Equipment
Cobra King F6+ driver: The best the industry has to offer?
Is the “best” driver the one that offers the most drastic adjustability? If so, Cobra’s new King F6+ may have a case as the industry leader, according to claims from the company.
The current obsession with adjustability in driver design is a puzzle for equipment engineers. How do they lower center of gravity to make the ball launch higher with less spin and raise moment of inertia to increase forgiveness… while simultaneously adding more and more adjustable features? According to Tom Olsavsky, vice president of R&D at Cobra, the company’s new King F6+ and King F6+ Pro drivers ($399) take an industry-leading step in the right direction. The trick? Carbon fiber.
Thanks to an 18-gram sliding weight housed in a carbon-fiber track (Cobra calls it a CarbonTrac), the F6+ offers the most drastic changes in front-to-back center of gravity (CG) adjustability — 6 millimeters front to back and 600 rpm of spin — and has the lowest CG of any adjustable driver on the market, according to Cobra.
For comparison, TaylorMade claims its M1 T-track system affects spin by 300 rpm when changing CG from front-to-back.
Related: Cobra’s King LTD driver, which boasts a “zero CG.”
The F6+ driver’s predecessor, the Fly-Z+, offered “FlipZone” adjustability, which let golfers move CG forward and backward. But a front setting and a back setting were the only two options. The F6+’s sliding weight track offers nine different CG options, and most importantly, Cobra was able to significantly lower CG, thus raising moment of inertia (MOI).
By building the track’s foundation out of 100 percent carbon fiber, Cobra was able reduce the weight of the structure by 8 grams compared to an all-titanium construction. The crown of the driver is also made from carbon fiber, a structure that the company says is 12 grams lighter than its titanium equivalent.
The F6+’s body is made from Ti 811, a material that’s lighter and stronger than the titanium used in the Fly-Z+, saving 6 grams in total. A new Speed Channel helps save 1.5-2 grams on the club face and is 10 to 15 percent better on off-center hits, according to Cobra.
The new Cobra F6+ drivers are available in four colors, and orange will be available for custom order, and the Turbulent/Gecko will be available on March 15.
What the F6+ driver doesn’t do, however, is allow golfers to move CG toward the heel or toe like a few other drivers in the market. Does that matter? Well, to a player who wants to tweak their draw or fade, it could be a problem.
Cobra’s solution? The company’s MyFly hosel, also specially designed to save weight, allows golfers to adjust loft and lie angle with eight different positions including three draw-biased settings, which make the driver more upright. Cobra’s new F6+ comes in an F6+ Pro head, too, which is essentially the same driver with less loft. It also has fade-biased lie angle settings instead of draw settings.
The loft and lie options between the King F6+ and F6+ Pro drivers
Something to keep in mind: When using the sliding weight track, you can also affect side-to-side trajectory. Sliding the weight forward will tend to make the driver more fade biased, while sliding it rearward will give the driver more draw bias.
The Cobra F6+ driver will be available at retail on Jan. 15, 2016.
Shaft offerings and pricing
No-upcharge shafts
Cobra also offers a slew of premium shafts available for an upcharge, including:
- Aldila Rogue Silver and Black
- Fujikura Pro, Speeder Pro, Speeder Pro Tour Spec, Speeder Evolution
- Graphite Design Tour AD-MT, Tour AD-BB, Tour AD-DI, Tour AD-MJ, YS Reloaded
- Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana S+, D+, B-Series, W-Series, Kuro Kage Black TiNi
- Oban Isawa, Kiyoshi Gold
[wrx_retail_links productid=”53″]
Related
- See more photos and join GolfWRX member discussion in our forums.
- Cobra’s new King F6+ driver, fairway woods and hybrids
- Cobra’s new King F6 irons
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- Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Utility (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 100 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F @51, 56-14F), SM7 (60-10S)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Baby T
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4
More photos of Kevin Tway’s WITB in the forums.
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Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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Equipment
Webb Simpson equipment Q&A: Titleist’s new 2-wood, 680 blade irons, and switching to a broomstick Jailbird
With seven career wins on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open victory, Webb Simpson is a certified veteran on the course. But he’s also a certified veteran in the equipment world, too. He’s a gearhead who truly knows his stuff, and he’s even worked closely with Titleist on making his own custom 682.WS irons.
On Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship, I caught up with Simpson to hear about his experience with Titleist’s new prototype 2-wood, how Titleist’s 680 Forged irons from 2003 ended up back in his bag, and why he’s switching into an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser broomstick putter this week for the first time.
Click here to read our full story about Simpson’s putter switch on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, or continue reading below for my full Q&A with Simpson at Quail Hollow Club on Wednesday.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
GolfWRX: It seems like you’ve been a little all over the place with your irons in the past six months or so, and now going back to the 680’s. Is that just a comfort thing? What’s been going on with the irons?
Webb Simpson: Titleist has been so great at working with me, and R&D, on trying to get an iron that kind of modernizes the 680. And so the 682.WS took the T100 grooves, but kinda took the look and the bulk and the build of the 680’s into one club. They’re beautiful, and awesome looking. I just never hit them that well for a consistent period of time. It was probably me, but then I went to T100’s and loved them. I loved the spin, the trajectory, the yardage, but again, I never went on good runs. Going through the ground, I couldn’t feel the club as well as with the blade. So last week, I’m like, ‘Alright. I’m gonna go back more for…comfort, and see if I can get on a nice little run of ball striking.’
So that’s why I went back.
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OK, that makes sense. I know you had done some 2-wood testing recently. Is that in the bag right now?
It’s like day-by-day. I used it at Hilton Head every day. Valero, I used it one round. And this week, me and my caddie will do the book every morning, and if it’s a day where we think we need it, we’ll just put it in and take the 3-wood out. I love it because it’s a super simple swap. Like, it doesn’t really change much.
Yeah, can you tell me about that club? I mean, we don’t really know anything about it yet. You know? I haven’t hit it or anything, obviously.
It has grooves like a 3-wood. Spin is perfect. And it’s honestly, like, everything is in the middle of a 3-wood and driver number. Trajectory, spin, carry, all of it. So, a Hilton Head golf course is almost too easy to talk about because, you know, there, so many holes are driver 3-wood.
Valero, our thinking was we had two par-5’s into the wind, and we knew that it would take two great shots to get there in two. So instead of hitting driver-driver, we just put it in. And I used it on those holes.
Hilton was a little easier because it was off-the-tee kind of questions. But Colonial will be a golf course where, you know, there’s a lot of driver or 3-woods. It’s kind of like a backup putter or driver for me now. I’ll bring it to every tournament.
So it’s, like, in your locker right now, probably?
Well, it would be. It’s in my house [because Webb lives near by Quail Hollow Club, and is a member at the course.] It’s in the garage.
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Do you know what holes you might use it out here if it goes in play?
Potentially 15, depending on the wind. Second shot on 10. Could be 14 off the tee. The chances here are pretty low (that he’ll use the 2-wood). But, like, Greensboro would be an awesome club all day. I’m trying to think of any other golf courses.
There’s plenty that it’ll be a nice weapon to have.
It’s interesting, the wave of 2-woods and mini drivers. Like, it’s just really taken off on Tour, and all the companies have seemed to embrace it.
Yeah. The thing I had to learn, it took me, like, at least a week to learn about it is you gotta tee it up lower than you think. I kept teeing it up too high. You need it low, like barely higher than a 3-wood. And that was where I got optimal spin and carry. If you tee it up too high, you just don’t get as much spin and lose distance, I don’t know if that’s just a mini driver thing.
And you obviously have a Jailbird putter this week. What spurred that on?
Inconsistent putting. I’m stubborn in a lot of ways when it comes to my equipment, but I have to be open minded – I just hadn’t putted consistently well in a while. And I’m like, ‘Man, I feel my ball-striking coming along. Like I feel better; for real, better.’
If I can just get something in my hands that I’m consistent with. Being on Tour, you see it every year, guys get on little runs. I can put together four to five tournaments where I’m all the sudden back in the majors, or in the FedExCup Playoffs. You can turn things around quick out here. I’m like, ‘Man, whatever’s going to get me there, great.’
My caddie, David Cook, caddied for Akshay at the Houston Open and he putted beautifully. Then, I watched Akshay on TV at Valero, and he putted beautifully. And, I’m like, ‘I’m just going to try it.’
I’ve never tried it for more than a putt or two, and I just ordered what Akshay uses. It was pretty awkward at first, but the more I used it, the more I’m like, ‘Man, it’s pretty easy.’ And a buddy of mine who’s a rep out here, John Tyler Griffin, he helped me with some setup stuff. And he said at Hilton Head, he wasn’t putting well, then tried it, and now he makes everything. He was very confident. So I’m like, ‘Alright, I’ll try it.’”
And you’re going with it this week?
Hundred percent.
Alright, I love it. Thank you, I always love talking gear with you. Play well this week.
Thanks, man.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
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Stevie D.
Mar 21, 2017 at 10:28 pm
As someone who has gamed TM drivers since the 80’s, I wanted to offer my recent experience. I went to a demo day in Orlando a few months ago, and tried drivers from all the top manufacturers. As a golfer who tend to come in steep on the ball, having lots adjustability in the driver was very important. The F6+ and Mizuno JPX 900 w/speeder661, were the longest, but the consistency favored the Cobra. I bought the F6+ w/matrix black tie, at half the price of the JPX900, and have been driving the ball longer, straighter and with more consistency finding the fairway. I settled on the weight all the way forward and the loft set to 10.5° draw setting. I couldn’t be happier. Next up will be replacing my TM 3 wood and rescue with the Cobra F7 rail.
Anthony
Feb 18, 2016 at 1:49 pm
F6+ sliding weight design is horrible. The weight should be squared off so it can’t rotate while you are tightening. The screw head snapped off on mine while I was tightening it. Great head with great numbers but a horrible design on the sliding weight.
Golf93454
Sep 17, 2016 at 2:02 pm
Anthony: so true. Had to ship my driver back to Cobra (thanks Roger Dunn). Third time to move the sliding wt and it stripped? Couldn’t be tightened. And yes it moves while you are trying to tighten it. Ended up sticking with my Mizuno JPX-850
Osterhoff39
Nov 22, 2015 at 6:31 pm
I recently demoed this F6+ and I have hit the king Ltd also. I own the fly z and the m1 and the F6+ is an AMAZING driver!! First off I’m a 8 handicap right now with an average 100 mph swing speed. I like to hit a mid/high trajectory with a slight draw and my fly z gives me that with a 260 yard average drive. This F6 straight out of the bag I was hitting the ball 250 with a 14 mph head wind. I made a few adjustments and was getting over 20 yards further then with my fly z and the M1!! So I took out the king Ltd to compare and the F6+ won by only a few yards. Like I said I’m not a pro and don’t have the swing speed of one either, but these cobra drivers are just AWESOME!!
I'm Ron Burgundy??
Nov 21, 2015 at 11:30 pm
I play the Fly Z+ woods and they are legit! Really feels like the ball explodes off the face. I am interested in trying these. Not sure if they will offer any gains for me over the Fly Z+ but we will see!
retiredRichard
Nov 18, 2015 at 2:15 pm
So I wait till 11/13 to see/hit the King LTD and now I have to wait till 1/15/16 for the F6? They keep this up and I may save a lot of bucks ’cause I will just keep waiting for the next great one.
LaBraeGolfer
Nov 17, 2015 at 11:06 pm
Did I miss something usually I’m great with understanding equipment, but kinda confused on the whole F6+ vs. King LTD thing this year, I kinda feel like their is two options you could go for based on what you want in a driver since their is 4 models total. I don’t know if I’m confused the average golfer is definitely going to be.
ltd
Nov 18, 2015 at 3:09 am
They’ll also have the LTD XL, the bonded, non-adjustable, lightweight shaft with off-set hosel look version for the slow swing speed people. So that’ll be 5 different heads in one sitting
Casey
Jan 10, 2016 at 10:46 am
They really have 3 different heads this year. The LTD and LTD Pro are the same head, but the Pro has less loft and it’s lie angle is more flat. Same thing for the King F6+ and King F6+ Pro. Then they have the F6.
Mat
Nov 17, 2015 at 9:39 pm
In just about two years, Cobra has gone from trendy buy-for-color to any serious player could bag and no one questions it. Very impressive Puma.
Desmond
Nov 17, 2015 at 9:32 pm
Gosh, the Elements Chrome and + as a no upcharge … that’s worth $$$
T2C
Nov 17, 2015 at 7:32 pm
Hey Hammer, what color does Mercer wear?
other paul
Nov 17, 2015 at 7:29 pm
Sexy looking driver.
Desmond
Nov 17, 2015 at 6:32 pm
It’s another take on adjustability. For me, I like the Callaway GBB because I can slide the perimeter weighting to fade to account for my normal miss – a toe hit. Put the weight to fade, hit it towards toe and the weight expands the sweetspot towards the toe, giving me a gentle draw or straight ball flight when coupled with a “D” hosel setting.
The point is all of this tech is great. Choose the tech that works for you.
john
Nov 17, 2015 at 5:35 pm
add another $10 to the price to get rid of that antique grip lol
Poppa
Nov 17, 2015 at 2:25 pm
240 upcharge for Aldila Rogue shaft and it’s not even 125 MSI one. SHANK
WILSON!!
Nov 17, 2015 at 8:36 pm
Someone sure is picky. The rogue isn’t even a great shaft… this comment is a shank!
David Ober
Nov 17, 2015 at 10:52 pm
The Rogue may not be for everyone, but combined with the GBB Alpha DBD, it’s about as point-and-shoot perfect as any shaft/driver combo I’ve hit in the last fifteen years….
ph00ny
Nov 18, 2015 at 12:19 pm
I’m liking Rogue Silver 70x on my E8 Beta 3 wood and as soon as my M1 arrives, i’m sure i will enjoy it as well.
Bob
Nov 20, 2015 at 7:34 pm
Chrome Elements + for no upcharge, you can’t be mad about shaft choices.
Fozcycle
Nov 17, 2015 at 11:56 am
I like the look of the F6……and it comes in Blue, of course! Go Kentucky!
Hammer
Nov 17, 2015 at 12:46 pm
That’s definitely Duke blue!
KUrob77
Nov 17, 2015 at 7:15 pm
Definitely Kansas blue. More appealing at address
Chris Loskie
Nov 18, 2015 at 11:21 pm
Its duke blue until someone else is the champ!!! ????