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Cleveland Classic 290 Driver

Next month Cleveland Golf is introducing what they're calling their most advanced combination of style and performance in a titanium driver, and they're dubbing it: "The Classic 290", for obvious reasons... And lucky for us, we've got friends in high places! A few weeks (yes, weeks!) ago we were given the distinct privilege as one of only a few members of the media to get an up-close and personal hands-on experience with Cleveland's newest creation.

Here's a couple glossy images to get you salivating before we move on to the meat of our review...

The Classic 290's Key Features:

Old School Look

Cleveland's RightWeight Fitting System

Large Deep Face

Ultralite Technology

The Review:

Design: (9 out of 10) This is exactly what they mean when you hear someone say "old school meets new school" this driver isn't your grandpappy's, but it sure does resemble it! Beyond the truly head-turning ascetics of this driver, Cleveland has actually dedicated quite a bit of technology into it as well, including their "Ultralite" technology, which decreases the overall weight of the club and helps to add MPH to your club head speed. Who doesn't need that?

Feel: (8.5 out of 10) It's a bit of a trip standing over this club to be honest. It's old school appearance takes some time to get used to, but after you've adjusted to it's burgundy dome it quickly becomes comfortable and actually feel reliable.

Distance: (9 out of 10) This driver bombs it! And if it's design and feel were any indication of how this driver would preform, we should have know it was a beast. After several hours of testing on the simulator we found that the the Classic 290 is on par with some of the best drivers on the market, including: the Nike VR and the Cobra S3. In-fact it even out preformed the PING K15 and Callaway Diablo Octane by more than 7.3 yards on average. To some of you that may not sound like much, but in a game of inches every little bit counts!

Workability: (8.5 out of 10) For a driver that smokes it down the fairway the Classic 290 is also quite adequate at working the ball from left to right and vice versa. It's classic shape lends itself nicely to players who like to shape their tee shots.

Value: (9 out of 10) Scheduled to have a street price of $300, this driver is right on par with the rest of the pack in many regards. It's functional and stylish, a combo that usually isn't available at any price.

The Bottom Line: We highly recommend the Cleveland Classic 290 Driver to golfers (of any handicap) who are looking to add a few yards to their average and the ability to shape shots. This driver is more than just another club in the bag, it's a statement. So do yourself a favor this February and get out to your local pro shop or sporting goods store and ask for the Cleveland Classic 290, we think you'll like what you see!

Price $300 available in February at: ClevelandGolf.com

January 3, 2012 2:38 PM | Golf

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