Cobra Golf has created some outstanding iron sets throughout the years. When you pull some of the historical models you’ll likely find the King Cobra II, Fly-Z, Bio Cell, and many other cast irons as your favorites. Sure, Cobra has created forged irons in the past, but it appears that the company was on a mission to make 2023 the year it takes a piece of the forged market share with three different models that are sure to grab the attention of mid-to-low handicaps. The King CB, MB, and Tour irons are at your local retailer waiting for you to measure them up to your current gamers.
If you don’t know the difference between cast and forged irons, let us help.
Cast irons: Molds are made from a ceramic and sand mixture and filled with hot, liquid metal. The molds are then broken from the metal and the irons are polished. The cast iron process is cost-efficient for companies because a larger quantity of irons can be produced at once. Cast iron models are typically going to fall in the game improvement category and have more offset.
Forged irons: Forged irons are made from single pieces of metal. Each piece is heated to a temperature where the machinery can mallet each to the iron’s form. From there, each forged iron is individually polished by hand. The process is much more detailed which is why forged irons cost more. Forged irons also have less offset and are intended for the better player.
Our first look at the new forged lineup from Cobra came at the 2023 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. It was at the Cobra PUMA booth where Vice President of Marketing, Jose Miraflor, gave us the full overview of what goes into these premium sticks. Watch the full video here.
“We utilize a five-step process,” said Miraflor. “We hit it five times. Most companies hit it three or four. Our fifth step is at 800 degrees celsius it gets hit with 2,00 pounds of pressure. It aligns the grain structure, gives you the most perfect shape, and it pushes out all impurities.”
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The five-step process Miraflor details is carried out across all three of these models. Let’s dive a bit deeper into the Cobra King iron pool to find out which model might be best suited for your game.
King MB
A tour iron if we’ve ever seen one. The King MB has a thinner topline and zero offset. The “MB” stands for muscle back, which is the popular head shape that concentrates most of the weight on the rear of the head. They will be very low on the forgiveness scale, but if you’re a single-digit handicap that can consistently find the middle of the face, you will reap the rewards. The King MB will provide a penetrating ball flight with optimal spin, especially with the higher lofted irons. If working the ball is your desire, these are for you.
Miraflor noted for us that 2019 U.S. Open champ, and Cobra staffer, Gary Woodland is currently gaming the MB and loves them.
Recommended Handicap: 3 and below
Forgiveness: Low
Workability: High
Available Makeup: 4- PW, 5-GW
Stock Shaft: KBS $-Taper
Price: $1,199
King CB
The King CB is closely related to the MB, but is a slight step ahead in the forgiveness category. That’s not to say a mid-handicap player could play them with consistency, but if you’re a solid player that just wants that extra help, the CB is where it’s at. The cavity back design removed significant material from the back of the iron and it’s immediately noticeable on flushed shots. It’s also a tour-level iron with zero offset.
“What we’re doing with these irons (MB and CB) is creating a muscle back and a cavity back,” said Miraflor. “They’re both about penetrating trajectory, shot creation, shot control, and it’s made for the better golfer.”
Recommended Handicap: 3 and below
Forgiveness: Low
Workability: High
Available Makeup: 4- PW, 5-GW
Stock Shaft: KBS $-Taper
Price: $1,199
King Tour
The most forgiving of the three models, the King Tour is equally as striking as its MB and CB counterparts, which isn’t an easy feat. Cobra was able to seamlessly incorporate its technology across all three models, which is something you’d expect from OEMs that are historically known for producing world-class forged irons. Cobra lists the King Tour model as best serving handicaps of seven or below, but players that are slightly higher than that and improving could probably find success with them. The milled-out spot on the back of the head removed weight that was allocated to the heel and toe for extra forgiveness. If you need further proof, Rickie Fowler has the King Tour in his bag for the 2023 season.
“The Tour carries a tiny bit more offset, it’s not a ton,” said Miraflor. “That amount of offset with that head is the right timing for him, and you’re seeing his golf game has gotten a lot better.”
Recommended Handicap: 7 and below
Forgiveness: Medium
Workability: High
Available Makeup: 4- PW, 5-GW
Stock Shaft: KBS $-Taper
Price: $1,299
We highly encourage you to go for a fitting with a certified Cobra club fitter to ensure your set is tuned to your game. And if you have a hard time making up your mind, Cobra offers a Flow Set, which transitions from CB long irons to MB short irons. You can even custom order a set from Cobra that can incorporate King Tour irons, so the options are virtually endless.
As with all Cobra golf clubs, you are eligible for Arccos Smart Sensors which plug into the end of your grips and provide you with some incredible stats and data points when paired with the Arccos Caddie app.