New Release! Cleveland Halo XL Full Face Irons

[GolfSpy_APH]

https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/cleveland-halo-xl-full-face-irons-a-groovy-kind-of-love/

Okay we have seen some interesting launches so far, but I have to say this one takes the cake. 

[Rob Person]

I am seriously contemplating fatback style irons for my fsr off distant gaming future. Have not seen any major drawbacks, other than weighty heads.

Read a few reviews here about some as well, realize they are not for everyone. 

[GolfSpy_APH]

Photo Drop!

 

[Shrek74]

I'm very curious to know why more irons don't come full groove like this. I know we see them in wedges now, but I'll be curious to know if it even comes to more irons.

[Rob Person]

These are on of those style clubs I've never tried. And to be honest, they either will work for me, or won't.  I've seen a few blended sets with full back higher irons,  4-7, and would love to try these out.

[Shrek74]

I've often joked that I need a full bag of hybrids since I hit my FW Woods and Hybrids so much better than anything in my bag.

I know SGI irons are generally made for those with slow swing speeds and those with issues getting the ball airborne. I might have to try them from pure curiosity knowing my iron swing just isn't as good as my wood/hybrid swing.

[Rob Person]

2 hours ago, Shrek74 said:

I've often joked that I need a full bag of hybrids since I hit my FW Woods and Hybrids so much better than anything in my bag.

I know SGI irons are generally made for those with slow swing speeds and those with issues getting the ball airborne. I might have to try them from pure curiosity knowing my iron swing just isn't as good as my wood/hybrid swing.

I feel this in my soul. Anything higher than the 8i, and I lose myself. Swapped the 7i for a shorter 7w and enjoying swinging it more

[Shrek74]

11 minutes ago, Rob Person said:

I feel this in my soul. Anything higher than the 8i, and I lose myself. Swapped the 7i for a shorter 7w and enjoying swinging it more

I've carried a 5 iron for years and barely use it and when I do it's a 50/50 "chance" of actually hitting it right. This next round of fittings in May I'm going to get rid of it with my next set and just plan the hybrids/FW to fill in the gaps. Or whatever the fitter recommends the bag makeup to be.

[vamosjackets]

These aren't hybrids throughout the set. They're hybrids in the low irons (SGI), more like general game improvement in the mid, and kind of normal in the high - which could be great if that's what you want.  I tried my dad out in some of these (the Halo XL's) because he started struggling hitting irons so much.  He liked the low irons (which are more like hybrids), but the mid and high irons didn't help him at all.  I've got him fixed up now with woods all the way to 9-wood, hybrids as high as I could find them - up through a 6-hybrid in ping g-425, and from there I found a company called Thomas, (https://www.thomasgolf.com/Hybrids-Right/Mens-AT705) that has hybrid-type clubs all the way up to the mid 50's in loft.  I got him a couple of those that took him all the way up to 42-degrees, which is all he needs.  He's become deadly with the Thomases - and they spin a LOT, surprisingly.  He also has his old 7-iron, pitching-wedge, and sand-wedge for shots around the green.  This setup has him playing the best golf he's played in a loooong time.  Actually shot half his age on 9-holes twice recently (He's 76).   

Edited January 19 by vamosjackets

[SliceBoss]

I hit these at a Srixon/Cleveland demo event last week in Orlando for the grand opening of the Brian Davis Golf Academy.  I have never hit a 7iron better than I did with that club.  The combo of ball flight, distance, and confidence were unparalleled by anything I've hit to date.  I am going on Feb 3 to another Srixon/Cleveland event here in Orlando to investigate further.  I'll report back how that goes...

 

[NC Golfer]

Most will really like these hybrid iron style of clubs. They do look different and that maybe an issue with some people. But, they perform. If money is an issue, I'd look at used HB Turbos. They are as good as the Launcher XL Halo's. 

[Kenny B]

On 1/18/2024 at 10:34 AM, Shrek74 said:

I'm very curious to know why more irons don't come full groove like this. I know we see them in wedges now, but I'll be curious to know if it even comes to more irons.

I wondered that several years ago when I got my Callaway PM Grind 54 and 60 wedges, which are full-face.  At the time I was also looking for a gap wedge that was full-face.  I can't tell you how many times I hit my wedges off the toe when I play on steep slopes with ball below my feet (lots of opportunities at my course), and the grooves have given me decent results.

There are so many things I like about SGI irons (my Bridgestone set), but I absolutely love the feel of my forged MacGregors.  I will certainly look at these next month when I get to Palm Springs.

[Dules]

I was fit for the Halo's  with F2 Helium nanocore shafts & since we have had a few days of amazing weather in WI have hit them outside & on the course.  High & straight are the operative words. So easy to hit. Thought they might be hooky but not a one.  Stealth HD has 2X's the offset & can be hook machines for me. Around the 7 iron it really looks like a normal club albeit big toppling & face.  I went up to GW & cool thing is you can blend Cleveland wedges into this set (full face ) which I did.  I love the counterbalance aspect of Cleveland clubs also.  

But... I must be a club snob as it just is tough for me to look down on this lower clubs. Being a sweeper doesn't matter w/ these but they launch real high as I am already a high ball hitter. Wind could be hurting these Halo's. Thus I also have a set of....

 Tacomo 101's  (opposite spectrum!) and amazed at how easy these are to hit.  Even the 4 iron which I have no need for goes high ( not as high as Halo's) & straight. I have steel KBS Tour lite in R so struggling with steel feel vs a few years in Graphite but these work. I may try graphite on the Tacomo's & I may have a real weapon.

I am left handed a weak 10 handicap, losing swing speed & distance by the day  but each style here offers good dispersion, accuracy & decent - distance 7I at 150yds.  Still experimenting....

[Bobbers]

9 hours ago, Dules said:

I was fit for the Halo's  with F2 Helium nanocore shafts & since we have had a few days of amazing weather in WI have hit them outside & on the course.  High & straight are the operative words. So easy to hit. Thought they might be hooky but not a one.  Stealth HD has 2X's the offset & can be hook machines for me. Around the 7 iron it really looks like a normal club albeit big toppling & face.  I went up to GW & cool thing is you can blend Cleveland wedges into this set (full face ) which I did.  I love the counterbalance aspect of Cleveland clubs also.  

But... I must be a club snob as it just is tough for me to look down on this lower clubs. Being a sweeper doesn't matter w/ these but they launch real high as I am already a high ball hitter. Wind could be hurting these Halo's. Thus I also have a set of....

 Tacomo 101's  (opposite spectrum!) and amazed at how easy these are to hit.  Even the 4 iron which I have no need for goes high ( not as high as Halo's) & straight. I have steel KBS Tour lite in R so struggling with steel feel vs a few years in Graphite but these work. I may try graphite on the Tacomo's & I may have a real weapon.

I am left handed a weak 10 handicap, losing swing speed & distance by the day  but each style here offers good dispersion, accuracy & decent - distance 7I at 150yds.  Still experimenting....

I've collected, for lack of a better term, a set of these, 8,9,P, G, SW in senior (F2) flex graphite shafts (last year's model, not the full face grooves of this year) as I've got the same issues with age and swing speed.  IF the rain holds off tomorrow morning I might actually have a chance to get them on the course.  I'm one who doesn't care a bit what anyone might think/say about what's in my bag, if it works it stays, if it doesn't it goes into the hall of fails.  Most of what I've read/watched suggests they're pretty easy to hit, get good elevation and their biggest drawback is the "stigma" of appearance.

Seems in the UK there's a company which I believe is called Eleven that offers a full set of hybrid irons which look as or more in this vein than the Cleveland Halos.

Edited March 3 by Bobbers
clarity

[Grand Stranded]

I just picked up a set of these 6-GW with the Nanocore Senior flex shafts.

I turned 70 in June, and my swing speed has been declining to the point where I need all the launch I can get.

These will go on their maiden voyage tomorrow, after a get to know you session at the range today. Initial impressions, just based on looks, these seem to have a sleeker and more premium look than the previous versions, and i much prefer the stock shaft and grip in these than was offered in the 2021 release.

[russtopherb]

1 hour ago, Grand Stranded said:

I just picked up a set of these 6-GW with the Nanocore Senior flex shafts.

I turned 70 in June, and my swing speed has been declining to the point where I need all the launch I can get.

These will go on their maiden voyage tomorrow, after a get to know you session at the range today. Initial impressions, just based on looks, these seem to have a sleeker and more premium look than the previous versions, and i much prefer the stock shaft and grip in these than was offered in the 2021 release.

Interesting note, as I've been eying the Halo XLs since they can be had pretty inexpensively right now due to the Full Face being the current gen. 

[Parshooter36]

1 hour ago, Grand Stranded said:

I just picked up a set of these 6-GW with the Nanocore Senior flex shafts.

I turned 70 in June, and my swing speed has been declining to the point where I need all the launch I can get.

These will go on their maiden voyage tomorrow, after a get to know you session at the range today. Initial impressions, just based on looks, these seem to have a sleeker and more premium look than the previous versions, and i much prefer the stock shaft and grip in these than was offered in the 2021 release.

I'll be interested to see how you like them. I just missed out on a 5 & 6 iron set of these on ebay that would've combo'd nicely with my Zipcore XL's. 6 iron is typically where I start to struggle with height, which is exactly what the Halo XL's are designed to help with.

[slash25rc]

Has anyone tried the Cleveland Zipcore XL irons? I am look to upgrade from my PXG 0211s in the next year or so, and need more of a players distance iron versus a true GI with jacked lofts, so these are probably a lateral move but still curious. I'm look at the Mizuno Pro 245/JPX line or Srixon ZX5, but these look pretty good with same Mainframe tech that the Srixon's have. I have Zipcore wedges and I love them, would be interested in at least hitting the XLs!

[Grand Stranded]

On 9/6/2024 at 8:24 AM, Parshooter36 said:

I'll be interested to see how you like them. I just missed out on a 5 & 6 iron set of these on ebay that would've combo'd nicely with my Zipcore XL's. 6 iron is typically where I start to struggle with height, which is exactly what the Halo XL's are designed to help with.

Not good. I returned them after the range session. I don’t know whether it was the A flex Nanocore shafts, the fact the shafts were longer than my Mizuno’s or lie angles were too upright, but I was duck hooking everything with them.

I will say they were very easy to elevate, and the ball seemed to pop off the face. I got lucky because my set was used (but in mint condition) so the guy let me test them.

I never had issues with the prior version so it surprised me I did with these.  I’d definitely say you need to test the shaft rather than buy blind.

 

[Rob Person]

50 minutes ago, Grand Stranded said:

Not good. I returned them after the range session. I don’t know whether it was the A flex Nanocore shafts, the fact the shafts were longer than my Mizuno’s or lie angles were too upright, but I was duck hooking everything with them.

I will say they were very easy to elevate, and the ball seemed to pop off the face. I got lucky because my set was used (but in mint condition) so the guy let me test them.

I never had issues with the prior version so it surprised me I did with these.  I’d definitely say you need to test the shaft rather than buy blind.

 

Oh wow!  I would definitely estimate it's the shafts then. Different kick point?

[Parshooter36]

On 9/11/2024 at 9:53 AM, slash25rc said:

Has anyone tried the Cleveland Zipcore XL irons? I am look to upgrade from my PXG 0211s in the next year or so, and need more of a players distance iron versus a true GI with jacked lofts, so these are probably a lateral move but still curious. I'm look at the Mizuno Pro 245/JPX line or Srixon ZX5, but these look pretty good with same Mainframe tech that the Srixon's have. I have Zipcore wedges and I love them, would be interested in at least hitting the XLs!

I love my Zipcore XL irons, but if you're looking for players distance irons these aren't that. I switched from the OG Srixon ZX4's for the longer blade length of the Zipcore XL's. They are definitely in the game improvement category IMO.

[slash25rc]

8 minutes ago, Parshooter36 said:

I love my Zipcore XL irons, but if you're looking for players distance irons these aren't that. I switched from the OG Srixon ZX4's for the longer blade length of the Zipcore XL's. They are definitely in the game improvement category IMO.

Thanks for the feedback! They are probably similar to my PXG 0211s then--but they do look good!!

[Grand Stranded]

On 9/14/2024 at 8:01 PM, Grand Stranded said:

Not good. I returned them after the range session. I don’t know whether it was the A flex Nanocore shafts, the fact the shafts were longer than my Mizuno’s or lie angles were too upright, but I was duck hooking everything with them.

I will say they were very easy to elevate, and the ball seemed to pop off the face. I got lucky because my set was used (but in mint condition) so the guy let me test them.

I never had issues with the prior version so it surprised me I did with these.  I’d definitely say you need to test the shaft rather than buy blind.

 

A update to this post.

It turns out the set I tested was 2* upright, which probably explained me hooking them. I’ve hit these a few times in the standard setup and haven’t had any issues.

I’m thinking of maybe giving them a go.