Cleveland Hi-Bore XLS....

[LBlack14]

anybody used or using one? I just bought 1 and haven't received it yet and was curious. I have a friend who's only been playing for 3-4 years and this thing for him is point and shoot straight and long. Mine also has an upgraded Graphite Design YS-7+stiff shaft which I've also never had the experience with. I've used the Purple Ice shafts which I like. Any reviews on the shaft would also be helpful.

Thanks

[BunkerBound21]

i am using the Hibore XLS 9.5 and i love it... its long and straight. i am using it with the stock shaft.

[deronsizemore]

Yeah, I got mine a few months ago. Went and got fitted for mine and it's a night and day difference for how I hit this XLS over my old original Cleveland Launcher 460. I got fitted for the stock Fit on M-Gold extra stiff shaft. I don't carry this driver much longer than my old one, but the difference is the ball flight. Where my old driver would carry and just stop or plug if the ground was soft, this driver carries and hits and then takes off.

Great club, I think you'll like it.

One thing I've noticed though (if you have OCD like me with cleaning clubs) is that the crown on the XLS seems to be pretty sensitive. I've got a couple little marks on mine (that drives me nuts) from bumping it and also using a soft bristled brush to clean it. So now, I don't use a brush, just water and towel. So, watch out for that.

[Bigvivec]

You guys are making me want to go get one...


But then again...the new titleist is coming out...


I love the graphite design shafts that I have...I bought a couple of the purple ice shafts when they were so cheap and all over the web, love them, and have a ys 9.1 that I put into a 3 wood that feels really good, but not quite as good as what is in the bag (but then again there is a wee price difference...it had BETTER feel better...)

[deronsizemore]

Originally Posted by Bigvivec

But then again...the new titleist is coming out...

And for probably the affordable price of 499.99 (sarcasm).

[Bigvivec]

Originally Posted by deronsizemore

And for probably the affordable price of 499.99 (sarcasm).

I hate to say it but that's cheap for down here...

[deronsizemore]

Originally Posted by Bigvivec

I hate to say it but that's cheap for down here...

One word... DANG!

[Darth Fader]

I am currently using the hi-bore xls 9.5 degrees with an uprated shaft,i have a ust proforce v2 fitted,love the club long,straight and forgiving.

[deronsizemore]

Originally Posted by Darth Fader

I am currently using the hi-bore xls 9.5 degrees with an uprated shaft,i have a ust proforce v2 fitted,love the club long,straight and forgiving.

I was eager to try some different shaft options but unfortunately it seems that nobody carries them around here... only the stock shaft options, so I had to made due with that. I doubt it would have made much difference though as I do hit this shaft pretty good and with a good flight.

[OnePutt]

I've got the 77 gram V2 in my FT-i Tour driver, and I love it. Very long and dead straight if I do a half way decent job swinging the thing. I also have a few 75 gram Purple Ice shafts on hand. Picked them up for $22 with shipping last winter. I really like the 75 gram driver shafts better than the 65 gram versions. Lower torque and the feel smoother to me. No loss of distance, and better control. That's hard to beat.

[LBlack14]

Originally Posted by deronsizemore

Great club, I think you'll like it.

One thing I've noticed though (if you have OCD like me with cleaning clubs) is that the crown on the XLS seems to be pretty sensitive. I've got a couple little marks on mine (that drives me nuts) from bumping it and also using a soft bristled brush to clean it. So now, I don't use a brush, just water and towel. So, watch out for that.

Like a LAYS potato chip, I couldn't eat just 1. Picked up the 3 wood too with the Fuji Red stiff. Hit the driver 1nce in my league last Thursday. 280-290 about 5 yards right in the 1st cut. Haven't hit the 3 Wood yet. Maybe I'll use 'em both exlusively this Thursday. By the way, I got 'em both for under $300 shipped.

New Toys are here AND I'll tell ya a little trick....





Look closely at this last pic. I get chrome black out from AutoZone. Cut it to fit the crown from the face back to almost that 1st drop where the XLS is. Idiot mark proof. I use this on ALL my woods. Keeps 'em clean on BAD swings. You have to look real close to see the seam. It's on the 3 wood too. I am OCD about the condition of my clubs, BIG TIME!!!

[deronsizemore]

Originally Posted by LBlack14

I am OCD about the condition of my clubs, BIG TIME!!!

I'm the same way and it really drives me up the wall that I have a small mark on the crown of my nice new driver.

I've never heard of the chrome black out, I'll have to check it out.

[Bigvivec]

Cleveland Hi Bore XL…

There are guys on my course who sell used clubs on the course…usually have a selection of about 6-10 random clubs that they lean against a bench or a wall near the tunnel that connects parts of the course…usually I’m not interested, but today there was a Cleveland hi bore xl with a v2 75gr stiff shaft, so I thought I’d give it a whirl…after hitting my tee shot on the par 4 dogleg that measured 240 to the far side of the dogleg, I took the Cleveland all the way back to the championship tees that never get used, to the back edge nearly to the wall that surrounds the tee box…lasered it off to be 272 to the far edge, and another 3 yds to the OB wall…I hit four balls…hooked the first and made an adjustment, then hit 3 identical bombs that bounced just short of the wall and ricocheted back into the fairway…Wow…the V2 and 10.5 loft gave me a higher launch angle, and I’d say by just looking and comparing to the last time that I was on a driving range launch monitor, the angle was ideal…and the ball just carried and carried and carried...I didn’t like the closed face, even after the adjustment I drew the ball 10 yards…but then again, I drew it 10 yards every time and the last three balls were all within 10 yds of each other…the balls went so high and far that I couldn’t even see the ball flight on the first two…part of that had to do with when I looked to where I expected the ball to be, it must have been higher …the last one I did see and it was just pretty…I think that the club is ugly, the shaft felt soft, hate the flashy graphics on the sole and the shaft, impact didn’t have the solid feel of Titleist and Mizuno woods and I didn’t swing as well as I did later on in the round…and I still hit the ball pretty stinkin’ well…closed face or not, a 10 yd draw that I could count on I could learn to live with…next time out if he still has it I’m trying it again, and if it is as good the second time as the first, I’m going to have an issue on my hands…I have to look up if the xls has a more neutral face angle…I love my driver that I have now, and really liked the 907D2…this club felt awkward, I didn’t like the sound or feel at impact and hit like a dream…what to do!?!?!?

Am I going to have to get another driver?

[deronsizemore]

Originally Posted by Bigvivec

Cleveland Hi Bore XL…

There are guys on my course who sell used clubs on the course…usually have a selection of about 6-10 random clubs that they lean against a bench or a wall near the tunnel that connects parts of the course…usually I’m not interested, but today there was a Cleveland hi bore xl with a v2 75gr stiff shaft, so I thought I’d give it a whirl…after hitting my tee shot on the par 4 dogleg that measured 240 to the far side of the dogleg, I took the Cleveland all the way back to the championship tees that never get used, to the back edge nearly to the wall that surrounds the tee box…lasered it off to be 272 to the far edge, and another 3 yds to the OB wall…I hit four balls…hooked the first and made an adjustment, then hit 3 identical bombs that bounced just short of the wall and ricocheted back into the fairway…Wow…the V2 and 10.5 loft gave me a higher launch angle, and I’d say by just looking and comparing to the last time that I was on a driving range launch monitor, the angle was ideal…and the ball just carried and carried and carried...I didn’t like the closed face, even after the adjustment I drew the ball 10 yards…but then again, I drew it 10 yards every time and the last three balls were all within 10 yds of each other…the balls went so high and far that I couldn’t even see the ball flight on the first two…part of that had to do with when I looked to where I expected the ball to be, it must have been higher …the last one I did see and it was just pretty…I think that the club is ugly, the shaft felt soft, hate the flashy graphics on the sole and the shaft, impact didn’t have the solid feel of Titleist and Mizuno woods and I didn’t swing as well as I did later on in the round…and I still hit the ball pretty stinkin’ well…closed face or not, a 10 yd draw that I could count on I could learn to live with…next time out if he still has it I’m trying it again, and if it is as good the second time as the first, I’m going to have an issue on my hands…I have to look up if the xls has a more neutral face angle…I love my driver that I have now, and really liked the 907D2…this club felt awkward, I didn’t like the sound or feel at impact and hit like a dream…what to do!?!?!?

Am I going to have to get another driver?

If it means anything to you, a regular playing partner has the XL and I've hit it a few times. Compared to the new XLS, the XL feels like hitting a brick. I think you should give the XLS a try and see how you like it. I know the XLS does have three styles: draw, neutral and open bias. I'm not sure about the XL, but you very well could have been using one that was set up closed for all those slicers out there. I have the neutral version of the XLS and it sets up good to my eye and I don't think it looks closed.

[LBlack14]

The XL's specs say 3* closed allow for tollerances. I took my XLS and set it next to several 9.5 XL's and it is definately more open than the XL. I'd say mine is .5* to 1* closed at most. I'm gonna use 'em Thursday and I'll report back.

[OnePutt]

Black, How well does that chrome black out work? Does it stay in place or does it come off after a time? Thanks in advance. I've never heard of the stuff, but will have to check it out at AutoZone soon.

[LBlack14]

It stays on pretty good. I always kinda fine tune the trim. It works well. But after a hit or 2 it'll come off where the contact was made. I use it all my woods and hybrids.

Well I played 9 holes with the XLS and I was left, left and more left. Closed face drivers and me just dont get along. I had the same experience with the Nickent 3DX Square. It's FOR SALE or trade for a Tour Model with the Fuji Red stiff.

[LBlack14]

It's gone and TRADED for an ADAMS Insight XTD Pro 9.5* Graphite Design YSQ stiff.

[Bigvivec]

Originally Posted by LBlack14

It's gone and TRADED for an ADAMS Insight XTD Pro 9.5* Graphite Design YSQ stiff.

You are a JUNKIE!!!


Seek help!

[LBlack14]

Originally Posted by Bigvivec

You are a JUNKIE!!!


Seek help!

To say the LEAST!

[OnePutt]

Thanks Black14. When I had a driver in for review and testing, one I had to give back, I used a layer of clear wrapping tape on the leading edge of the crown line, so if I did happen to hit an air ball, I wouldn't mark up the head. This worked rather well also, and it didn't look bad, hard to see the tape in fact and it stayed in place for as long as I had the driver for testing. I was experimenting with some 4 inch tees, so hitting an air ball was a real chance until I got used to hitting off that tall a tee. I hit 3 air balls if I remember correctly, and none of them left a mark on the head, just on the tape. No damage done, so I was happy with the tape. Will have to try to chrome black out next.