The Cleveland Classic XL Driver is one of my favorite clubs for 2013. There are several reasons for that and I will get into that in one moment. Before I do, I wanted to show a fun video we put together.
httpvhd://youtu.be/tziANgUELpA
Technology:
Let’s move on to the technology part of what makes the Cleveland Classic XL Driver a top pick for 2013. Below you will see images and definitions of just some of the features that come along with the club.
OPTIMAL CENTER OF GRAVITY
Center of gravity moved deeper in the club head to promote higher launch and more penetrating flight.
PREMIUM MIYAZAKI SHAFT: PREMIUM STOCK SHAFT
The high-quality, aftermarket Miyazaki B.Asha shaft produces a mid-high trajectory with added speed.
LARGEST, DEEPEST DRIVER FACE AND LARGER SWEET SPOT
The largest, deepest driver face in golf means the largest effective hitting area for incredible confidence on the tee.
Enhanced variable face thickness technology creates incredibly fast ball speed on off-center hits for unprecedented forgiveness.
Look:
I am a pretty traditional guy when it comes to style and there is no other driver on the market that looks as “Classic” as the Cleveland Classic XL Custom Driver. Heck, the name “Classic” is right there in the title. It has a stunning black paint finish that looks like it was sent to the top rated Bentley car painting shop. Once you turn the club over it has gold plated trimming, which makes the club look even more impressive. I tried to scrape off some of the gold thinking that mine might be gold plated. Unfortunately it’s just paint, kidding of course, but you get the point. The face of the club had slight but nice feature. The middle of the face (sweet spot) was finished differently then the outer edges of the face. (see photo above). What I liked about the feature is that I can see exactly where my ball hit the face each time for feedback on my swing. (see photo below).
Looking at the club you will also notice the adjustable hosel. The adjustable hosel can be moved to one of 12 different settings for optimal face angle and flight, while interchangeable weight port allows swingweight to be optimized for every player. As far as looks are concerned, I don’t think there is a better looking club on the market.
Feel:
With a ridiculous amount of shaft options, such as Miyazaki, Matrix, Fubuki to name just a few, you will surely find the right shaft for your game level. If you go to Cleveland Golf’s website you will find all the shaft options you are looking for.
The Cleveland Classic XL driver has the deepest face of any driver on the market and you really feel that when hitting it. It has a loud, but not too loud sound at impact and you can actually hear the difference of sound when you get a miss hit. When you nail that sweet spot it produces a soft controlled feel. With a not too hard and not too soft feel at impact, I think Cleveland Golf found the perfect feel.
Performance:
So what good is a great looking club if it doesn’t perform? There are plenty of clubs on the market that look great but just don’t cut it when it comes to hitting the course. I won’t name any names on that topic, but the Cleveland Classic XL Custom Driver performs as well, if not better than it looks. I have used a TaylorMade Driver for the last 10 years and loved every minute of it, but after hitting the Cleveland Classic XL Driver, I have been converted. Don’t be fooled that because this driver isn’t as big as some others on the market, it won’t be as forgiving as some others. I was extremely surprised with how forgiving it was.
Because of it’s deep face, it produces a low spin rate, which will help many golfers off the tee. It also has an amazing ball flight that comes off the club like a rocket. When you hit the sweet spot on this club, you will know it and be thrilled with the feel, ball flight and distance.
Let’s talk distance for a second. Yes I had an older driver in my bag that I have had for years, but I was comfortable with it and I knew I would knock it on the fairway a high percentage of the time. I’m not a long hitter by any means and am happy with a 250 yard drive. So when I walked out and hit my first couple balls on the course with the Cleveland Classic XL Custom Driver and the ball was going 270-280, I had a pretty big smile on my face. The best part is, I wasn’t losing any of my accuracy. Walking up to a hole with a narrow fairway, I have confidence that I can handle business and that is always a great feeling. To say that I enjoyed playing this club is an understatement. I got that Boom Boom Pow!!! Oh sorry, that is just the song that comes to mind when I think about the Cleveland Classic XL Custom Driver.
Final Thoughts:
With many great drivers on the market for 2013, I put the Cleveland Classic XL Custom Driver right at the top. For now, this club will remain in my bag because of it’s great feel, deep face for a great ball flight, it’s forgiveness and distance. This club is the whole package.
