Cleveland Classic Drivers - 290 vs Tour (310)

[jokerusn]

a couple of questions

So, being of someone who needs a low spin driver and the last one to really give me the numbers I need is the XL Tour, the new Classic has me intrigued. My R11 just isn't doing the job and it kind of feels dead. Even on flushed shots, the ball just doesn't seem to make it as far as I feel it should or the XL Tour would. SO, I'm already looking to replace it. My quandary is this:

Should I go with the 290 and swap out the shaft or go with the Tour with the Kusala? What I'd really like to do is have the option of getting the 290 with the Kusala but it would cost more than double the difference between a stock 290 and the Tour. A 290 with the Kusala is 475 while the Tour is 350 with the same shaft. Not really sure why they would charge more than double for the same shaft in a different head but anyway... The biggest draw with going for the 290 is that it comes in 7.5°. For those of you who have hit both, is the 20ccs that noticeable? Is the difference in face height, spin and forgiveness that different? Lastly, how would you compare it to the XL Tour?

Thanks guys for your responses!

[ksavy17]

Is the 310 not 460cc?

[jokerusn]

[quote name='ksavy17' timestamp='1328122837' post='4192317']
Is the 310 not 460cc?
[/quote]

No, it's 440.

[jokerusn]

Here's a little photoshop work done on the pics from Clevelandgolf.com. Even if the pictures aren't actual size but at least to scale, the 290 is deeper than the Tour. It surely looks it in the pictures.

[attachment=1005867:Cleveland Classic.jpg]

[jokerusn]

Anyone have any experience with these???

[Matty Fatts]

tour is 440cc and also 1* open. where as the others are square and 460cc

[Swingie]

Talked to the rep about this and he said the depth is the same on the face but the tour has a smaller footprint and CG is set diff to produce a more peircing traj. The point of the tour is lower spin and flatter flight in an already low spin head - so I dont think you will need 7.5

[Swingie]

Sorry, one more thing - he said this is one of the few heads on the market(tour) that is not for everyone and the name is not lipservice, its the same head for the pros they use and if you dont generate the proper speeds and launch DONT BUY IT! So it may fit several WRxers.....

[Tiemco]

Just as a comparison, my 909 D3 (440 cc) has a face height of 2 and 1/8th inches and is 4.25 inches wide, so both of those Cleveland faces are much deeper, and a good deal wider. I also think you would be hard pressed to notice the difference in 20cc's of volume. 20 cc's is 4 teaspoons, or 1.33 Tablespoons, so not a whole lot and the difference in face depth between the two is only about an eight of an inch. I would get the Tour if that has the shaft you want rather than paying more for the upgraded 290, but only if you can hit it effectively (Swingie mentioned it is not for everyone).

[HateTheHighDraw]

Price wise I don't think the Tour w/ the Kusala black 61 shaft can be beat. I understand you may want those extra 20ccs, but I have no doubt that the tour will be an exceptional performer w/ forgiveness.

[golfnhack]

Well, if it tells you anything, all the Cleveland staffers are using the 290 NOT the 310. Bradley, Toms, etc... Can't wait. I am on the opposite side of the spectrum. I got the 290 because it comes in 12*. I am a scratch, but a low ball hitter. I love deep face drivers. You don't find to many 12* 3" deep drivers.

[Exhaloprez]

Hi All,

Would be interested to hear the differences between the CG Black and the Classic relative to forgiveness, trajectory and distance. That is comparing apples to apples, i.e. 270 to 270 not 270 to 310.

Thanks.

[mac2lad]

Which setup (head/loft/shaft) would be closest to a 910D2 in 10.5* with the stock kaili in reg flex?

[electroleum]

Really want to try one of these drivers once the season begins up here.

[bldolat]

I play and love the 910 D2, but I if I was to buy a new 2012 driver it would be the 290 - it's the real deal and very good looking!

[jokerusn]

[quote name='Swingie' timestamp='1328634066' post='4230787']
Talked to the rep about this and he said the depth is the same on the face but the tour has a smaller footprint and CG is set diff to produce a more peircing traj. The point of the tour is lower spin and flatter flight in an already low spin head - so I dont think you will need 7.5

Sorry, one more thing - he said this is one of the few heads on the market(tour) that is not for everyone and the name is not lipservice, its the same head for the pros they use and if you dont generate the proper speeds and launch DONT BUY IT! So it may fit several WRxers.....
[/quote]

I definitely want to give the 7.5 a try. You can't have that option out there and not give it a try. My XL Tour was a 9.5 (10 actual and 2 open) and was just plain money but if the 290 launches higher per loft, then I might just swap out the shaft I already have for it. I think the 7.5 also comes with the C Kua 59, or at least that's what it seems from doing a configurator on TGW.

[quote name='h0ss66' timestamp='1328637902' post='4231305']
Price wise I don't think the Tour w/ the Kusala black 61 shaft can be beat. I understand you may want those extra 20ccs, but I have no doubt that the tour will be an exceptional performer w/ forgiveness.
[/quote]

I'm not really interested in the extra ccs to be honest. My R11 is 440 and the XL Tour was 440. I just want the deepest face available and the 290 can come in 7.5 and 9 vice 8.5 and 9.5. And Cleveland touts the Tour as their "workable" driver which I am not interested in. The problem is that workable usually means low backspin too. I guess what I was hoping for in the 7.5 - low spin and straight(er).

[quote name='golfnhack' timestamp='1328638110' post='4231331']
Well, if it tells you anything, all the Cleveland staffers are using the 290 NOT the 310. Bradley, Toms, etc... Can't wait. I am on the opposite side of the spectrum. I got the 290 because it comes in 12*. I am a scratch, but a low ball hitter. I love deep face drivers. You don't find to many 12* 3" deep drivers.
[/quote]

Very interesting. Not that I'm surprised, the cleveland staffers used the Hibore XL more than the XL Tour too. The heads are the same weight (Tour vs 290) so swingweights are the same between the heads.

[quote name='mac2lad' timestamp='1328773491' post='4243605']
Which setup (head/loft/shaft) would be closest to a 910D2 in 10.5* with the stock kaili in reg flex?
[/quote]

None of the clevelands will be as heavy as the D2 but I think the CG Black, SL290 or XL270 will be closest in ball flight and forgiveness.

[tonylynam]

I have hit both the 290 and 310 in the 9.5 degree heads on a launch monitor and by far the 310 with the Kusula gave me much tighter dispertion, a little lower trajectory but distance gains were 20 yards or better than the 290. Picking up my 310 tomorrow.

[Titan883c]

The 290 in 7.5 was a perfect replacement for my 975d in 6.5. Trajectory is ideal.

[jumpman2600]

I hit the 9.5 310 tour with the 61s. Some of the best shots I've ever hit on the monitor, maybe a tad high ( I usually play 8.5 ) so thats is what I would order. If they offered the 310 tour in 7.5 I would def try that too ( too bad, seems like many people wish they offered that, including me)... Now I just have to compare directly agaist my G15 nunchuck... That tour issue 61s black shaft is a beast , I'd give most credit of the driver to the shaft and not the head ( assuming its the correct specs for your swing ). You could game the shaft with multiple similar heads and probably get the same results. I'd say if you tend to hit it right with a slight fade , get the 290 ( square ) if you tend to hit it left get the 310 tour ( open ) then get the proper loft to optimize the trajectory. Basically Im telling you to get fitted for this cleveland offerings... <- Basic answer.

[cmrl1986]

I have the CC 290 7.5* with the STOCK Miyazaki 43s in it.it not only kicked the 910 D2 out of the bag, it kicked it all the way to the BST. Best driver I've had in years. Perfect mid flight and great roll out, also extremely easy to work the ball with. As a ho it's hard for me to say this, but it's not leaving the bag for at least a couple years.

[bobcat]

[quote name='cmrl1986' timestamp='1347447239' post='5627965']
I have the CC 290 7.5* with the STOCK Miyazaki 43s in it.it not only kicked the 910 D2 out of the bag, it kicked it all the way to the BST. Best driver I've had in years. Perfect mid flight and great roll out, also extremely easy to work the ball with. As a ho it's hard for me to say this, but it's not leaving the bag for at least a couple years.
[/quote]

I should think that high-launch C.Kua 43s would be the perfect shaft for a 7.5* deepface head like the Classic 290. Are you still loving that combo? Any issues with not getting it up high enough?

[bobcat]

Anyone having success with the 7.5* Cleveland Classic 290 with the stock C. Kua 43S shaft? Does it play more like an 8.5* with that high-launching stock shaft? I know the 7.5* is a rare loft in this head, but any feedback on it would be appreciated.

[NoTalentLefty]

In the future 2015. Bought the Tour for 45.00 new.

[ERUddOH]

Agreed they are giving these away. I picked up one of each, plus the classic xl, all less than $60. I like 'em because #1 they are great clubs and #2 they say "Est. in 1979", just like my golf game!