Cleveland HiBORE Driver Review
Although it might sound like the name of a not-very-good stand-up comedian from Ohio, the HiBORE is a pretty serious club. In terms of shape it is a radical departure from most of what has come before it. This is due to its design which has, as its objective, the same kind of aims of other drivers – longer, more powerful drives even if the ball is not hit dead-center. The club’s “sweet spot” (the same term used for tennis rackets) is said to align perfectly with the center of gravity in a process which Cleveland calls DDG (Distance Driven Geometry). Put simply, it is claimed that the center of gravity of the HiBORE is lower than that of any driver to date, and will therefore greatly reward dead-center shots and be particularly forgiving of shots which are not struck with the aforementioned sweet spot.
As to whether it works…the majority of comments from users are positive.
The HiBORE is particularly praised for its accuracy. A number of users have commented on the sound the club makes at impact, comparing it almost to the sound of an aluminum baseball bat hitting a ball. Whlle it does not garner as many comments about length of drive as the TaylorMade Burner, the HiBORE still gets plenty of positive feedback on this issue.
This club is considered a good club for the average player, but lower-handicap players are recommended to try it out before committing to it. The radically different shape has led some players to say that it takes a lot of getting used to. In regard to the claim that the club is forgiving of inaccurately hit shots, some users agree while others have commented that the design of the club’s head has the opposite effect, necessitating an accurate shot if the user is to make the best of the club.
Overall, though, the Cleveland HiBORE has won over a lot of golfers and we will no doubt be hearing more about it in the future. Whether its radical design is the future of golf or an interesting aberration remains to be seen.