Equipment
You can see inside Cobra’s King LTD drivers and fairway woods
It’s been more than a decade since the release of golf’s first adjustable driver. In that time, equipment manufacturers have gone to great lengths to inform golfers of the performance benefits of the gizmos on the outside of their clubs. What few golfers realize, however, is that important changes have also been made on the inside.
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- The King LTD drivers were created with technology developed through a partnership with CASIS, the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space. “Ark 2” is the second series of research investigations brokered by CASIS to the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory.
With its King LTD drivers and fairway woods, Cobra offers golfers a glimpse inside its new clubs in a way that the company hopes will not only further their understanding of its aerospace-inspired technologies, but also further their ability to hit longer, straighter shots as well.
Here’s what you need to know about the new clubs: Cobra’s King LTD driver ($449), King LTD Pro driver ($449) and King LTD fairway woods ($299). They’re in stores Nov 13.
King LTD Drivers
- Two Models: Cobra’s King LTD drivers are offered in two models, King LTD and King LTD Pro, but they use the same head design. The difference is that they have distinct loft and lie settings. The King LTD can be configured to lofts between 9 and 11.5 degrees and has more upright “draw” settings, while the King LTD Pro can be configured to lofts between 7 and 10 degrees and has flatter “fade” settings.
The King LTD uses Cobra’s “Speed Channel,” a channel around the perimeter of the club face that improves ball speed on off-center hits.
- Key Features: The two most notable new features are a removable “Spaceport” sole weight and a “Textreme” Carbon Fiber Crown, both of which reposition weight lower and deeper in the club head to help golfers increase launch angle, lower spin rate, and improve ball speed on off-center hits.
- Spaceport is a 16-gram removable weight made of aerospace-grade aluminum and a clear polycarbonate material that allows golfers to see inside the driver head. It’s secured with “Spiralock,” a thread technology that was developed for high loads and high vibrations.
Spiralock helps lower the center of gravity of the King LTD driver, saving approximately 6 grams of weight from the design.
- Take It Off: Spiralock sheds light on the technologies inside the club head when it’s removed, but it’s not just for looks. Most removable weight systems require additional material inside the club head to hold weight weight in place, says Cobra VP of R&D Tom Olsavsky. Spiralock’s design eliminates the need for such supportive structures.
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- At address: The King LTD driver has a glossy black finish and an orange Cobra alignment aid.
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- Can you see the Textreme pattern?
- Crowning the King: Cobra has used carbon fiber crowns in previous models, but the King LTD drivers mark the first time the company has used a carbon fiber material called Textreme. Textreme is 20 percent stronger than standard carbon fiber, which allowed the company to make the crown thinner and lighter. If you look closely, you’ll see the patterned Textreme finish on the crown of the drivers.
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- A key allows golfers to remove the Spaceport with the included torque wrench.
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- Wrench included
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- The key goes inside.
- A Material Change: Cobra used Ti-811 titanium for the bodies and faces of the new drivers, which is stronger and lighter than the 6-4 titanium used on previous models. Because of the strength difference, the company had to redesign its E9 face technology, which uses varying face thicknesses on the internal portion of the club face to improve ball speed on off-center hits. As shown below, the structure can be viewed when the Spaceport is removed.
A view of Cobra’s E9 face technology from the inside.
- 28 Grams: Cobra claims that the new design elements allocate 28 grams of additional weight to be redistributed lower and deeper in the club head. That creates a higher moment of inertia (MOI), a measure of ball speed retention on mishits, as well as a lower center of gravity (CG). According to Olsavsky, the King LTD and King LTD Pro mark the first time a driver has achieved a CG below the “neutral axis,” a perpendicular line extending rearward from the geometric center of the club face.
- Tungsten and Tuning: The drivers come stock with a 12-gram tungsten weight installed internally in a rear weight port. Along with the Spaceport, it can be adjusted to meet custom swing weight requirements and/or custom shafts.
- Stock Shaft and Grip: Both the King LTD and King LTD Pro drivers come stock with Aldila’s Rogue Black 60 shaft (R, S and X flexes) and Lamkin’s UTX grip (0.600 diameter, 52 grams)
King LTD Fairway Woods
- The King LTD is a mid-sized fairway wood with a Textreme Carbon Fiber Crown that is 15 grams lighter than its steel equivalent.
- Like the King LTD driver, the fairway wood has a removable Spaceport that repositions weight lower in the head for better performance and allows golfers to see inside the club head.
- The fairway woods have 475 stainless steel faces, which are thinner and stronger than the 465 stainless steel faces used on the company’s Fly-Z and Fly-Z+ fairway woods. They’re designed to produce ball speeds at the USGA’s legal limit for center hits.
- A 12-gram weight is positioned in front of the fairway wood’s Spaceport to help golfers improve ball speed and reduce spin.
- The King LTD fairway woods are available in two models: 3-4 (13-15.5 degrees) and 5-7 (16-18.5 degrees). The come stock with Aldila’s Rogue Black 60 shaft (R, S and X flexes).
See what GolfWRX Members are saying about the King LTD drivers in our forum.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @Putt4Dough is selling some prototype wedges from Vokey Wedgeworks. These include a 54 degree wedge with the M grind and a 60 degree wedge with a T grind.
From the listing:
(1) Titleist Vokey Proto Wedge 54M with a Tour Issue DGS400 shaft and Golf Pride Tour Velvet (logo down). Standard length, lie, and loft. BB&F ferrule. Raw wedge in good condition. No initials. Price is $200 shipped. Buy both wedges for $380 shipped.
(2) Titleist Vokey Proto Wedge 60T with a KBS Tour 130X shaft and Golf Pride Tour Velvet. Standard length, lie, and loft. Raw wedge in good condition. No initials. Price is $200 shipped. Buy both wedges for $380 shipped.
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules.
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 70 6.5
5-wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max (18 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 80 TX
Irons: Srixon ZXiU (23 degrees), Srixon Z785 MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 100 6.5 (4), KBS Tour 130 X
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (50-08F, 54-10S, 58-04T @59)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130 X
Putter: Odyssey Dual Force Rossie II
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
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John
Aug 24, 2015 at 8:45 am
Golfers must be the most gullible people on the planet. No high tech innovation is going to help you if you’ve got a swing like a demented lumberjack hacking at a trees tump. Take some lessons, practice when you can and stick with what’s worked for you in the past. A $500 driver is only going to make you poorer not better.
Just Wondering
Aug 24, 2015 at 1:46 am
Would it sell better if they installed a Magic 8 Ball feature in the window? “Will I shank this drive? It is decidedly so.”
ooffa
Aug 24, 2015 at 7:23 pm
You made my day. Great comment, I laughed hard.
Mac n Cheese
Aug 26, 2015 at 2:35 pm
It wouldn’t be hard, crack open a magic 8 ball, poor the fluid in the head, assuming it is air tight, along with the answer thing and done! now you have the Cobra King magic 8 driver…
john
Aug 19, 2015 at 8:44 pm
gee that’s ugly lol
shame about the grip too, utx’s are greasy as hell and wear out in like a fortnight especially on a driver!
Regis
Aug 19, 2015 at 4:12 pm
I’m a Senior with an 85 mph swing speed and I have good fundamentals. I’ve been playing and tinkering with all sorts of shafts for many years. Two years ago I got fitted for a SLDR and the hype notwithstanding when I set it up properly it more than lived up to its hype. Years ago I gamed a ZL encore and in all fairness I could have stuck with that for the rest of my life and been fine. But you know the drill. So when the price dropped on the “new” Cobra Fly Z (which topped the list in a lot of reviews) I had to take the plunge. Put a GD Tour AD shaft on it that never worked on the SLDR or any other toy in my arsenal but on paper should have been perfect. Anyway put it on the Fly Z and never have I had a club that performed so well. Aside from forgiveness, feel, distance, I can actually work the ball, flight it in the wind, do what I want. I feel like a “Playa”. So naturally, I’ve had my eye on the FLY Z + because well because. Now this come the King LTD. Anyway If you’ve never played a Cobra don’t be put off by the colors or the hype. Their technology is as good as any manufacturer out there.
Peter Hostrup
Aug 26, 2015 at 5:06 pm
Agree!!! Had the R11 with a oban devotion 6-4 stiff but my mates started outdriving me with their Titleists 913 blueboards, so – “had to” go shopping. Bought the Fly Z + fitted with a GD Tour ad stiff. My SS is 102 – my mates are no longer outdriving me and I’m more often on the short grass!!!
Great driver(and shaft)
dcorun
Aug 19, 2015 at 2:24 pm
I’ll compare it to my current driver the RBZ Stage 2 Bonded w/ Accra Fx150 shaft and see how it goes. Nothing has come close in the past 2 years plus to knock it out of the bag. It’ll probably look like Shane Lowry’s driver before I buy a new one. 🙂
Matt Wiseley
Aug 19, 2015 at 2:20 pm
I think the club looks great and Rouge Black shaft as standard option is really nice.
My question- can I fill the head with something to make it hit farther? Kind of like how we used to load aluminum bats in high school?
Mac n Cheese
Aug 26, 2015 at 2:28 pm
I see this happening. tons of mods for packing it full of weight to maximize distance…
StressDoc
Aug 19, 2015 at 11:41 am
Most of the head changes provide minimal distance or control for the average golfer..it’s in the shaft that there is control or power.
Teaj
Aug 20, 2015 at 8:35 am
ummmm… yes the shaft plays a part for sure but I have to say that the tech in the head is a little more valuable then the shaft, mind you the shaft has to be close to fit, if im swinging a SR shaft with a 114mph SS then yes it will matter.
Mat
Aug 19, 2015 at 11:23 am
Cobra is on a winning streak. That said, anyone who knows their stuff knows that waiting ~8 months is worth a huge, steep discount. I hope Cobra start valuing their own stuff a little better.
Semi
Aug 19, 2015 at 8:04 am
The suggested retail price for a new Rogue black is $449…that’s on the website. These shafts can’t be the real deal – can they?
Teaj
Aug 20, 2015 at 8:30 am
if you are purchasing 1 shaft from Aldila the $449 price point makes sense. this being a stock shaft they will be purchasing large quantities as it will be stock in both the standard King and Pro so I am sure they get a little break on the price.
example. company X puts out a list price on a bag of cement, if I the general public go to the store I will be paying list price. If a contractor goes to the manufacture he will most likely receive a percentage off of this list price which can range depending on the product being purchased and the amount of margin built into the list price of such product.
alan
Sep 7, 2015 at 10:49 pm
I hope you understand that there is a TREMENDOUS difference between a real deal, after market shaft and an OEM (original equipment manufacture) shaft.
Yes it’s a Rogue Black, BUT IT IS NOT A $449 shaft. It is a collaboration between the club maker and shaft company. The bend point, torque. tip stiffness, bend profile, and materials are different from the after market shaft. The way it is described is the design is proprietary to in this case Cobra. That is a nice way of saying scaled back.
Hey, It is still a lot better than the average stock shaft, BUT get real !!!
Cobra is not installing a $449 shaft in a $449 club. The head is not free.
All of the high end shaft makers are doing this BECAUSE THEY DO NOT SELL ENOUGH OF THEIR AFTER MARKET SHAFTS to remain economically viable, stay in business. They cannot turn down a request by Cobra or any of the big club makers to produce 10 or 20 thousand watered-down shafts.
I hope you will find this helpful.
Jack
Aug 25, 2015 at 5:18 am
Nope. It usually comes with a made for tag on it. Not really the same thing (supposedly). But with the huge margins they have on these shafts, maybe that is the only difference?
David
Aug 19, 2015 at 5:48 am
* to make a dollar
David
Aug 19, 2015 at 5:47 am
Just another golf gimmick the make a dollar. More junk you will see on the bargain racks in a couple years.
Chris
Aug 19, 2015 at 2:49 am
Just great!
And what’s the release date for the see-through shaft? I just can’t wait.
Teaj
Aug 20, 2015 at 8:24 am
speed holes lol why didn’t I think of that.
Ron Burgundy
Aug 18, 2015 at 5:27 pm
I have tried them all and the Fly Z+ has suited me the best. A top 100 club fitter I know who is not in any way affiliated with Cobra told me the have the best R&D department. The Fly Z+ is awesome. It feels like the ball explodes off the face and is as low spinning as anything I have hit. I had an SLDR custom fit before that driver and the Cobra is way better on miss hits. It may not be quite as long but I hit way more fairways and am way more consistent. Also IMO it feels way better. I am interested in trying this and I think it is cool, but I highly doubt it will beat the Fly z+ for me. Cobras issue is that they do not have the fitting carts that the other big manufacturers do. Do not knock until you try. Every one of my friends that has hit the Cobra has ended up buying one. The are scratch to plus handicaps. Real deal boys!
Cliff
Aug 19, 2015 at 9:15 am
Love good facial explosions!
Steve P
Aug 18, 2015 at 1:40 pm
If the acoustics of the club are decent, it’s going to be a big hit.
It’s got that same kind of uniqueness that products like the bubble shaft, 2 Ball putter, R7 and R11 drivers, etc. etc. that made golfers want to learn more about it. If it performs and doesn’t sound horrible, think of clubs like the Nike Sumo Squared or Callaway C4, Cobra will have a winner.
Chuck
Aug 18, 2015 at 10:15 pm
After the usual “What about hot melt?” thought passed, I immediately thought about sound. My thing with hot melt as much as anything was about deadening the sound of a 460cc head. But with a composite crown, this thing should already have a good sound…
I see some interesting, if not new, technology in this. I would very happily and eagerly demo this driver!
LD
Aug 18, 2015 at 11:08 am
Shark. Jumped.
joe
Aug 18, 2015 at 10:39 am
I actually like the look of this driver….but once you put hotmelt in it…its gonna look like it has some gunk inside the head lol
Leon
Aug 18, 2015 at 10:18 am
Great! I can get some beers, candies or even a bottle of 5 hour energy hidden inside this club head. Nice container that charges for $499.
Mo
Aug 18, 2015 at 9:47 am
Reminds me of the old King Cobra days. That was a great driver and it looks like Cobra has hit another home run.
Mike
Aug 18, 2015 at 9:20 am
I’m pretty happy with my Fly Z + right now and have not found anything that can beat it. I do like the looks of these new models however but not enough to switch. I just don’t see myself getting anything more out of a new driver than my current Fly Z +
tom
Aug 18, 2015 at 9:07 am
Wow…I can’t wait to try this. That is bad @ss.
bunty
Aug 18, 2015 at 8:52 am
that looks very good
redneckrooster
Aug 18, 2015 at 8:50 am
I like it but not the price.
Brian
Aug 18, 2015 at 9:36 am
Wait 6 months.
scott
Aug 19, 2015 at 1:57 pm
Just remember in that 6 months to a year when the price drops you will also have to avoid reading all the NEW information about why the NEW replacement driver is so much better…
Teaj
Aug 18, 2015 at 8:41 am
iv tested most of the Major Brands clubs and the Fly-Z Series mainly the + for me have been the best driver out there by far (for me anyways) if this new driver allows me to be more accurate with the addition of lowing spin I would love to take a crack at it.
its a shame more people don’t try Cobra drivers as they are pretty dam good. Having lost their coolness which they tried to gain back by adding many colours I think backfired for a sport that is very traditional.
Sr
Aug 18, 2015 at 11:04 am
The Seniors are loving Cobras
redneckrooster
Aug 18, 2015 at 4:14 pm
I sure like them.
By the way I’m a senior and I carry 245 with my ZL with stiff shaft .