Equipment
2013 Cleveland Classic XL Custom Driver
Cleveland’s new premium driver for 2013, the Classic XL Custom, is the company’s first adjustable driver.
The new model is a revamped version of Cleveland’s Classic driver from last year, which featured a gold and Burgandy paint scheme that made the 440cc head look like a a blown up version of the persimmon drivers that were popular decades ago.
This year’s version has the same persimmon graphics, but features a blacked-out color scheme, a 20cc larger head, an adjustable hosel and an adjustable weight port. The 12-way adjustable hosel allows golfers to adjust the loft of the driver as much as 1.50 degrees higher or lower in 0.50-degree increments. It also gives golfers the ability to adjust face angle as much as 1.5 degrees up or down in 0.75-degree increments.
For every 0.5 degrees of loft that is added to a Classic XL Custom Driver, the face angle will be closed 0.75 degrees. For every 0.5 degrees of loft that is subtracted, the face will be opened 0.75 degrees. When 0.75 degrees of upright lie angle is added, the face opens 0.75 degrees and the loft is lowered by 0.5 degrees. When 0.75 degrees of lie angle is subtracted, the face is closed 0.75 degrees and 1 degree of loft is added.
The Cleveland Classic XL Custom Driver is available in lofts of 7.5 (RH only), 9 and 10.5. The head is shipped with a square face angle and a standard lie angle of 61.5 degrees. The total club weight is 285 grams with a 45-inch stock shaft, giving it a swing weight of D5. The driver’s removable rear weight port supports interchangeable 3, 7 or 11-gram weights (extra weights sold separately).
Stock Shafts: Miyazaki JDL 6 (mid launch), Miyazaki JDL 5 (lightweight, mid launch), Fubuki Tour 53 (lightweight, high launch) and Matrix Ozik Black Tie 6M3 (penetrating launch).
Check out the photos we snapped below of the Classic XL Custom at the Humana Classic, and click here for more discussion in the “Tour/Pre-release equipment” forum.
Click here for more discussion in the “Tour/Pre-release equipment” forum.
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Equipment
Michael Block spotted with full set of TaylorMade “Proto” irons at Valhalla
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
On Monday at the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club, Block had a full set of TaylorMade “Proto” irons in the bag.
Block is the first player of many on the PGA TOUR to bag a set of the mysterious “Proto” irons. Rory McIlroy first switched into a “Proto” 4-iron at the Valero Texas Open, and Collin Morikawa followed suit at the 2024 RBC Heritage. Block isn’t using just the 4-iron, though, he’s using a full set to go along with a TaylorMade Stealth UDI driving iron.
Speaking with GolfWRX.com on Monday at the PGA Championship, Block revealed the full backstory.
“I hit a couple super “Proto” irons when I was at the Kingdom (TaylorMade’s fitting facility in Southern California) a couple months ago, and it was a 9-iron that didn’t have any badges or anything on it,” Block said. “I had no idea what it was … It was very similar to what I was using back then, you know, my old MCs, and very similar from the top. I hit it and absolutely loved it. For me to even think about switching irons from the last 11-12 years is crazy.
“I got this set about two weeks ago, and I’m working my way into them. I hit them more solid; it comes off the face more solid. Much higher. I think they’re still slightly too upright for me, so they’re being bent a degree flatter, because they’re going a little too high for me and drawing a little too much. When that starts to happen, I start to drop the club under and compensate too much, so I’m getting them flattened slightly, and I’m going to test them on the range again, and hopefully have them in play on Thursday…
“They go further, and they go higher … that combination is kind of a no-brainer. If I can take a 5-iron from 204 rather than a 4-iron, it’s good on me. It’s going to help me out for sure, especially at a major with the pin locations. Having that height coming in, that descent angle is going to be huge.”
With such new irons in the bag, after using the same irons for over a decade, surely you’d think there will be a bit of a learning curve. Block, however, is finding immediate comfort with the new “Proto” irons.
Head over to PGATour.com for the full article.
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Whats in the Bag
WITB Time Machine: Rory McIlroy’s winning WITB, 2014 PGA Championship
It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since Rory McIlroy outlasted Phil Mickelson at the 2014 PGA Championship. It’s even harder to believe McIlroy hasn’t hoisted a major trophy since his 2014 victory at Valhalla.
After a slow start to his final round, McIlroy tallied an eagle and two birdies on the back nine and his fourth major championship. Take a look at the clubs he played a decade ago in Kentucky.
Driver: Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 Tour (8.5 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kuro Kage XTS 70X
3-wood: Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 Tour (15 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Rombax Pro 95 X
5-wood: Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 Tour (19 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Rombax Pro 95 X
Irons: Nike VR Pro Blade (4-9) Buy here.
Shaft: Project X 7.0
Wedges: Nike VR Forged (46, 52, 56, 60 degrees) Buy here.
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Putter: Nike Method 006 Buy here.
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Ball: Nike RZN Black
Check out more in-hand photos of Rory McIlroy’s clubs from 2014 here.
WITB Time Machine is presented by 2nd Swing Golf. 2nd Swing has more than 100,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
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Whats in the Bag
Tiger Woods WITB 2024 (May)
- Tiger Woods WITB accurate as of the PGA Championship. In-hand photos from 2024 Genesis Open. Check out more photos of Tiger at Valhalla here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 LS (10.5 degrees @9.75)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 X
5-wood: TaylorMade M3 (19 degrees @18.25)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX
- Check out more in-hand photos of Tiger Woods’ WITB in the forums.
- Check out more photos of Tiger at Valhalla here.
Irons: 2023 TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade P7TW (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 Raw (56-12TW, 60-TW11)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
- Check out more in-hand photos of Tiger Woods’ WITB in the forums.
- Check out more photos of Tiger at Valhalla here.
Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS prototype
Grip: Ping PP58 Blackout
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X (2024)
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord 58R
- Check out more in-hand photos of Tiger Woods’ WITB in the forums.
- Check out more photos of Tiger at Valhalla here.
More Tiger Woods WITBs
- Tiger Woods WITB 2024 (February)
- Tiger Woods WITB 2023 (November)
- Tiger Woods WITB 2023 (February)
- Tiger Woods WITB 2022 (December) (new in-hand photos)
- Tiger Woods WITB 2022 (July)
- Tiger Woods WITB at the 2022 PGA Championship (with a new 2-iron!)
- Tiger Woods WITB: 2022 Masters
- Tiger Woods WITB 2021 PNC Championship (new in-hand photos)
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James Strachan
Mar 6, 2015 at 11:42 am
Too much bull…. about this club hitting it 20 – 30yds longer. Stop all the dreaming. On a test with identical balls (10 with each club) I hit it almost exactly the same distance as with a TM R9 Superdeep – the big difference being the Cleveland’s dispersal was just 9 yards whilst the TM’s was 25 yards! Make of that whatever you wish (from a 5 handicapper).
tracy
Aug 20, 2014 at 7:07 pm
different weights do not come with product must be purchased separately.
MBA-J
Mar 4, 2014 at 12:32 pm
If you are a fan of deep-faced, low-spin drivers, the Cleveland Classic XL Custom may be the best driver ever produced.
Shawn
Feb 15, 2014 at 3:43 am
Got one for a hundred dollars on 3balls with the black tie shaft gorgeous club love it to death very forgiving and long. Also got the matching fairway, cleveland went down hill with the 588 but the previous classic series was a huge winner.
Barry Henderson
Sep 4, 2013 at 11:43 am
I hit this club consistantly Longer (20 -30 yards) and straighter than any other driver I have tested. I have spent weeks working out which is the best ‘next club’ for my set, and just purchased this one. Driving average with this club 307 yards.
Bob jones
Apr 23, 2013 at 9:03 am
McDowell is still using the old Cleveland Classic 290. Just won the Heritage with it. Must be the extra 5 grams.
ToTo
Mar 29, 2013 at 3:46 pm
I hit this and a number of other drivers at Golfsmith today and this driver was generally as long and straight as any I hit. Felt very solid and I was impressed. Am going back to spend more time with shaft options but I never imagined going in I would like it.. I DID! I hit X Hot, G25, R1 and others in comparison.
gunmetal
Jan 21, 2013 at 7:33 pm
Gorgeous club. Keegan will keep pounding it past his playing partners but it’s still TM’s world given their obsession with paying everyone and their dog to wear an R’insert whatever here’ hat and use the headcover.
Phil
Jan 15, 2013 at 11:38 pm
Did that say driver head weighs 285 grams???? Uh…
Zak Kozuchowski
Jan 16, 2013 at 6:19 pm
You’re right. Total club weight is 285 grams.
pat
Feb 3, 2015 at 6:43 am
what is the length of this driver zach
Kevin
Apr 19, 2016 at 9:58 pm
With interchangeable weights the swing weight and total should change. Anyone know what the swing weights are for 3, 7 and 11 gram weights?
Square
Jan 15, 2013 at 8:21 pm
Really nice!!! Can’t wait to hit it. I’m over the white drivers.
P
Jan 15, 2013 at 2:02 am
Thank you Cleveland for giving me my next driver upgrade – in BLACK, and not any other silly colors.
John Erickson
Jan 14, 2013 at 11:17 pm
I like it I think Graeme has had one in play for some time. He lost a ‘weight’ of his classic driver at Ryder Cup.
Jason
Jan 14, 2013 at 8:35 pm
Good lookin’ big stick man. Definite improvement over 2012
tlmck
Jan 14, 2013 at 4:40 pm
Definitely getting one of these next year when they go on clearance.