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.
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX
Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.
@Lamosteve began:
Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine
Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
- JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
- jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”
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J.T. Poston’s winning WITB: 2026 Memorial Tournament
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Best irons 2026: Best irons overall, most forgiving irons, and more
Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
Asterisk Talley WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
Brianna Do WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 3-wood: Callaway Elyte Titanium (15 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 5-wood:...
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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.