The story of the COBRA DARKSPEED driver household is comparatively simple. Should you’re the next swing pace golfer—let’s name it 100 mph or extra—COBRA goes to ship extra pace by means of its best-in-class aerodynamics.
However what should you don’t swing quick?
No downside.
For golfers who don’t generate sufficient clubhead pace to search out quantifiable advantages from COBRA’s aerodynamic shaping, you’re nonetheless getting three (nicely, perhaps 4) excellent drivers to select from.
COBRA’s Unlucky Actuality
Earlier than we dig into the tech, enable me a quick diversion to speak about one thing I feel sucks.
The information says most golfers will sometimes demo three drivers earlier than making a shopping for choice. Generally, these three will probably be some mixture of TaylorMade, Callaway, PING and Titleist.
I get it. These are the most important manufacturers in golf, they account for the lion’s share of market share within the metalwoods class and, not for something, all of them make good things. Sadly (and that is the half that sucks), that leaves COBRA on the surface trying in, defeated with out ever having the possibility to compete.
I’m not right here to let you know COBRA makes the very best drivers for everybody and that you simply completely should purchase one (as I stated, all people makes good things) however should you like what you see right here, make some extent of including COBRA DARKSPEED drivers to your demo record.
Come again and let me know the way it went.
Transferring on …
COBRA DARKSPEED Aesthetics
What stands out instantly in regards to the COBRA DARKSPEED driver household is the easy but dramatic darkish coloration scheme. Whether or not you name it black-on-black or murdered-out, it’s not going to attraction to utterly all people however, given what we all know golfers order from different producers that supply customized paint choices, the proof suggests it’s a glance that ought to resonate with plenty of golfers.
At a minimal, it’s clear and that hasn’t at all times been the case with COBRA’s choices.
When doing the commercial design on DARKSPEED drivers, COBRA took inspiration from quick automobiles, airplanes (I’m getting sturdy stealth fighter vibes) and perhaps Bob Parsons’ closet. Should you wished to go along with Star Wars, Darth Vadar and his TIE Fighter, I feel that’s honest as nicely.
Apart from the shafts, the one splashes of coloration are an understated quantity of blue and crimson on the DARKSPEED X and MAX fashions, respectively. The objective is to make it straightforward for golfers to know the place every suits within the lineup.
The colour coding is borrowed from normal shaft business conventions. With that, the DARKSPEED LS (black) is low launch and low spin. The DARKSPEED X (blue) is your mid-launch and mid-spin providing,whereas the DARKSPEED MAX (crimson) is your highest-launching and highest-spinning choice. Remember that’s all relative.
The MAX can also be draw-biased, however the shaft business hasn’t color-coded for that (but).
DARKSPEED – GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS
As I discussed, COBRA’s tech story this 12 months is essentially pushed by aerodynamics however that shouldn’t counsel that aero is the one factor happening with the COBRA DARKSPEED.
We’ll dig into the aerodynamic stuff in a bit however, first, it’s worthing mentioning a few different areas the place COBRA’s DARKSPEED improves on AEROJET.
Bigger H.O.T. Face
A fast refresher: H.O.T. (extremely optimized topology) Face is COBRA’s model of face know-how designed with the assistance of AI and machine studying. Yup, COBRA has computer systems, too.
The signature attribute is 15 discrete pads on the again of the face. Like different face applied sciences, the target is to maintain ball pace when contact is lower than completely centered.
The advance DARKSPEED brings to the desk is a 13 p.c bigger face. The rise was made doable by COBRA’s laser welding method that yields tighter tolerances than conventional plasma welding permits.
Re-Engineered PWR BRIDGE
PWR BRIDGE, successfully a giant chunk of mass anchored within the entrance of the driving force, was launched with AEROJET. With the DARKSPEED drivers, COBRA was in a position to take away the anchor factors, making a suspended design that enables the load to be pushed farther ahead.
Along with increasing the radius of gyration (sorry, simply love the phrase), PWR Bridge permits for a extra environment friendly switch of power to the ball with out proscribing the flex of the face.
Carbon Development
Lastly, simply so it doesn’t get ignored, I’ll point out that every one DARKSPEED drivers function carbon fiber crowns and sole plates. Not a lot has modified right here. The story stays weight financial savings.
COBRA DARKSPEED Drivers – Aerodynamic Advantages
With its DARKSPEED drivers, notably the LS but additionally the DARKSPEED X, COBRA is leaning exhausting into aerodynamics, an space the place there’s some proof to counsel it was already the business chief.
Once more, it’s not that COBRA doesn’t present pace in different methods,however for all of its guidelines and rules, the USGA doesn’t limit aerodynamic effectivity. So if a design helps you swing sooner, extra ball pace and distance are going to comply with, whatever the CT restrict.
Inside the greater image, COBRA’s objective with DARKSPEED was to create essentially the most aerodynamically optimized shapes it may whereas nonetheless serving the efficiency wants of golfers throughout the goal demographic for every mannequin.
So, as we transfer from LS to X to MAX, what you see is COBRA progressively buying and selling away aerodynamic optimization for greater inertia and forgiveness. Once more, the concept is that should you don’t have the horsepower to appreciate a pace profit from the aerodynamic advantages of the driving force, it’s nonetheless going to carry out nicely in ways in which matter to you.
As we transition the dialogue to the person fashions, look carefully on the facet profiles and the face-on views the place the shaping variations between fashions will be dramatic.
Additionally discover the rounded main edges the place the face meets the only real and crown. Lastly, on the soles, it’s value stating how tightly every part comes collectively—weights sit flush with the only real and there aren’t any forward-facing edges (or ledges) which may create aerodynamic disruptions.
COBRA DARKSPEED DRIVERS – 3* Fashions
It’s changing into a pattern that one thing as seemingly fundamental because the variety of fashions in a membership household isn’t reduce and dried. Whereas, technically, the COBRA DARKSPEED lineup consists of three fashions (the LS, X, and MAX), there’s a enjoyable little twist right here that warrants an asterisk.
COBRA DARKSPEED LS
Among the many DARKSPEED fashions, the LS has the very best skirt, the very best peak crown top and essentially the most aggressive transition from the heel and toe sections into the face. Those self same comparisons maintain up when made to AEROJET LS as nicely.
Mentioned one other method, it’s essentially the most aerodynamic of the fashions.
The twist I discussed is that the eight-degree model provides much more aggressive aero shaping. In COBRA’s robotic testing, with the identical pressure utilized, the eight-degree mannequin was simply shy of 1 mph sooner than the nine-degree on common.
It ought to go with out saying that not everybody goes to suit into an eight- diploma driver. Toss within the inconvenient indisputable fact that we’re speaking a couple of low-spin, flat trajectory eight-degree driver and the share of golfers who will match into an eight-degree COBRA DARKSPEED LS is insanely low. However for many who do, the potential pace will increase are compelling.
Granted, we’re speaking about a number of the quickest swingers on the earth, however Kyle Berkshire gained 3.7 mph of clubhead pace with a DARKSPEED LS Lengthy Drive prototype. One other golfer we’ll name “Participant B” gained three mph over the LTDx Lengthy Drive mannequin.
The common golfer isn’t swinging anyplace close to 150 mph so the beneficial properties gained’t be as important. However should you’re above 100 mph, I’d wager you’ll see sufficient to consider the aero advantages are actual.
To my eye, the variations between the eight- and nine- diploma variations of the COBRA DARKSPEED LS are most seen within the face and deal with views. The nine-degree isn’t fairly as aggressive within the transition to the face whereas the trailing fringe of the eight-degree appears to be like a bit longer front-to-back and the curve of the trailing edge isn’t as light.
For comparability functions, COBRA says the DARKSPEED LS was 1.2 mph sooner (ball pace) than the Stealth 2+ regardless of a constructed size that’s a half-inch shorter. To hammer the purpose residence, most of that pace profit is coming from the form.
3-Weight System
Probably the most important change—or at the very least the one that can profit essentially the most golfers—is the transfer again to a three-weight system within the COBRA DARKSPEED LS.
The again weight has been lacking for the final couple of generations of COBRA’s low-spin driver. Bringing it again provides low-spin guys the choice of including a little bit of forgiveness again into the design.
With the heavy weight within the heel port, you may count on a comparatively impartial ball flight. In robotic testing at 105 mph, transferring the heavy weight to the toe will introduce about 13 yards value of fade bias (that’s Tour-level stuff proper there), whereas the rear place created a small quantity of draw bias whereas rising spin by about 300 rpm.
The COBRA DARKSPEED LS isn’t designed to be forgiving and, with that, MOI is appreciably decrease than the opposite DARKSPEED fashions, although it’s value mentioning that the again weight place is sweet for +/- 300 MOI factors relative to the heel (impartial) place.
The eight-degree mannequin has decrease heel-to-toe MOI nonetheless however, once more, final aerodynamic efficiency, not MOI is the first goal of the design.
The COBRA DARKSPEED LS is offered in eight, 9 and 10.5 levels.
COBRA DARKSPEED X
Because the one within the center, you may count on DARKSPEED X to command the majority of COBRA’s retail enterprise. COBRA predicts X will account for 40 p.c of gross sales which is probably a bit lower than the center one normally accounts for. That’s due, partly anyway, to the truth that COBRA’s center driver ought to show to be decrease spinning than most anyone else’s.
Whereas the aerodynamic shaping of the DARKSPEED X isn’t as pronounced as it’s within the LS—the skirt isn’t as excessive, the height top of crown is decrease and the transition into the face isn’t as aggressive—it’s nonetheless provides above common, maybe even excellent, aero relative to the market as complete.
With spin properties I’d classify as mid-low, DARKSPEED X in all probability isn’t excellent for golfers chasing MOI. It’s for the man who wants low spin however perhaps not LS low spin.
Two Weight System
Trajectory tuning is achieved with COBRA’s two-weight flip system that goes again to the legendary Fly-Z.
Within the ahead place, the DARKSPEED X ought to produce a comparatively impartial flight whereas the again place will introduce a touch of draw bias.
You’ll additionally discover roughly 200 rpm of spin distinction between the back and front positions.
As at all times is the case, the entrance place will produce greater ball speeds and a flatter trajectory whereas the again place provides greater flight and better MOI.
Heel/toe MOI maxes out slightly below 5,000, which gained’t put it anyplace close to the market leaders however is strong for a driver that’s traits to the low spin facet.
COBRA says it’s about 4 yards longer than AEROJET X. That’s coming from a mixture of aerodynamic enhancements and middle of gravity location.
The COBRA DARKSPEED X is offered in 9, 10.5 and 12 levels.
COBRA DARKSPEED MAX
The DARKSPEED MAX has the … shaping. It has the bottom skirt and the flattest crown. And whereas that’s to not counsel it had unhealthy aero and even no aero, of the three designs it’s the one which emphasizes playability and forgiveness over pace.
I’m additionally not going to counsel the DARKSPEED MAX is completely for slower swingers. Of COBRA’s DARKSPEED designs, it’s most accepting of the truth that not each golfer can make the most of aggressive aero shaping.
Two-Weight System
Just like the DARKSPEED X, trajectory tuning within the DARKSPEED MAX is achieved by way of a two-weight system. The important distinction is that the MAX splits weights between the heel and rear of the driving force.
The again place is essentially the most forgiving (heel/toe MOI within the 5,600 vary) whereas the heel place provides a further six yards of draw bias (with the heavy weight again, the MAX is extra draw-biased than the X). Whereas the again place is extra forgiving, MOI stays above 5,000 with the load within the heel.
Spin variations between the 2 positions are roughly 240 rpm, with the again place being the higher-spinning choice.
The COBRA DARKSPEED MAX is offered in 9, 10.5 and 12 levels.
Ladies’s and junior variations can be found.
Inventory Shafts
Inventory shaft choices for the COBRA DARKSPEED LS are the UST Mamiya LIN-Q M40X White and Venture X HZRDUS Matte Black.
Shafts for the DARKSPEED X embrace the UST Mamiya LIN-Q M40X White and Mitsubishi Kai’li blue.
The DARKSPEED MAX is obtainable with the Venture X HZRDUS CB Pink, UST Mamiya LIN-Q M40X Pink.
It’s a reliable inventory shaft providing however it’s value stating that COBRA is especially bullish on the LIN-Q choices which carried out notably nicely in participant testing.
The inventory grip throughout the lineup is a Lamkin Crossline.
Restricted Version Choices
Whereas extra embargoes forestall me from being overly (or any type of) particular, you may count on a couple of extra (not black-on-black) colorways to hitch the DARKSPEED household early within the season.
COBRA DARKSPEED Drivers Pricing and Availability
The retail value for the COBRA DARKSPEED driver household is $549 ($449 junior). Pre-sale begins Jan. 11 with full retail availability Jan. 19.
For extra info, go to COBRAGOLF.com.
