feel: The Hzrdus green 6.5 is a great feeling shaft that feels like it kicks through at impact, adding speed and power to the drive. This shaft has a very smooth, soft feeling at impact that provides a comfortable feel on every drive.
• Shaft Performance: This shaft has a very firm tip section to control the clubface and not allow it to twist much. This is especially helpful for higher swing speeds to help minimize face rotation at impact to ensure the club stays square to the intended target line.
• Aesthetic Appeal: The Launcher XL Lite has a very simple, sleek, matte black crown that looks great next to the golf ball. This head is a little larger than I would like but still has a very simple traditional look that many golfers will love.
• Launch Angle: The best part about this driver is the increase in the launch angle. Due to my higher swing speeds, the ball often launches too high for me. However, this driver is perfect for players with more moderate swing speeds or who struggle to launch the ball high enough to maximize distance.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Distance: Due to the very high launch angle because of my high swing speeds, I lose distance that I could have with a lower launch and spin driver. However, this driver will certainly help players increase their distance off the tee if they have more moderate swing speeds and struggle to launch the ball high enough to maximize distance.
• Spin: This driver spins too much for me due to my higher swing speeds. However, it is perfect for golfers who need to increase their driver spin to maximize distance and forgiveness.
• Workability: This driver is so forgiving, high launching, and high spinning, that it is very difficult for me to control the shot shape. I find I hit the ball very straight, and when I try to hit a big cut or draw, it results in a very slight turn. Although, this is a very good thing for high-handicap golfers because it will help them hit more fairways.
• Grip Feel: I personally am not a fan of the Golf Pride MCC Plus4 grip. This grip tapers less than other grips. This creates a thicker grip in the bottom hand, which is very helpful for players who struggle to turn their hands over too much and hit hooks. However, the standard MCC grip will be much better than the Plus4 for players who struggle with a slice.
• Adjustability: This driver has no adjustable hosel, which means there is no ability to adjust the loft or easily swap out shafts.

Best shot with this club

The best shot I hit with this club was on a driveable par 4 at my home course. The hole is 285 yards long, and I chose to hit this club and hit the ball perfectly. This was probably the straightest I have ever hit a driver. If it turned, it only cut about a yard. I started the ball right at the pin. The ball landed just short of it and rolled back to leave me with a 13-foot putt for eagle. Unfortunately, I am not a good putter and missed it, but it was still a great shot.

Value for the money vs. other options

This is the best lightweight driver on the market. Players who really need a lighter driver to increase their club speed and launch angles will benefit from this driver. Other alternatives to this model club would be the TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD, Callaway Paradym X, and Titleist TSR 1. All three of these clubs have the same price, but the Cleveland Launcher XL is half the price (~$249.99) for similar performance and quality.

Final verdict

As mentioned, the Cleveland Launcher XL Lite is the perfect driver for golfers with more moderate swing speeds. This ultra-lightweight driver offers increased speed, distance, launch, and forgiveness to help lower scores.