Equipment

Cobra introduces new 2021 King Tour irons with MIM technology

Published

4 years ago

Oct 20, 2020

It’s been quite a while (three-plus years) since we have seen any new players irons from Cobra Golf. The Rev33 “Rickie iron” was teased out over the last year, but the focus has mainly stayed on its Forged Tec line, which has done well in the very competitive players distance category.

So why the long wait?

cobra-king-tour-mim-irons-2021

According to Cobra’s VP of R&D Tom “TO” Olsavsky it was for a very specific reason…

“A long time ago we had actually planned it to launch at the end of 2019 as we usually try to launch players irons in the fall. Between COVID-19 delays and the new breakthrough innovation MIM process, it took us a little longer but it’s been worth the extra time, player feedback has been amazing so we are confident it will succeed.”

Introducing new 2021 Cobra King Tour irons

Tech Story

Cobra King Tour MIM 7-iron – cavity view

Cobra King Tour MIM 7-iron – face view

Metal Injection Molding AKA MIM is a term we have heard a few times over the past year. Cobra just recently implemented this process into its MIM wedge line. Essentially, it’s a process that allows OEMs to fine-tune a club heads shape and spec to the nth degree all while dialing in the softest feel possible. Seems awesome for a wedge and even better for an iron. To make it really easy to understand, it’s not cast, it’s not forged, its MIM.

The multi-material 1025 iron head has a tungsten weight inserted into the toe section that dials in the CG directly to the sweet spot. This practice is very popular—and almost essential at this point—Cobra has done this in the past with its previous players irons and it was first introduced as a head weight adjustment for Rickie Fowler years ago.

The final step is a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) insert to ensure impact gives off that “Muscle Back” softness at impact, a good way for traditional players to try new tech and not sacrifice the familiar softness of a forged blade.

Who is it for?

According to Olsavsky

“The King Tour iron is designed for the range of Tour players to single-digit handicaps. It slots in nicely between the pure MB type irons and Players Distance. It’s also a slight merger between Forged Tour and Forged CB shapes, so hoping to cover both players that would have chosen one of these 2 irons.”

2021 Cobra King Tour irons: Optics

Cobra King Tour MIM 7-iron - cavity view

Cobra King Tour MIM 7-iron – topline view

Cobra King Tour MIM 7-iron – toe view

The new 2021 Cobra King Tour has a slightly shorter blade from the previous King Forged Tour iron based on comments from staff, the top line has been thinned out (a hair) and offset was increased to satisfy staff feedback.

According to Cobra Director of Tour Operations Ben Schomin

“The initial shape was developed years ago in the AMP Cell Forged iron and then transitioned with a few tweaks into the King Forged Tour. The shape in general was always well liked, but there was a common theme among R&D/marketing employees and players that the long iron blade lengths were a little long from heel to toe. We made some design changes to the MIM Tour iron that addressed blade length along with a few other feel enhancing tweaks. Overall it is a very eye pleasing shape.”

To make it really uncomplicated: the new 2021 Cobra King Tour is a simple, compact player cavity back designed to do its job. Cobra irons have always gone through the turf well, and now has a softer feel thanks to the MIM process. Players will get the MB feel in a CB iron.

More photos and discussion in the forums.

Cobra King Tour MIM 4-iron – cavity view

The Tour

Cobra doesn’t have the biggest Tour presence in the world, but it does have some VERY unique minds to pick from for R&D.

“Like all of our new gear, we love to get input from our staff. In this case, having players like Jason Dufner, Rickie Fowler and others giving specific feedback is always an integral part of the process. For example, Duf is as knowledgeable about what makes a good club as anyone out there. If he responds well to shape or feel we know we are in a good place.” -Ben Schomin

And we had to ask about BAD…Is this something Bryson would put in play?

“At this time there is no plan to make one length out of this head. But who knows, if he gets fired up to play them we will make it happen. He seems to be doing fine with what he has in the bag now, lol.” -Ben Schomin

Cobra King Tour MIM pitching wedge – cavity view

2021 Cobra King Tour irons: Overall

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, these days any product that hits the market will be (for the most part) superb. Like its competitors, Cobra is offering a simple yet elegant players CB that will hold water with anything else.

The real question goes back to the players themselves: What are you looking for in your irons? Is it more distance (hopefully not), precision, turf interaction, curb appeal? We all respond to different parts and now more than ever there are options to satisfy your heart and your hands. This new Cobra iron has everything a player would want. So, get fit, and put ’em to the test.

Specs

Cobra King Tour MIM

Per Cobra

The King Tour Irons with MIM Technology are available in a 4-PW set make-up in right hand only.

A 3-iron and gap wedge are available via custom order. Each King Tour iron is equipped with a steel KBS $-Taper 120 shaft in the golfer’s choice of stiff or regular flex. In addition, each iron comes with a Cobra Lamkin Crossline Connect grip in black.

Cobra King Tour MIM

A wide selection of shaft and grip upgrades are also made available through custom order. The stock steel set retails for $1,299 and will be available beginning October 30, 2020, on cobragolf.com and through Cobra’s entire network of off-course retailers/custom club fitters.

More photos and discussion in the forums.

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

3 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

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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