Aerodynamics are a key part of Cobra’s story this year—as the company’s new KING F9 SPEEDBACK irons demonstrate. Cobra’s latest irons blend a low center of gravity (designed to keep down spin) with a high moment of inertia, which makes them forgiving and Cobra’s most powerful and stable yet. With KING F9 SPEEDBACK irons and new KING F9 ONE Length irons, designed around the clubs of star Bryson DeChambeau, Cobra says its latest offering provides, “the new look of distance.”
One of the keys to developing game-improvement irons, says Cobra vice-president of research Tom Olsavsky, is in making the clubs appear normal from address, but with a bigger sole. That’s exactly what Cobra has done with its KING F9 Speedback irons, as well as its KING F9 ONE Length irons.
Key Technologies
Speedback Sole
Cobra added mass low and back using steel to create a lower and deeper center of gravity, which the company says increases ball speed, launch and distance.
Forgiveness
The Speedback technology also allowed engineers to push weight to the heel and toe of the irons, making them more forgiving—up to 10% in the long irons.
Forged E9 PWRSHELL Face
A variable thickness face that is lighter and thinner helps expand the sweet spot. Cobra says the tech, along with the PWRSHELL insert provides more energy for faster ball speed.
CNC Milled Face and Grooves
Cobra has promoted its machine-milled faces in its drivers, and does the same with its irons, noting precision-milled groves ensure consistency.
Progressive Spin
Cobra designs different groove shapes into its irons to deliver specific characteristics. That means the longer irons have grooves that increase distance and help keep the ball in the air longer, while U-grooves in the scoring irons improve control and accuracy.
COBRA CONNECT
The game tracking technology features sensors embedded in the grips that work in conjunction with the Arccos Caddie mobile app to help players of all skill levels make smarter, data-driven decisions and shoot lower scores.
Who it’s for?
Longer than other game improvement irons, and 3 miles per hour faster than other competitive irons, Cobra says F9 Speedback puts the irons in a “premium position in the market.”
KING F9 SPEEDBACK ONE LENGTH IRONS
Available now through special order in-stores.
Cobra continues to tinker with its successful ONE length clubs that are played by Bryson DeChambeau, who won three times in the 2017-18 PGA Tour season and has already won on the European Tour in 2019. DeChambeau told Golf Town that Cobra was the only company who believed in the one-length concept (where every shaft is the length of a 7-iron) and was committed to creating clubs around the concept.
“They thought it was an idea for amateurs and professionals alike,” he said. And while ONE Length was hugely successful in its initial incarnation, Cobra continues to refine the concept.
DeChambeau can’t imagine switching away: “Even though I’m a professional, I’ve tried variable-length clubs and I’ll tell you it doesn’t go well for me. I can tell you there’s a distinct advantage in having ONE Length clubs and using them for a consistent amount of time. Once you use it, and get comfortable with it, you’ll never want to go back.”
Key technologies
ONE Length Configuration
While all clubs still use a 7-iron length shaft, Cobra has started using different shafts of the same length to try to refine their consistency. Cobra calls this “progressive shaft weighting,” which means the long irons use a lightweight shaft, while the scoring irons use a mid-weight shaft for control.
Wider soles in long irons
The 4 to 6-irons in ONE Length have a deeper center of gravity for higher ball flight.
Changes to lie angles
Since ONE Length irons are played more upright, slightly flatter lie angles create improved trajectories.
Who it’s for?
Cobra is promoting the clubs as adding consistency for amateurs, and adding the upright position at address might have other benefits. “These are great clubs for golfers with bad backs,” says Olsavsky. “And they make practice a lot easier.” And while amateurs have connected with the unique concept, DeChambeau says there are a number of amateurs nearing the pro ranks that are using the clubs.
Special Trade-In Bonus
From now until February 20, when you bring in your old clubs to any Golf Town store, receive that value + an extra 50% towards new Cobra F9 clubs. See in-store for details.