Equipment

You can see inside Cobra’s King LTD drivers and fairway woods

Published

9 years ago

Aug 18, 2015

It’s been more than a decade since the release of golf’s first adjustable driver. In that time, equipment manufacturers have gone to great lengths to inform golfers of the performance benefits of the gizmos on the outside of their clubs. What few golfers realize, however, is that important changes have also been made on the inside.

: The King LTD drivers were created with technology developed through a partnership with CASIS, the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space. “Ark 2” is the second series of research investigations brokered by CASIS to the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory.

With its King LTD drivers and fairway woods, Cobra offers golfers a glimpse inside its new clubs in a way that the company hopes will not only further their understanding of its aerospace-inspired technologies, but also further their ability to hit longer, straighter shots as well.

Here’s what you need to know about the new clubs: Cobra’s King LTD driver ($449), King LTD Pro driver ($449) and King LTD fairway woods ($299). They’re in stores Nov 13.

King LTD Drivers

Two Models: Cobra’s King LTD drivers are offered in two models, King LTD and King LTD Pro, but they use the same head design. The difference is that they have distinct loft and lie settings. The King LTD can be configured to lofts between 9 and 11.5 degrees and has more upright “draw” settings, while the King LTD Pro can be configured to lofts between 7 and 10 degrees and has flatter “fade” settings.

The King LTD uses Cobra’s “Speed Channel,” a channel around the perimeter of the club face that improves ball speed on off-center hits.

Key Features: The two most notable new features are a removable “Spaceport” sole weight and a “Textreme” Carbon Fiber Crown, both of which reposition weight lower and deeper in the club head to help golfers increase launch angle, lower spin rate, and improve ball speed on off-center hits.

Spaceport is a 16-gram removable weight made of aerospace-grade aluminum and a clear polycarbonate material that allows golfers to see inside the driver head. It’s secured with “Spiralock,” a thread technology that was developed for high loads and high vibrations.

Spiralock helps lower the center of gravity of the King LTD driver, saving approximately 6 grams of weight from the design.

Take It Off: Spiralock sheds light on the technologies inside the club head when it’s removed, but it’s not just for looks. Most removable weight systems require additional material inside the club head to hold weight weight in place, says Cobra VP of R&D Tom Olsavsky. Spiralock’s design eliminates the need for such supportive structures.

: At address: The King LTD driver has a glossy black finish and an orange Cobra alignment aid.

: Can you see the Textreme pattern?

Crowning the King: Cobra has used carbon fiber crowns in previous models, but the King LTD drivers mark the first time the company has used a carbon fiber material called Textreme. Textreme is 20 percent stronger than standard carbon fiber, which allowed the company to make the crown thinner and lighter. If you look closely, you’ll see the patterned Textreme finish on the crown of the drivers.

: A key allows golfers to remove the Spaceport with the included torque wrench.

: Wrench included

: The key goes inside.

A Material Change: Cobra used Ti-811 titanium for the bodies and faces of the new drivers, which is stronger and lighter than the 6-4 titanium used on previous models. Because of the strength difference, the company had to redesign its E9 face technology, which uses varying face thicknesses on the internal portion of the club face to improve ball speed on off-center hits. As shown below, the structure can be viewed when the Spaceport is removed.

A view of Cobra’s E9 face technology from the inside.

28 Grams: Cobra claims that the new design elements allocate 28 grams of additional weight to be redistributed lower and deeper in the club head. That creates a higher moment of inertia (MOI), a measure of ball speed retention on mishits, as well as a lower center of gravity (CG). According to Olsavsky, the King LTD and King LTD Pro mark the first time a driver has achieved a CG below the “neutral axis,” a perpendicular line extending rearward from the geometric center of the club face.

Tungsten and Tuning: The drivers come stock with a 12-gram tungsten weight installed internally in a rear weight port. Along with the Spaceport, it can be adjusted to meet custom swing weight requirements and/or custom shafts.

Stock Shaft and Grip: Both the King LTD and King LTD Pro drivers come stock with Aldila’s Rogue Black 60 shaft (R, S and X flexes) and Lamkin’s UTX grip (0.600 diameter, 52 grams)

King LTD Fairway Woods

The King LTD is a mid-sized fairway wood with a Textreme Carbon Fiber Crown that is 15 grams lighter than its steel equivalent.

Like the King LTD driver, the fairway wood has a removable Spaceport that repositions weight lower in the head for better performance and allows golfers to see inside the club head.

The fairway woods have 475 stainless steel faces, which are thinner and stronger than the 465 stainless steel faces used on the company’s Fly-Z and Fly-Z+ fairway woods. They’re designed to produce ball speeds at the USGA’s legal limit for center hits.

A 12-gram weight is positioned in front of the fairway wood’s Spaceport to help golfers improve ball speed and reduce spin.

The King LTD fairway woods are available in two models: 3-4 (13-15.5 degrees) and 5-7 (16-18.5 degrees). The come stock with Aldila’s Rogue Black 60 shaft (R, S and X flexes).

See what GolfWRX Members are saying about the King LTD drivers in our forum.

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38 Comments

John

Aug 24, 2015 at 8:45 am

Golfers must be the most gullible people on the planet. No high tech innovation is going to help you if you’ve got a swing like a demented lumberjack hacking at a trees tump. Take some lessons, practice when you can and stick with what’s worked for you in the past. A $500 driver is only going to make you poorer not better.

Reply Report comment
Just Wondering

Aug 24, 2015 at 1:46 am

Would it sell better if they installed a Magic 8 Ball feature in the window? “Will I shank this drive? It is decidedly so.”

Reply Report comment
- ooffa
  
  Aug 24, 2015 at 7:23 pm
  
  You made my day. Great comment, I laughed hard.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Mac n Cheese
  
  Aug 26, 2015 at 2:35 pm
  
  It wouldn’t be hard, crack open a magic 8 ball, poor the fluid in the head, assuming it is air tight, along with the answer thing and done! now you have the Cobra King magic 8 driver…
  
  Reply Report comment
john

Aug 19, 2015 at 8:44 pm

gee that’s ugly lol
shame about the grip too, utx’s are greasy as hell and wear out in like a fortnight especially on a driver!

Reply Report comment
Regis

Aug 19, 2015 at 4:12 pm

I’m a Senior with an 85 mph swing speed and I have good fundamentals. I’ve been playing and tinkering with all sorts of shafts for many years. Two years ago I got fitted for a SLDR and the hype notwithstanding when I set it up properly it more than lived up to its hype. Years ago I gamed a ZL encore and in all fairness I could have stuck with that for the rest of my life and been fine. But you know the drill. So when the price dropped on the “new” Cobra Fly Z (which topped the list in a lot of reviews) I had to take the plunge. Put a GD Tour AD shaft on it that never worked on the SLDR or any other toy in my arsenal but on paper should have been perfect. Anyway put it on the Fly Z and never have I had a club that performed so well. Aside from forgiveness, feel, distance, I can actually work the ball, flight it in the wind, do what I want. I feel like a “Playa”. So naturally, I’ve had my eye on the FLY Z + because well because. Now this come the King LTD. Anyway If you’ve never played a Cobra don’t be put off by the colors or the hype. Their technology is as good as any manufacturer out there.

Reply Report comment
- Peter Hostrup
  
  Aug 26, 2015 at 5:06 pm
  
  Agree!!! Had the R11 with a oban devotion 6-4 stiff but my mates started outdriving me with their Titleists 913 blueboards, so – “had to” go shopping. Bought the Fly Z + fitted with a GD Tour ad stiff. My SS is 102 – my mates are no longer outdriving me and I’m more often on the short grass!!!
  Great driver(and shaft)
  
  Reply Report comment
dcorun

Aug 19, 2015 at 2:24 pm

I’ll compare it to my current driver the RBZ Stage 2 Bonded w/ Accra Fx150 shaft and see how it goes. Nothing has come close in the past 2 years plus to knock it out of the bag. It’ll probably look like Shane Lowry’s driver before I buy a new one. 🙂

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Matt Wiseley

Aug 19, 2015 at 2:20 pm

I think the club looks great and Rouge Black shaft as standard option is really nice.
My question- can I fill the head with something to make it hit farther? Kind of like how we used to load aluminum bats in high school?

Reply Report comment
- Mac n Cheese
  
  Aug 26, 2015 at 2:28 pm
  
  I see this happening. tons of mods for packing it full of weight to maximize distance…
  
  Reply Report comment
StressDoc

Aug 19, 2015 at 11:41 am

Most of the head changes provide minimal distance or control for the average golfer..it’s in the shaft that there is control or power.

Reply Report comment
- Teaj
  
  Aug 20, 2015 at 8:35 am
  
  ummmm… yes the shaft plays a part for sure but I have to say that the tech in the head is a little more valuable then the shaft, mind you the shaft has to be close to fit, if im swinging a SR shaft with a 114mph SS then yes it will matter.
  
  Reply Report comment
Mat

Aug 19, 2015 at 11:23 am

Cobra is on a winning streak. That said, anyone who knows their stuff knows that waiting ~8 months is worth a huge, steep discount. I hope Cobra start valuing their own stuff a little better.

Reply Report comment
Semi

Aug 19, 2015 at 8:04 am

The suggested retail price for a new Rogue black is $449…that’s on the website. These shafts can’t be the real deal – can they?

Reply Report comment
- Teaj
  
  Aug 20, 2015 at 8:30 am
  
  if you are purchasing 1 shaft from Aldila the $449 price point makes sense. this being a stock shaft they will be purchasing large quantities as it will be stock in both the standard King and Pro so I am sure they get a little break on the price.
  
  example. company X puts out a list price on a bag of cement, if I the general public go to the store I will be paying list price. If a contractor goes to the manufacture he will most likely receive a percentage off of this list price which can range depending on the product being purchased and the amount of margin built into the list price of such product.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - alan
    
    Sep 7, 2015 at 10:49 pm
    
    I hope you understand that there is a TREMENDOUS difference between a real deal, after market shaft and an OEM (original equipment manufacture) shaft.
    
    Yes it’s a Rogue Black, BUT IT IS NOT A $449 shaft. It is a collaboration between the club maker and shaft company. The bend point, torque. tip stiffness, bend profile, and materials are different from the after market shaft. The way it is described is the design is proprietary to in this case Cobra. That is a nice way of saying scaled back.
    Hey, It is still a lot better than the average stock shaft, BUT get real !!!
    Cobra is not installing a $449 shaft in a $449 club. The head is not free.
    
    All of the high end shaft makers are doing this BECAUSE THEY DO NOT SELL ENOUGH OF THEIR AFTER MARKET SHAFTS to remain economically viable, stay in business. They cannot turn down a request by Cobra or any of the big club makers to produce 10 or 20 thousand watered-down shafts.
    I hope you will find this helpful.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Jack
  
  Aug 25, 2015 at 5:18 am
  
  Nope. It usually comes with a made for tag on it. Not really the same thing (supposedly). But with the huge margins they have on these shafts, maybe that is the only difference?
  
  Reply Report comment
David

Aug 19, 2015 at 5:48 am

* to make a dollar

Reply Report comment
David

Aug 19, 2015 at 5:47 am

Just another golf gimmick the make a dollar. More junk you will see on the bargain racks in a couple years.

Reply Report comment
Chris

Aug 19, 2015 at 2:49 am

Just great!
And what’s the release date for the see-through shaft? I just can’t wait.

Reply Report comment
- Teaj
  
  Aug 20, 2015 at 8:24 am
  
  speed holes lol why didn’t I think of that.
  
  Reply Report comment
Ron Burgundy

Aug 18, 2015 at 5:27 pm

I have tried them all and the Fly Z+ has suited me the best. A top 100 club fitter I know who is not in any way affiliated with Cobra told me the have the best R&D department. The Fly Z+ is awesome. It feels like the ball explodes off the face and is as low spinning as anything I have hit. I had an SLDR custom fit before that driver and the Cobra is way better on miss hits. It may not be quite as long but I hit way more fairways and am way more consistent. Also IMO it feels way better. I am interested in trying this and I think it is cool, but I highly doubt it will beat the Fly z+ for me. Cobras issue is that they do not have the fitting carts that the other big manufacturers do. Do not knock until you try. Every one of my friends that has hit the Cobra has ended up buying one. The are scratch to plus handicaps. Real deal boys!

Reply Report comment
- Cliff
  
  Aug 19, 2015 at 9:15 am
  
  Love good facial explosions!
  
  Reply Report comment
Steve P

Aug 18, 2015 at 1:40 pm

If the acoustics of the club are decent, it’s going to be a big hit.
It’s got that same kind of uniqueness that products like the bubble shaft, 2 Ball putter, R7 and R11 drivers, etc. etc. that made golfers want to learn more about it. If it performs and doesn’t sound horrible, think of clubs like the Nike Sumo Squared or Callaway C4, Cobra will have a winner.

Reply Report comment
- Chuck
  
  Aug 18, 2015 at 10:15 pm
  
  After the usual “What about hot melt?” thought passed, I immediately thought about sound. My thing with hot melt as much as anything was about deadening the sound of a 460cc head. But with a composite crown, this thing should already have a good sound…
  
  I see some interesting, if not new, technology in this. I would very happily and eagerly demo this driver!
  
  Reply Report comment
LD

Aug 18, 2015 at 11:08 am

Shark. Jumped.

Reply Report comment
joe

Aug 18, 2015 at 10:39 am

I actually like the look of this driver….but once you put hotmelt in it…its gonna look like it has some gunk inside the head lol

Reply Report comment
Leon

Aug 18, 2015 at 10:18 am

Great! I can get some beers, candies or even a bottle of 5 hour energy hidden inside this club head. Nice container that charges for $499.

Reply Report comment
Mo

Aug 18, 2015 at 9:47 am

Reminds me of the old King Cobra days. That was a great driver and it looks like Cobra has hit another home run.

Reply Report comment
Mike

Aug 18, 2015 at 9:20 am

I’m pretty happy with my Fly Z + right now and have not found anything that can beat it. I do like the looks of these new models however but not enough to switch. I just don’t see myself getting anything more out of a new driver than my current Fly Z +

Reply Report comment
tom

Aug 18, 2015 at 9:07 am

Wow…I can’t wait to try this. That is bad @ss.

Reply Report comment
bunty

Aug 18, 2015 at 8:52 am

that looks very good

Reply Report comment
redneckrooster

Aug 18, 2015 at 8:50 am

I like it but not the price.

Reply Report comment
- Brian
  
  Aug 18, 2015 at 9:36 am
  
  Wait 6 months.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - scott
    
    Aug 19, 2015 at 1:57 pm
    
    Just remember in that 6 months to a year when the price drops you will also have to avoid reading all the NEW information about why the NEW replacement driver is so much better…
    
    Reply Report comment
Teaj

Aug 18, 2015 at 8:41 am

iv tested most of the Major Brands clubs and the Fly-Z Series mainly the + for me have been the best driver out there by far (for me anyways) if this new driver allows me to be more accurate with the addition of lowing spin I would love to take a crack at it.

its a shame more people don’t try Cobra drivers as they are pretty dam good. Having lost their coolness which they tried to gain back by adding many colours I think backfired for a sport that is very traditional.

Reply Report comment
- Sr
  
  Aug 18, 2015 at 11:04 am
  
  The Seniors are loving Cobras
  
  Reply Report comment
  - redneckrooster
    
    Aug 18, 2015 at 4:14 pm
    
    I sure like them.
    By the way I’m a senior and I carry 245 with my ZL with stiff shaft .
    
    Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

4 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

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And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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