by Bradley Weixel, AmateurGolf.com Equipment
Panel
The newest Cobra driver is now available, and is
well worth the wait. The King LTD and LTD Pro are
the newest offerings from Cobra Golf. With golf
manufacturers continuing to release new drivers on a
regular basis, Cobra has added technical and
playability advancements, rather than rely on hype
alone for a share of the sales. They may not be in
the "Big Four" club manufacturers, but
Cobra is a storied brand and Greg Norman and Rickie
Fowler are marketing forces to be reckoned with.
And "King Cobra" is a classic product
name.
The King LTD stands up to any driver in the
market today in playability factors, feel, sound, and
pure numbers. The new technology in the King LTD
starts with the Spaceport 16 gram
weight in the sole of the club. By placing this much
weight in this position, Cobra is able to achieve a
much lower CG (Center of Gravity) and a higher MOI
(Moment of Inertia).
So, how does this new technology relate to
driver performance?
Simple, by moving the CG more towards the
sole of the club with the Spaceport
technology, Cobra is able to produce higher launch
angles, lower spin, and more forgiveness.
Additionally, the Speed Channel trench
(from the popular Fly Z +) surrounding the face is
still there to help increase ball speeds, along with
the newly re-engineered forged E9 Zone Face
advancements.
MY TESTING
Accompanying its increased performance, the
new technology in the King LTD also produces a
superior feel and sound. I currently play the Cobra
Fly Z + (read review) and the feel of
the King is significantly better, and the snap you
hear at impact is music to the ear. Although feel and
sound do not hit the golf ball, they are both
undeniable factors all golfers search for in
equipment.
It's hard on the wallet to go out and buy every
new driver that comes along -- especially when
you're as happy with your current driver as I have
been with the Fly Z plus -- but I'm seriously tempted
to upgrade to the LTD.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX
The stock shaft options in the LTD are different
than those offered in the Fly Z +. Cobra went with a
stock Aldila shaft this round. However, the
adjustable sleeve remains the same. Therefore, if
you are like me and love your current shaft, you
can simply swap out your Fly Z + head and throw
on the LTD or LTD Pro.
Esthetically, the King fails to offer the color
choices available with previous Cobra drivers. That
said, the LTD does feature a Carbon Fiber crown
displayed in a unique checkerboard pattern. In
addition to looking cool, the TeXtreme
Carbon Fiber crown is 20% lighter, moving even
more weight lower in the club for enhanced
playability.
Bottom line, the LTD means business. The
combination of its sleek design and modern
engineering will rival any manufacturer in the
market. Today’s current driver market is
extremely competitive, and you must stand out from
the competition to succeed. In my opinion, Cobra
has accomplished just that, the King LTD is in the
building.