Equipment
Cobra’s new King F9 Speedback irons and hybrids (in one-length, too)
Like its family members — the King F9 Speedback drivers and fairway woods — Cobra’s new King F9 Speedback irons and hybrids are designed to lower CG (center of gravity) and raise MOI (moment of inertia) to increase forgiveness and ball speed. The result, if everything works out, are new irons and hybrids that hit the ball higher, farther and straighter.
To accomplish this with the irons, Cobra designed the King F9 Speedback irons with a “Speedback sole,” which means a mass of steel has been added that wraps around the back of the iron to create a lower and deeper CG to increase ball speed and launch, and thus, carry distance.
Click here for more photos and discussion.
For more forgiveness, Cobra added weight to the toe and heel of the clubs; in the 4-7 irons, according to Cobra, 33 grams of Tungsten weights were added for greater stability. In all, Cobra reports a 10 percent boost in MOI in the long irons.
Additionally, the King F9 Speedback irons have a new Forged E9 “PWRSHELL” face — aka variable face thickness — to create lighter, thinner pockets in targeted areas to increase ball speeds on off-center hits, and effectively increase the “Sweet Zone,” according to Cobra. There is also an undercut sole with a 1.2mm “speed channel” to absorb energy for faster ball speeds, says Cobra. For dampened vibrations, a multi-material medallion (aluminum, TPU and Acrylic foam) sits in the cavity.
Again, like the drivers and fairway woods, the King F9 irons have CNC-milled faces that allow for improved loft control and tighter tolerances, allowing the faces to be constructed thinner and faster, according to Cobra. There are V-grooves in the long irons (4-7) and U-grooves in the short irons (8-PW) to optimize spin and trajectory; higher launch and lower spin in the long irons, lower launch and more spin in the short irons. The hosel lengths are also progressively designed in order to lower CG in the long irons, and raise CG in the short irons.
The King F9 Speedback irons are available in both variable length and one-length sets; Cobra reports that 40 percent of the F8 irons sold were one-length sets, and expects a similar split for this iteration.
For any iron purchase of 6 pieces or more, Cobra will send screw-in Arccos sensors, or Cobra Connect grips, to use on the rest of your clubs in the set (aside from the putter) to track your stats. The variable length sets (5-GW; $799 steel and $899 graphite) come stock with KBS Tour 90 and Lamkin Crossline Cobra Connect grips. Also available is a graphite combo set (5H, 6-PW, GW) for $999 with Fujikura Atmos 60-gram shafts.
One-length sets (5-PW, GW; $799 steel, $899 graphite) are progressively designed so the soles of the 4-6 irons are wider for a higher trajectory and have lighter shafts; the shafts of the 7-9 irons are mid-weight, while the short irons are heavy weight wedge shafts. The lie angles of the long irons have also been designed a bit more upright for slightly higher launches, and the wedge lies are a bit flatter for a lower trajectory.
Cobra’s new King F9 Speedback hybrids, like the King F9 Speedback fairway woods, have a new 15-gram Tungsten weight positioned low and rearward in the sole for a higher launch. The hybrids also have Baffler Rails for better turf interaction, are made with 455 Stainless Steel faces, are 10 percent larger than their F8 predecessors, and they have straighter leading edges for improved alignment, according to Cobra.
The King F9 Speedback hybrids are available in both variable length (17, 19 and 21 degrees) and one length (19, 21 and 24 degrees) options. Each come with Fujikura Atmos shafts and will sell for $219 apiece starting on January 18, 2019.
Click here for more photos and discussion.
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Whats in the Bag
Rasmus Højgaard WITB 2024 (April)
- Rasmus Højgaard what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Prototype (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX
Utility: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw White 85 TX
Irons: Callaway Apex Pro (3), Callaway X Forged (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 130
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (52-10S, 56-10S, 60-06C)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130 X
Putter: Odyssey Ai One Milled Eight T DB
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Hojgaard in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Rory McIlroy WITB 2024 (April)
- Rory McIlroy what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X
5-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9 X
Irons: TaylorMade Proto (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9)
Shaft: Project X 7.0 (4-9)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (46-09SB, 50-09SB, 54-11SB), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks (58-K @59)
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour X3
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol Tour
Ball: 2024 TaylorMade TP5x
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Rory McIlroy’s WITB in the forums.
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Equipment
Spotted: Nate Lashley’s Ping PLD “Wolverine” putter
Ping PLD putters have been a very common site on profesional tours. Pros seem to gravitate toward the PLD line’s custom options and precision milling. We have seen the PLD line expanded over the years, but we haven’t seen too many, if any, large mallets.
This week we spotted a PLD putter in Nate Lashley’s bag that has a similar look to the old Ping Wolverine head shape. This putter is a large mallet with the famous “claws” on the outside and oval center that housed the alignment aid.
Nick’s putter has the PLD logo on the back but also looks like it might have an insert installed on the face. It is hard to tell but at the address picture, it looks like the face is a lighter material than the rest of the putters. The putter is center-shafted and should be face-balanced with a high MOI for stability and forgiveness on mishits. The sole is completely milled and has no markings of name or technologies that might be present in the head. A single white site line is on the top of the putter for alignment.
Nick’s putter is finished off with a chrome steel shaft and a Super Stroke Zenergy Flatso 2.0 grip in black and white.
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic
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jbro
Nov 8, 2018 at 11:57 am
I wonder when the Super GI irons are going to get a version without the ridiculous offset. Yea, they’ll improve with ballstriking confidence, but will get directional control. Anyone? Please make a set of Super GI Irons without so much horrific offset.
Curt
Oct 31, 2018 at 11:42 am
Nike slingshot modified a bit.
Thomas A
Oct 31, 2018 at 9:49 am
I had the EQL irons in 1995 or thereabouts. They were hand-me-downs from my dad. They were his first clubs until he was fit into a set of King Cobra Overside irons. I actually really liked the EQL irons. The heads looked like 845’s And it was very easy to learn with, although the 8,9,P were awkward. For that reason I’ve been watching the Cobra One Length progression just in case I get the itch to try again.
Tom
Oct 30, 2018 at 5:20 pm
Tommy Armour had this one length iron concept in 1986, they called it EQL, nothing new at all!!!FYI, it failed badly!
GH
Oct 31, 2018 at 2:12 am
The technology in these irons is much more advanced than the old EQLs.
Scott
Nov 1, 2018 at 11:04 am
It is amazing how many people (maybe the same person) keep bringing up this old tired argument of some 30 year old Tommy Armour club. Give it a rest.
Hey, single length haters! Technology has changed in the past 30 years. And no, I do not play single length but I am very intrigued on something that may make the game easier.
eddie
Oct 30, 2018 at 5:18 pm
I love the awesome look of those irons and would be proud to stack them in my WITB arsenal of weapons!