2023 MGS Forum: Cobra 50th Anniversary Special!

[sirchunksalot]

Today was fitting day, so Mrs.Chunks and I headed north to pay a visit to Fairways and Greens Golf Center in Knoxville to see what the day had in store for us.

I walked in and was greeted by my fitter, David Sumilas who immediately perked up and asked if I was the forum member getting fitted for a full bag of Cobra clubs. I had mentioned in the fitting notes I was getting fitted for one brand and was looking at no upcharge shafts. We immediately hit it off and I spent some time talking about the forum and what an amazing opportunity this was. 

David had me start off warming up in a net and after I got a few shots in took me into the fitting room to pick out options. He opened up the Cobra drawer and I took the opportunity to look at all the head options that are available. All I can say is that Cobra makes some good looking irons. We discussed the pros and cons of the two heads I was chosen for and he made the decision to go with the Forged Tec X. 

He picked out some shafts and we headed to the outside range to hit some balls on the Trackman. I was ecstatic to see the rain that was forecast held off and that I got to hit off grass.

We started out hitting 7 iron with the KBS Tour Lite Steel in regular flex. I hit a few shots and he recommend we go with graphite. The first shaft he chose was the UST 460 EST. I hit it fairly good, gaining a little bit of ball speed and a better peak height. In all honesty, the shaft felt good but not great.

We moved on to the KBS TGI 75 and that's where the magic happened. I got the peak height, decent angle, and distance he was looking for. Done.

Hybrids were next and he set me up in the KBS PGI 75 regular and once he guided me to a better ball position, we were done. He suggested a 4 hybrid in the King Tec and a 5 in the Aerojet. He did set up the hybrid in the one length setup and let me hit a few. It was weird, but once I got the ball position right I hit a couple of decent shots. 

Fairway woods were more of the same, I needed a better ball position as the ball was too far forward in my stance. I hit some stinkers, I'm talking off the back of the hosel bad. Once he got me straightened out, we went with the Kai'li Blue 60 regular in 3 and 5 woods.

One other note as I'm sitting here looking at the fitting sheet, all the 12 gram weights are recommends in the heel. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

David had me hit my driver and immediately discarded the Aerojet LS. I hit one of the shots with my driver 210, rolling out to 235, with 1077 rpm of spin.

We tried the Aerojet with decent results, but much higher spin. I peeked at the Trackman after one shot and saw over 5300 rpm. 

I wish I would have taken some photos of the Trackman, but was focused on the task at hand of listening to my fitter and letting him make the important decisions.

We finally hit the sweet spot with the Aerojet Max with the Kai'li Blue 60 in regular flex. I was threatening the center of the face more often and the numbers looked good to him.

I can't properly describe how much fun I had today and how good of a fitter David was. He helped me find the right ball position and was extremely encouraging throughout the fitting. I appreciated his expertise and ability to make me feel comfortable throughout the whole process. I highly recommend him to anyone who can make it to Knoxville for a fitting. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Josh Ross]

8 minutes ago, sirchunksalot said:

Today was fitting day, so Mrs.Chunks and I headed north to pay a visit to Fairways and Greens Golf Center in Knoxville to see what the day had in store for us.

I walked in and was greeted by my fitter, David Sumilas who immediately perked up and asked if I was the forum member getting fitted for a full bag of Cobra clubs. I had mentioned in the fitting notes I was getting fitted for one brand and was looking at no upcharge shafts. We immediately hit it off and I spent some time talking about the forum and what an amazing opportunity this was. 

David had me start off warming up in a net and after I got a few shots in took me into the fitting room to pick out options. He opened up the Cobra drawer and I took the opportunity to look at all the head options that are available. All I can say is that Cobra makes some good looking irons. We discussed the pros and cons of the two heads I was chosen for and he made the decision to go with the Forged Tec X. 

He picked out some shafts and we headed to the outside range to hit some balls on the Trackman. I was ecstatic to see the rain that was forecast held off and that I got to hit off grass.

We started out hitting 7 iron with the KBS Tour Lite Steel in regular flex. I hit a few shots and he recommend we go with graphite. The first shaft he chose was the UST 460 EST. I hit it fairly good, gaining a little bit of ball speed and a better peak height. In all honesty, the shaft felt good but not great.

We moved on to the KBS TGI 75 and that's where the magic happened. I got the peak height, decent angle, and distance he was looking for. Done.

Hybrids were next and he set me up in the KBS PGI 75 regular and once he guided me to a better ball position, we were done. He suggested a 4 hybrid in the King Tec and a 5 in the Aerojet. He did set up the hybrid in the one length setup and let me hit a few. It was weird, but once I got the ball position right I hit a couple of decent shots. 

Fairway woods were more of the same, I needed a better ball position as the ball was too far forward in my stance. I hit some stinkers, I'm talking off the back of the hosel bad. Once he got me straightened out, we went with the Kai'li Blue 60 regular in 3 and 5 woods.

One other note as I'm sitting here looking at the fitting sheet, all the 12 gram weights are recommends in the heel. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

David had me hit my driver and immediately discarded the Aerojet LS. I hit one of the shots with my driver 210, rolling out to 235, with 1077 rpm of spin.

We tried the Aerojet with decent results, but much higher spin. I peeked at the Trackman after one shot and saw over 5300 rpm. 

I wish I would have taken some photos of the Trackman, but was focused on the task at hand of listening to my fitter and letting him make the important decisions.

We finally hit the sweet spot with the Aerojet Max with the Kai'li Blue 60 in regular flex. I was threatening the center of the face more often and the numbers looked good to him.

I can't properly describe how much fun I had today and how good of a fitter David was. He helped me find the right ball position and was extremely encouraging throughout the fitting. I appreciated his expertise and ability to make me feel comfortable throughout the whole process. I highly recommend him to anyone who can make it to Knoxville for a fitting. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love this! Sounds like you went through a proper fitting with someone very knowledgeable. Can't beat that, I bet some amazing golf is in your future!

[GolfSpy SAM]

10 minutes ago, sirchunksalot said:

Today was fitting day, so Mrs.Chunks and I headed north to pay a visit to Fairways and Greens Golf Center in Knoxville to see what the day had in store for us.

I can't properly describe how much fun I had today and how good of a fitter David was. He helped me find the right ball position and was extremely encouraging throughout the fitting. I appreciated his expertise and ability to make me feel comfortable throughout the whole process. I highly recommend him to anyone who can make it to Knoxville for a fitting. 

Yes!!!! My favorite part is bolded above - that's what this whole thing, this whole game we play, the forum, everything, is about.  

Congrats on a successful, FUN fit, and can't wait to see the full bag in all its glory

[MacTourney]

Looking forward to seeing how they smoke.

[sirchunksalot]

4 minutes ago, Josh Ross said:

Love this! Sounds like you went through a proper fitting with someone very knowledgeable. Can't beat that, I bet some amazing golf is in your future!

 

2 minutes ago, GolfSpy_SAM said:

Yes!!!! My favorite part is bolded above - that's what this whole thing, this whole game we play, the forum, everything, is about.  

Congrats on a successful, FUN fit, and can't wait to see the full bag in all its glory

Thanks guys! It was exactly what I was hoping for in a fitting and a good time learning more about my game. My whole philosophy for today was to let the fitter do his thing and trust I was getting the best fit possible. 

I forgot to mention wedges, they didn't have any there so he recommended a 54 and 58 with the KBS HiRev shafts. 

Now if the clubs would just arrive...

Oh wait, I just entered my specs on the excel sheet. 

Until then I can fall back on the great memories from today. 

[Lacassem]

24 minutes ago, sirchunksalot said:

Today was fitting day, so Mrs.Chunks and I headed north to pay a visit to Fairways and Greens Golf Center in Knoxville to see what the day had in store for us.

I walked in and was greeted by my fitter, David Sumilas who immediately perked up and asked if I was the forum member getting fitted for a full bag of Cobra clubs. I had mentioned in the fitting notes I was getting fitted for one brand and was looking at no upcharge shafts. We immediately hit it off and I spent some time talking about the forum and what an amazing opportunity this was. 

David had me start off warming up in a net and after I got a few shots in took me into the fitting room to pick out options. He opened up the Cobra drawer and I took the opportunity to look at all the head options that are available. All I can say is that Cobra makes some good looking irons. We discussed the pros and cons of the two heads I was chosen for and he made the decision to go with the Forged Tec X. 

He picked out some shafts and we headed to the outside range to hit some balls on the Trackman. I was ecstatic to see the rain that was forecast held off and that I got to hit off grass.

We started out hitting 7 iron with the KBS Tour Lite Steel in regular flex. I hit a few shots and he recommend we go with graphite. The first shaft he chose was the UST 460 EST. I hit it fairly good, gaining a little bit of ball speed and a better peak height. In all honesty, the shaft felt good but not great.

We moved on to the KBS TGI 75 and that's where the magic happened. I got the peak height, decent angle, and distance he was looking for. Done.

Hybrids were next and he set me up in the KBS PGI 75 regular and once he guided me to a better ball position, we were done. He suggested a 4 hybrid in the King Tec and a 5 in the Aerojet. He did set up the hybrid in the one length setup and let me hit a few. It was weird, but once I got the ball position right I hit a couple of decent shots. 

Fairway woods were more of the same, I needed a better ball position as the ball was too far forward in my stance. I hit some stinkers, I'm talking off the back of the hosel bad. Once he got me straightened out, we went with the Kai'li Blue 60 regular in 3 and 5 woods.

One other note as I'm sitting here looking at the fitting sheet, all the 12 gram weights are recommends in the heel. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

David had me hit my driver and immediately discarded the Aerojet LS. I hit one of the shots with my driver 210, rolling out to 235, with 1077 rpm of spin.

We tried the Aerojet with decent results, but much higher spin. I peeked at the Trackman after one shot and saw over 5300 rpm. 

I wish I would have taken some photos of the Trackman, but was focused on the task at hand of listening to my fitter and letting him make the important decisions.

We finally hit the sweet spot with the Aerojet Max with the Kai'li Blue 60 in regular flex. I was threatening the center of the face more often and the numbers looked good to him.

I can't properly describe how much fun I had today and how good of a fitter David was. He helped me find the right ball position and was extremely encouraging throughout the fitting. I appreciated his expertise and ability to make me feel comfortable throughout the whole process. I highly recommend him to anyone who can make it to Knoxville for a fitting. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hell yeah Jason great write up LOOKS like ya had a blast, words say it, pictures defined it!

[sirchunksalot]

Just now, Lacassem said:

Hell yeah Jason great write up looks like ya had a blast!

Thanks Mark! We had a wonderful time and even Mrs. Chunks thought it was worth getting up at 6 in the morning. 

[Lacassem]

19 minutes ago, sirchunksalot said:

Thanks Mark! We had a wonderful time and even Mrs. Chunks thought it was worth getting up at 6 in the morning. 

Like she had a choice!

[Josh Ross]

Another thing I'm interested in is how you guys feel about the full face grooves that some of the wedges have. I've always thought it was a cool idea for wedges that you open up since the toe is more in play. Curious to see if anyone thinks they're seeing benefits from it or not.

[sirchunksalot]

12 minutes ago, Josh Ross said:

Another thing I'm interested in is how you guys feel about the full face grooves that some of the wedges have. I've always thought it was a cool idea for wedges that you open up since the toe is more in play. Curious to see if anyone thinks they're seeing benefits from it or not.

I'm looking forward to giving the full face grooves a try. I've never hit one but I'm hoping to see some spin benefits when I either strike it out of the toe or open the face. I like being able to manipulate wedges, I think it's one of the most fun parts of the game. 

[CFreddie]

1 hour ago, sirchunksalot said:

Today was fitting day, so Mrs.Chunks and I headed north to pay a visit to Fairways and Greens Golf Center in Knoxville to see what the day had in store for us.

I walked in and was greeted by my fitter, David Sumilas who immediately perked up and asked if I was the forum member getting fitted for a full bag of Cobra clubs. I had mentioned in the fitting notes I was getting fitted for one brand and was looking at no upcharge shafts. We immediately hit it off and I spent some time talking about the forum and what an amazing opportunity this was. 

David had me start off warming up in a net and after I got a few shots in took me into the fitting room to pick out options. He opened up the Cobra drawer and I took the opportunity to look at all the head options that are available. All I can say is that Cobra makes some good looking irons. We discussed the pros and cons of the two heads I was chosen for and he made the decision to go with the Forged Tec X. 

He picked out some shafts and we headed to the outside range to hit some balls on the Trackman. I was ecstatic to see the rain that was forecast held off and that I got to hit off grass.

We started out hitting 7 iron with the KBS Tour Lite Steel in regular flex. I hit a few shots and he recommend we go with graphite. The first shaft he chose was the UST 460 EST. I hit it fairly good, gaining a little bit of ball speed and a better peak height. In all honesty, the shaft felt good but not great.

We moved on to the KBS TGI 75 and that's where the magic happened. I got the peak height, decent angle, and distance he was looking for. Done.

Hybrids were next and he set me up in the KBS PGI 75 regular and once he guided me to a better ball position, we were done. He suggested a 4 hybrid in the King Tec and a 5 in the Aerojet. He did set up the hybrid in the one length setup and let me hit a few. It was weird, but once I got the ball position right I hit a couple of decent shots. 

Fairway woods were more of the same, I needed a better ball position as the ball was too far forward in my stance. I hit some stinkers, I'm talking off the back of the hosel bad. Once he got me straightened out, we went with the Kai'li Blue 60 regular in 3 and 5 woods.

One other note as I'm sitting here looking at the fitting sheet, all the 12 gram weights are recommends in the heel. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

David had me hit my driver and immediately discarded the Aerojet LS. I hit one of the shots with my driver 210, rolling out to 235, with 1077 rpm of spin.

We tried the Aerojet with decent results, but much higher spin. I peeked at the Trackman after one shot and saw over 5300 rpm. 

I wish I would have taken some photos of the Trackman, but was focused on the task at hand of listening to my fitter and letting him make the important decisions.

We finally hit the sweet spot with the Aerojet Max with the Kai'li Blue 60 in regular flex. I was threatening the center of the face more often and the numbers looked good to him.

I can't properly describe how much fun I had today and how good of a fitter David was. He helped me find the right ball position and was extremely encouraging throughout the fitting. I appreciated his expertise and ability to make me feel comfortable throughout the whole process. I highly recommend him to anyone who can make it to Knoxville for a fitting. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love all of this!  I'm kicking myself that I didn't get pictures at my fitting today, but I took REALLY good notes and will provide a good amount of detail in my write-up.  

 

The only thing I'll say at this point is the 7 wood I went with (Aerojet Max with Hzrdus Smoke Blue Shaft)...

[Josh Ross]

4 minutes ago, CFreddie said:

Love all of this!  I'm kicking myself that I didn't get pictures at my fitting today, but I took REALLY good notes and will provide a good amount of detail in my write-up.  

 

The only thing I'll say at this point is the 7 wood I went with (Aerojet Max with Hzrdus Smoke Blue Shaft)...

Aw man, I saw you commented and I was getting excited to read how your Golf Galaxy experience went! A 7 wood is something I've never hit, that's interesting!

[CFreddie]

4 minutes ago, Josh Ross said:

Aw man, I saw you commented and I was getting excited to read how your Golf Galaxy experience went! A 7 wood is something I've never hit, that's interesting!

Don't worry - I'll have a good write-up.  Had a great experience there!

[chisag]

56 minutes ago, Josh Ross said:

Another thing I'm interested in is how you guys feel about the full face grooves that some of the wedges have. I've always thought it was a cool idea for wedges that you open up since the toe is more in play. Curious to see if anyone thinks they're seeing benefits from it or not.

 

... After so many years playing "normal" grooves on my LW, I haven't warmed up to full face grooves. They just look so different. That said, seeing them on the Black Snakebite 58* they were hardly noticeable so a win-win! Looking forward to seeing if they make a difference. 

[Jnoble89]

2 hours ago, sirchunksalot said:

Today was fitting day, so Mrs.Chunks and I headed north to pay a visit to Fairways and Greens Golf Center in Knoxville to see what the day had in store for us.

I walked in and was greeted by my fitter, David Sumilas who immediately perked up and asked if I was the forum member getting fitted for a full bag of Cobra clubs. I had mentioned in the fitting notes I was getting fitted for one brand and was looking at no upcharge shafts. We immediately hit it off and I spent some time talking about the forum and what an amazing opportunity this was. 

David had me start off warming up in a net and after I got a few shots in took me into the fitting room to pick out options. He opened up the Cobra drawer and I took the opportunity to look at all the head options that are available. All I can say is that Cobra makes some good looking irons. We discussed the pros and cons of the two heads I was chosen for and he made the decision to go with the Forged Tec X. 

He picked out some shafts and we headed to the outside range to hit some balls on the Trackman. I was ecstatic to see the rain that was forecast held off and that I got to hit off grass.

We started out hitting 7 iron with the KBS Tour Lite Steel in regular flex. I hit a few shots and he recommend we go with graphite. The first shaft he chose was the UST 460 EST. I hit it fairly good, gaining a little bit of ball speed and a better peak height. In all honesty, the shaft felt good but not great.

We moved on to the KBS TGI 75 and that's where the magic happened. I got the peak height, decent angle, and distance he was looking for. Done.

Hybrids were next and he set me up in the KBS PGI 75 regular and once he guided me to a better ball position, we were done. He suggested a 4 hybrid in the King Tec and a 5 in the Aerojet. He did set up the hybrid in the one length setup and let me hit a few. It was weird, but once I got the ball position right I hit a couple of decent shots. 

Fairway woods were more of the same, I needed a better ball position as the ball was too far forward in my stance. I hit some stinkers, I'm talking off the back of the hosel bad. Once he got me straightened out, we went with the Kai'li Blue 60 regular in 3 and 5 woods.

One other note as I'm sitting here looking at the fitting sheet, all the 12 gram weights are recommends in the heel. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

David had me hit my driver and immediately discarded the Aerojet LS. I hit one of the shots with my driver 210, rolling out to 235, with 1077 rpm of spin.

We tried the Aerojet with decent results, but much higher spin. I peeked at the Trackman after one shot and saw over 5300 rpm. 

I wish I would have taken some photos of the Trackman, but was focused on the task at hand of listening to my fitter and letting him make the important decisions.

We finally hit the sweet spot with the Aerojet Max with the Kai'li Blue 60 in regular flex. I was threatening the center of the face more often and the numbers looked good to him.

I can't properly describe how much fun I had today and how good of a fitter David was. He helped me find the right ball position and was extremely encouraging throughout the fitting. I appreciated his expertise and ability to make me feel comfortable throughout the whole process. I highly recommend him to anyone who can make it to Knoxville for a fitting. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Awesome stuff, Jason! That iron drawer is what dreams are made of! Great review and glad to see some pics along the way. I need to remember to do that Saturday!

[Jnoble89]

1 hour ago, CFreddie said:

Love all of this!  I'm kicking myself that I didn't get pictures at my fitting today, but I took REALLY good notes and will provide a good amount of detail in my write-up.  

 

The only thing I'll say at this point is the 7 wood I went with (Aerojet Max with Hzrdus Smoke Blue Shaft)...

I cannot wait to hit the 7 wood

[TSauer]

Been creating some matchup animations for this showdown... now I'm anxious to see what the format is going to be!

[chisag]

INTRODUCTION:

Ola Amigos! Quick chisag introduction. I didn't start playing til my mid 30's but took the game up with a relentless passion. I studied every aspect of the game and in the early 90's I was asked to sub for an instructor that went on vacation. Surprisingly many of the students I taught wanted to stay with me and not go back to their instructor. I moved to a new location and began teaching for the next 5 years and learned as much from my students as they learned from me. I was on Staff with Tommy Armour, Wilson and Titleist. 2 back surgeries from playing QB through college put an end to my teaching. I feel lucky I can still play 5 days a week. That said, some days are better than others and my scores can reflect that. 

I was an Air Personality (DJ) on the radio for the first 10 years of my working life starting in Greenville NC and ending up in Chicago and used that as a stepping stone into acting. I have been a member of SAG (Screen Actors Guild) in Chicago since 1978. Chi-SAG. As an actor in my prime years I was either very busy or had a ton of free time, and that free time was spent on the range and the course. My love of equipment led me to the PGA Show and I started writing reviews in 2005 and continued to do so until Covid hit in 2020. After spending 2 winters in Phoenix I moved here full time in the fall of 2020 and it has been heaven on earth. 

I play as a single a couple times a week but have regular partners on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Paul on my left is a snowbird from Chicago and in his late 60's and Chris on my right is an 80yr old Wisconsin transplant and been here since 2010. Shade and sun protection from sun hats is a must!


 

The foundation of my game is iron play and my short game. Driver has always been my Achilles heel since my first back surgery as my body often disagrees with me on the torque needed between my shoulders and hips, preferring to have none.  I will be playing 2 different courses exclusively for this challenge. Aguila my winter course where I walk and I move to The Raven where I ride on June 1st as it is one of the only completely tree lined courses in the Valley Of The Sun and when the temps get well above 100* shade is your friend.

 

I am grateful for this amazing opportunity from MGS and Cobra so a big thanks to both and had several decisions to make.   

1)  Driver was first and I have to admit I lusted for the Aerojet LS but like the Head Cheerleader that doesn't know the difference between "their" and "there" performance beats beauty every time. The LS was producing 1600 rps and the Aerojet Max was producing 2600 rpms flying higher, longer and straighter. 

2) Fairway wood was the next big decision. Playing on the hardpan Phoenix fairways make almost perfect contact a must. It didn't take many ever so slightly ground first contact into the ball off the hardpan to figure out a deeper faced 3 wood isn't a good fit for me and I have pretty much used a 5 wood exclusively. But I have always wanted to try a 7 wood as flying the ball higher can have it's advantages. This challenge will let me find out if a 7 wood is a good fit for me and I imagine many of you are in the same boat so I hope to have some interesting results for you. 

3) Hybrids. My 21* Sim2 4hybrid has been a mainstay in my bag while my 17* Super Hybrid goes in and out depending on conditions. The 19* King TEC should be an ideal combination of those two in one club so I am pretty excited to get it out on the course. 

4) Irons. This one is a no brainer. Absolutely love the King Tour irons. So much so that I previously bought a set and was a little disappointed in how much visual offset they had and sent them back. The next time in the golf store I immediately 2nd guessed my decision seeing them on the shelf. I have been doing this long enough to know setting down the King Tours right next to MIM Tours is quite different than being on the course and looking at the ball without the hosel grind of the MIMs to compare. So I now have a second chance with the KIng Tours in this challenge. 

5) Wedges. Another no brainer as I have my wedges dialed in for Phoenix. The versatile grind is perfect and I am ordering a 50* Chrome Snakebite I will bend to 51* and a 58* Black Snakebite. Pretty excited about the full face grooves that are a bit shocking to my eye in Chrome but hardly noticeable in Black. 

6) Putter. Another tough decision that turned out to be easy than I thought. I prefer a heel shafted blade putter having an arc stroke but maybe a mallet might be worth giving a try. I have 2 Scotty Camron 2.5's and a Nike  and originally thought why get another putter that is virtually the same style? But of course the SIK face with DLT technology is very different so I am looking forward to comparing the roll it puts on the ball. 

One thing I can promise. I will be completely honest in my assessments. I will be glowing over what I love but I won't sugar coat what I don't. That's what MGS is all about and you guys deserve it. 


UNBOXING

After 5 bags coming out of the box, I figured I would post a video of just after I unboxed my bee-you-teefull Cobra Ultra Light Pro Cart Bag:

 

 

Unboxing Clubs


Me: You want Pictures? 

You: I think I'm entitled.

Me: YOU WANT PICTURES!

You: I WANT THE PICTURES!!!

Me: OK.  

 

 

Aerojet Max Driver

4.5/5 Looks, Sound, Feel

This is a tough one for me. Let my start by saying I went through 3 very comprehensive driver fittings this last Spring and found a perfect fit for my swing both aesthetically and performance based with the Stealth2 HD that included a $350 Venus Velocore Red shaft. So the Aerojet Max even with it’s outstanding stock shaft had it’s work cut out. That said, it was very impressive. The shape is a little too long from face to rear for my tastes but it didn’t take too long for me to get used to the look. The color and visuals at address is excellent. I am old school and prefer a dense thud, not an explosive metallic sound preferred by many younger players. I think Cobra did an amazing job of splitting the difference as it isn’t very explosive but not muted either. I could certainly live with the sound and feel.




4/5 On Course Performance

It didn’t take long playing the AJ on the course to find out it can be as long or longer than any driver I demoed in my fittings. I have hit quite a few long tee shots maybe 5yds longer than my gamer. But my shorter drives are little shorter than my gamer so on average it isn’t quite as long. And for whatever reason I tend to hit this driver right more than I would like. Mostly a push. A little ironic as I am playing the Max version with a built in draw bias. I did install a heavier 16gm weight in the rear which brings it a closer to neutral flight and there was no fade, just a push but it happens at least once or twice a round. Not surprising really as it produces less spin than ideal for my swing, which is always great for distance but not so much for control.

4/5 Play It or Trade It

The Aerojet just misses the cut for me but it is an impressive driver and younger players used to larger heads that can instill confidence and a more modern sound may absolutely love it. I imagine this driver can be seriously long in the hands of someone that can take advantage of the lower spin. 

12.5/15 Overall Aerojet Driver

There is just so much to like about this driver. The stock Kai’Li Blue shaft is about as good as it gets for a no uncharge shaft. Those that prefer a longer face to rear look, should have the Aerojet Max at the top of their demo list. And the moveable weights along with the adjustable loft sleeve provide an excellent ability to fine tune your performance.

 

Aerojet Fairway Woods

5/5 Looks, Sound, Feel

What we have here is the classic Goldilocks scenario. It can be really difficult to find a fairway wood that isn’t too large or too small, a face too shallow or too deep and a sound and feel that you can live with when you miss a shot (we can put up with most anything when we hit it well ) For me all of the above is juuuuuuuust right.




5/5 On Course Performance

I am the only tester to be playing the non Max version as my miss tends to be left. I have been playing TaylorMade fairway woods for quite a few years now and they have been the longest and most accurate off the tee for me. But I never felt completely comfortable from the fairway. They are after all called “fairway woods” not “teeing off woods”. I have never hit a better fairway wood off the fairway or out of light rough. I have more confidence attacking a par 5 in two when there is serious trouble on one side, knowing I won’t have an egregious miss. The 5 wood is my staple from the fairway now, but I have run across several situations where a higher flying 7 wood was ideal. The stock Kai’ Li Blue is just amazing in these woods fitting my swing perfectly and I can’t imagine an aftermarket shaft performing any better.

5/5 Play It or Trade It

These AJ fairway woods are just a hair shorter off the tee compared to my Sim2’s but longer from the fairway and much more accurate. A couple yards makes no difference at all off the tee, but can mean the difference between being on a par 5 with my 2nd shot or in the bunker/coming up a little short. While no fairway wood is “easy to hit” and all require good swings and contact, these are the best combination of length, trajectory, distance and forgiveness I have ever played. 

15/15 Overall

I really dislike giving a “perfect” score to any club but I just can’t find anywhere to deduct any points from my Aerojet Fairway 5 and 7 woods. My recommendations almost always carry an “if you are looking for …” kinda comment but these fairway woods should be demoed by everyone, even if you are happy with your current fairway woods because as all us equipment nuts truly believe, ya never know unless you try.



 

King Tec #3 Hybrid

4/5 Looks, Sound, Feel

If the AJ driver was tough to review, the King Tec Hybrid might even be more difficult. Look is a little more shallow and longer looking heel to toe than I prefer but certainly not objectionable. Sound and feel are again, just a little less dense than ideal for me (can you tell I am very particular?) But pretty darned good and not something that would keep me from playing one. Looking at the sole, something I have never cared about, I certainly noticed the weighting that can really fine tune this club.




5/5 On Course Performance

Sometimes your very first shot with a club can color your opinion and that was the case with my 19* King Tec. WoW!  Excellent trajectory, good spin but a little longer than I expected and dead on line. I really needed to manipulate this hybrid in the Wood/Hybrid only challenge using it for anything from 135ish to 200 yds. Ironically I had very few full hybrids and with partial shots it was just deadly accurate. I needed to fade it twice and it worked well on both shots. Equally as good off the tee and the fairway. Easy to hit high or low. As someone used to liking a little kick through impact I never really even noticed the stock MCA MMT Hybrid 70 shaft so it works really well with this head. It just did it’s job and that is about all you can ask from a hybrid shaft.

4.5/5 Play It or Trade It

How does the King Tec hybrid get a 4.5 and not go in my bag? This is on me. I ordered the wrong hybrid. In my defense I didn’t know it was going to be a little longer than my previous hybrids and I should have ordered the #4 at 21* of loft and a 3/4” shorter shaft. I play a 22* hybrid that fits that gap perfectly while the #3 19 KT is just too long for my bag. I feel like Homer Simpson “DOAH!”

13.5/15 Overall

The King Tec with so much adjustability is a very impressive hybrid and if my 22* gamer misbehaves, I will be looking to pick up a #4 21* King Tec.   who am I fooling? I will be looking anyway.  Oh Yea, Best. Stock. Headcover. Ever.

 

King Vintage Sport-60

4/5 Looks, Sound, Feel

I prefer a tour satin stainless steel look in putters but the black Sport-60 finish is well done. Additionally I just don’t like alignment aids on my putter. Dots, lines or anything else so a 1 point deduction for color and the alignment line. (I did remove the paint fill) I have played with very similar designed putters in the past including a Cameron Newport 2.5 and a Nike B1/07 that I used to prepare for the arrival of my Cobra. I am a fan of roll technology, especially on non tour caliber greens that are slower and a little bumpy late in the day. The SIK face really produces a great roll and won me over after just 2 rounds. The balance and flow neck hosel is a good match for a gate stroke and the feeling is not overly soft or crisp but right in the middle and I really enjoy it. The sound is dense and solid.





5/5 On Course Performance

Putting isn’t rocket science and those that know me have heard me say many times I am a Zen style putter. I just let my subconscious take in the line and speed and then with a clear mind and absent of thought, I hit my putt. Putting has always been a strength in my game and I have never changed anything with my putting stroke from the first time I picked up a putter. On course performance has been outstanding for both speed and line and I have to give some credit to the SIK face. The shape and look is similar to putters I have used previously so I was comfortable using it by my second round.



5/5 Play It Or Trade It

For me, maybe the biggest surprise of this entire challenge is the Sport-60 will stay in my bag. I don’t change putters often so I was not looking for a new putter and I was certainly not looking to change putters. But the over all feel, look and the excellent roll from the SIK face has earned the right to be my gamer. Grass changes on the greens in the winter here in Phoenix and it will be interesting to see if it putts roll just as well after the change but I have a feeling it will handle the winter greens equally well.

14/15  Over All 

If I liked the black color and an alignment aid I would give this putter a 15. But personal preference enters into it and a 14 ain’t shabby. Other than that, I only have positives to say about the Sport-60. Looks great behind the ball, has just about perfect balance and the SIK face produces as good a roll as any face I have ever played. I also the fact that it is on sale for $149 is an amazing bargain. 

 

King Tour Irons (KT’s)

4.5/5 Looks, Sound, Feel

The shape of the face and the size of the head are just about perfect to my eye. Top line and sole width is also really nice. I also love the satin tour finish as opposed to last years shiny chrome. I don’t care too much what the cavity looks like if a club performs, but I am not immune to pleasing aesthetics and the KT’s are much cleaner with a more pleasing and subtle look than the MIM’s. When hit dead center the MIM Tours have the best feel of any iron I have hit. Ever. And that is a lot of forged irons over the years, maybe close to 80 sets. But a little thin or towards the toe and they don’t feel so good. While the KT’s don’t feel quite as mesmerizing as the MIM’s when hit dead center, they feel very sweet and as good as any other forged irons I have played. Where they differ is not hitting the dead center still feels really good with the KT’s. 1025 Carbon Steel that has been forged 5 times will do that.

To be fair, I am very picky about the look of my irons at address, so that said the trouble in paradise for me comes from the hosel grid and how it blends into the head. Cobra has been doing this better than everyone else with the last 4 versions of their Players Irons, culminating in the very best hosel grind I have ever seen with the MIM Tour irons.





5/5 On Course Performance

The KT’s simply do everything you have the skill to demand from them. They are very accurate, produce a pleasing trajectory with plenty of spin to hold hard, fast desert greens. I don’t normally play fades or big draws with my irons, but when needed after a poor tee shot the KT’s performed flawlessly. Hitting them high or low is easily produced on command. Unlike some, I don’t judge an iron by it’s turf interaction since the ball is already gone before the leading edge touches the ground. The turf here in Phoenix is similar to what you see in the Open Championship with hard fairways so we just don’t see divots peeled out of the fairway like many courses in the states. That said, the KT's get through the ground very well and playing a soft CC fairway is a treat as they peel out a divot like a surgeons scalpel. There just isn’t anything negative I can say about the KT’s performance.

5/5 Play It Or Trade It

For the time being, the KT’s will stay in my bag. I need more time with them after re-shafting them with Steelfiber i80’s. But the good news for Cobra is if I decide they aren’t staying in my bag, it is only because of how much I love their MIM Tour irons. That said the KT’s are still some of the best looking, feeling and performing irons I have played in the past 40 years.

14.5/15  King Tour Irons

14.5 out of 15 is still kinda like a MLB pitcher throwing a no hitter as opposed to a perfect game. With the same hosel grind and transition as the MIM Tours, the King Tours would have received a 15 out of 15. Evidently Rickie Fowler agrees with me:

 

SnakeBite Wedges

1/5 Looks, Sound, Feel

Let me start by saying I am pretty picky about how my clubs look and if I don’t like the look of a club at address, I am just not gonna play it. And if some of the design attributes are the opposite of my personal preferences I won’t even demo it. The SnakeBite wedges fall into both categories for me. I prefer a dead straight leading edge and the SB’s have a rounded leading edge. I like a classic teardrop shape and the SB’s are more rounded. And I just could not get used to the unusual look of full face grooves. So these wedges had everything going against them before I even hit my first shot. And then the feel was unpleasant, very crisp and “clacky” causing me to think I may have hit the hosel. I think the Black QPQ finish played a big part and removing that layer with an overnight dunking in white vinegar improved the feel but it remained much crisper than I prefer. 

 

2.5/5 On Course Performance

Cobra claims “The SNAKEBITE Wedge features our most aggressive grooves to date designed to maximize spin” and oh boy did they! I do like a lot of spin around the greens but I also want the ability to have my shot roll out when called for. My first shot with the 58* was a downhill lie to a short sided pin with the green sloping away from me. My only chance was to land it in the fringe and have it bounce onto the green and trickle past the hole leaving something like a 6 foot come back putt. I executed the shot just as I planned and was shocked to see the ball stick in the fringe like a cloth dryer ball hitting velcro. In all my years of playing golf, I have never experienced that kind of spin on the fringe. It took me several rounds to adjust but even then I feel like it limited my short game options. Full shots didn’t balloon, but often still came up short due to maximum spin.

The Tour Chrome 50* degree performed better for me than the 58* and while still producing a healthy amount of spin, it was no more or less than other wedges I have played. But looking down at the rounded leading edge with a very tight lie did not fill me with confidence.

 

1/5 Play It Or Trade It

At this point I am sure none of you are shocked that these wedges will not be staying in my bag and in fact I am a little giddy about putting my MG3’s back in the bag as they are the best wedges I have played to date. So it really never was a fair fight.

 

4.5/15  SnakeBite Wedges

Thankfully most of my fellow competitors love their SnakeBite wedges so I don’t feel too bad about such a negative and brutally honest review. Especially since the fairway woods, irons and putter have made their way into my bag against some long odds. But you can't win 'em all. 


 

Ultralight Pro Cart Golf Bag





Looks are subjective of course but I enjoy the colors and shape of this cart bag. It is not too big or too small but just the right size. With seven different color options there is something for everyone.

I honestly was not expecting a new bag to become my regular bag. I already have 5 golf bags and they cover my needs. That said, they all also have trade offs. I use my ZIP remote controlled cart for about 8 months of the year and it is sometimes a little tricky getting bags to balance on the base as it seems everyone has a different configuration to lock into the base. Like my Sun Mountain Sync locks into the Sun Mountain push cart base but wobbles on my ZIP. I bought a MGI bag that solved the problem with the bag bottom and base locking together like Lego’s. But the materials are cheap and the bag developed a tear where my driver went in and out of the bag and the hard plastic edge cut into my shafts finish before I realized it was happening. Bummer.







Much to my surprise the Cobra Ultralight Pro Cart has the same square base slot as my MGI bag and locks into my ZIP remote controlled cart! This feature alone immediately put it in contention to be my everyday bag.






With summer temperatures in Phoenix typically 105* and above and setting records for consecutive days over 110* this year a functional cooler is an absolute must. Many bags cooler sections are just sub par, pun intended. The Cobra has the best cooler compartment I have ever used. Large enough to easily holds two 40oz water bottles and lined with an insulation material that keeps my bottles cool to the touch. These two features alone would put this bag at the top of my list if the standard features are functional. 






And functional they certainly are! There is plenty of storage space with big and little pockets to take care of all my bag needs including lined pockets and zippered pockets. They are all easy to get to and are laid out very well. Many 14 way dividers get club grips tangled and sometimes difficult to remove and the Cobra bag is no exception. That said, clubs get tangled less than all my other 14 way divider bags so it is about as good as I could hope for. Finally the range finder pocket is awesome and so much more convenient than the case attached to the bag and dangling around during the round.

Again all odds and something I was not expecting as I have used different summer and winter bags, the Cobra Ultralight Pro Cart bag is now my year round bag. 

A huge thanks to Cobra and MGS for selecting me to participate in this 50th Anniversary Special.   It was even better than I envisioned and I made quite a few new friends along the way. If you weren't keeping count I am now playing with a Cobra bag, Aerojet #5 and #7 fairway woods, 4-Pw King Tour irons and the Sport-60 SIK face putter. Who doesn't love Christmas in July? 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

 

Hey everyone, Tom the Golf Nut here ready to participate in the test of all tests. I am excited beyond belief to have been selected.

 I am pretty much a self-taught golfer and have been playing for over thirty years.  I am “The Nut” for a reason. I live by the theme of the movie “Field of Dreams” If you build it they will come. In my case, “If you build it my game will come around”. I build most things at home. I’m the son of a carpenter and I was a machinist in my early days.  I am on my third golf green (one at each house I lived in), simulators, Chip O boards, Down Under Board, speed training clubs and anything else possible to help my game. As you can tell I like making things as a challenge. Using all this helped me figure things out and helped me to get better. My biggest improvements in my game came from installing my simulator in conjunction with a MEVO several years ago. I got to see my swing path and ball flight info. I do get to play a decent amount of golf. Once or twice a week at my club, playing with customers, as well as golf outings for charities. I am able to play year-round in my area of the country. (Bonus!!! I’m now 40 minutes from Pinehurst)

I'm fortunate to have a very understanding family. My wife and young adult children that are still living at home put up with my obsession. 

My GHIN handicap is at 0.6 but it is two years old. I have to go and sign up again. In 2021 I was chasing scratch, in 2022 I decided to have fun and not pressure myself. Not that my game deteriorated that much. But I just didn’t post as many scores, sometimes didn’t even keep score. I didn’t sweat over a bad shot, and let the GHIN expire. But, new course, new mind set, new goals for this year. With this opportunity I will do my best to crush the other team!

 

My swing tempo is smooth with an average driver swing speed just under 100 mph.

My recent move to North Carolina is showing me how altitude and air density can make a difference in my game. Courses are generally very different here than my hilly and mountainous courses in
Northeast TN. Here it is flatter but requires more placement shots, much softer fairways and approach areas (No bounce and roll out here) Lots of dog legs, streams, and waste areas that come into play.  

My average ball flight is straight with a middle flight trajectory. I am hoping to increase my iron trajectory a little bit more.   

My strengths are driving the ball in the fairway, chipping, pitching and putting.

I have been playing Sub 70 699 Pro irons and a Titleist TSI 1 Driver. Well, until now that is!

 

So, what do I want to accomplish during this testing?  This is the first time I will be testing everything in the bag. Including the bag! Will this equipment stand up to my current bag set-up? I will probably keep the same type of configuration in my bag unless my fitter suggests something different.  

1)      Woods: Driver, 3W, 5W, 7W.  Are they as accurate? Are they longer?

2)       5 hybrid: I always had problems with hybrids until I put the Sub 70 in the bag. Will the Cobra hybrid do as well?

3)     Irons: I only carry 6 iron through the Gap wedge as set irons. This will be interesting. I’m not getting any younger and I’m seriously considering going to graphite shafts. Currently playing stiff steel based on my last iron fitting in 2020. Will these irons perform for me and will they help my approach shots to help shave a few strokes.

4)     Wedges: Who doesn’t like fresh grooves? I’m leaning to a versatile sole grind to allow me to open up the club face without raising the sole off the ground. It will be necessary due to the different lofts that I’m used to. This is to get my gapping correct. My 56* will now be a 54*. I’m still on the fence about going with a 58* or a 60*.

5)      Putter: I have played the Odyssey Marksman Fang putter since it came out in 2016. I am not one to change putters so this will be interesting. 

6)     The golf bag: I’m picky on bags it must have a 14-way top with full length dividers and plenty of pockets. Based on the choices we have I selected the cart bag as either I’m walking with the bag on the Motocaddy or on a driving cart. This bag has a 14-way top but it only has three full length dividers. Will the clubs get hung up with each other? Time will tell.   

 

Can’t wait to get this party started.

Unboxing

My first shipment arrived. I made a short video of the unboxing. Kids don't try this at home!

First impressions on the bag:

I like the looks and layout of the pockets so far. I’ll know more when the clubs are in it and it’s loaded with my other normal stuff.

I have two comments so far.

1. I wish they would put an accessory ring on both sides of the bag. I hate having my club brush on the same side as the towel.

2. I prefer 14-way top so that part is good. However, they are not full-length dividers for each spot. There are three full length dividers. I will see how that works out during testing with mid-size grips.

 

My clubs have arrived. 

My package arrived. I was so excited to go play and then.....................

I grabbed an iron to give a few swings in the simulator bay and noticed I wasn't anywhere near the mat. Quickly ran over to the packing list that had the build specs and it turns out they used all the correct components, but the shafts were 1/2" shorter than what I ordered. Then I went and actually measured and sure enough they send a standard length instead of +1/2".

Return to sender! 

Hold that thought, hot off the press. Golfspy Bos already heard back, and Cobra is rebuilding my set once they get it back. Turnaround time was fantastic.  

Woods Review,

 Aerojet Max Driver,

Looks, Sound, Feel 4.5 / 5

I love the look of the woods with that carbon fiber grain look to it. It has an ever so slightly longer head than I’m used to. But after a few rounds it wasn’t even noticed. The club also has a pleasant sound to it. Not tinny or loud and not dull or muted. I didn’t have an issue with the sound at all. Regarding feel this club just felt heavy to me. The head felt heavy on the end of the shaft. I notice it more on the first few hoes and then I’m used to it. Compared to my TSI 1 it is definitely head heavy. 

On course performance 5 / 5

The Driver had to be adjusted to the draw setting on the connector. I did not have to move any weights around on the head itself. These minor changes gave me a straight ball flight. But I have only had it for two weeks so there is an adjustment period. I do find that I have a higher ball flight. More than the ½ degree between the Titleist 10*and the Cobra’s 10.5 would produce. This is a good thing though. A little more height means a little more distance. The driver never got me in trouble. But for a head that is supposed to be draw bias, I did not see that.

Play it or Trade it 4 / 5

Tough to answer. I haven’t had the clubs long enough to give an informed decision. I need to get my TSI1 and the Aerojet side by side on the range and get data off my Mevo. But saying this shows I am not completely sold. It performed very well though.

 

Total 13.5 out of 15

 

 Aerojet Max 3 wood, 5 wood, and 7 wood.

Looks, Sound, Feel 5 / 5

I’m writing about these together because they are all fairway woods and behave with similar characteristics. The look of the fairway woods is a seamless transition from the driver. The look, feel and sound are similar. The shape is a bit more rounded than the driver.

On Course Performance 4.5 / 5

The higher ball flight is a welcome change. The only change I made was to the 3 wood. I first moved the shaft in the adapter to the draw bias setting. Still faded then I moved the weights to more draw bias and moved the shaft back to standard. This straightened this out. I had a TaylorMade SLDR 3 and 5 woods in the bag for years and the 3 wood was the high launch version. The Aerojet 3 wood is easier to hit and launches higher. The surprise out of the bunch was the 5 and 7 wood. Although I had a Cobra 7 wood (F6) in the bag this one is sneaky long with a higher ball flight. The five wood is a rocket ship. So much that I might not need a 3 wood.

Play it or trade it 4.5 / 5

The 5 and 7 wood are staying in the bag. I’m not sure on the 3 wood. If I determine that I need a 3 wood it will stay. It’s not the club it just because I hit the 5 wood that much better and my course layout doesn’t require a 3 wood. But I did hit it better than my SLDR.

Total 14 out of 15

 

King Tec 5 hybrid.

Looks, Sound, Feel, 5 / 5

This club looks good behind the ball and instills confidence. This club has a dull black finish which reduces glare. The sound is very pleasing. It is interesting when you hit the ball in the sweet spot. You just don’t feel it like some other hybrids I’ve had.

On Course Performance 5 / 5

Zero complaints on this one. It has a great ball flight and is also sneaky long. I almost got in trouble a few times compared to my other 5 hybrid. The distance gain is a good 15 yards.  I didn’t even have to adjust any of the three weight ports. If you do use it off the tee, I suggest a natural color or plastic tee somewhat flush to the grass. The dull black finish is hard to get a white tee mark off.

Play it or trade it 5 / 5

This one is a keeper for sure. All shots were straight and true. Even ½ and ¾ swings were straight without any weight adjustments. I did try the Aerojet during my fitting, but it was not a good fit.

Total 15 out of 15

 

 

Putter Review:

Putter, Agera Black

Looks, Sound, Feel  4 /5

I am a mallet style fan and prefer a face balanced putter. I chose the Black version. The photo's showed this as black on the web site. Upon arrival I found the bottom and sides were black, but the top was a brushed metal which gives off a little more glare than I would prefer. The sound is pleasing not tinny, clicky or having a dull thud. The feel of the club is just right. Easy to stroke the putter and with great roll. Not to heavy and not to light. I think they nailed this design for me. My other minor complaint is the alignment line. They are using some sort of reflective brushed metal line instead of a white, red or some type of painted line. It works but it is just something I am not used to. I'm really not sure what the 3D printing is about as it is all under the hood if you know what I mean. You can see it protruding on the sides and out the back. Futuristic looking perhaps. But it is protected by the brushed metal top. I do find myself being extra careful with the putter. You know when you're on the practice green and you reach out with the back of the putter to pull the next ball toward you! When I do, it sounds like I'm going to break the 3D printed frame. So, I did it one time and one time only. I always put the cover back on before it goes in the bag.  Side note I wish they used a magnetic cover closure instead of the Velcro. I'm used to putting the cover on top of my irons when I go to the green and the magnet (from my other putter) would attract right to the irons. Can't lose one that way if your cart partner decides to drive off and you're walking up to the green. I just have to remember to toss it in the basket instead.

 

 

Performance, 5/5 

What a surprise. I knew it was going to have a tough time replacing my Odyssey Marksman Fang. I was wrong. This was my first Cobra Putter. The club was supposed to come with a SuperStroke Tour 2.0 Traxion grip but came with a 1.0. I’m used to a 3.0 but going down to a 1.0, I feel like I don’t know what to do with all my fingers.  But it is working very well. I’ll go to a 2.0 and I have already ordered one. I have found this putter to be very accurate. It has been easy to lag long putts within a foot or less and hole out longer putts than what I'm used to with my Odyssey. The lag putts are even burning the edges of the cups. 

Play it or trade it, 5/5

If you couldn't tell by my Performance rating, I'll tell you now. This is a keeper for me, and it is staying in the bag. My greens are slower due to being Bent Grass in the south. So, they do have to keep it longer to prevent hot spots and burn out. I haven't tried this putter on Bermuda yet, but I'll let you know how it goes when I get the opportunity.  

Total  14/15

King Tour Irons

Looks, Sound, Feel 5/5

I didn’t have reservations about tour irons once I got to try them at my fitting. I was playing a player's distance iron and the lofts are similar except as you get toward the PW and Gap, but the iron head profile is slightly smaller on the Cobra’s. The look and design are very appealing. My biggest problem was with the grips. Absolutely hated them, and I felt like I had no control over the club. Once I replaced them with my preferred grip all was good. I did switch over to graphite shafts in the irons and the performance is actually better with a higher ball flight. The overall feel is fantastic as the ball rockets off the club face in its intended direction. The top line is thinner than what I’m used to. At first glance it is intimidating but once you hit them it’s gone from your mind. The sole is a little narrower allowing good turf interaction on tighter fairways. The club features an undercut cavity which you can’t even see and is filled with a TPU insert to dampen vibration and to give you a pleasing sound and feel. It works!

 On Course Performance 5/5

With the head seeming lighter, paired with the graphite shafts it seems effortless to swing these irons and get good distance and height.  I did hit a few out toward the toe to see what the results would yield. There was minimal distance loss and virtually no change in direction. You did feel that you hit toward the toe. So, you do get good feedback. Hitting toward the heel, well that was another story. With the head being smaller my two attempts at hitting toward the heel resulted in the dreaded hosel rocket, dead right. Performance was better than I thought I would get going into Tour Irons. I re-gripped the irons and headed right to the course for the irons only challenge and managed one under on the front and one under on the back. Other than one range session with the original grips, that was the first time I had the irons out on the course with the proper grips. I’m thinking it can only get better.

Play it or trade it 5/5

These are staying in the bag. Moving to graphite shafts and having a tour head just feels and looks right. I think Cobra hit it out of the park with the King Tour Irons. It is recommended for a 7 and under handicap and I think it could even be a little higher if you are on the fence about trying them.  

 

For size reference, below in the following order:

Wilson D200 game improvement irons, Sub 70 699 Pro players distance irons, and Cobra King Tour irons. 

 

Snakebite Wedges:

Looks, Sound, Feel, 4/5

I chose the 54 and 60 degrees with the versatile grind. I like the looks, the sound is a bit clicky, but the clubs perform well. The 54* has a normal groove pattern but the 60* is the full-face grooves. It just looks strange at address, but it performs. I haven’t mastered the feel yet on the 54* but if I play by the numbers they are performing. What I mean is I know how far I hit them with full, ¾ and ½ swings. So, I laser the pin and pick the swing for the distance. Normally I’m a feel wedge player.

On course performance 4.5/5

The course conditions have not allowed me to use the 60* except for once or twice during the time I’ve had it. So, I’m reserving judgement. The 54* did everything I asked of it and helped me to shoot a personal best. The club put enough spin on the ball that it just sat where it landed, and I could attack the pin more. Stopping and proximity to the pin were outstanding. During the no irons challenge I had an extremely low amount of one putts. Of the few times I was able to hit the 60* the ball would skyrocket up and stop on a dime. Sometimes spin back a bit. I never could spin the ball back in the past. The grooves are so sharp that there would be pieces of white from the ball in the grooves. Typically, I only use the 60 in nicer lies, but this will perform in tighter lies with the versatile grind I chose.

Play it or trade it 4.5/5

For now, they are staying in the bag. I need more feel time if that makes any sense. I can say they have played well but I just need a little more time with them to adjust.  

Total 14/15

 

 

Bag, Cobra Ultralight Cart

Looks 5/5

Great layout. Rangefinder pocket with a magnetic closure is the bomb. Ginormus cooler pocket that works well. Easily hold two large Gatorade bottles and a few PBJ’s. Cobra's intent is to achieve ultra-light weight for a cart bag. So, looking for a separate putter well and a slightly larger diameter and individual full-length dividers would only add weight.   

 

On course performance 4/5

 I like the strap pass through system. This allows full access to the zippered pockets. All pockets are easily accessible and the zippers are easy to use. The layout is such that everything is where you need it. The negatives are minor. I would have liked full length dividers for each clubs section. Grips do get tangled so you are lifting clubs to get things settled. A second accessory ring on the other side of the bag would separate the towels from the club brush. A Velcro patch would be good to hang your glove on to dry out during your round. The pencil pocket is too deep. Courses have short pencils and once you put it in it goes down too far to get it back out.

Like I said this is being picky and the bag is one of the best designs I have used, and I have a few 14-way bags.

Play it or trade it 5/5

Definitely keeping it in play. I can make some minor modifications to eliminate a few of the nit-picky items.

Total 14/15

[sirchunksalot]

Before I begin my introduction, I would like to thank MyGolfSpy and Cobra Golf for this amazing opportunity. The annual Cobra Challenge is the pinnacle of forum testing and finding out I was one of the chosen participants is an honor. I hope we can all have fun with this and that I can do the forum proud.

I also want to congratulate my fellow competitors @Tom the Golf Nut, @chisag, @Jnoble89, @JerryB, and @CFreddie for being chosen to take part in the Cobra 50th celebration. 

My name is Jason Bentley, I'm married to the most amazing woman who is so supportive of my golf addiction. I live in Southeast Tennessee and play most of my rounds at Flagstone Golf Course in Cleveland. I’m a high handicap golfer and as you can guess from my screen name, I make the purest contact with the ground.

I started playing after high school and was gifted my first set by my brother who picked them up at a yard sale. The $10 set he bought consisted of wood woods and every other iron. I stopped playing in the early 2000’s and didn’t take the game back up for close to 10 years. It has now become the only hobby I have and after joining the forum, has almost become an obsession.

I’m excited for this competition since it’s not your typical review, we’ll be facing specific challenges put forth by the mods. My mind is racing in an attempt to guess what curves they are going to throw at us.

I think Cobra doesn't get the love it deserves from casual golfers, they are not afraid to innovate and step outside the norm with their dedication to one length clubs and 3D printed putters. I honestly believe anyone looking to buy new clubs should include Cobra in their fitting.

I expect nothing but performance from the clubs I’m being fit into, I have and currently play Cobra clubs. I had a set of F8 irons for years until I replaced them with my current set of Mizuno JPX 921 Forged. I still carry F9 fairways in the bag and love the sound, feel, and performance they provide.

I’ll be judging every club in the bag based solely on performance and whether they make me a better golfer. Can I hit longer and straighter? Am I hitting more greens? Am I able to scare the occasional par 5 in 2? These are the questions I’ll be wanting answers to if these clubs are going to continue with me on my journey to become a better golfer.

All that’s left for me to say is let’s get it on!

#TeamChunks

#TeamScrawnyLegs

The Unboxings

Part #1: Cobra Pro+ Ultralight Stand Bag

 

 Part #2: Woods, Irons, Wedges, Hybrids, and Putter

 

 Cobra Long Game Review

Since this week focused on woods, fairways, and hybrids let’s have a discussion on the clubs on the top end of the bag starting with driver.

Cobra Aerojet Max

Cobra nailed it in the looks department. They designed a predominantly black driver with a gloss carbon crown and gave it red, white and blue accents.

The sound is a pleasant crack of near the center of the face and gets a little muted as you move out to the extreme edges. It's not Ping G400 good, but it’s also not Epic Flash Sub Zero loud.

The feel off the center of the face is what I would consider solid, it’s not bad, but it doesn't feel as springy soft as I like.

Looks, sound, and feel (4/5)

I have had a blast so far gaming the Aerojet Max. I haven't kept stats thoroughly but I do know over the last 27 holes I have hit 12/21 fairways.

I feel like the Epic Flash Sub Zero has more potential distance than the Aerojet, but feel like the Aerojet has more consistent distance. I haven’t seen the big misses as much and have had several drives get out to around 230 yards.

On Course Performance (5/5)

Unless something drastic happens over the next few weeks, this driver is solidly in the top of the bag. I’m hitting more fairways and seeing more consistent distances.

Play It or Trade It (5/5)

Overall I have found that the Cobra Aerojet Max suits my game well and I’ve hit more fairways and fewer terrible shots. While I don’t see the occasional big drive, I’m seeing more consistent tee shots. I plan on keeping the driver in the bag for quite a while.

Overall (14/15)

Cobra Aerojet Max Fairways

What can I say about the looks? They're identical to the driver with a beautiful carbon crown and with the same colors on the sole. In other words, they're good looking clubs.

If I have one complaint about the club, it’s a lack of the baffler rails that has adorned the past several iterations of the Cobra fairway line including my F9's.

The Aerojet’s feel identical to the F9 fairways and I like it. It feels like the ball jumps off the face. They have a slightly higher pitched sound than the driver and again reminds me of the F9's.

Looks, Sound, and Feel (4.5/5)

I haven’t hit a ton of shots on the course with the 3 wood, and have hit a few with the 5 and so far the good outweighs the bad. I’m not the greatest fairway player but do love hitting them in certain situations. The good shots have been great, but I have topped a few (my normal miss). I have a feeling they could be solid performers if I relax and let the club did the work and don’t over swing.

On Course Performance (3.5/5)

Right now the Aerojet fairways are making a case to stay in the bag. They look and sound phenomenal, I just need to dial in my swing with them. They show promise as a great option off the tee and for the occasional par 5.

Play It or Trade It (4/5)

 The Cobra fairway woods both look and sound good. I believe they're better optimized for my game than my F9's. They have the potential to be longer than my other fairway woods and I’ve seen a higher ratio of good hits. I wish they still had the rails, but the engineers at Cobra are smarter than I am.

Overall (12.5/15)

King Tec 4 Hybrid and Aerojet 5 Hybrid

These are both beautiful clubs and very appealing to my eye. The King Tec hybrid with its blacked out look with the subtle carbon crown is so good looking.

The Aerojet hybrid shares the same good looks as its long game brothers and will get no complaints from me.

The King Tec has a slightly more muted sound than the Aerojet, especially when hit a little off center. Initially, I wasn’t a fan of the sound but moved the weights to counteract a slice I was seeing and it made a world of difference.

Looks, Sound, and Feel (5/5)

These clubs have transformed my long game. They are easy to get in the air and fly straight. Playing in the woods and wedges match I was manipulating distances from 110 to 180 yards. They are the main reason I shot one of the lowest rounds I’ve had in a while.

One of the hardest shots for me is the ball above feet situation. While playing Indian Trace I was faced with this shot with 170 left to the hole and pulled the hybrid. I aimed just off the right of the green and let it fly. It didn't curve as much as I expected, but I was pin high right.

I also hit one to six feet on the par 3 8th at my course, granted I pulled out it a smidge but it worked out well.

On Course Performance (5/5)

Have I mentioned how these clubs have changed my approach game? The hybrids have solidly locked themselves into my bag.

Keep It or Trade It (5/5)

If I were to write a love letter to golf clubs, I would wax poetic to these hybrids. They are firmly in my bag.

Overall (15/15)

Cobra Long Game overall (41.5/45)

 

Cobra Agera 3D Printed Putter

I like the look of the Agera, it’s a Spider inspired shape with sharp edges that might not appeal to everyone but I love the fact Cobra went with a bold, futuristic look with this putter.

The SIK face is unlike anything I’ve ever played and I was honestly expecting it to feel harsh compared to the White Hot insert in my Odyssey. It feels soft off the face and has a nice, soft click at impact.

Looks Sound and Feel (5/5)

Since putting the Agera in the bag, my putting has degraded. I don’t hit a lot of approaches close and have to rely on the putter to lag it close. I can’t dial it in and too often leave lags 10 feet short or long and have had more 3 putts than usual. That’s not a recipe that will lead to lower scores in the future.

I will say it’s a very stable putter from heel to toe, the Agera claims to have a very high MOI and I believe those claims are true.

On Course Performance (2/5)

As soon as this competition is over, the Odyssey is going back in the bag. I love the idea behind the 3D printing and want to love the Agera, but I find myself too frustrated with its performance.

I believe the Agera head is a good product, I think the biggest issue might be the shaft. The KBS putter shaft weighs 120 grams and my Stroke Lab comes in at 75. Putting is such a personal thing and I’m usually able to step up to the ball, look at the hole, track my eyes back to the ball, and let it flow. I’ve said a few times that I'm crazy confident when putting, now I feel like I’ve got the yips.

Right now it does not have a place in my bag. We still have a couple of weeks left in the competition and there’s a chance it could do better, but its got a lot of work to do to change my opinion.

Play it or Trade It (2/5)

 The Cobra Agera is a good looking putter. It feels and sounds good coming off the face. I just don’t believe it’s the putter that suits my game right now.

Overall (9/15)

Cobra Forged Tec X Review

 

The Forged Tec X irons blend a players profile with game improvement performance. I’m usually not too particular when it comes down to what I see when I look down at the club, but I’m starting to like a thinner profile. I’m not ready for Primetime and gaming a razor thin blade but I feel like if you want to look like a player these irons fit the bill.

Finding out the black irons were available for the test excited me and let me tell you, they do not disappoint. My playing partners have raved about how good they look. I have started to see some wear on them, but that's something I expected and am enjoying the patina they’re developing.

They do feel and sound a little clicky off the face compared to the Mizuno JPX 921 Forged and that’s why I’m going to give them a little less than perfect in this part of my review.

Looks, Sound, and Feel (4.5/5)

I am playing some of my best golf in a long time with these irons. The 7-GW in the set have been easy to hit, launch the ball high, and go a pretty long way. I have noticed I’m seeing about a club more distance out of the X’s.

I’m inconsistent with the 6 iron, but it performed good off the tee during irons only. I’ve been less consistent with it off the turf. It has been easy to flight down when in tree trouble and I think in the right hands could be easy to shape.

On Course Performance (4.5/5)

The Forged Tec X are staying in the bag. Going into the review, I had decided this was going to be the hardest part of the set to replace. I love the looks and feel of the Mizuno's and was almost determined that the Cobra’s weren't going to become my gamers. Right now at the point my game is, I feel they give me the best chance to score my best.

Play Them or Trade Them(5/5)

If you’re looking at players distance irons, I believe you’d be remiss to not at least try the Cobra Forged Tec X. They look good and flat out perform.

Overall (14/15)

Cobra Snakebite Wedge Review

The Snakebite wedges look so good. I could just repeat what I said in the irons review that I love the look of the black finish on them and how well they blend with the Forged Tec X in the bag.

Like the irons, I’m seeing some wear in the finish but it’s not offensive. The sole of the clubs have taken the most abuse since I have hit them out of the sand.

They do sound slightly more harsh than wedges I’ve gamed in the past. They’re not too bad, but just not as pure sounding as the Bridgestone Tour XB 1 or the Vokey SM7.

Looks, Sound, and Feel (4/5)

On the course, they've performed well. I’ve mentioned that I love the scallop on the sole as I feel it and the heel relief really free me to open them up and hit high, soft shots.

The only negative I’ve observed out of them is a lack of spin. Granted, I played a lot before the challenge when the weather was dry and the greens were not receptive. The only time I have had receptive greens was during the iron only challenge and they were not in the bag. I did see some nice check out of the set GW, so I’m not going to judge too hard and give them a wait and see.

On Course Performance (4/5)

The Snakebite wedges are going to stay in the bag. They are easier to open up than my Vokey’s without fear of blading them across the green. The 54, 58 combo are also better gapped than the 52, 56, and 60 combo I’ve been playing.

Keep Them or Trade Them (5/5)

I love the looks and like the feel of the Cobra Snakebite wedges. I am hoping to see a bit more spin out of them once the greens aren’t so dry. I love how easy the loft is to manipulate and how low I can get the heel when I open them up.

Overall (13/15)

Cobra Ultralight Pro+ Stand Bag

I've always been a cart bag player and decided to go with a stand bag for this review and try something different. My course doesn't have holders for your bag at the range and I thought this would be perfect since I spend a lot of time practicing.

I decided to go with the Quiet Shade/Navy Blazer color simply because I wanted something less colorful than I’ve had in the past. I’m glad I did because it looks so good when my blacked out irons and wedges are in there.

The bag is really light and easy to carry on the range or to the golf cart. It’s easy to maneuver out of the house and fits easily into the trunk of my car.

Looks and Feel (5/5)

This bag has done everything I have asked of it on the course. There’s plenty of storage space for my balls, tees, and the drink cooler pocket is the largest I’ve ever had. I can easily fit 3 bottles of water and an ice pack in there.

I do have a couple of gripes about it that'll keep it from a perfect score. I really haven't figured out how to arrange clubs in it to satisfy my OCD on how I like my clubs. I’m spoiled to a 14 way divider with a putter well. Also, it does tend to twist after riding in a cart after a while.

Neither of those are deal breakers, it just all comes down to personal preference.

On Course Performance (4/5)

The Cobra bag going to be in a rotation with my other bags going forward. With such a big cooler pocket, it's going to be my warm weather bag. During the cooler months when I’m walking, I’m going to go with a heavier bag to stabilize my trolley.

Keep It or Trade It (4/5)

The Cobra Ultralight bag is a good looking bag and it’s easy to carry. I love having the stand for going to the range so I don’t have to lay my clubs down or worry about them falling over. The storage is ample for a round of golf and I love how many drinks it can hold. It’s not going to be a year round bag for me, but will be my go to in the warmer months.

Overall (13/15)

Full Bag Overall (90.5/105)

Getting to participate in the Cobra 50th Anniversary Special: Priceless