Drivers

FIRST LOOK! – 2012 (RETRO) Cleveland Classic Driver

BY MyGolfSpy
Nov 7th 2011
Read all comments

What’s Old Is New Again!

Recently Graeme McDowell gave all his Twitter followers a sneak-peek of a new prototype Cleveland Golf has been working on. For the last month or so there have been a few rumors floating around regarding a new “retro” driver coming out from Cleveland Golf. Now…the whole “retro” theme means different things to different people. So it can be a tough nut to crack from a design standpoint.

How do you make a driver that will appeal to golfers fond memories & look the part for the younger demographic…but also perform?

Kudos To Cleveland

Easier said then done. Which might be why few large OEM’s have taken that risk and why even fewer of the companies who have tried to mesh modern driver head technology with nostalgic characteristics from past models have all been unsuccessful up until this point.

All that being said…I will say from a looks standpoint alone I have to give kudos to the design team at Cleveland on this retro rendition. I think they did a admirable job!

// WHAT DO YOU THINK?

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comments

Join The Discussion

bill

12 years ago

I just bought the 290 last week and have played three rounds with it. I am a 4 handicapper with a swing speed of 102………….This driver is the longest and straightest BY FAR. My average drives were approx. 293 with the longest being 312. I hit 37 out of 42 fairways. I own 13 other high end drivers and will NEVER go back to them.

bryan

11 years ago

hey bill, can you tell me what specs you got in your classic driver. Im looking at getting the 290 with 7.5 loft. swing speed 105.

Thanks Mate

bill

11 years ago

Bryan, I bought the 10.5* with stock STIFF shaft……In my opinion, you may lose distance with a 7.5*……..From what I was told by a Cleveland rep, was that because it has such a deep face they were recommending people who use lower degree lofts should go higher or they will lose distance…..Just a thought, bill

bryan

11 years ago

Thanks mate

JoJo

12 years ago

Geesh people are kinda harsh! I love it!

bandwagon

12 years ago

Seeing this in person and actually hitting it, I must say it looks good and performs very well. Really looking forward to people’s reactions when they see it in person.

Gary

12 years ago

If they really want to make it look “retro,” why not just sandblast the top and sides like the original Taylormade?

mygolfspy

12 years ago

Probably because there is more ways then 1 to make a design look retro. And this version goes back a little further then the original TM.

Yotes

12 years ago

This is one ugly looking driver, but when I hit it, it gave me 25 more yards than the Taylormade Rocketballz and Callaway Razr. I used to care how a club looked, but these days, I just want results. Had to buy one!

Mark p

12 years ago

It’s a beautiful sight! Smooth clean and simple.

bill

12 years ago

Thank you………….someone with an operating brain.

bandwagon

12 years ago

saw some “in hand” pictures and video on another site this morning. I must say it looks better than it does in GMAC’s pictures. The headcover is a cool old fashioned one too. Paired with the Miyazaki C Kua shaft, I think it will be a performer for sure.

Kevin

12 years ago

This is one of the coolest drivers I have seen in recent years. I grew up playing a persimmon that looked very similar to this one so I can appreciate the throw back look. I will be at the very least trying it out and hope it fits my game so I can put it in the bag!!

Gil Bloomer

12 years ago

I’ve been an avid Cleveland product user, and endorser, for years. I admit I’m partial to Cleveland products regardless whether it’s their woods, irons, and especially their wedges. I think Cleveland is off the mark with this one though. I don’t mind the size of the head but, if these photos are accurate in terms of color, it is not appealing at all.

James

12 years ago

hmmmm, it’s a bit of a gimmick if you ask me.

DHUCK WHOOKER

12 years ago

Does it comes with one of the knitted head covers with the ball on the top? How about a real leather wrap grip too?

I’d give a demo a rip just to check it out, you never know.

Steve

12 years ago

I must have one – Santa? Please?

BR

12 years ago

If they had just painted the face to resemble the old Macgregor or Wilson Staff persimmon heads then they might have a winner. I am ok with the crown but the face needs help.

Berniez40

12 years ago

A little odd, but I like the maroon. Back about 8-10 years ago it was the “In” Driver colour and was marketed as “Merlot.” I’ve hit cheezier looking drivers than this (as have many of the comment makers here), so I’m not going to say too much else. But–it does kind of look like the old Nickent 425 Forged made hot monkey love with an old Slot Line driver.

Duane

12 years ago

Yikes! Great shape terrible paint scheme. Painted to look like a persimmon driver, WHY? Retro is supposed to be cool, this isn’t IMO.

Robert

12 years ago

Nice concept but don’t these club makers have enough of our money already, do they need gimicks to get more?

Jerry Foley

12 years ago

OK so maybe the color scheme is off-putting to some. But the “shape” of the head is “CLASSIC” and that has been missing from drivers for some time. Many golfers like looking down at address and seeing a square face that points straight at your target line along with less distraction in head design. This is why goose necks and faces that point dead left and heads that look oddly shaped drive older golfers nuts. If this Cleveland has good performance testing maybe they can paint it such that some here might like. The shape however looks pretty darn good to me.

Christopher

12 years ago

It’s okay I guess. I thought it would have been more elaborate with more detail on the face, heck they could have stuck weigth ports on the bottom of where the sole plate would have been. Looks likes a Tommy Armour driver, I think they did the same thing a few years back and it really should have had a wood grain effect on the crown instead of metallic paint.

Uncle Leo

12 years ago

Why don’t they remake a the Launcher Comp with the Ultralight tech and new VVT face. That was the best Driver CG ever made. As for the Classic, the shape is nice and like the sole but the old school red and gold might put people off. The TM CGB driver never got a chance by a lot of people because the red made it look cheap but had good performance. This might be the downfall of this driver if it doesn’t perform.

matt

12 years ago

looka like a walmart club

Sliq

12 years ago

I had no idea that Mario commented on Mygolfspy.

RT

12 years ago

can you say Wilson Deep RED ! I guess there is got to be a copy of someones model some time! Be a little more orginal PLEASE!

Steve

12 years ago

I like the overall design, maybe make it 320/360, but the “Classic” should go on the sole, not the top of the club.

Brent

12 years ago

Yikes…

Sean

12 years ago

I just watched Graeme McDowell’s twitter feed he seemed to really like it and I love the retro head cover! Goes very nicely with the mashie sock!

michael

12 years ago

UGLY

Pat Polzin

12 years ago

Where are the 3 holes for your fingers? I don’t hate it, but it has a look like it will only go 250 yds. That might distract me or make me swing harder. I would definitely demo it though.

Justin

12 years ago

I don’t understand that, Pat… It’s a titanium-faced, 400+cc, max-COR driver… looks has nothing to do with performance. Not trying to knock your thinking- you have the right to feel as you do- it’s on my end: I just have a hard time wrapping my head around it.

Pat Polzin

12 years ago

I understand the Looks /Performance issue. I played a set of irons years back that had a look like you couldn’t get the wedge into the air. After hitting it 3 times, I got used to watching the ball fly at the hole. I think looks play with your head a little, no pun intended. I’m all about what works, not the looks necessarily. I still don’t understand why people care what the sole plate of a driver looks like.

Dav

12 years ago

Just me personally, but not digging it in the least. Retro is cool when it comes to fashion, musical instruments, or even auto design. But something as technologically designed as golf clubs, just like computers, I don’t like vintage infusion. Its one thing to pay homage to great vintage designs by incorporating their lines, but to paint up a driver to look like a persimmon has cheesy written all over it… just one man’s opinion!

Justin

12 years ago

Especially when it’s just a graphic redesign of last year’s model. This is what happens when the marketing department controls the companies product output.

AlpineSport

12 years ago

If you really think there is more technology inside a golf club than an automobile, you sir are a victim of golf marketing brainwashing. Golf really hasnt made any advances in technology for quite a while, as opposed to automobiles and computers, that are ever changing technological masterpieces.

I think the only time retro design has an opportunity to work is when there is obviously a history that people have an emotional connection with. That is why is works for fashion, musical instruments, cars, boats, and even this golf club IMO. Golf has a colorful history with a lot of things to draw inspiration from whether it be lines, colors, even ideas of past designs, and I would REALLY hope that the club is not simply painted to look like a persimmon, but also has a concept that ties the RETRO look to the Technology inside. It will need that Retro emotional conncection combined with Technology for it to be successful. If it is simply painted up like you said DAV, then yes, I would have to agree the “Classic” on the crown should read “Cheesy.”

E

12 years ago

I would like a retro Launcher with all the bells and whistles of today.

Fatz

12 years ago

Ok, If the fad catches I’ll try the Ping Zing!

Tim

12 years ago

thats the nicest sole plate i’ve seen in a long, long time

cdvilla

12 years ago

Screws laser etched on the face would have been AWESOME! However, I’m going to wait for the square version… :-P

Golfspy Dave

12 years ago

Like it. Cool retro look. Only thing missing are the screws in the face. :)

Brian Cass

12 years ago

Interesting idea….maroon and yellow a bit tough to swallow for me but concept is neat.

I’m pretty sure Maroon won’t be the new black or white on tour.

Justin

12 years ago

I’m very fond of maroon… it was the primary color of my high school.

P-Gunna

12 years ago

I love, love, love it! I would have to buy one on looks alone, its gawdy but a lot of fun and if it hits well I am in.

emanna

12 years ago

Hmmm…If you need to spell out “Classic” it probably isn´t.

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Drivers

FIRST LOOK! – 2012 (RETRO) Cleveland Classic Driver

What’s Old Is New Again!

Kudos To Cleveland

// WHAT DO YOU THINK?

For You

For You

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comments

bill

bryan

bill

bryan

JoJo

bandwagon

Gary

mygolfspy

Yotes

Mark p

bill

bandwagon

Kevin

Gil Bloomer

James

DHUCK WHOOKER

Steve

BR

Berniez40

Duane

Robert

Jerry Foley

Christopher

Uncle Leo

matt

Sliq

RT

Steve

Brent

Sean

michael

Pat Polzin

Justin

Pat Polzin

Dav

Justin

AlpineSport

E

Fatz

Tim

cdvilla

Golfspy Dave

Brian Cass

Justin

P-Gunna

emanna

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