Complete adjustability—that was the goal of Cobra with its new DS-ADAPT line of drivers, fairways and hybrids. At least that’s the result. The true objective was to have the face pointing in the correct position—something that wasn’t always achievable with previous adjustable clubs.
“The goal is to get the discussion about where the face is actually pointing,” says Mike Yagley, Cobra’s Vice-President of Innovation in California. “The biggest thing is we’re going to adapt where that dang face is pointed. You need club head speed in good resilience, in a good mass properties, but then that face has got to be point in the right direction or it doesn’t matter what we’ve done. So my team specifically innovation team worked pretty hard on it for a couple of years to come up with a new system.”
That new system is called the FutureFit33 system, and like the quest for 10,000 in moment of inertia, or the goal of cracking 2,000 RPMs in spin, Cobra is of the opinion this is an innovation that will turn some heads. By how much? Yagley points to the fact that even golfers with the highest MOI drivers can find themselves leaving the clubface open. The adjustability on the Cobra DS-ADAPT means that, the driver face on a mishit will be 0.8 degrees less open. What does that mean? According to Cobra, it means you’d be less offline by five to eight yards. “That means you might find the fairway instead of the rough,” says Yagley, “or miss that bunker that you might have hit otherwise.”
Using a chart or Cobra’s Smartpad Technology, adjustments are easy to make and easy to understand, with all 33 settings accessible. For Yagley, the new system offers advances in fitting for those traditional areas—hooks, slices, too much spin, too little spin, etc.—but also in ways we haven’t previously considered. “It is also ideal for gapping when you’re looking at where a fairway wood or hybrid fits into your overall makeup,” he says. “You can really dial all of your clubs in.”
While it is the FutureFit33 system that Cobra is emphasizing in the DS-ADAPT (which stands for Dark Speed, a nod to last year’s Cobra metal woods) line, it isn’t the only key to understanding the new clubs.
Progressive Aero
This one is close to Yagley’s heart, as Cobra’s innovation lead was trained as an aerospace engineer. The key for all new drivers is to find a way to shape the head so it doesn’t lower speed numbers, resulting in a loss of distance. Each model features discrete shaping to tune performance for specific player types. “There’s the LS, which is a little more compact, low spin, for the more accomplished player, and they don’t need as much moment of inertia, so we’re going to give them what they really need,” Yagley says. “They move to the X and that’s a more still traditional profile a little bigger. The clubhead will be subtly different in each.”
Adaptive Weighting
Cobra’s weighting system and PWR-Bridge is tweaked for each of the models of the driver. The LS model doesn’t have the PWR-Bridge at all and moves the center of gravity back for slightly more spin and better launch conditions, making it more playable. The X version moves the PWR-Bridge forward for lower spin and increased speed, while the K version pushes the weight back for more forgiveness and consistency. The D model pushes the weight to the heel to decrease the tendency to slice.
External and movable weights
In addition to the internal weighting, Cobra engineers positioned external weights on the LS and X drivers to allow them to be tuned beyond even what FutureFit33 offers. The LS has three weight ports, allowing for a fade bias or added spin when in the back position. The X has a back and second-front weight that allows spin and forgiveness to be further adjusted. The Max-K features a fixed weight in the rear for high MOI, while the Max-D’s weight promotes a draw bias.
Multi material
All four versions of the DS-ADAPT use multi-material construction and a carbon crown that allows for discretionary weight to be repositioned. The face uses forged H.O.T. Face tech to deliver higher ball speeds, specifically on off-centre strikes.
Which One Is For Me?
LS
A low-spin driver that is aimed at players with higher swing speeds or those seeking to gain distance through spin reduction. The FutureFit33 system allows this driver to be refined more than ever before by adding spin where needed and offering very nuanced fitting.
X
A majority of golfers will likely find the X is the driver of choice for them, and that includes higher and lower handicap players. A 460 cc head offers a balance of front and back weighting that makes this driver a great option for a variety of players.
MAX-K
The most forgiving driver in the mix, this has a 460 cc head and hits the vaunted 10K MOI figure. That doesn’t mean this is only for high-handicap golfers, as Yagley points out. In recent years, higher swing speed golfers are turning to more forgiving drivers and benefit from the forgiveness while making the trade-off with slightly less distance.
MAX-D
Do you slice the ball? Well Cobra has come up with a driver with a confidence inspiring size (460 cc) and weighting that counteracts your slice.
Women’s Drivers
Max-K
A high MOI driver that comes in right and left-handed models, the Max-K also uses a 43-gram shaft to increase swing speed. Aimed at players seeking forgiveness.
Max-D
A draw-bias driver that also comes in a junior edition, this is the ideal option for women who slice the ball.