Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Driver
It only costs around £300 but does it deliver good performance?
The Launcher HB Turbo remains the simple, fuss-free and wallet-friendly driver choice for golfers that should see gains in performance when using the correct shaft and loft combination. There is now also the option of a Draw model for those who need even more slice correction, further enhancing the appeal.
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Provides competitive, off-the-rack performance at a reasonable price. It feels fast, stable and the draw bias will help slicers find more fairways.
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Loud, high-pitched sound won't appeal to everyone. Lacks adjustability.
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Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Driver Review - Joel Tadman delivers his verdict on this value driver offering from Cleveland
Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Driver Review
Key technology - A Turbocharged Cup Face stretches along the crown and sole and has a unique variable thickness pattern that delivers more speed across the entire face. - The redesigned HiBore Crown features a prominent step that lowers the CG, while the Ultralight Hosel removes undesirable mass. - A new Miyazaki C. Kua shaft pulls weight from the length of the shaft and repositions it on the grip end, making it feel easier to swing quickly.
GM Review Cleveland impressed us last year with the Launcher HB driver. It offered simple (non-adjustable), no-nonsense distance with a strong, draw biased shape. That trend has continued with this new model and while there has been a £30 price increase, there is extra performance to justify it.
The Launcher HB Turbo looks faster thanks to the raised ridges at the rear of the crown. It has quite a stretched out look from front-to-back and is generally busy on top. The line where the crown drops down a level encourages a closed face when used for alignment, which will help slicers, and we think the matte finish makes the head look more premium.
Out of the middle, this driver can compete with the major players in the category. It gave us ball speeds in excess of 156 mph, nearly 2 mph quicker than with the previous model.
It launched a little lower, but with spin remaining low at around 2300 rpm the carry distance increased, admittedly by under a handful of yards, but the lower, more optimum flight meant we got even more total yardage.
It feels fast and stable at impact but does come with a loud, high-pitched sound that we didn’t overly care for. That said, direction seemed simple to control as we could rely on the draw-biased head to return the ball back to our target, although it did overdo it at times. Off-centre hits held their line well while also maintaining good distance.
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Joel has worked in the golf industry for over 12 years covering both instruction and more recently equipment. He now oversees all product content here at Golf Monthly, managing a team of talented and passionate writers and presenters in delivering the most thorough and accurate reviews, buying advice, comparisons and deals to help the reader find exactly what they are looking for. So whether it's the latest driver, irons, putter or laser rangefinder, Joel has his finger on the pulse keeping up to date with the latest releases in golf. He is also responsible for all content on irons and golf tech, including distance measuring devices and launch monitors.
One of his career highlights came when covering the 2012 Masters he got to play the sacred Augusta National course on the Monday after the tournament concluded, shooting a respectable 86 with just one par and four birdies. To date, his best ever round of golf is a 5-under 67 back in 2011. He currently plays his golf at Burghley Park Golf Club in Stamford, Lincs, with a handicap index of 3.2.
Joel's current What's In The Bag?
Driver: Titleist TSR3, 9°
Fairway wood: Titleist TSR3, 15°
Hybrid: Titleist TSi2, 18°
Irons: Ping i230 4-UW
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8, 54°. Titleist Vokey SM9 60° lob wedge, K Grind
Putter: Evnroll ER2V
Ball: 2023 Titleist Pro V1x
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