Equipment

WRX Spotlight Review: 2020 Cobra SpeedZone drivers

Published

6 years ago

Dec 12, 2019

Recently, we penned our launch feature on the 2020 Cobra Driver offerings: the SpeedZone and SpeedZone Xtreme. The design of both drivers is based on optimizing six unique characteristics, which will result in improved performance and feel. This includes a milled face, carbon wrapped crown, and what they are calling a “strength zone,” places where their engineers have removed unnecessary weight, redistributing it. Like other major manufacturers, the line features two different drivers geared towards players who either wish to reduce spin (SpeedZone) or players looking to maintain or even add spin (SpeedZone Xtreme). The MAP for the drivers is $449, and like always Cobra offers a plethora of shafts options at no extra charge.

But the real question is how good are these drivers? In an impartial trial, we recruited two players to test the SpeedZone and SpeedZone Xtreme versus their current driver. Each participant hit balls until they were warmed up and then hit 10 balls on Trackman with their driver and then 10 balls with the Cobra SpeedZone Driver. During testing the launch angles and spin rates where very similar for both players with both clubs.

Participant 1: Mid 20s player, former competitive golfer with an index of 8.4. Current driver is 9.0-degree Titleist D2 with S-flex Even Flow. He tested his current driver versus a SpeedZone with an X-stiff Rogue shaft.

Results: On average with his current driver, Participant 1 averaged 249 carry distance with a best of 260.7. With the SpeedZone, Participant 1 picked up an average of 7 yards of carry, going from 249 to 256 and his personal best increased by 14 yards to 274.7.

Quote from Participant 1: “I was immediately comfortable with the club because it has a shape very similar to my Titleist (pear and pretty classic looking). In terms of performance, I was impressed; the club has a massive sweet spot that really helped me on off-center hits.”

Participant 2: 17-year-old, top 100 Junior Golf Scoreboard with an index of +1.3. Current driver is a TaylorMade M6 9.0 with Accra TZ shaft. He tested his current driver versus a SpeedZone with a hazardous Smoke shaft.

Results: On average with his current driver, he was 248 carry with a best of 268. When he put in the SZ, his misses were much tighter together. His worst miss was 243 carry and his best was 276. On average with the SZ, he had a carry average of 264.3.

Quote from Participant 2: “I think that Cobra might have a stigma amongst the best players. When I was asked to do this, I was tentative, but I can honestly say that I was really impressed with not only the performance but also the feel. I really liked the milled face.”

Equipment

TaylorMade launches Spider Tour Torched putters

Published

1 hour ago

Jun 4, 2026

Brian Knudson

TaylorMade has dominated the mallet putter market with their expansive Spider putter line over the last few years. From players on professional tours to us everyday players, you will see a lot of Spider putters in bags. For 2026 TaylorMade is updating the Spider line with the new Spider Torched series that features a new torched PVD finish and some new head shapes.

The first thing you will notice about the Spider Torched putters is the bronze color finish. This finish takes inspiration from Rory’s custom Spider that is heated with a torch to get a multi-color bronze finish. When you heat stainless steel to around 600°F to 900°F it will change to this bronze color in a process called temper color. This happens because very high temperatures cause the metal’s surface to react with oxygen in the air, creating a thin transparent layer that gradually becomes thicker over time. Instead of using the time-consuming torching process, TaylorMade went with a more durable PVD finish to get a similar look.

Rory’s TaylorMade Spider Tour X

With the new launch we get the familiar Spider Tour head shapes that we know and love with the Spider Tour and Spider Tour X. Both are offered with different hosels as well to give looks that golfers will love and influence the toe hang of the putters for fitting different putting strokes. It doesn’t stop there as TaylorMade is also giving us the new Spider Tour V and Spider Tour F shapes that offer a different look and alignment at address. All of the heads stay true to being a Spider by their high MOI design for stability and forgiveness. A sole plate with updated graphics moves weight away from the center of the club head and out to the perimeter.

“The Spider Tour putter family represents the very best of what we do at TaylorMade. Nearlytwo decades of engineering, refinement and Tour feedback have gone into building thisfamily—and this new finish brings a level of visual sophistication that matches theperformance underneath it. These are putters that belong in the hands of the best players inthe world, and they’re proving it every week.”–Andrew Oldknow, Senior DirectorProductCategory and Design

More Photos of the TaylorMade Spider Tour Torched Putters

For lining up the putter we see the tried and true True Path alignment that TaylorMade has been using on Spiders for what feels like forever. This high contrast line makes it faster and easier to get the putter pointed towards your target for more accuracy. You can also see the legendary Pure Roll insert that is made from white TPU for a softer feel. Each insert contains horizontal 45 degree grooves that put more forward roll on the ball and reduce hopping and skidding. Behind the insert is a Hybrar Echo Dampener that will reduce unwanted vibrations for a softer feel and sound at impact. On the sole TaylorMade kept the TSS weights so that you can dial in the head weight in order to get the perfect feel out of your Spider Tour Torched.

Spider Tour

Spider Tour F

Spider Tour V

Spider Tour X

Spider Tour Counter Balanced

More Photos of the TaylorMade Spider Tour Torched Putters

All of the new Spider Torched putters are offered with a premium KBS CT 120 putter shaft that features a gloss black finish. This upgraded shaft features a stiffer feel and low toque for added stability and consistency. The stock grip is a Super Stroke Pistol 1.0 while the counter balanced models get a Super Stroke 2.0 XL grip that is longer, 13.75″, in order to grip it further down easily. A new brown head cover has a leather texture and looks really good with the brown and light blue accents on it.

The new Spider Torched putters will have a $349.99 price for both the standard and counter balanced models.

Whats in the Bag

Sungjae Im WITB 2026 (June)

Published

2 hours ago

Jun 4, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

Sungjae Im had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.

Driver: Titleist TSi2 (8 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 7 X

3-wood: Titleist TS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X

Hybrid: Titleist H2 818 (19 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD Hybrid DI 105 X

Irons: Titleist T100 ’19 (3-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (48-10F, 54-14F), SM7 (60-04L)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Putters: Scotty Cameron Special Select F-5 Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype
Grips: SuperStroke Zenergy 1.0PT

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Check out more in-hand photos of Sungjae Im’s clubs here.

Whats in the Bag

Lucas Glover WITB 2026 (June)

Published

2 hours ago

Jun 4, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

Lucas Glover had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.

Driver: Titleist GTS2 (10 degrees, B2 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X

3-wood: Titleist GTS2 (15 degrees, B2 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X

7-wood: Titleist GTS2 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X

Irons: Srixon ZX5 (4), Srixon ZX7 (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)

Wedges: Cleveland RTX 6 ZipCore Tour Rack (52-10 MID, 56-12 FULL,60-12 FULL) Cleveland RTZ Tour Rack (54-12 FULL, 60-12 FULL)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400