Cobra SpeedZone Drivers set to build on F9's Success

By Chris Wallace

2nd Swing staff writer

Cobra has made really good drivers for a number of years now and those efforts have created a loyal following for the company.

That said, in terms of mainstream popularity, Cobra still found itself lagging behind companies like TaylorMade, PING, and Callaway in the driver category.

In January of 2019, however, that reality began to shift in a major way following the release of the KING F9 Speedback driver, which was immediately showered with accolades from industry experts.

As a result, countless golfers who might not have considered a Cobra driver in previous years gave the F9 a try and ultimately put it in the bag. And in doing so, those players were rewarded with one of the year’s fastest drivers, as well as a club that delivered exceptional forgiveness and incredible feel.

Given the success of F9 and its increased market share in the driver category, one might have expected Cobra to stand pat for a while.

Instead, the company is set to release its new SpeedZone drivers in early 2020, and Cobra engineers believe that the new models will prove to be even better than the highly successful F9.

Prior to the release of the F9 Speedback, Cobra typically had two drivers within each family, one that was created as a spin killer for better players and one that was designed for maximum forgiveness.

With F9, the spin profile changed based on loft, but there was just the one head shape. Cobra, however, is going back to two models with its Speedzone franchise.

More specifically, SpeedZone Xtreme will offer a slightly larger footprint, enhanced perimeter weighting, and a fixed tungsten back weight, all of which combine to create the highest MOI ever in a Cobra driver. The standard SpeedZone model, meanwhile, will feature a more compact profile and movable weights in the sole, which in tandem will enable players to work the ball more easily and reduce spin as needed.

Beyond that, however, the two drivers share the same foundational technologies, as Cobra has focused its efforts on different “Zones” to unlock performance.

Those Zones and what they accomplish are as follows:

Power Zone: The new SpeedZone drivers feature an infinity edge clubface, a design that increases Cobra’s unique driver face milling pattern by 95 percent, which helps maximize ball speed and distance from a larger portion of the clubface.

Strength Zone: The body of the SpeedZone drivers is also new and what Cobra is calling a modified T-Bar Speed Chassis. In short, the redesigned frame is stronger and lighter, which allows for improved energy transfer and stability at impact, as well as exceptional feel.

Light Zone: To create as much discretionary weight as possible, engineers have utilized a new 360-wrap carbon crown that now covers 50 percent of the driver’s body. That design approach freed up 25 grams of weight that has been repositioned low and deep in the clubhead.

Low CG Zone: Cobra has always been a proponent of a low CG position, and it has achieved that goal in the SpeedZone models by positioning 69 grams of weight as low as possible in the clubhead, which fuels the launch, spin, and ball speed that equate to maximum distance.

Aero Zone: To create as little air drag as possible and to help players generate as much swing speed as possible, a heavy emphasis was placed on aerodynamics in the SpeedZone drivers, with a streamlined shape and milled perimeter edges combining to unlock efficient speed.

Stability Zone: Cobra used a widebody car design as the inspiration for SpeedZone. More specifically, weight has been positioned not only low in the head but also wide along the perimeter to provide better results on shots struck from outside the center of the face.

Both SpeedZone models also feature Cobra’s MyFly 8 adjustable hosel, which allows players to further dial in performance by increasing or decreasing loft by up to 1.5 degrees, and there are also three draw settings available as well.

There are also some quality stock shaft options being offered with the new SpeedZone drivers. Available in both models are the Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue 65 (mid launch, mid spin), the Aldila Rogue Silver 60 (mid launch, low spin), and the HZRDUS Smoke Yellow 60 (low launch, low spin). Additionally, the lightweight, high-launching UST Helium is available in the SpeedZone Xtreme for players with slower swing speeds.

Also of note, SpeedZone Xtreme is available in standard lofts of 9, 10.5, and 12 degrees, while the standard SpeedZone is offered at 9 and 10.5 degrees. Both models come at a stock length of 45.5 inches, but a Tour Length version is also available at 44.5 inches for players who are looking for increased control.

And has been the case with all of Cobra’s most recent club releases, SpeedZone drivers will again feature Cobra Connect technology, which allows players to pair their driver with their smartphone to track stats and recognize shot tendencies through a sensor that’s embedded in the butt end of the grip.

Cobra’s new SpeedZone and SpeedZone Xtreme drivers will be available for pre-order beginning January 3, and they will begin shipping and be available at retail on January 17.