Expert Comparison: TaylorMade Stealth Irons vs Cleveland Launcher XL Irons

Published on 02/03/2024 · 8 min readCompare TaylorMade Stealth Irons and Cleveland Launcher XL Irons. Get expert insight below!
Ari T, Golf Expert
David L. Brown, Golf Expert
Jonathan Belanger, Golf Expert
Contributed By Golf Expert Ari T, David L. Brown, Jonathan Belanger, Michael V, Brady Maag and others

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Side by side comparison

Runner up
TaylorMade Stealth Irons
Cleveland Launcher XL Irons
Price
from:$799.99
20% off
from:$599.99
25% off
User rating
4.76(668)
4.69(68)
The Curated Take

Best for mid-high handicap golfers seeking distance and forgiveness without sacrificing look and feel.

Best for high-handicap golfers seeking forgiveness, launch, and distance.

Iron Set Type
Iron Set
Iron Set
Player type
Game improvement
Game improvement
Used (Y/N)
No
No

In the world of golf, the TaylorMade Stealth Irons and the Cleveland Launcher XL Irons are two top contenders that have been making waves. Both sets of irons are designed with the mid to high handicap golfer in mind, offering impressive distance, forgiveness, and overall performance.

The TaylorMade Stealth Irons are known for their speed pocket technology, carbon redistribution for forgiveness, and fluted hosel for weight redistribution. They are praised for their distance, all-around performance, and great feel. However, they don't excel at anything specific and may not be ideal for golfers with faster swing speeds due to their lightweight shaft.

On the other hand, the Cleveland Launcher XL Irons are designed for those looking to gain more distance in the mid-range game. They are appreciated for their distance, forgiveness, and feel. They are also known for their ability to work the ball from left to right and right to left. However, they may not be ideal for advanced players looking for refined tour style blades.

In terms of similarities, both sets of irons are designed for mid to high handicap golfers and offer impressive distance and forgiveness. However, they differ in their design and technology, with the TaylorMade Stealth Irons focusing on speed and the Cleveland Launcher XL Irons focusing on launch and control.

In conclusion, both sets of irons are excellent choices for mid to high handicap golfers. The choice between the two will ultimately come down to personal preference and specific golfing needs.

The TaylorMade Stealth Irons are a game-changer in the world of golf. They are designed with a unique speed pocket technology that helps retain ball speed on low strikes, making the face flex a bit more and giving you more ball speed and better dispersion. This feature is particularly useful for long irons, where a little black line running down the bottom of the club aids in this process.

Another standout feature of the Stealth Irons is the use of carbon in their design. This carbon element takes some of the weight out of the height and redistributes it towards the bottom of the club. This redistribution of weight helps with forgiveness, ball speed, and getting the ball up in the air, making these irons a great choice for those looking to improve their game.

The Stealth Irons also feature a fluted hosel, which takes some of the weight savings off the hosel and redistributes it around the club. This helps with forgiveness while keeping the same weight for players who have a specific feel they're trying to achieve.

The design of the Stealth Irons is a cavity back design, meaning the inside of the club is hollow. This design helps with forgiveness and extra ball speed. Overall, the TaylorMade Stealth Irons are packed with innovative features that make them a top choice for golfers looking to improve their game.

These are a great set of irons with tons of new technology. They are a closed back cavity that is filled with high-density tungsten and low-density foam. They have a great feel and sound. They are very long and very forgiving. They are on the slimmer side for a super easy-to-use game improvement set which many will appreciate. That said, they are just as easy to use as some of the other thicker sets out there. No real downside to these. They will work great for anyone who wants a set that is super easy to use and super playable.

Ari T
Golf Expert
Best seller

The Cleveland Launcher XL Irons are a solid option for those looking to gain more distance in the mid-range game. These irons are geared towards mid-tier handicappers who want to take their game to the next level. They are designed with a 1mm offset and a steel—True Temper 95 shaft type with a regular flex, making them ideal for golfers with a high ball flight.

One of the standout features of the Cleveland Launcher XL Irons is their ability to provide increased distance without sacrificing control. The club head is wider than other irons, creating an impact zone that allows for more missed hit shots to find their target. They launch off the face differently than other irons but still create great distance and maintain good control.

The Cleveland Launcher XL Irons are also known for their forgiveness. Off-centered hits still travel a long way and rarely deviate 10-20 yards off the target line. This makes them a great choice for golfers who are looking to improve their consistency and reduce the number of mishits.

In terms of feel, the Cleveland Launcher XL Irons offer a great connection with the ball. Golfers can tell if the ball was hit off the toe, heel, or center, which can help improve their swing over time. The sound of the club hitting the ball is also a normal tinging that feels crisp to the ear, adding to the overall experience of using these irons.

Overall, the Cleveland Launcher XL Irons are a great choice for golfers looking to improve their distance and control in the mid-range game.

The Cleveland Launcher XLs are one of the better irons on the market if someone wants to add distance to their game. I think, comparatively, the TaylorMade Stealths are in the same boat. Both are long-hitting irons, but for the value, the Launchers might have the edge in my books.

David L. Brown
Golf Expert

Similarities

The TaylorMade Stealth Irons and the Cleveland Launcher XL Irons share several similarities that make them both excellent choices for golfers. Both sets of irons are designed with the mid to high handicap golfer in mind, offering impressive distance and forgiveness. This makes them ideal for golfers who are looking to improve their game and lower their scores.

Both sets of irons also feature innovative design elements that enhance their performance. The TaylorMade Stealth Irons feature a speed pocket technology and a fluted hosel for weight redistribution, while the Cleveland Launcher XL Irons have a wider club head for more forgiveness on off-center hits and a unique launch off the face for increased distance.

In terms of feel, both sets of irons offer a great connection with the ball and a crisp sound on impact. This enhances the overall experience of using these irons and can help golfers improve their swing over time.

Finally, both the TaylorMade Stealth Irons and the Cleveland Launcher XL Irons are praised for their aesthetic appeal. They both feature sleek designs that are sure to stand out on the golf course.

Differences and Who They're Good For

While the TaylorMade Stealth Irons and the Cleveland Launcher XL Irons share several similarities, they also have key differences that cater to different types of golfers.

The TaylorMade Stealth Irons are known for their speed pocket technology, which helps retain ball speed on low strikes. This makes them a great choice for golfers who often struggle with low strikes and are looking to improve their ball speed. The use of carbon in their design also helps with forgiveness and getting the ball up in the air, making these irons ideal for golfers who struggle with launch.

On the other hand, the Cleveland Launcher XL Irons are designed for those looking to gain more distance in the mid-range game. They have a wider club head that allows for more missed hit shots to find their target, making them a great choice for golfers who struggle with accuracy. They also launch off the face differently than other irons, creating great distance while maintaining control, making them ideal for golfers who want to improve their distance without sacrificing control.

In conclusion, the TaylorMade Stealth Irons are a great choice for golfers who want to improve their ball speed and launch, while the Cleveland Launcher XL Irons are ideal for golfers looking to increase their distance and accuracy in the mid-range game.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

When comparing the TaylorMade Stealth Irons and the Cleveland Launcher XL Irons, it's important to consider four key dimensions: distance, forgiveness, feel, and control.

  1. Distance: Both sets of irons offer impressive distance, but the Cleveland Launcher XL Irons have a slight edge due to their unique launch off the face and wider club head.

  2. Forgiveness: Both sets of irons are designed with forgiveness in mind, but the TaylorMade Stealth Irons stand out with their speed pocket technology and carbon redistribution, which help with forgiveness and getting the ball up in the air.

  3. Feel: Both sets of irons offer a great connection with the ball and a crisp sound on impact. However, the TaylorMade Stealth Irons are praised for their unique feel that helps golfers know where they made contact with the ball.

  4. Control: While both sets of irons offer good control, the Cleveland Launcher XL Irons are designed with a wider club head that allows for more missed hit shots to find their target, giving them a slight edge in this dimension.

In conclusion, both sets of irons excel in different areas. The TaylorMade Stealth Irons shine in terms of forgiveness and feel, while the Cleveland Launcher XL Irons stand out in terms of distance and control. The choice between the two will ultimately come down to the specific needs and preferences of the golfer.

Conclusions

In the world of golf, the TaylorMade Stealth Irons and the Cleveland Launcher XL Irons are two top contenders that offer impressive distance, forgiveness, and overall performance. Both sets of irons are designed with the mid to high handicap golfer in mind, making them ideal for golfers looking to improve their game and lower their scores.

The TaylorMade Stealth Irons stand out with their speed pocket technology and carbon redistribution, which enhance forgiveness and launch. They also offer a unique feel that helps golfers know where they made contact with the ball. On the other hand, the Cleveland Launcher XL Irons are designed for those looking to gain more distance in the mid-range game. They have a wider club head that allows for more missed hit shots to find their target and a unique launch off the face for increased distance.

In conclusion, both the TaylorMade Stealth Irons and the Cleveland Launcher XL Irons are excellent choices for mid to high handicap golfers. The choice between the two will ultimately come down to personal preference and specific golfing needs. Whether you're looking to improve your ball speed and launch with the TaylorMade Stealth Irons or increase your distance and accuracy in the mid-range game with the Cleveland Launcher XL Irons, you can't go wrong with either set of irons.

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