50 Words or Less
The Cleveland Launcher XL HALO irons are very large, hybrid-style iron. Massive forgiveness and plenty of distance. Ideal for the player looking to have more fun on the course.
Introduction
With so many new players, golf needs more iron sets built to make the game fun for the beginner. The Cleveland Launcher XL HALO irons fit that mold perfectly, using a large, hollow head design to promote forgiveness and distance.
Looks
If you’re looking for a traditional beauty, this one isn’t for the you. The Cleveland Launcher XL HALO irons are big. That starts with a very thick top line and continues to the large “back” that sticks out beyond it. As you would expect, there’s also a substantial amount of offset.
Cleveland does use a couple tricks to make the Launcher XL HALO look a bit smaller. The “back” is a different color than the top line, so it’s less noticeable at address. Similarly, the toe and heel are chrome which puts all the focus on the matte grooved area, making the face look smaller.
Ultimately, even David Copperfield couldn’t make this look like a blade, but that’s ok. For the player that finds confidence in a larger club head, the Launcher XL HALO will be great.
If you want a lot of forgiveness in a more traditional package, check out the Cleveland Launcher XL irons HERE.
Sound & Feel
My feel expectations for a big, hollow iron are never high, but the Cleveland Launcher XL HALO surprised me. Impact creates a crisp “click” and a feel that’s neither hollow nor solid. Usually trying to split the difference like that isn’t very satisfying, but hitting this iron is fun.
If you’re looking for pinpoint feedback from your iron, this is not the one. The HALO iron is built for stability, so you’ll be able to tell a pure strike from a mishit and that’s about all.
Performance
The primary reason that someone is going to play the Cleveland Launcher XL HALO irons is forgiveness. This set has the highest MOI of any Cleveland Golf hybrid-iron, and that’s obvious in the results. You can hit the ball all over the face and get playable results.
This iron set is also long. Ball speed on and off center are excellent. Combined with fairly high launch and low spin, that means a lot of distance. And they’re not just long on pure strikes – even mishits get up in the air and carry a long way.
My primary concern when I got these irons in hand was hitting hooks. These irons are fairly upright, and they want to sit shut at address. I was pleasantly surprised to find that, despite those characteristics, the Launcher XL HALO irons really want to go straight. In my testing, they were as point-and-shoot as any club I can remember. It is fair to think I was making some subconscious compensations, but I wasn’t consciously fighting them and the results were outstanding.
Finally, I want to mention the clever way that Cleveland has designed the soles of these irons. In the long and mid irons (seen in these photos), the soles have Gliderails to help the club skate along the turf. In the shorter irons, Cleveland uses a V-shaped sole, reminiscent of some of their wedges. Finally, the Dual and Sand Wedges have a 3-Tiered Sole. This reflects a very thoughtful design that goes beyond distance and forgiveness.
The Accuracy Build that Cleveland is offering in their Launcher XL Hybrid [review HERE], Fairway Wood [review HERE], and Hy-Wood [review HERE] is also available in the Launcher XL HALO irons. This configuration removes the 8 gram counter weight and shortens the shaft half an inch.
Conclusion
Whether you’re new to the game or simply want to take the stress of your approach shots, the Cleveland Launcher XL HALO irons are perfect. These clubs will take almost any kind of swing and produce a ball flight that will put a smile on your face.
Visit Cleveland Golf HERE
Cleveland Launcher XL HALO Irons Price & Specs
Matt Saternus
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I just ordered a Cleveland Launcher XL Halo 4 iron! Looks like a riot!
I play with the 4-9 irons of this model (dynamic gold shafts though) and absolutely love them. Also use the older halo 2 hybrid. Makes golf easier and more fun. Handicap down to a 7. Can’t recommend them highly enough. Used to be a brand snob. Glad I’m not anymore.
James,
Amazing to hear that a 7 handicap is playing these! Congrats on the handicap drop!
-Matt
Same here, I play them and am an 8 HC. I also use the last gen 2 hybrid at 16 degrees and the smart sole 4 chipper. Goal is to be under 5 by years end.
I’m a 10 handicap and changed my Callaway apex pro irons for the halo irons and can’t believe how easy hitting the greens from outside 170 has become, you swing easy and it just flies high and stops on the green , will only improve my handicap for certain in the near future
Great review, im a 3 handicap and have been demoing some SGI for the fun of it to see if they could help me out at all, and I found that the longer the iron the more I missed left, starting with the 7. 7 and longer just sit so shut for me that as a guy whos miss is already left, I couldnt play them. Definitely see the benefit though, and plan on finding a place to demo the Launch Pads. Would you say the Launch Pads have a longer or shorter head length compared to these? Wondering because the long head of the Clevelands was something I enjoyed. Also, I loved the new XL Launcher traditional irons, any plans to review those?
Bradley,
Matt Meeker has a review of the Launch Pad irons here: https://pluggedingolf.com/wilson-launch-pad-irons-review/
We will have a review of the Launcher XL irons up in the coming weeks.
Best,
Matt
Hi there,
I am hoping you will be able to tell me when these irons will be available in the uk .
Many thanks.
I don’t have that information. I would suggest contacting Cleveland Golf.
Best,
Matt
i was wondering if the irons are spaced out so the 4 iron is not the same as the 5 iron and so on…is there any kind of gap on each iron…I had a old set years ago and it seemed that the 4 5 6 irons all seem to go the same distante ..if this true with the Halo’s
Stephen,
Those diminishing returns are common among most iron sets with stronger lofts.
Best,
Matt
Hi Matt
I own and play the Adams Idea A70 OS Max Hybrid Set since 2010. (Started playing golf then)- I like them very much and hit them great but would like to upgrade. I was thinking these Halo’s maybe the closest newer set to my clubs, or should I be looking to go and advance to a more traditional club and only use hybrids for the longer irons.
I am a Senior my handicap is a 12.
Patrick,
When you say that you want to upgrade, what does that mean to you? As a 12, you can play just about anything you want, so I need to understand what you’re looking for to make any kind of recommendation.
Best,
Matt
Hi, I tried these out at a store and found the steel shafts really made a very positive impact on accuracy but cost about 10 yards in distance and dispersion over the R graphite. I suspect the senior shafts would result in even wider dispersion. I’m reluctant to give up the distance but the line is more valuable to me. Any suggestions?
thanks,
Dennis,
Yes, get a quality fitting where you can find a shaft that is long and accurate for your swing.
Best,
Matt
I really want to consider these irons. My fear is that the success I have hitting them in the store will not be duplicated once I bring them out to the range and on the golf course. I play to a 12 and currently use Mizuno JPX900 Hot Metals with senior graphite shafts. What worked best for me with the Halo was standard graphite (over steel). Any thoughts on my concern about hitting them in the store verses the real world?
Frank,
The honeymoon effect of new gear is a real thing, but at some point you need to trust that if one club outperforms another in a store/simulator, those results will carry over to the real world. If you’re very concerned about this, you might look into the store’s return policy.
-Matt
I ordered a 6iron one of these,I have a mixed bag of clubs taylormade m3 driver,cobra 3 wood and hybrid 3,4,sub 70 irons 6 thru pw,and a calloway mac daddy 52 wedge ,have a 5 iron m3 taylormade.I will probably add 1inch to this club cus im a little taller,I hit my sub70 6iron about 180yards will see if this cleveland club is better.stay tuned.
Own a set of original launcher hb’s in regular flex….the long irons are too heavy and had shafts refitted to stiff flex….only way to avoid hooking like crazy…..short irons are deadly accurate as they come out of box….
I have a set of Halo Launcher XL iron set. Very good hybrid iron and forgiveness. More accuracy and more distance compare to my previous set. I manage to play single handicap in first time and try to maintain it. I recommend to every one to have this set.
I want to thank Cleveland for designing these amazing clubs. I’ve always struggled with irons even when they were fitted. I’ve tried all the major brands. I can’t believe how the right equipment can bring back the joy of golf. I love the flush feel when I hit the Launcher Halo XLs.
I have had every set of Cleveland HiBore iron sets since they came out. I now own the Launcher Turbo irons 5-DW. I have shot my age (77) three times this past year. I thought I would like the more traditional looking iron especially around the greens for better short shots with the thinner face. Well after buying a new set of Callaway DCB (most forgiving set they make) and a new set of Mizuno JPX 921 irons in the last two years, I am back to my Turbo’s. I was professionally fitted on both new iron sets indoors on mats and I hit them great until I hit them outside on real grass. OOPS! My friends told me I was crazy and they were right. Well like any golfer I am always looking to improve so I am now thinking about the new Halo’s. Here I go again but this time I will be trying clubs that I know I can hit outside. I know what you are thinking and yes I might be crazy but most golf nuts are.
Hi, Appreciate your review(s). Here’s my dilemma. I don’t have any problem getting ball up, but would like a higher trajectory coming into greens. I also wouldn’t mind some added distance. My current irons are Adams A-4 idea hybrids, thought these may be comparable with the added benefits mentioned. Appreciate your thoughts.
Bob,
Yes, I think those are reasonable expectations for these clubs. I would always recommend being fit so that you know exactly what you’re getting before you buy.
Best,
Matt
Matt I have a set of 2023 PXG 0211 XCOR2 they are beautiful so I tried to get rid of my 2022 Halo XL’s and nobody would buy them so I said I will just own 2 sets no problem my son might start…Guess which set sits in my Garage….You are correct! So glad nobody bought them! 6 hdcp I did bend them Flat 1* and wow is all I can say…My friends have stopped making fun of my Cleveland Halo XL irons❤️
i would like to change my grip on my cleveland xl launchei driver but i don,t nkow if the counter weight is in the shaft or the grip i would like to put on a winn dri tac grip
Mervin,
I’m not certain where the counter weight is either. I would suggest contacting Cleveland to see if they can provide any details.
-Matt