Equipment
You can see inside Cobra’s King LTD drivers and fairway woods
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.
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- 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.
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- At address: The King LTD driver has a glossy black finish and an orange Cobra alignment aid.
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- 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.
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- A key allows golfers to remove the Spaceport with the included torque wrench.
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- Wrench included
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- 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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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
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 TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
From the seller: (@lasallen): “For sale is a BRNR mini 11.5 deg head only in brand new condition. $325 shipped.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
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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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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Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
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Collin Morikawa what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. More photos from the event here. Driver: TaylorMade...
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Ludvig Åberg what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, D4 SureFit setting)...
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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.
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.”
ooffa
Aug 24, 2015 at 7:23 pm
You made my day. Great comment, I laughed hard.
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…
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!
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.
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)
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. 🙂
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?
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…
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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?
David
Aug 19, 2015 at 5:48 am
* to make a dollar
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.
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.
Teaj
Aug 20, 2015 at 8:24 am
speed holes lol why didn’t I think of that.
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!
Cliff
Aug 19, 2015 at 9:15 am
Love good facial explosions!
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.
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!
LD
Aug 18, 2015 at 11:08 am
Shark. Jumped.
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
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.
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.
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 +
tom
Aug 18, 2015 at 9:07 am
Wow…I can’t wait to try this. That is bad @ss.
bunty
Aug 18, 2015 at 8:52 am
that looks very good
redneckrooster
Aug 18, 2015 at 8:50 am
I like it but not the price.
Brian
Aug 18, 2015 at 9:36 am
Wait 6 months.
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…
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.
Sr
Aug 18, 2015 at 11:04 am
The Seniors are loving Cobras
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 .