Cobra King Utility Iron (2020)

Cobra isn’t going to set the golf equipment world ablaze with its new KING utility iron.

That’s not a knock on Cobra or its new club.

Instead, it’s an acknowledgment of the reality for any piece of niche golf equipment. It’s reasonable to assume most everyone is at least a little intrigued by the driving-iron class but most of us would be better served by hybrids which is exactly why most of us play hybrids.

That said, utility irons exist for a reason.

Why Utility Irons?

Whether you call them utility irons, crossovers or driving irons, clubs like the KING Utility are designed to replace conventional long irons with something a bit more playable. Yes, I know I just explained the reason hybrids exist but there is a contingent of golfers including many better players and a segment of average or worse players who either can’t or won’t play a hybrid.

Utility irons exist to provide an alternative for the alternative.

The Original Cobra King Utility Iron

In an industry driven by the rapid refresh, it’s almost unfathomable that Cobra’s original KING Utility iron – the one that’s on shelves right now – is more than four years old. The original launched in 2016. A Black PVD and ONE Length line extension followed in 2018 but the underlying technology remains unchanged. That should probably give you a sense of the actual rate at which technology advances within the category.

The New Cobra King Utility Iron

As you’d expect from any release, the details of the KING Utility include the requisite bits about maximum control and precision off the tee, on longer approaches and the occasional low hook around a tree that I’m pretty sure wasn’t part of the architect’s original design anyway. It’s possible that last one came from me.

The new KING Utility iron is designed to fit seamlessly alongside a set of Forged Tec irons. That gets you the Forged Tec aesthetic, upwards of 70 grams of tungsten weighting, a swingweight-tuneable toe weight and a revised ST118 PWRSHELL face that offers more speed while driving the center of gravity lower for higher launch.  Cobra gets all of that while still delivering the look at address that the target audience wants.

“It looks like a player’s iron,” says Tom Olsavsky, VP of R&D for Cobra Golf, “but because of the 70 grams of tungsten in the back, it plays like a back CG club without looking offset.”

Unlike the Forged Tec irons, there’s no foam microsphere filling. Cobra believes golfers will be fine with, if not prefer, the feel of a foamless design.

The last notable change is that, based on feedback from players and fitters, Cobra has flattened KING Utility’s lie angles by 1.5 degrees.

It’s Adjustable

Most every manufacturer has something like this in its lineup. In that respect, the KING Utility is no more remarkable than most any other utility iron. What separates the Cobra KING is that it’s adjustable. In the utility space, adjustable clubs are exceedingly rare. There’s Cobra. There’s TaylorMade’s GAPR Lo and there’s, well … that’s the end of our list.

Whether you need an adjustable utility club is certainly a matter of debate. No doubt the just learn to swing crowd will take issue but I believe there’s benefit in the ability to tweak the head in a way that pairs the loft you want with the face angle you need.

Case in point: Several years ago, we did a small test of Cobra’s original adjustable utility iron. What we found was that while golfers don’t always achieve the expected results (higher loft settings didn’t necessarily produce higher launch), invariably there was one setting that produced better results than the others and it isn’t wasn’t always stock neutral.

Short version: There’s something to be said for being able to adjust any club in a way that maximizes success. Ideally, you work with a fitter on that but we understand that’s not always possible so being able to tweak an iron without having a bending machine at your disposal isn’t a bad thing.

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Cobra KING Utility Options

New to the KING Utility lineup is a 2-iron lineup. With a nominal loft of 17.5 degrees (adjustable from 16-19), it’s an excellent option for someone looking for a true driving iron or to replace a fairway wood.

More conventional long-iron replacement options include a 3-iron (18-21 degrees) and a 4-iron (21-24 degrees). Lofts throughout the lineup overlap just a bit which provides some flexibility for pairing loft and face angle to achieve the desired results. The same is true for other adjustable clubs.

The KING Utility is also available in a ONE Length option. Regardless of the loft, the ONE Length version is 7-iron length ( 37.5 inches). Offerings otherwise are the same as the variable-length version with the addition of a 5-iron (24-27-degree) option.

Stock shafts are the KBS $-Taper in steel and the Project X Catalyst 80 in graphite. Both versions come with Lamkin Crossline CONNECT Grips which feature Arccos sensors.

Pricing and Availability

Retail price for the Cobra KING Utility is $219. Availability begins June 12.

For more information, visit CobraGolf.com.

The post Cobra King Utility Iron (2020) appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

Cobra KING MIM Black Wedge – New Color, New Grinds

It’s almost crazy to think there was a time in MyGolfSpy’s history when Cobra didn’t sell wedges. The 2012 Trusty Rusty reboot changed all that.

Eight years later, you could argue that, with Cobra KING MIM and now Cobra KING MIM Black, the company is at the forefront of innovation in irons and wedges.

Sure, the lineup is not nearly as robust as some others. Cobra’s comparably small size mandates that it picks its spots.

While it has no aspirations of being the market leader or offering more options than anyone else, Cobra has continually positioned itself on the leading edge of innovation – often exploring next-generation technologies.

Such is the case with its MIM wedges.

Your MIM refresher

If you’re unfamiliar with MIM, the first thing you need to know is that it stands for Metal Injection Molding. The process involves mixing metal powder (in this case, 304 stainless) with a polymer binding agent, heating into a paste and pumping the result into an injection-molding machine to create the desired shape.

Once the dust settles, the heads go in a furnace to remove the polymer binder. The heads are then heated to 1,340 degrees Celsius, where everything is welded together before the secondary milling process sharpens things up.

According to Cobra, the MIM process creates a smoother grain flow which reduces voids in the material and ultimately creates a feel that’s softer than forging.

The final step in the process is robotic polishing. As we’ve covered before, the equipment industry likes to use polishing as a euphemism for grinding. By letting properly programmed robots do the delicate work, Cobra can reduce variances in weight and thickness while producing more consistent grinds.

Golf clubs are a bit like golf balls in that nearly anybody can make a single part that performs to a given performance spec. It’s the quality and consistency – the ability to replicate the exact specification  – that separates the leaders from the also-rans.

Ultimately, the MIM process is about creating a more consistent product.

Cobra KING MIM Black Wedge

As is typical with line-extension releases, the Cobra King MIM Black wedge is the same as the current MIM wedge (released last year) except it’s black. Apart from the reasonably durable QPQ finish, the only notable change is that Cobra has expanded the MIM lineup into the high- and low-bounce space.

Previous MIM wedges were available in versatile grind (mid-bounce) only.

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Three Grinds

The Cobra KING MIM Black Wedge is offered in three grinds.

Versatile Grind (50, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60 degrees)– The mid-bounce offering in the Cobra wedge lineup, as its name suggests, is designed to work in a variety of conditions. Heel and toe relief allows you to manipulate the face around the green while Cobra’s signature notch helps keep the leading edge closer to the ground.

WideLow Grind (56, 58 and 60 degrees) – Also true to its name, the WideLow is a wide-sole, low-bounce offering that’s a bit like the Wedge Works K Grind. It’s ideal for shallow swingers or dry conditions and it works well out of soft bunkers and moderate rough.

Classic Grind (52, 56 and 60 degrees) – Cobra’s high-bounce option, the Classic Grind offers a medium-width sole with trailing-edge relief. It’s the digger wedge in the Cobra family.

The Cobra KING MIM Black wedge is the company’s first MIM’d offering to be available in ONE Length. It should go without saying that they’re ideally suited to golfers playing ONE Length irons. Given the niche nature of the offering, availability is limited to 56- and 60-degree offerings in Versatile Grind only. Now you know how lefties feel.

Arccos Standard

Cobra continues its partnership with Arccos. MIM wedges come standard with Arccos Sensor-enabled Lamkin Crossline Connect grips.

Cobra KING MIM Wedges – Pricing and Availability

Cobra KING MIM Black wedges are available beginning June 12. The retail price is $149. The stock shaft is a KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 (125 gram) Black shaft. All loft/grind combinations are available for right-handed golfers. Like the ONE -Lengthers, lefties are limited to 56 and 60 degrees in the Versatile Grind.

For more information, visit Cobragolf.com.

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Should golf instructors be ranked?

Should golf instructors be ranked?

When I posed this question on #mytubspy, to the surprise of absolutely no one, answers ranged from “Absolutely, 100% Yes!” to “Not no, but hell no.”

But upon further analysis, there are some meaty nuggets of information worthy of discussion.

Here’s a compilation of what viewers had to say. As always, let us know what you think.

A QUESTION WORTH ASKING

It’s fair to wonder whether the answer to the overarching question is one we can reasonably answer. If not, it becomes an academic exercise of futility. It might inspire several minutes of decent debate on social media, but that’s about it.

If we decide to venture down this path of ranking golf instructors, then what’s the most meaningful approach? That is, how do we produce answers that actually help golfers find an instructor that best meets specific criteria?

What is a “fair” and objective way to do this? How much subjectivity is too much?

Implicit in the primary question is that we must consider why golfers take lessons. The obvious answer is to get better at some aspect of the game. But that’s not the only one. Golfers take lessons for myriad reasons. This list includes, but is not limited to: social engagement, periodic swing “tune-ups”, fault/fix methodologies, unique experience (golf schools), something to do/support a club or pro, etc..

With that in mind, if anything was clear, it’s that there’s plenty of strong feelings and no obvious answers. Here’s a quick overview of the most popular responses.

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NOPE, UH-HUH, NO WAY

Most criticisms aligned with one of the three following stances.

The question is too difficult to answer. My hunch is the thinking here is that ranking something as subjective as teaching/learning possibly doesn’t lend itself well to a clear numerical ranking system. Another possibility is that some believe the question just “feels” too dicey.

The role of the golfer. An instructor can provide a student with all the information, techniques, drills, and support necessary to improve. But, it’s still incumbent on the student to put in the reps. As Ben Hogan suggested, “the secret is in the dirt.” Put another way; there isn’t an instructor that can overcome a lazy student.

The importance of “fit.” Sometimes it’s not what an instructor says, but how he or she says it. As with every interpersonal relationship, an individual’s style, cadence, demeanor, and ability to communicate might match what you’re looking for. Or it might not.

YES and IT’S PROBABLY OVERDUE

It’s a popularity contest. As it stands currently, the majority of well-publicized lists feel more like high schoolers voting for homecoming court than an honest attempt to rank instructors. The names might move up or down a bit from year to year, but it tends to be harder to get in with the “cool” kids than it does to stay in the clique.

Player feedback. Any list or ranking of instructors that relies solely upon peer-review ignores the consumer. At best, it seems odd to rank teachers without any consideration for the student.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. As much as everyone would love a neat, objective fool-proof system, that’s not the most likely outcome. However, this shouldn’t stop anyone from exploring better options. Keep in mind, before Mark Broadie’s “Strokes Gained” platform, we relied heavily on stats like “number of putts/round” to help determine the best putter. With stat-tracking and game management systems like Arccos and ShotScope, we have access to personal technology that can definitively measure player performance.

WHERE DO WE GO?

This isn’t a new topic or the first time someone has questioned the status quo around ranking golf instructors.  As always, the lingering question is, “So what?”

What’s most helpful to golfers? What’s even feasible? How can we better incorporate golfer feedback?

Perhaps we need a JD Power type quality ranking for all instructors. Maybe the best system is one that assigns grades (A-F) rather than numerical rankings.

But, most importantly, let’s hear from you. Tell us what you think.

The post Should golf instructors be ranked? appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

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Wilson WLabs Driver Hits USGA Conforming List

COVID-19 may have stalled this spring’s retail business, but OEM R&D teams are still hard at work. A new Wilson driver hit the USGA Conforming List this week, with the code name WLabs. All signs indicate this driver could fill a glaring hole in Wilson’s lineup.

“We’ve been working to get drivers in play with our Tour players,” Wilson Golf Club Innovation Manager Jon Pergande tells MyGolfSpy. “We’re doing some testing with our guys with that club, and getting it on the USGA website means if they wanted to put it into play, they could.”

WLABS

The WLabs driver is listed only in a 7.5-degree loft, but it is adjustable. Pergande confirms WLabs is a prototype for an unspecified tour player or players.

“Working with our Tour players to develop product is an ongoing project,” he says. “We value their opinions and their judgment, and ultimate judgment is to get something into play.”

None of Wilson’s top Tour players carry a Wilson driver. Gary Woodland and Padraig Harrington both game TaylorMade SIMs, while Kevin Streelman games a PING G410 LST. As of last season, Brendan Steele bagged a PING G400 MAX.

“WLabs is a prototype, and we’re getting feedback from our players,” says Pergande. “We’re doing what we can to get a driver into their bags.”

A New Staff Model?

The Staff Model lineup, according to Wilson, is designed for – and with – the best players in the world. Steele played a crucial role in developing the Staff Model blades, while Woodland bagged a Staff Model utility iron prototype while winning the U.S. Open last year (they were released in November). Staff Model wedges came out in December, so the only empty boxes on the checklist are metalwoods.

Wilson wouldn’t commit to saying WLabs will eventually become the Staff Model driver, but the blueprint seems to fit. Wilson told us last winter to expect a better-player focused driver under the Staff Model banner at some point. The catch, however, is getting into a Tour player’s bag. As mentioned, none of Wilson’s PGA Tour staff bags it drivers (although – oddly – they do use Wilson head covers), but then again, none of Wilson’s current driver lineup can be considered better player-centric.

The year-old D7 driver is a non-adjustable, lightweight game improvement driver. The new Launch Pad is a non-adjustable, lightweight, anti-slice super game-improvement driver. Neither screams Tour.

As for the Driver vs. Driver winning Cortex, Wilson insists it was always intended to be a one-year and done product. It’s officially discontinued, although you can still find them at retail.

Final Thoughts

Wilson has done an okay job at developing drivers for the masses. The D100, 200, and 300 drivers all performed adequately in past Most Wanted testing. This year the D7 finished fourth overall in carry distance and 5^th overall in total distance. Wilson has struggled to develop a Tour-level driver, although then-staffer Troy Merritt did win the 2018 Barbasol Championship bagging a D300. It would seem for the WLabs to evolve into a Staff Model, someone on Wilson’s Tour Staff will have to actually game it.

On a quasi-related note, it would appear an update to the now four-year-old FG Tour V6 irons may be closer to becoming a reality. We learned last winter the update would also fall under the Staff Model banner.

“We’re working on a good replacement for that,” says Pergande. “You’ll probably hear more about that later this year.”

The post Wilson WLabs Driver Hits USGA Conforming List appeared first on MyGolfSpy.

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