Cleveland CBX vs Cleveland Launcher XL
Side-by-side factory specifications. Differing values are highlighted.
Specification comparison
| Club | CBX loft | Launcher XL loft | CBX lie | Launcher XL lie | CBX length | Launcher XL length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 20 | 20 | 61 | 61.5 | 38.875 | 38.875 |
| 5 | 23 | 23 | 61.5 | 62 | 38.25 | 38.25 |
| 6 | 26 | 26 | 62 | 62.5 | 37.625 | 37.625 |
| 7 | 30 | 29 | 62.5 | 63 | 37 | 37 |
| 8 | 34 | 33 | 63 | 63.5 | 36.5 | 36.5 |
| 9 | 39 | 38 | 63.5 | 64 | 36 | 36 |
| PW | 44 | 43 | 64 | 64.5 | 35.75 | 35.75 |
| DW | 50 | 48 | 64.5 | 65 | 35.5 | 35.5 |
Highlighted cells differ between the two sets. Lofts and lies are factory standard.
Lofts compared
- CBX
- Launcher XL
What the differences mean
At the 7-iron, the CBX is 30° and the Launcher XL is 29°, a 1° gap. Each degree of loft is worth roughly 3 to 4 yards of carry at the same swing speed, so the Launcher XL should carry roughly 3 to 4 yards further with that club, on a slightly lower, shallower flight than the CBX. Across the 8 clubs both sets share, the Launcher XL averages 0.8° stronger, with the largest gap at the DW (50° vs 48°). The pitching wedges are 44° and 43°; the stronger one leaves a 7° jump to a 50° gap wedge, which matters when planning wedge gapping. Beyond loft, the CBX 7-iron sits 0.5° flatter (62.5° vs 63°), which nudges start direction slightly right for a right-hander.
The CBX is a game improvement iron and the Launcher XL a super game improvement iron, so they sit one step apart on the forgiveness scale. The Launcher XL is the more forgiving design, with a wider sole, more offset and more perimeter weighting for high handicaps, beginners and slower swing speeds. The CBX 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.
There are 5 years between these sets (2017 and 2022), 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 30° to 29°.
Which should you choose?
The Launcher XL is the stronger-lofted set — up to 2° stronger than the CBX 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 CBX specs and Cleveland Launcher XL specs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cleveland CBX stronger lofted than the Launcher XL?
No. The Launcher XL is the stronger-lofted set: its 7-iron is 29° against 30° for the Cleveland CBX, 1° stronger and worth roughly 3 to 4 yards of extra carry.
What is the loft difference between the Cleveland CBX and Launcher XL?
At the 7-iron the difference is 1° (30° vs 29°). The largest gap on a shared club is 2° at the DW, and 5 of the 8 shared clubs differ.
Which is better for higher handicap golfers, the Cleveland CBX or the Launcher XL?
The Launcher XL. As a super game improvement iron it is the more forgiving design, suited to high handicaps, beginners and slower swing speeds. The Cleveland CBX is a game improvement iron, better suited to roughly 10 to 25 handicaps.
Do the Cleveland CBX and Launcher XL have the same lie and length?
Not exactly. At the 7-iron the Cleveland CBX is 62.5° lie and 37 inches, the Launcher XL 63° and 37 inches. Both can be bent or built to your own fit.
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