Cleveland Launcher Ultralite SL290 Driver Review

The Cleveland SL290 Launcher Ultralite driver may have a 460cc head but it weighs is only 290 grammes and available in 9, 10.5 and 12-degree options.

Bob Warters
Wed, 9 Feb 2011
Cleveland Launcher Ultralite SL290 Driver Review
I have never enjoyed a return to the game after a lay-off so much, thanks to the feel and trajectory the SL 290 gave me.

Need To Know

Our score:
PRICE: £239.00 YEAR: from 2011

They say that playing only intermittently, your short game suffers most. While that may be true for many of us, the driving can also takes a hit to your confidence. Fortunately I had the opportunity to try the Cleveland SL290 Launcher Ultralite driver - and hit the ground running!

Also read: Best Golf Drivers

This is the mid-weighted model between the TL 310 version - aimed at low-handicappers and professionals - and the XL 270 and XL270 Draw models, for mid to high handicappers. But it suited me to a tee!

With a minor adjustment to my stance to keep the hands behind the ball at address to overcome a tendency to forward press and de-loft, from the first thaw setting in I was hitting the ball sweetly and accurately and with a high draw with which I was not familiar!

I have never enjoyed a return to the game after a lay-off so much, thanks to the feel and trajectory the SL 290 gave me.

No doubt the eight lucky winners of the competition we're due to run shortly on the Golfmagic Forum, will jump at the chance to win one or other of the three Ultralite Launcher drivers we're giving away.

The secret is all in the fitting process, matching the graphite shaft to the different head and swing weight. The regular 45.75-inch Miyazaki shaft certainly seemed to compliment the weight of the SL 290 head and delivered a consistent strike that suddenly found some extra yards I'd been lacking pre-Christmas.