Cleveland Classic Collection HB 1

GolfMagic joins 10 testers at Horsley Lodge Golf Club in Derby to test some of the best new blades

Andy Roberts's picture
Mon, 26 May 2014
Cleveland Classic Collection HB 1

Brand: Cleveland Golf
Putter: Classic Collection HB 1 Black Pearl
Design: Blade
RRP: £85
Loft: 3-degree Lie: 70-degree
Head Weight: 340g
Available lengths:
33-35"

Summary: Cleveland HB 1 Black Pearl has a plumber’s neck hosel, in contrast to the other cavity-back blades in the line, the slant-neck HB 4.5 model and flare-neck HB 7. Other models in the line include a half-mallet HB 2, the HB 6, which is a more traditional mallet with a double-bend shaft, an HB 3 and the HB 10, a mallet with a plumber’s neck.

Looks: The black finish appealed to the testers and has the added benefit of reduced glare when the sun's out. Apart from the finish, the putter has a classic appearance and the simple alignment aid proved popular with our testers. It's a design that has been popular for years and brands aren't going to dump it anytime soon. 4 (out of 5)

Feel: In the feel stakes, the Cleveland was Mr Consistency in terms of distance control with a soft feel off the face. Several testers thought there were better sounding putters in the test, however. 7.1 (out of 10)

Performance: Our testers really enjoyed the confidence they had standing over the ball from 6-feet and in, and were also pleased with the consistent role on offer, particularly from 15-feet. The offset face largely appealed and nine testers found that it helped them get a good roll on the ball, eliminating bounces and skids. 7.5 (out of 10)

Verdict: A solid putter that will appeal to the mass market. It looks great, has a decent feel and offers consistent performance across a range of short and long putts. Worth taking a look at. 18.6 (out of 25)

Results: 95 putts holed (out of 180)

TesterNameHandicap3-feet  6-feet  15-feet
1Andy8432
2Charlie 14422
3Tom+3533
4DeanPro432
5Sam3421
6Steve13542
7Jerry16310
8Damian17543
9Gareth20310
10Andrew 21330
11Dick23431
12Bob26330

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