Louis Pringle

Jul 07, 2023

12 minutes

Cobra golf clubs have been around for a long-time already and have been associated with some of the most noteworthy golfers of the last decades. Their woods hold a world-renowned reputation, which motivated us to put them to the test to see how used golf clubs measure up to brand-new models.

The video above will give you an inside look at our testing process. You’ll be able to see what the clubs looked like in action as well as get a complete testimony as to how each club performed. Our objective with this test is to answer a few questions that many of you may have at home.

Now, let’s see what clubs we used as part of our test.

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What Cobra drivers did we test?

Overall, we tested six different drivers from Cobra. We went all the way back to 2012 with the Cobra Amp driver and the most recent model we tested was the Aerojet, released in early 2023. We also looked at last year’s release, the King LTDx Max, the 2021 release, the King Raspeed, the King F9, released in 2019, and finally, the King F7 released in 2017.

How did we proceed with our driver test?

Here’s how we tested each of our drivers. I personally hit all the shots with the drivers on our indoor simulator. We kept the best strikes with each club to serve as our basis of comparison.

After collecting all the data, we broke down the results and compared each club against one another to get some answers to the questions we had at the start of the test.

One of our main points of focus during this test was to examine how much of an impact the years and the price tag can have on the performance of used golf clubs.

What tools did we use to test the clubs?

We used a Srixon Z-Star XV golf ball to test all our drivers. We closely monitored the ball’s condition for any scuff marks which could have skewed the data.

Just like our TaylorMade test, our simulator stats were powered by our trackman simulator. It provided us with key data points for our analysis, which allowed us to compare the clubs and evaluate their performance.

Cobra King LTDx Max Driver Review

We first tested the Cobra King LTDx Max driver. Upon release, it was meant to be an update on the original LTD model released in 2016. The main draw for both the LTDx and the original is their hot club face and elevated ball speeds on impact.

Because of this reputation, ball speed was one of the main things I wanted to test with this driver. I was also curious to see how much forgiveness it could provide. Let’s dive into the results of our test to see how the club performed.

Test Results – Cobra King LTDx Max Driver

I hit quite a few shots with the King LTDx Max and the dispersion area is considerably wide. That was on purpose as I was trying to shape the ball to test the feel of the clubface.

The impact was generally focused on the right side of the sweet spot, slightly above the median line of the clubface. This impact zone also explains the ball trajectories I produced as I hit a lot of draws and high fades.

These are useful trajectories for golfers who like to shape their shots, but this might not suit a golfer who wants to hit the ball straighter.

In terms of performance stats, the King LTDx Max was amongst the longest drivers I hit during my test. It averaged a total yardage of 254 yards I was just short of reaching the 144-mph ball speed mark with my swing.

The Cobra King LTDx Max’s greatest perk is undoubtedly the feel for the ball as I was able to work the ball both ways. I would have liked to test the forgiveness a little more on mishits, but my impact zone was a bit too consistent during this test.

Finally, the King LTDx Max has a massive clubhead. This might be a turn-off for some players, but less experienced golfers will see it as a reassuring sight at address, on top of providing a larger target to find the ball at impact.

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Cobra King Radspeed Driver Review

Our second club is the Cobra King Radspeed, released in 2021. Much like its predecessor and successor, speed was key with this driver, so I was looking forward to testing this one. The Radspeed just happened to be released while Bryson Dechambeau was attempting to stretch the limits of the game of the tee.

Simply put, it was designed to allow power hitters to maximize their output. But what I wanted to know, and what many of you at home probably wanted to know is, how does it perform in the hands of an average golfer?

Let’s look at our results and see!

Test Results – Cobra King Radspeed Driver

Right off the bat, the Radspeed delivered in terms of ball speed and distance. I produced my longest average of just under 263 yards on a 146-mph ball speed and my longest strike of the entire test at 291 yards with a ball speed of 157 mph.

Once again, we can see that I was able to work the ball with ease in every direction. To be fair that might have been the result of some off-centered strikes.

The spin rate is worth noting as it is 400 rpm higher than the LTDx Max. This most likely contributed to the longer strikes, as the average height of my strikes was also higher, but a bit surprising considering that the LTDx Max is designed to enhance spin rates at impact.

Overall, the Radpseed name holds true! I felt like the ball was springing off the clubface on every strike and the data shows that this feeling was true. Forgiveness-wise, the Radspeed won’t punish you terribly for off-centered strikes but won’t help a lot either.

Finally, the Radspeed was not only the best performing club during our test, but it also felt the most natural in my hands. This is a key factor when you’re looking for your next driver and is too often overlooked by golfers who’ll want to prioritize brand name, look, or even price tag above performance.

Golfers with a mid to high handicap should find comfort with this club in their hands.

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Cobra King F9 Speedback Driver Review

Next up, we went two years back in time with the Cobra King F9 Speedback driver released in 2019. We had a special camo edition on hand, so we opted to use it for this test. To be fair, it looks pretty badass, so we couldn’t pass up on it!

The King F9 could be found in Rickie Fowler’s bag as recently as 2021, two full years after its original release. This is quite a testament to the quality of this club. Let’s see if it produced similar results for me as it did for Rickie.

Test Results – Cobra King F9 Speedback Driver

One of the first things that stuck out to me was how light the King F9 Speedback clubhead felt on the end of the shaft. This resulted in many strikes that were slightly below and to the right of the sweet spot, which in turn resulted in a slightly higher spin rate than I had with the Radspeed.

I was not able to generate the same type of length since I was not able to generate as much speed with my swings.

Dispersion is wide once again and is amongst the largest from all the clubs I tested, partly because I had a hard time feeling the clubhead through my swing.

The King F9 Speedback’s aerodynamic design, which inspired its namesake, does produce respectable ball speeds that are nothing to scuff at. Its lightweight build and clubhead make for a driver that is perfect for golfers with a slower swing speed.

Forgiveness is not one of the main perks of the King F9, but it certainly produces quality launch angles and spin rates that will serve golfers with a slower swing speed. Less-experienced golfers will like the lightweight feel of the club head. More experienced players will like the aerodynamic capacities and the added spin.

Finally, with a few tweaks, highly skilled golfers could find a reliable club that doesn’t lack any distance.

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Cobra King F7 Driver Review

Next up, we are taking another trip back in time, with the King F7 driver released in 2017.

The thing that sticks out right away with this one is its massive clubhead. I was initially worried about it, but it turned out to be much better than I expected!

Let’s jump into those results and see how the club performed.

Test Results – Cobra King F7 Driver

The King F7 had a lot of surprises in store for us. First off, both carry, and total distances were longer than the King F9 Speedback. An impressive fact considering it was released two full years before the King F9. Club head and ball speeds were lower than the F9 results, yet distances were greater.

Looking at the launch angle and spin rate, we get our answer. The spin rate is slightly lower which allows for a better roll once the ball touches the ground. It also affects the height of the ball, which is slightly lower than with the King F9.

In other words, the ball trajectories I was able to produce with the King F7 were simply better overall than what I could do with the King F9. That is not to say that the King F7 is outright better, but it suited much better, even if the performance was slightly better.

Simply put, I was impressed by the Cobra King F7 driver. I knew it could hold its own in this test, but I didn’t expect it to perform so well. In terms of distance, it was even able to outperform more recent models.

The massive clubhead didn’t bother me too much in the end and turned out to be the perfect target for the ball on impact.

Finally, the most impressive aspect of the club in my opinion was the possibility to work the ball both ways, considering that the King F7 sports such a massive clubhead.

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Cobra Amp Driver Review

The oldest club I tested was the Cobra Amp driver, released in 2012. Much like when we tested the TaylorMade drivers, I was most excited to try out the oldest driver of the bunch. We used a Amp driver equipped with an Aldila RIP regular flex shaft.

This is a good chance to remind you to check out our TaylorMade comparison test! Make sure to give it a look when you’re done with this one.

Back to the Amp driver, the old-school Cobra look caught my eye right away, but what I really wanted to do was get to business and hit this club on our trackman simulator. Let’s see what results we got out of the test!

Test Results – Cobra Amp Driver

Aside from its look, a few things jump out with the Amp.

First off, the total distance is quite impressive, especially considering that it only trails the other drivers in this test by 5 yards or so. This is a testament to how used drivers and older models last over time, even after years of use on the golf course.

We also need to remember that I was using a regular shaft which limited the speed I could put behind the ball.

My impact zone was much more focused around the sweet spot with the amp, but I was only able to hit draws. While this can be attributed to the regular flex shaft, a quick look at the face-to-path and the club face metrics will show that draws were inevitable.

The amp driver packs everything you loved from old-school golf clubs. It produces a loud ping noise on impact, it sports a classic cobra bright-colored style, has a massive clubhead, and limited adjustability.

Since the club head is so voluminous, it makes it easier for golfers to find the middle of the club face.

Finally, despite my best tries, I couldn’t produce a slice with the Amp, so this might be interesting to some of you out there who struggle with a slice off the tee. Looks like the Amp might be the “slice-killer” you’ve been looking for.

Cobra Aerojet Driver Review

The last driver I tested is this year’s release from Cobra, the Aerojet. I didn’t expect a lot of forgiveness from the Aerojet as it is not its main selling point, but I was expecting high ball speed and distance.

Test Results – Cobra Aerojet Driver

I did struggle to find the sweet spot on this club face. I hit a few above the sweet spot and maybe a couple on the inside of the club face.

The penalty on those off-centered strikes was significant as I would lose out on both distance and accuracy. Interestingly, I averaged my highest ball speed with the Aerojet, but I did not hit my longest strike of the day with it.

What really caught my eye, however, were the low spin rates and launch angle. Both metrics were significantly lower than any other club I tested.

The Aerojet might have not been the right club for me, but there are some major qualities to this club. Players with high swing speeds will love the low spin rates of the Aerojet. I was able to work the ball both ways, so I imagine that a highly skilled player won’t have any issues doing the same.

Finally, the H.O.T. Club Face technology is indeed very hot, and balls are launched at high speeds off the club face when you find the sweet spot.

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Which Cobra drivers performed best during this test?

We’ve reached the point where we can answer the three main questions, we’ve had all along:

• • Which driver provides the best performance overall?
  • Which driver is the most forgiving?
  • And which one is best suited for the different skill levels?

Which Cobra driver provides the best performance?

When it comes to performance, distance, and speed are usually king, and during this test, the Cobra King Radspeed took the crown as the most forgiving driver.

I not only hit my longest strike of the testing phase with the Radspeed at 291 yards, but I was also able to reach my highest club head and ball speeds. I didn’t purposefully hit the Radspeed with more power on my longest strike, but it was the club that felt most natural for my swing, which allowed me to produce the best strike.

The Aerojet comes in second place in that department. I managed to produce my second-best total yardage with this one with an average of 258 yards, and my longest strike rolled out to 287 yards. I couldn’t really find my groove with the Aerojet, but it still performed well, which means that it could be terrific in the right hands.

Rounding up the podium, we have a surprise with the King F7. I averaged just over 256 yards, and I was able to push one beyond 278 yards, which are very impressive numbers from a driver that came out more than 5 years ago.

Power and performance are key, but for most of us golfers, a little (or a lot of forgiveness) can go a long way. So, let’s find out which drivers were the most forgiving during this test.

Which Cobra driver provides the most forgiveness?

Impressively taking the crown in that department is the Amp driver. My consistency was at its best with the amp and my dispersion was at its lowest from one strike to the next. It needs to be said that I was able to find the middle of the face easily with the amp, so off-centered strikes would have likely affected the results. I also couldn’t hit a slice with it, so it might be one of the best solutions to end your slice!

The second most forgiving driver is the King F7. This one shined in both departments, as it showed off its power, as well as its forgiving attributes. The dispersion was the second lowest of all the clubs I tested and the consistency from strike to the next was also second-best.

Third, we have the Aerojet. Its dispersion was not among the best, but its forgiveness was most impressive. I struggled to find the sweet spot with this one, yet I was able to produce powerful strikes. It ranks as the third most forgiving in this test because the penalty on off-centered strikes is limited.

With the best-performing and most forgiving drivers figured out, it’s time to see which drivers are best suited for golfers of different skill levels.

The best Cobra drivers for golfers of different skill levels

We’ve identified the two best drivers from Cobra, for three distinct levels of golfers: beginners, intermediate, and experienced (highly skilled). Let’s kick things off with beginners!

Which Cobra driver is the best for beginner golfers?

First off for beginners, the crown goes to the King F7 for its blend of forgiveness and power. Additionally, you can easily find a used version of the King F7, which will allow you to save on your driver and invest somewhere else! Its massive clubhead will also be reassuring to many beginners off the tee.

The second pick for beginners is the King LTDx Max. It wasn’t the best club for me during this test, but its attributes are designed for beginners. The weight adjustment inside the clubhead will help less-experienced golfers get the ball higher in the air for longer strikes.

It comes at a steeper price tag than the King F7, but considering the fact the LTDx Max was released last year, the money you would save on the older model is considerable.

Moving on to the best drivers for intermediate golfers.

Which Cobra driver is best for intermediate golfers?

My first pick is the King Radpseed driver. I said it many times in our review of the club, but it feels best for me at address and through my swing. I believe it will allow you to perform to the best of your abilities on the course, while still providing you with all the forgiveness you could ask for.

Then, I would recommend the Amp driver. Its numbers were simply not as impressive as the rest of the clubs in this test, but keep in mind that we had to use a regular shaft with this one. This means that I couldn’t get all of my power behind the ball. Nevertheless, this club still stacks up to the latest releases, despite its lack of technological perks.

And to finish things off, let’s look at the clubs that would allow highly skilled players to maximize their performance on the course.

Which Cobra driver is best for experienced or highly skilled golfers?

This year’s release, the Aerojet would fit perfectly in a skilled player’s bag. Since these players tend to find the sweet spot with more consistency, they’ll be able to optimize their results on the course.

Closing out the list of recommendations, we have the King F9 Speedback. It’s no wonder it hung around Rickie Fowler’s bag for so long. This club is ideal for golfers with fast swing speeds and a desire to limit the spin of the ball at impact. The King F9 will allow golfers to not only hit the ball further but also shape shots off the tee, thus maximizing control.

We hope this test allowed you to learn some more about Cobra drivers and that the results from our test helped to answers we had at the start of this article. We strongly believe that used golf clubs can perform just as well as brand-new ones and this test certainly helped to prove this.

If you need more help than the recommendations we made in this article to find the right driver for you, be sure to book a call with one of our experts, or take a look at this list of the best drivers under $300.

Finally, make sure to subscribe to Golf Avenue’s newsletter and YouTube channel to be notified of any new videos or tests. We’ve got more tests and comparisons coming for you, so make sure you’re subscribed.

Until next time,

The Golf Avenue team