Cobra’s New Irons are Fire

Cobra Golf’s recently-announced sets of irons – the F9 Speedback and King Forged CB/MB bolster the company’s always impressive iron line-up.

By Tony Dear

A couple of months ago, we went on a Srixon binge as it introduced a number of products in a short period of time. At the moment, we’re all about Cobra which recently announced its F9 Speedback line will be available in January (we had space to feature the woods last week), and a couple of weeks ago released the Rickie Fowler-inspired King Forged CB/MB iron set.

First the F9 Speedback iron which the company claims is the ‘most powerful, stable and accurate’ iron it has ever made. Mass is added low and back in the clubhead using a belt of steel that wraps around the back perimeter of the iron, creating a lower and deeper Center of Gravity (CG). Thirty-three grams of tungsten are added to the heel and toe in the 4-7 irons, increasing MOI in these longer clubs by 10%. This is obviously designed to help players get the ball airborne quicker and carry it further than they were able to previously.

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A new variable-thickness face design, called E9 and just 1.8mm at its thinnest point, expands the sweet zone. And the forged PWRSHELL design features a deep undercut sole with a 1.2 mm internal Speed Channel that, Cobra says, absorbs and returns more energy to the ball for higher launch and faster ball speeds.

The F9 Speedback iron also features Cobra Connect, the Arccos-enabled game-tracking software that enables you to analyze your overall performance, get your scoring breakdown, see your averages with each club, gather your strokes gained, and plenty more besides. Cobra claims players using Cobra Connect improve their handicaps by an average of 5.4 strokes in the first year which, they say, is 36.4 times faster than the average golfer. That’s pretty impressive and, we think, worthy of your attention.  A One Length version will also be available with every iron matching the length of the 7-iron. A graphite combo set, comprising a 5H and 6-PW, GW will also be offered. A steel combo set with the same configuration is available custom-fit.

$800 Steel, $900 graphite
Shaft – KBS Tour 90
Grip – Black Lamkin Crossline with Cobra Connect
Graphite Combo Set – $1,000, with Fujikura ATMOS 60 shafts

Regular and combo sets are available in right and left hand. One Length in right only, though left is available custom fit.

The configuration of the King Forged CB/MB set matches that which Fowler has in his bag – 4-PW. The 4-6 irons are a cavity-back design while the 7-PW are muscles-backs. Cobra says the club is designed for ‘golfers that play like Fowler or who want to feel like a Tour pro,’ adding that they deliver ‘superior feel and precision for those seeking maximum control in a compact players’ shape.’

Cobra’s engineers add a tungsten weight to the sole of Fowler’s MB irons to increase Moment of Inertia (MoI) and lower the CG – a design they incorporated into the new Forged irons so the average golfer, they say, can take advantage of the same performance benefits.

“These are our softest and most precise irons yet,” says Tom Olsavsky, Cobra’s VP of R&D, “as demanded by Rickie, and golfers that have high performance expectations like him.”

Six grams of tungsten positioned in the toe increases the club’s MoI and six grams in the sole lowers the CG for a higher launch with decreased spin. CNC-milling results in sharper, more consistent grooves, and the wedge grooves are more tightly-spaced than in the other irons to maximize spin and better aid in controlling shot trajectory.

A Diamonized Black Metal finish is designed to provide extra resistance to wear and tear, and reduce glare. “The DBM process chemically implants the black finish into the club head,” says Olsavsky. “This increases durability without affecting playability, for longer-lasting, better-looking irons.”

The King Forged CB/MBs are forged from 1025 carbon steel through a five-step process used to create the final look and feel – a more through process than that employed by competitors, says Cobra. “Our method improves the grain structure alignment and integrity of the metal,” says Olsavsky. “It ensures a smoother, tighter grain structure that eliminates pores or voids in the metal that negatively impact feel.”

The King Forged CB/MB comes standard with Cobra Connect.
$1,100
Shaft – KBS S-Taper with black PVD finish
Grip – Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Standard set comprises 4-PW, though 2 and 3 irons and a gap wedge are also available.

We also wanted to mention TaylorMade’s Rory Junior Golf Sets which will be available online on December 7^th. The Northern Irishman had a big hand in creation of the sets which come in two versions – the 8-Plus Set which is designed for ages 8+ and those 52″ to 60″ in height and which comprises seven clubs – 400cc, 16° / 39.5″ titanium driver, 24° 3-wood, 30° 5-Rescue, 36° 7-iron, 44° 9-iron, 56° Sand Wedge, and 30” center-shafted mid-mallet putter; and the 4-Plus Set which is targeted at new golfers aged 4+ and who range in height from 42″ to 52″. The 4-Plus Set is made up of five clubs – 400cc, 16° / 33.5″ titanium driver, 30° 5-Rescue, 38° 7-iron, 54° sand wedge, and a 26″ putter.

Both sets come with a stand bag and Rory St. Bernard headcover for the driver.

8-Plus Set – $400
4-Plus Set – $300
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