Cleveland 588 Altitude vs Cleveland Launcher HB
Side-by-side factory specifications. Differing values are highlighted.
Specification comparison
| Club | 588 Altitude loft | Launcher HB loft | 588 Altitude lie | Launcher HB lie | 588 Altitude length | Launcher HB length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 19 | — | 60 | — | 39.75 | — |
| 4 | 21 | 21 | 60.75 | 61 | 39.125 | 38.875 |
| 5 | 24 | 24 | 61.5 | 61.5 | 38.5 | 38.25 |
| 6 | 27 | 27 | 62.25 | 62 | 37.875 | 37.625 |
| 7 | 31 | 30 | 63 | 62.5 | 37.25 | 37 |
| 8 | 35 | 34 | 63.5 | 63 | 36.75 | 36.5 |
| 9 | 39 | 39 | 64 | 63.5 | 36.25 | 36 |
| PW | 44 | 44 | 64.5 | 64 | 35.75 | 35.75 |
| GW | 49 | — | 64.5 | — | 35.5 | — |
| DW | — | 50 | — | 64.5 | — | 35.5 |
| SW | 54 | 56 | 64.5 | 64.5 | 35.25 | 35.5 |
Highlighted cells differ between the two sets. Lofts and lies are factory standard.
Lofts compared
- 588 Altitude
- Launcher HB
What the differences mean
At the 7-iron, the 588 Altitude is 31° and the Launcher HB is 30°, a 1° gap. Each degree of loft is worth roughly 3 to 4 yards of carry at the same swing speed, so the Launcher HB should carry roughly 3 to 4 yards further with that club, on a slightly lower, shallower flight than the 588 Altitude. Across the 8 clubs both sets share, the differences roughly cancel out, with the largest gap at the SW (54° vs 56°). Beyond loft, the Launcher HB 7-iron sits 0.5° flatter (63° vs 62.5°), which nudges start direction slightly right for a right-hander; the 588 Altitude 7-iron is 0.25 inches longer (37.25" vs 37").
The sets are built differently: the 588 Altitude runs 3-iron to SW (10 clubs), the Launcher HB 4-iron to SW (9 clubs).
The 588 Altitude is a game improvement iron and the Launcher HB a super game improvement iron, so they sit one step apart on the forgiveness scale. The Launcher HB is the more forgiving design, with a wider sole, more offset and more perimeter weighting for high handicaps, beginners and slower swing speeds. The 588 Altitude trades some of that for a more compact head, thinner topline and more control over flight and shape, which suits roughly 10 to 25 handicaps.
The 588 Altitude is listed as full-hollow body with forged face and bendable hosel and the Launcher HB as hollow body. Both use hollow-body heads, so both trade a little feel for face flex and launch help.
There are 5 years between these sets (2013 and 2018), more than one design generation. Over that time irons moved toward stronger lofts, thinner and faster faces, hollow and multi-material heads and wider use of tungsten, so the newer set is not simply a better version of the older one: it may launch and spin quite differently. Here the 7-iron loft moved from 31° to 30°.
Which should you choose?
The Launcher HB is the stronger-lofted set — up to 2° stronger than the 588 Altitude on matching clubs. Expect longer carry per numbered iron but a flatter descent angle; gapping at the wedge end is where that shows up.
Both charts are reproduced in full on their own pages: Cleveland 588 Altitude specs and Cleveland Launcher HB specs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cleveland 588 Altitude stronger lofted than the Launcher HB?
No. The Launcher HB is the stronger-lofted set: its 7-iron is 30° against 31° for the Cleveland 588 Altitude, 1° stronger and worth roughly 3 to 4 yards of extra carry.
What is the loft difference between the Cleveland 588 Altitude and Launcher HB?
At the 7-iron the difference is 1° (31° vs 30°). The largest gap on a shared club is 2° at the SW, and 3 of the 8 shared clubs differ.
Which is better for higher handicap golfers, the Cleveland 588 Altitude or the Launcher HB?
The Launcher HB. As a super game improvement iron it is the more forgiving design, suited to high handicaps, beginners and slower swing speeds. The Cleveland 588 Altitude is a game improvement iron, better suited to roughly 10 to 25 handicaps.
Do the Cleveland 588 Altitude and Launcher HB have the same lie and length?
Not exactly. At the 7-iron the Cleveland 588 Altitude is 63° lie and 37.25 inches, the Launcher HB 62.5° and 37 inches. Both can be bent or built to your own fit.
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