Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Vs Callaway X Hot Driver Comparison Overview
The Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo driver is no spring chicken. It debuted all the way back in 2013. The Callaway X Hot driver is not exactly the new kid on the block either; it was introduced to the golf world in 2017.
Yet if you look around your local course the next time you are playing, you are likely to come across these drivers. Why? Because they both still have something to offer mid to high handicap players.
In the following comparison article we are going to be highlighting both the merits and the drawbacks of both of these drivers.
Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Driver Overview
The Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo driver has some of the basic features that are featured in much more expensive drivers.
That being said, it’s important to note that both the Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo and the Callaway X Hot drivers are meant for mid to high handicappers.
With the Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo, you get a good combination of forgiveness and ball speed.
And while this may not affect performance very much, the Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo looks great too.
It comes in a very sleek and clean matte black color and has an aerodynamically designed head.
In fact, the head of the Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo is one of the main draws as the low-pro crown is meant to reduce drag.
Before we get into the performance details of this driver, we must say that it did help with club head speed.
Callaway X Hot Driver Overview
The Callaway X Hot driver is a no-nonsense distance driver that will be a great fit in the bags of beginners and high handicappers.
With an adjustable hosel that allows you to tweak loft and lie, the X Hot driver is surprisingly versatile for a club in its price range.
One of the things we liked the most about the X Hot driver is how fun and easy it is to swing.
The aerodynamic head and large face profile make it a bomb at the driving range for pretty much all skill level players.
While you won’t get much workability from this driver, it is really aimed at helping the player produce straighter, longer shots.
It does a pretty good job of this too as our higher handicap testers were able to get average drive distances of 268 yards.
Both of these drivers really help with accuracy as they can’t naught but to produce straight drives. They also have some similar features that help with forgiveness.
Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Driver in 20 Words or Less
In 20 Words Or Less
The Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo driver is a bit more technologically advanced than the X Hot driver.
Callaway X Hot Driver in 20 Words or Less
In 20 Words or Less
The X Hot driver gives you the most help by increasing ball speeds around the perimeter of the face.
Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo First Impressions
The first thing anyone is likely to notice about this driver is how good it looks.
It’s the type of driver that will tempt you as it is sitting in your bag and one that looks great at point of address too.
Callaway X Hot Driver First Impressions
The Callaway X Hot immediately felt comfortable. This is the kind of driver you can pick up and start swinging with right away.
It’s hard to describe but the best we could come up with is that it feels like an old friend – like a club you have swung with 100 times before even if you’re a beginner.
While there are other drivers in the X Hot family, you can get it in 9 and 10.5 degree loft versions. Also be aware that it has an adjustable hosel so you can manually adjust the loft and lie.
Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Selling Points
- Variable face thickness
- Ultralight hosel
- Deep, low center of gravity
- HiBore crown
- Counterbalanced shaft weighting
- Weighted sole panel
Callaway X Hot Selling Points
- Variable face thickness
- Aerodynamic head design
- Adjustable hosel
- Deep face profile
- 460CC head
- D3 swing weight
Who is the Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo for?
We actually like this driver a bit more for mid handicappers.
The reason being is that it has more advanced features. The intermediate player will appreciate the superior feel of the face and will be able to get more out of the counterbalanced shaft design which allows for better club head speed for players with a moderate swing speed.
The launch was also better with the Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo than it was with the Callaway X
Hot driver so it would also be better for players who are struggling to get the ball high enough for solid carry distances.
The Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo has variable face thickness just like the X Hot driver so in terms of forgiveness, both of these drivers are about the same – you will get good ball speed from both when you hit the dead-center and help with ball speed on shots away from the sweet spot.
Distance: 93/100
Feel & Control: 92/100
Accuracy: 92/100
Forgiveness: 93/100
Overall Score: 93/100
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Who is the Callaway X Hot Driver for?
The X Hot driver will benefit high handicappers and beginners the most.
The X Hot driver imparts a comfortable feel on the downswing which will help new players feel more confident. That coupled with the large face profile will help with contact.
It should also be noted that most of our testers were getting average drive distances with the X hot that were longer than the Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo – the X Hot driver played a minute yet noteworthy 4 yards longer than the Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo on average.
The adjustable loft and lie are definitely a plus for this driver over the Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo.
However, the X Hot driver definitely gives the feel of a lower-tier golf club and it was producing lower apex heights than the Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo.
Distance: 94/100
Feel & Control: 90/100
Accuracy: 92/100
Forgiveness: 93/100
Overall Rating: 92/100
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