Is The Cleveland Hibore XL Driver Still Good – Forgiving For High Handicappers?
“You drive for show, but putt for dough!”
That famous golf saying might be true for the pros, but let’s be honest, for a casual golfer, if you are struggling off the tee, getting near the green isn’t going to be that simple.
Today, we look at the Cleveland Hibore XL driver, particularly with casual golfers and high handicappers in mind.
Hibore technology is something that’s become extremely popular, so with the XL in hand, we went down to the range to let some golf balls fly.
Here’s what we found.
Is The Cleveland Hibore XL Driver Still Good?
In a nutshell, YES!
Make a decent connection with this driver, and the ball will fly for ages, that’s for sure.
What’s more, the Hibore XL is a massive upgrade on the previous model.
In fact, the 460cc head size is 20 percent bigger, while compared to the earlier version, the face has grown by 11 percent as well, which helps the club not to twist at impact.
So if you’ve tried previous versions and liked them, then you’ll love this one too, perhaps even more so thanks to the upgrades it’s received.
While looks don’t make a golf club, the Hibore XL is aesthetically pleasing and, from that point of view, a great addition to your bag.
Is The Cleveland Hibore XL Driver Still Forgiving For High Handicappers?
The large dimensions of both the head and the club face are something that’s going to benefit high handicappers and help lower their scores, without a doubt.
Why?
Well, for the most part, you’ll be more consistent off the tee, and with the ability of the Hibore XL to add some length to your drive, you’ll get closer to the pin.
That’s thanks to the fact that while the head and club face size have increased quite significantly, the driver itself is easy to swing thanks to its weight distribution, most of which can be found deep in the head and fairly low down.
We found that this helped keep the ball up for a long period of time, hence excellent distance while driving.
We also found it to be extremely forgiving, even when you’ve not made the best possible contact.
What we also noticed is that the face of the Hibore XL is fairly closed, and for those of you who tend to slice your drives, this will help reduce that significantly.
Cleveland Hibore XL Driver First Impressions
There’s no doubt that this is a good-looking driver, thanks to its scoop-back design.
You’ll notice the large head and increased face size straight away when compared to the earlier Hibore drivers, but it’s the gunmetal finish that we really loved.
Pull it out of your bag on the course, and your playing partners are sure to ask you what it is that you are driving with.
After taking a few swings to get our groove in, we immediately noticed that, when compared to similar drivers, the Hibore XL does give extra distance.
In some cases, we were launching the ball up to 30 yards further.
When you middle the ball, the sound the Hibore XL makes will be music to your ears as well.
Some might complain that it’s a little loud, but that’s how we like it.
To sum up our first impressions, the Hibore XL will add distance to your driving, and that doesn’t come at a cost.
In fact, this good-looking driver is forgiving even when you don’t find the sweet spot.
Cleveland Hibore XL Driver Selling Points
- Weight distribution low down and deep in the head
- Closed face helps golfers reduce slicing
- Fairly forgiving
- Will add distance off the tee
- Visually, it’s a stunner!
- Well priced
Cleveland Hibore XL Driver Key Features
A range of lofts available
These include 8.5°, 9.5°, 10.5°, 11.5°, and 16°.
Weight distribution
With the Hibore XL, the weight has been taken out of the crown and is now located low down, deep in the head.
High launch characteristics
Because of the weight distribution mentioned above, one of the key features of the Hibore XL when compared to other similar drivers is its high launch characteristics.
D5 swing weight
While it might mean you have to make some adjustments to your swing speed (slow it down if you generally swing fast), the D5 swing weight helps give the Hibore XL its extra distance.
What Handicap Is It For?
Without a doubt, this is an excellent driver for casual golfers or those who currently have a fairly high handicap and are looking to improve.
If you tend to slice your drives, the slightly closed face will help you curb that too, giving you a straighter shot from the tee box and, therefore, far more distance.
If you are looking for more length, that’s where the Hibore XL excels, while higher handicappers who don’t strike the ball as consistently as they would like will love the overall forgiving nature of this driver.
Who should buy the Cleveland Hibore XL Driver?
For golfers who like some choice when it comes to the overall loft of their driver, the Hibore XL won’t disappoint.
We’ve already mentioned that there are five lofts available, starting at 8.5° and going up to 16°.
And if you are a left-hander? Is the Hibore available?
Yes, Cleveland does make this driver available in a left-handed option.
As a casual golfer who’s not looking to spend too much on a top-of-the-line driver, adding the Hibore XL to your bag makes complete sense.
Distance: 99/100
Forgiveness: 95/100
Feel & Control: 94/100
Value: 98/100
Overall Score: 96/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Aidan is a low-handicap golfer who came from over 110 to breaking 80 in less than 1 year.
Aidan has become obsessed with becoming a scratch golfer and plays golf on every possible occasion, even in the snow!
