Equipment
Cleveland CG Black and CG Black Custom drivers
Driver swings on the PGA Tour clock in at more than 110 mph. According to Cleveland Golf, most recreational golfers play a much slower game and shouldn’t be using the same drivers they see on TV.
Cleveland’s new CG Black (260 grams) and CG Black Custom (275 grams) drivers have lightweight designs that cater to golfers with average swing speeds, as well as those who need more distance and forgiveness.
The CG Black driver is for golfers with less 95 mph of speed, while the CG Black Custom driver — which has an adjustable hosel — is for those who swing between 85-and-105 mph.
CG Black Custom ($400)
The CG Black Custom has what Cleveland calls “Speed Innovation technology” that makes the club head lighter for faster swing speeds. It comes stock with a Mitsubishi Bassara E50 shaft (A, R and S-flexes in both left- and right-handed options), and comes with an adjustable hosel that provides loft options between 9 and 12 degrees.
Cleveland CG Black ($350)
Cleveland’s CG Black is designed with what’s called “low swing MOI,” which helps generate more club head speed, but “high club head MOI,” for face stability at impact on off-center hits. The driver isn’t adjustable, but it’s offered in various lofts — 9, 10.5 and 12.5 degrees.
If you need more speed and forgiveness and don’t care about adjustability, try out Cleveland’s CG Black. If you swing it a little faster and want to dial in your ball flight with an adjustable hosel, you’ll want to try the CG Black Custom.
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Photos from the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
CJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
Charles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
Details on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
GolfWRX Launch Report: 2026 Titleist GTS drivers
Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
PGA Championship Tour Report: Fitzpatrick, Koepka among big-name putter switches for Aronimink
Photos from the ShopRite LPGA
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
FTWPhil
Feb 9, 2015 at 2:50 pm
We haven’t sold much of their drivers since the Hi-Bore Monster XLS. IIRC they had a BOGO fairway deal though. Honestly the most recent horrible feeling driver by a major OEM. I think they suffer from changing horses midstream with the acquisition of Cleveland by Srixon. Seems like too much Asian market equipment.
And I don’t care if Rotex 2.0 is better, it looks horrible.
j.a.
Feb 8, 2015 at 6:14 am
Last Friday there was a demo day at my home club. I tried the new CG Black but it didn’t impressed me. I pulled my Launcher XL from my bag for comparison and it felt much better, same as my Classic XL which is my current gamer.
I agree with the comments that Cleveland Golf is such an underrated brand. They do great clubs and it’s sad to see that they are coming in 2015 with such a limited offer. In Australia, they are quite popular.
Steve
Feb 7, 2015 at 1:08 pm
It seems like very little effort from Cleveland on this driver
JH
Feb 6, 2015 at 5:45 pm
non-adjustable driver for $350? lol
graymulligan
Feb 8, 2015 at 10:33 am
that’s okay…give these 3 months, they’ll be $169 at DSG.
Seriously, Cleveland…are you even trying any more?
LorenRobertsFan
Feb 6, 2015 at 3:39 pm
Disappointing. looks like a Machspeed
dcorun
Feb 6, 2015 at 1:20 pm
I’ve played the Cleveland Classic Custom XL since late 2013. One of the best drivers they have ever sold. I traded in my Launcher 460 which was also a great driver. Cleveland has long been an underrated company which is a shame. I also play their 588 MT irons and they are also outstanding especially with the forged face. I’ll probably try out the CG Black against my Classic to see if it’s worth changing. I was fitted for the Classic and haven’t changed it so, I’ll just buy the non adjustable and save $50 if I switch.
Denis
Feb 6, 2015 at 10:51 am
Why was the previous driver a flop in your opinion? I’m using XL270 and may consider upgrading to this one, so would be curious to know.
Thank you.
NGG
Feb 4, 2015 at 4:52 pm
Been a big fan of Cleveland drivers up to and including the classic XL custom…this rehash of a previous flop just smells like desperation and is a little disappointing.