By incorporating the Speedback design in every club, Cobra has achieved a new formula for speed. The optimization of aerodynamics, low center of gravity, and high levels of forgiveness help you play better and enjoy the game more. To bring you the details of these new golf clubs, we visited with Tom Olsavsky of Cobra to get the inside story.
Cobra F9 Speedback Driver
Right away, golfers will notice that this driver just looks different. The crown is more parallel to the ground at address and there is a different section of weighting on the back of the sole. “We are trying to get performance from the center of gravity and right inertia while getting the aerodynamics right,” said Olsavsky.
This aerodynamic shape combines a raised skirt, rounded crown, and a more rounded leading edge to improve airflow. Better airflow means more speed and stability, which means longer, straighter drives. Add in the low Speedback weighting and you get a low, deep center of gravity location that optimizes launch, lowers spin, and maximizes distance.
Cobra also included some of their signature technologies in the F9 driver as well. The CNC-milled face returns, made to be thinner, faster, and hotter. They brought back the carbon fiber crown, with one slight change: it now wraps around the body of the club to save 10 grams of weight over titanium. Cobra PWR Ridges on the crown enhance the aerodynamics and rigidity of the carbon fiber structure as well.
The F9 driver will be available in 9°, 10.5°, and 12° models with the adjustable MyFly hosel. Instead of offering a second club head as they’ve done in the past, they have added the 9° option to the driver. “The 9° driver is a spin killer, instead of making a second driver model, we just made some subtle tweaks,” explained Olsavsky.
Cobra F9 Speedback Fairway Woods
This year, Cobra is offering two fairway wood models: the F9 and the F9 Tour. Both models are built with the new Speedback design just like the drivers. Now for the first time, the fairway woods will feature the CNC-milled club face. “It’s something we wanted to use last year, but the fairways use a different steel alloy than the driver, but we wanted that thinner face because there’s no substitute for speed,” Olsavsky told us.
Olsavsky also explained that when most players hit their fairway woods, they are contacting the ball with a downward angle of attack. That’s where the baffler rails come in. He told us “baffler rails help offset the amount of sole you lose, but when you raise the sole off the ground, it raises the CG a little bit so Speedback helps offset that.”
The F9 Tour fairway wood features a more compact shape than the F9. While both offer speed and distance, the compact shape of the Tour model adds precision and workability that better golfers desire.
Cobra F9 Speedback Hybrids
The F9 Speedback hybrids have a lot in common with the fairway woods and driver before them. While they do not have the CNC-milled face, they have the same Speedback design as the other woods as well as the baffler rails of the fairways. Weight placed low and back helps improve launch and speed for a faster hybrid. The baffler rails also feature a progressive design where the rails get taller in the higher lofted hybrids.
One other major change in the F9 hybrids is the 10% larger clubhead. “We received a lot of feedback from golfers who like the King OS hybrid, so these are a little larger and have a more square leading edge for a very neutral bias,” Olsavsky told us.
Once again, the new hybrids will be available in a One Length option at 37.5”.
Cobra F9 Speedback Irons
The Speedback design takes on a different form in the F9 irons. Cobra added mass low and back in the club to drive the center of gravity deeper and lower to boost ball speed and launch for maximum distance. They strategically elevated that mass away from the contact area of the sole to maintain a sleek appearance that you cannot see at address.
Tungsten weights are then placed in the heel and toe to increase stability, providing the best combination of distance and forgiveness. These weights are also streamlined to disguise them at address.
Golfers don’t just want distance and forgiveness in an iron. They also want better feel. The 4-7 irons feature a three-piece, multi-material medallion using aluminum, TPU, and acrylic foam for lightweight, vibration dampening performance that offers a softer, more responsive feel not often found in a game improvement iron. “We always want to know what is the real need, what do people want in their irons, and better feel is always at the top of the list,” commented Olsavsky.
F9 irons will also be available in a One Length model. The entire Cobra F9 family of golf clubs will be available for pre-order on 1/4/19.
