We’re a full week into launch season. Is your head spinning? I bet it’s spinning.
After all, drivers are pushing $600. Irons cost over $1,000. The balls? Fuhgeddaboudit…
With all the moaning, wailing and gnashing of teeth about the price of golf equipment, you need to sit down and recognize anything that brings value. We’ve been testing gauges for a long time and one thing we know for sure is this:
Cleveland pitchers provide value.
Cleveland is launching his “new”. HB SOFT 2 Black putters today. We put “new” in quotes because they aren’t exactly new but Cleveland has given the old line a new look and a new axle.
The best part? They are still under $200.
Cleveland HB SOFT 2 in black
For the past decade, Cleveland has produced solid, if not exceptional, players. Starting with the Huntington Beach line in 2016, Cleveland has produced one winner after another, all with eye-catching prices. No, they’re not exactly unique or original (although Frontline might challenge that statement), but most are under $200.
Cleveland released the HB SOFT 2 line last January and its lineup included some all-stars. The #1 Anser style blade was MyGolfSpy’s top 20-foot putter last year and was named Best Value Blade. In hammer testing, the RETREVE and #11 performed well from 10 and 20 feet. RETREVE also won Best Value.
The existing HB SOFT 2 line will not be removed or replaced. It’s just getting a second year fir if you want. There are two main updates. The first is in the name: HB SOFT 2 Black. The second is an upgrade: the UST Mamiya ALL-IN carbon fiber/steel axle.
This may be the biggest issue.
A new paint job
Cleveland’s new HC Soft 2 lineup is getting a Black Satin PVD finish. The heads are the same as the Satin Chrome models released last year. They are just black.
The line features five face-balanced models for straight-back/straight-through shots. It has a wide body, center shaft blade and four hammers including the high performance one RETRAVE AND #11. These models feature a set of oversized Cleveland brand pistols designed to keep your hands steady while shooting.
There are also four light archery models: a standard blade, a widebody blade, and two hammers. These models have a standard size pistol grip to encourage hand rotation during a light bow stroke.
The SOFT element of the HB SOFT 2 line has nothing to do with feel, although they do have a very nice and quiet feel. SOFT, in this case, stands for Speed ​​​​Optimization Face Technology. Cleveland has used this face-grinding concept for years. It’s designed to normalize ball speed even if you’re just a chip off center.
To normalize the speed, the milling pattern creates more space in the groove and less actual face material in the center of the face. As you gradually move away from the center, there is more face material and fewer pits. If you miss the center by even a few millimeters, there is more face material to hit the ball with. This gives more speed to the ball to keep the shots short.
Each shooter model has its own unique grind pattern based on that model’s MOI characteristics.
Cleveland HB SOFT 2 black bands are ALL-IN
The new finish is nice, but the main thing here is the ALL-IN UST Mamiya shaft.
If you think a shaft does nothing more than connect the handle to the casting head, you might want to try one of these first.
The ALL-IN shaft is half carbon and half steel, similar in construction and technology to Odyssey’s Stroke Lab shafts. MyGolfSpy tested Stroke Lab against standard putters and found technology has its benefits.
Regardless of the manufacturer, the idea is to create a more balanced and stronger axle. In theory, this leads to a much more stable axle. ALL-IN used high-tensile carbon fiber with proprietary nanoalloys to add stiffness, strength and stability. Cleveland says the All-IN has a 26-percent stiffer profile compared to a traditional chrome shaft without a step.
Now, you’re probably thinking that the shooter isn’t moving that fast, so what the hell do I need 26 percent more stiffness for?
A fair question.
According to Cleveland’s SAM PuttLab player testing on 15-foot putters, the ALL-IN shaft created a 10 percent more consistent face angle at impact compared to a non-stepped chrome shaft. That might not sound like much, but it’s the difference between left edge and left out. Additionally, ALL-In led to seven percent better face roll stability and six percent better impact location stability.
Take those numbers for what they’re worth. We’ve tested the ALL-IN axle and, if our opinion means anything to you, it’s worth checking them out. You may be surprised.
Cleveland HB SOFT 2 Black Putters: Price and Availability
Let’s take a minute to reset the Cleveland pass line for 2025. There are three lines under the Cleveland brand banner. There it is Front line elitewhich features a forward center of gravity, adjustable toe weights and a SOFT tungsten face insert. We have already discussed HB SOFT 2 and SOFT 2 Black in order to leave HB SOFT Ground line. The heads are similar to the HB SOFT 2 line (with a few exceptions), but where the HB SOFT 2 are cast heads, the SOFT Milled heads are precision milled for a cleaner look.
Then there’s Cleveland’s Never compromise linewhich debuted last year with a unique in-store assembly system.
Regarding HB SOFT 2 BlackCleveland is pricing the new finish and ALL-IN axle at $50. The Satin Chrome HB SOFT 2 models retail for $149.99, but the new Black Satin ALL-IN shaft models will hit the streets for $199.99.
For what it’s worth, Cleveland offers the ALL-IN as a $50 upgrade to its line of HB SOFT Milled irons.
They will be in stores starting January 17th.
For more information, visit Cleveland’s website.
Post What’s going on with the New Cleveland HB SOFT 2 Black Putters? appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
