Equipment
Cobra to release new Bio Cell Pro driver
Cobra has announced the release of its new Bio Cell Pro, a 440cc driver that the company says has the lowest center of gravity of any of its 2014 drivers.
The Bio Cell Pro is the driver of choice for Rickie Fowler, who has been playing the new driver since late 2013. Unlike the company’s Bio Cell+ driver, a 440cc model that uses an alloy called Venollum to lower the driver’s center of gravity, the Bio Cell Pro is made entirely of titanium. That will give it a look and feel that’s more similar the company’s all-titanium Bio Cell driver, with the exception of its 20cc smaller size.
“This Pro Driver was designed for golfers with a strong swing that yields high launch and high spin,” said Jose Miraflor, Cobra’s director of product marketing. “To help these golfers play at their best, we created the Bio Cell Pro driver, our lowest CG ever to deliver unmatched distance and performance.”
The smaller size should make the Bio Cell Pro more workable than the Bio Cell, with a lower CG that Cobra says will raise the driver’s launch angle and lower its spin rate compared to the company’s other models. It also has a MyFly8 adjustable hosel that lends itself to better players, with lower lofts and flatter lie angle settings. The hosel adjusts to lofts of 7, 7.5, 8.5 9.5 and 10 degrees, with additional 7.5 Fade, 8.5 Fade and 9.5 Fade settings that make the driver’s lie angle flatter. The company’s Smart Pad, 1.5-cm strip on the sole of the driver, adapts to each hosel setting to keep the face angle relatively square regardless of loft or face angle.
At Address: The Bio Cell Pro in black
Like the Bio Cell and Bio Cell+ drivers, the Bio Cell Pro uses the company’s Forged E9 Bio Cell Face technology, which removes weight from the face to increase the size the driver’s sweetspot.
Click here to read our review of the Bio Cell+ and Bio Cell driver, which we ranked as one of the top-5 drivers in our 2014 Gear Trials Driver Test in the categories of Forgiveness-First and Balanced-Performance.
The Bio Cell Pro driver is currently on Cobra’s website for pre-order, and will be in stores on May 1 for $399. It will be available in orange, black and blue, and comes stock with Matrix’s 6Q3 “Red Tie” shaft in R, S and X Flexes. For no upcharge, golfers can also opt for Mitsubishi Rayon’s D+ 72 shaft (S and X Flexes) or True Temper’s Project X PXv 52 shaft in 5.5 (R), 6.0 (S) and 6.5 (X) flexes.
The stock length of the driver is 45 inches, and swing weight hovers between D3 and D5 depending and shaft model and flex.
Click here to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about the Bio Cell Pro in our forum.
Click here to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about the Bio Cell Pro in our forum.
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.
From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.
Specs/ Additional Details
-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)
-Original Anser Design
-PING PP58 Grip
-Putter is built to standard specs.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.
The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.
On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.
Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.
At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.
“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.
Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.
“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.
“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.”
In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.
On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.
According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.
“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.”
See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here.
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Equipment
Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage
Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.
It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.
When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”
“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”
View this post on Instagram
According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.
Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:
“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.
“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.
“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.
“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.
“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”
So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.
His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.
See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here
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Sheffield
Jul 13, 2014 at 12:14 am
Another nice review! Can you provide launch #’s for the Regular vs Pro. Any thoughts on how a lower spin shaft; e.g., the Graf “new” Blue would play in the regular vs pro in terms of spin rate, launch angle and distance?
thx
perisho
Jul 10, 2014 at 10:36 am
I live in a town with 2 PGA Superstores, 3 Golfsmiths, and 2 Golf Galaxy stores. Not to mention the other misc smaller shops. There isn’t a single BioCell Pro in our city. Most shops have never even heard of it.
matthew moxon
Jun 27, 2014 at 9:09 am
I just bought this a few days ago and it is an awesome driver but i would just like to say to anyone thinking of trying it, you need a fairly fast swing speed to get the performance it offers. I swing at 115-120 mph and was getting good number (average 2100 spin, 10.3 launch) but a friend of mine hit the bio cell pro and found that it performed poorly for him because his swing speed was to low (around 100-105) and he couldn’t get a high enough launch or spin rate and was losing distance. just so you know.
ParHunter
Jun 28, 2014 at 8:44 am
I just got fitted for the BioCell pro and I have a clubhead speed of low 90. It all depends on whether you normally hit it high with lots of spin, then this driver is right for you. No matter what speed. If you need help getting it airborn then it probably isn’t a driver for you.
phil thompson
Jun 18, 2014 at 6:07 pm
I have this driver with the red tie shaft. It is incredible. Moved from rocketballz tour and I have gained more from this driver than any other change. Very stable. Longer than i25 and sldr during fitting and even better, no one else has one at my club!
Scott Shields
Jun 4, 2014 at 10:38 am
Just ordered one of these babies yesterday. I prefer the open club face, to hit better draws with. This face is hot, my misses (smash factor around 1.40-1.45) still flew. The ones I hit well, were awesome. I had spin around 1750 and launch around 13-14.
The misses (high negative aoa), OTT move, was were i was shocked, those were essentially heel hits and the spin was only in the mid 2500 or so … it was stupid almost lol. Ordered it in the AD-DI 7x.
I’m replacing my existing driver, RBZ Stage 2 tour, with Ad-di 6x. Good club, but time to get a better one.
Plus, black head, with a black shaft … straight beast mode.
evenStephen
May 15, 2014 at 3:51 pm
Has anyone hit this yet? How does it perform? What do the numbers look like?
I was debating about the SLDR 460 and the Cell + last week. I think I want to hit this Cell Pro now.
pdgoblue25
May 14, 2014 at 12:23 pm
Love the way this club looks.
Clemson Sucks
Apr 29, 2014 at 12:43 pm
Why not offer the grey color head too?
Matt
Apr 29, 2014 at 10:03 am
I am a little discouraged. When Golf WRX had the Q&A with Cobra back on March 23rd, I specifically asked if Rickie Fowler was playing a “Tour” version of the Bio Cell. They basically said he was playing the stock head because his launch conditions were better, along with Jonas Blixt, as you can see here
http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/989869-recap-live-qa-with-cobra-golf/page__st__150#entry8956137.
I understand Cobra may have been keeping quiet about it until its official release announcement, but I just wanted to know if Rickie was using a different head and they steered around my question. Feel kinda betrayed…
Dave
Apr 29, 2014 at 12:05 pm
I’m pissed as well. Just bought the plus last week, and now this comes out? I’m a high launch, high spin guy in need of exactly what the Pro is offering. Very, very frustrating to know that if I had just waited a week, I’d be in much better shape.
chris
May 14, 2014 at 11:07 pm
I don’t think you’ll see a huge difference in launch and spin between the Pro and the Bio Cell+. The biggest difference is the Pro is 7-10 deg. and the Bio Cell + is 8-11. Also the Pro comes with fade options and the Plus has the draw. I have a Pro and the feel is very similar with the same shaft as the Plus and I have set both the Pro and Plus at 9.5 deg. Hope this helps. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the Plus.
Hate Cobra
May 13, 2014 at 1:11 pm
Yeah you have to hate on Cobra for not wanting to cannibalize their sales of the BioCell+ driver with the upcoming Pro version. That was very sneaky of them, and not very nice.
nikkyd
Apr 28, 2014 at 9:59 pm
Ha! I just posted last night ” why have they not done a review on the bio cell pro yet”? Ask and you shall receive 🙂
RadioActive
May 13, 2014 at 10:45 am
Not sure I would call this a “review”
Joel Domen
Apr 28, 2014 at 9:14 pm
“Myfy8” myfly8
“Lofter lofts” lower lofts
Eric
Apr 28, 2014 at 2:22 pm
I hope it’s an improvement over the Amp Cell Pro, as I just went back to my S3 to regain the 20 yards I lost…
Max
Apr 28, 2014 at 1:19 pm
Awesome! Love the look of the Bio Cell, hopefully will perform like the + or higher launch lower spin than the +….. can’t wait for some reviews. Will have an itchy trigger finger for this one.
RAT
Apr 28, 2014 at 10:33 am
Really excited. I want to give it a try asap. I play the ZL model and nothing beats it so far that I’ve tried..
Roberto
Apr 28, 2014 at 10:31 am
Highly confused how’s this any different than bio cell plus? Aldo comes w same shaft as bio cell plus correct?
I play bio cell plus, I am a high launch high spin player, and think its a great club and one of the most under rated clubs of 2014. It tops for me all new drivers, up there with sldr (must have proper shaft) and alpha closely after those two. This is all relative as clubs are all personal opinion and how they perform for our own swings.
Any clarification on this pro vs cell plus would be greatly appreciated
Joe
Apr 28, 2014 at 1:21 pm
I think that part of this comes from the tour players, who for the most part, liked the look and feel of the regular Bio Cell over that of the Plus. To me, it seems they are now producing a tour driver that has the look and sound of the regular, with the workability of the Plus.
I have hit the red tie shaft with the reg driver, and it may be the best of both worlds. This pro driver may be along the same line.
RadioActive
May 13, 2014 at 10:54 am
Pretty sure the chart sums up the differences pretty well…
Chris
May 14, 2014 at 11:45 pm
The biggest difference is the static loft 7-10 (Pro) vs 8-11 (Plus) and the paint jobs due to the multi material on the Plus.
RobN
Apr 28, 2014 at 10:21 am
This should be a win for Cobra for those that are intrigued by the Bio Cell +, but not the two-tone color scheme.