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Cobra’s new King F9 Speedback irons and hybrids (in one-length, too)

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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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7 Comments

7 Comments

  1. 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.

  2. Curt

    Oct 31, 2018 at 11:42 am

    Nike slingshot modified a bit.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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!

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Whats in the Bag

Kris Kim WITB 2024 (May)

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Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X

Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.

 

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Welcome to the family: TaylorMade launches PUDI and PDHY utility irons

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TaylorMade is continuing its UDI/DHY series with the successor to the Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons: PUDI and PDHY (which the company styles as P·UDI and P·DHY). TaylorMade is folding the designs in with its P Series of irons.

TaylorMade outlined the process of developing its new utilities this way. The company started with the data on utility iron usage. Not surprisingly, better players — i.e. those who generate more clubhead speed and strike the ball more precisely — were found to gravitate toward the UDI model. DHY usage, however, covered a wider swath than the company might have expected with six-to-18 handicappers found to be bagging the club.

TaylorMade also found that the majority of golfers playing UDI or DHY utilities were playing P Series irons at the top of their iron configurations.

Can you see where this is going?

Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Iron and Wedge at TaylorMade: “As we look to the future, beyond the tech and the design language, we are excited about repositioning our utility irons into the P·Series family. P·UDI is an easy pair for players that currently play P·Series product and P·DHY is an extremely forgiving option for players of all skill levels. It is a natural fit to give these players the performance in this category that they are looking for.”

 

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TaylorMade PUDI

TaylorMade PUDI technology cutaway (via TaylorMade)

Crafted with tour player input, TaylorMade sought to develop a confidence-inspiring utility iron that blends with the rest of the P Series irons. Also of note: Interestingly, the PUDI has a more compact head than the P790.

In comparison to past UDI products, the PUDI has a more traditional iron shape, slimmer toplines, and less offset with a little of the backbar visible at address.

TaylorMade PDHY

TaylorMade PDHY tech cutaway (via TaylorMade).

Larger in profile than the PUDI, the PDHY seeks to position center of gravity (CG) lower in the club for ease of launch. The toe height is larger and the profile is larger at address — roughly five millimeters longer than PUDI — the sole of the club is wider for improved forgiveness.

Club Junkie’s take

Golfers who feel like they are missing something at the top of the bag could find the PUDI or PDHY a great option. The look of the PUDI should fit the most discerning eye with a more compact look, less offset, and a thinner topline. If you want a little more confidence looking down the P-DHY will be slightly larger while still being a good-looking utility iron.

For being small packages both models pack a pretty good punch with fast ball speeds, even off-center. The feel is soft and you get a solid feel of the ball compressing off the face when you strike it well. Your ears are greeted with a nice heavy thud as the ball and club come together. The PDHY will launch a little higher for players who need it while the PUDI offers a more penetrating ball flight. Both utility irons could be the cure for an open spot in the top end of the bag.

PUDI, PDHY, or Rescue?

TaylorMade offers the following notes to assist golfers in filling out their bags:

  • PUDI has mid-CG right behind the center face to create a more penetrating mid-to-low ball flight
  • PDHY has a lower center of gravity to produce an easier-to-launch mid-to-high ball flight.
  • Both PUDI and PDHY are lower-flying than the company’s hybrid/Rescue clubs.
  • PUDI is more forgiving than P790.
  • PDHY is the most forgiving iron in the entire TaylorMade iron family

Pricing, specs, and availability

Price: $249.99

At retail: Now

Stock shafts: UST Mamiya’s Recoil DART (105 X, 90 S and 75 R – only in PDHY)

Stock grip: Golf Pride’s ZGrip (black/grey)

PUDI lofts: 2-17°, 3-20°, 4-22° in both left and right-handed

PDHY lofts: 2-18°, 3-20° and 4-22° in both left and right-handed

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Equipment

Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/3/24): Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter

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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 Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter

From the seller: (@wwcl): “Has been gamed as pics show. 33.5 includes original h/c and grip. $575 includes shipping and PP fees.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter

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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