Equipment
First Look: Cobra AMP Cell Driver
It’s officially go time. Cobra has introduced its new AMP Cell Driver, available at retail on Feb. 8, 2013.
Click here for more discussion in the forums.
The AMP Cell (pictured to the right) and AMP Cell Pro Drivers feature Cobra’s new MyFly technology, allowing golfers to select from six different loft/trajectory settings for optimized performance and distance based on a golfer’s swing, as well as the weather and course conditions.
New Cobra Amp Cell Forged Irons (flow set)
Cobra is offering the AMP Cell driver in a choice of four different colors — silver, blue, red and orange, and the AMP Cell Pro in a choice of two colors, silver and orange. The sole of the club features a curved cell band in the featured color and the crown of the club is the solid featured color. In the AMP Cell, the white Fujikura Fuel shaft features a paint splatter graphic.
The AMP Cell Driver can be adjusted to the following lofts with a simple wrench; 8.5°, 9.5°, 9.5° Draw, 10.5°, 10.5° Draw and 11.5°; and the AMP Cell Pro can be adjusted to 7.5°, 8.5°, 8.5° Fade, 9.5°, 9.5° Fade and 10.5°.
The AMP Cell and AMP Cell Pro also add another level of adjustability through Cobra’s SmartPad technology. Unlike other drivers that require a golfer to adjust the sole plate after adjusting loft for a square face, Cobra’s proprietary SmartPad technology delivers a square face at address regardless of loft setting and still allows for workability to slightly open or close the face as desired.
Click here to see another article where we tested the Cobra AMP Cell Driver against the ZL Encore.
The Cobra AMP Cell Driver (MAP $299) is available in both right and left handed models. It is available in Stiff, Regular and Lite flexes and features a Fujikura Fuel shaft (60g S and R, 55g L and 45.75” length) and has a 460cc head. The Cobra AMP Cell Pro Driver (MAP $399) is available in both right and left handed models. It features a MRC Kurokage shaft (65g and 45.25” length) and has a 440cc head.
Click here to see more photos and read the discussion in the forums
“The AMP Cell Driver offers golfers the adjustability, innovation, customization and choice they want but have not been able to get – until now,” said Bob Philion, President. “We are taking adjustability to another level with our MyFly technology, offering six different loft/trajectory settings golfers can change to adapt to their swing or playing conditions. The technology combined with the color choice reaffirms Cobra’s positioning as a performance driven brand infusing more joy into the game.”
Cobra’s E9 Face Technology with dual roll is used in the AMP Cell and AMP Cell Pro Drivers for an elliptical face shape with a canted bulge and roll that Cobra says improves distance and accuracy on mis-hits from heel to toe and above and below the centerline.
Click here to see more photos and read the discussion in the forums
Advanced Material Placement (AMP) and Cell technology work together to enable a 12 percent larger elliptical E9 Face shape to deliver faster ball speeds and high MOI (moment of inertia) on mis-hits. The Cell technology saves and redistributes weight in a granular way and is visible on the drivers in the Cell band which wraps around to the crown. This wrap also visibly shows a golfer where the weight is distributed, with the AMP Cell Driver having a CG optimized for low-mid handicap players, the AMP CELL Pro using a lower, more neutral CG position for better players.
The AMP Cell Driver is also available in an offset model designed to help tame a slice. The offset design offers the golfer more time to square the face at impact and provides more heel-biased weighting to help hit straighter drives.
The AMP CELL Offset Driver features an MRC Cobra AMP Shaft and a Lamkin Cobra REL grip. The Offset model is Revolver Grey with hints of Barbados Red.
Click here to see more photos and read the discussion in the forums
Click here to see more photos and read the discussion in the forums
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Equipment
A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic
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
Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.
See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here
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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Whats in the Bag
Alejandro Tosti WITB 2024 (April)
- Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 80 TX
Hybrid: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue (22 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 6.5 100
Irons: Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore Tour Rack (50-10 MID, 54-10 MID, 58-10 MID, 60-06 LOW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100, S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Plus4
Check out more in-hand photos of Alejandro Tosti’s WITB in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Drew Brees WITB 2024 (April)
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Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper (13.5 degrees)
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (19 degrees)
Irons: TaylorMade P790 (4-8, PW), TaylorMade P760 (9)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09, 56-10, 60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2 Prototype
Check out more in-hand photos of Drew Brees’ clubs here.
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Rich
Jan 24, 2013 at 12:33 pm
I play the Cobra ZL and if it is half as good as it ,sign me up. The head cover is double ugly,I’ll keep my Georgia yellow jacket cover! I’m
more cercened with the shaft model,never liked them.
Troy Vayanos
Jan 22, 2013 at 2:25 pm
The best driver i’ve used in a long time. Has great feel off the clubface and the extra carry off the tee is amazing.
I wouldn’t swap this driver for anything else on the market today.
Jason
Jan 18, 2013 at 10:44 pm
I like the shape of these, but the crown would look way better if they just painted it clean w/ small alignment logo and hid those things on the toe and back of crown. I guess I can do that myself…
Jimmy b
Dec 23, 2012 at 6:47 am
I have just purchased the amp cell driver (silver)and it is amazing. I have come from a 2 year old callaway driver and the results are astonishing. I have added 30 metres to my drive. Long and straight, exactly how it should be… Highly recommended
BarryG
Jan 10, 2013 at 10:36 pm
Thanks for the comment. I am looking at purchasing this club. What shaft is in it and did u get fit? My clubhead speed is around 100 mph. What kind of callaway driver did you have?
Bong de Guzman
Nov 12, 2012 at 10:21 pm
May I ask what the overall weight would be for an AmpCell Driver with a 55gramL flex shaft?
Juan
Sep 28, 2012 at 1:04 am
If you’re looking to order some clubs online, take a look at a Free Shipping offer from Golfsmith on orders over $75 – bit.ly/SGpUac
VH
Sep 27, 2012 at 3:41 pm
This is a new step for cobra the driver and the shaft are sick!!!! but cobra needs to design a new headcover its a joke!! but the adjustibility is much needed.
William W. Wood
Sep 27, 2012 at 1:27 pm
Make sure that the color of the head does not clash with the color of the shaft. One can accessorize with a matching grip.
Brian
Sep 27, 2012 at 1:15 pm
They looked pretty good in person. The fairway woods and hybrid can also be loft adjusted as well.
Cobra nut
Sep 27, 2012 at 12:57 pm
Great looking drivers, love the new technology and design gives it a definitive look of were advancing the driving future. The head cover yes that is horrible to say the least. lol at Brian Cass and I suppose you think the RBZ or RZR fit are good looking?
Brian Cass
Sep 26, 2012 at 8:28 pm
Not sure what is uglier. The driver or the headcover. Nice to be able to adjust from 8.5 to 11.5 I guess. Yuckville.