Cleveland Launcher vs Cleveland Launcher HB
Side-by-side factory specifications. Differing values are highlighted.
Specification comparison
| Club | Launcher loft | Launcher HB loft | Launcher lie | Launcher HB lie | Launcher length | Launcher HB length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 20.5 | — | 60 | — | 39.375 | — |
| 4 | 23 | 21 | 60.5 | 61 | 38.75 | 38.875 |
| 5 | 26 | 24 | 61 | 61.5 | 38.125 | 38.25 |
| 6 | 29 | 27 | 61.5 | 62 | 37.5 | 37.625 |
| 7 | 33 | 30 | 62.5 | 62.5 | 37 | 37 |
| 8 | 37 | 34 | 63 | 63 | 36.5 | 36.5 |
| 9 | 41 | 39 | 64 | 63.5 | 36 | 36 |
| PW | 45 | 44 | 64.5 | 64 | 35.5 | 35.75 |
| DW | 50 | 50 | 65 | 64.5 | 35.25 | 35.5 |
| SW | 55 | 56 | 65 | 64.5 | 35 | 35.5 |
Highlighted cells differ between the two sets. Lofts and lies are factory standard.
Lofts compared
- Launcher
- Launcher HB
What the differences mean
At the 7-iron, the Launcher is 33° and the Launcher HB is 30°, a 3° 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 9 to 12 yards further with that club, on a slightly lower, shallower flight than the Launcher. Across the 9 clubs both sets share, the Launcher HB averages 1.6° stronger, with the largest gap at the 7-iron (33° vs 30°). The pitching wedges are 45° and 44°; the stronger one leaves a 6° jump to a 50° gap wedge, which matters when planning wedge gapping.
The sets are built differently: the Launcher runs 3-iron to SW (10 clubs), the Launcher HB 4-iron to SW (9 clubs).
The Launcher 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 Launcher 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 13 years between these sets (2005 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 33° to 30°.
Which should you choose?
The Launcher HB is the stronger-lofted set — up to 3° stronger than the Launcher 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 Launcher specs and Cleveland Launcher HB specs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cleveland Launcher stronger lofted than the Launcher HB?
No. The Launcher HB is the stronger-lofted set: its 7-iron is 30° against 33° for the Cleveland Launcher, 3° stronger and worth roughly 9 to 12 yards of extra carry.
What is the loft difference between the Cleveland Launcher and Launcher HB?
At the 7-iron the difference is 3° (33° vs 30°). The largest gap on a shared club is 3° at the 7-iron, and 8 of the 9 shared clubs differ.
Which is better for higher handicap golfers, the Cleveland Launcher 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 Launcher is a game improvement iron, better suited to roughly 10 to 25 handicaps.
Do the Cleveland Launcher and Launcher HB have the same lie and length?
At the 7-iron, yes: both are 62.5° lie and 37 inches long.
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