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Cobra has been very innovative when it comes to new technology and designs in their drivers. But, how does the latest model compare to what went before? To find out, we're putting the Cobra Darkspeed driver up against the Cobra Aerojet driver.
In 2024, we have the Cobra Darkspeed driver which looks very different to anything Cobra have done in the past. With a matte black finish and an even more aerodynamic shape, especially in the Darkspeed LS, this really does live up to its name. It looks dark and, well, it's going to produce great speeds. Certainly a change in looks to previous Cobra offerings. Still, as we'll go into later, it's a fantastic performer on the course.
The Cobra Aerojet was a great example of the brand's innovations. Aerodynamic shaping gives you better club speed, which, of course, translates to more distance. A raw carbon crown and sole finish looks great and helps to deliver great performance. Meanwhile, the PWR-Bridge weighting helps to deliver a low centre of gravity, with the H.O.T Face producing 15 sweet spots across the club for faster speed, even on mishits.
That's all well and good, but how do the drivers compare to each other? Let's take a closer look.
Cobra Darkspeed driver vs Cobra Aerojet driver
PROS
- New matte carbon finish looks awesome
- More aggressive aerodynamic shaping for fast club speed, especially in the LS
- New refined PWR-Bridge weighting for faster ball speeds
- Longer, faster and more consistent
CONS
- Can’t fault it
The Cobra Darkspeed looks amazing with its new matte black finish on the crown and sole. The three heads are noticeably more aerodynamic with the LS having the most aggressive in aerodynamic shaping for the faster swing-speed player. The X is going to give you the blend of great speed and forgiveness which the majority of golfers would fit into. The MAX is perfect if you're trying to straighten out that slice offering the highest MOI and forgiveness.
A standout in tech is the carbon crown and sole which is 30% thinner. This has allowed more weight to be put into the PWR-Bridge weighting and move it lower and more forward. The PWRShell insert is 13% percent larger which essentially means the sweet spot is bigger, so your off-centre hits feel even more solid than before. The Ai Hot Face still remains with the 15 hot spots improving the speed and distance on mishits.
All three models have multi-material soles with adjustable weighting which can be moved to dial in your preferred flight. This is all reinforced with a titanium frame to create optimal weight distribution and maximum stability.
PROS
- New aerodynamic shaping for faster club speed
- PWR-Bridge weighting for lower CG and faster speeds
- H.O.T face has 15 different hot spots for faster speed on off-centre hits
- Raw carbon gloss finish looks amazing
CONS
- Some people may not like a gloss finish
The Cobra Aerojet is all about speed and distance which is achieved in this aerodynamic package.
It’s different in look with a raw gloss carbon finish and red, white and blue colouring but the shaping is very aerodynamic focused, giving you faster club speed. Carbon crown and sole panels contribute to giving you higher MOI and stability. Also, when there is more club speed there is more ball speed which equals more distance - but it wouldn’t be possible without the PWR-Bridge weighting and Ai H.O.T face. The PWR-Bridge weighting sits behind the face which brings the centre of gravity low and forward for faster speeds. The Ai H.O.T face has 15 hot spots across the face, so the speeds and distance are consistent even on mishits.
The PWR-Shell insert works to support the face when flexing to deliver fast ball speeds and great distance. With three models to choose there is options for everyone. The Aerojet LS is the most aggressive aerodynamic shape offering lower spin and is almost five yards longer the than LTDx LS. The Aerojet is the standard model which is more forgiving than the LS but delivers great speed and distance with a higher MOI. Lastly you have the MAX, which features a longer head shape and offers eight more yards of draw bias if you struggle with that left to right slice.
Conclusion
I was a huge fan of Aerojet drivers. The speed and distance you gained from the aerodynamic shaping was very impressive. They look great and feel amazing off the face. I always found the ball speeds and distances to be very impressive. If I was still playing this in 2024, I wouldn't really have any issues.
I didn't think Aerojet could be topped, but I’ve been proven wrong with the new Cobra Darkspeed.
The driver looks completely different from what Cobra have done in the past. There are no bright colours, instead with the Darkspeed it’s all black and looks like Cobra collaborated with Batman. The matte black finish on the crown looks great and is completely different to what we saw with the raw carbon finish in the Aerojet.
The aerodynamic shaping is more aggressive than Aerojet. This is particularly noticeable in the LS, where it is more compact and triangular shaped, which looks great behind the ball.
The forgiveness across the Darkspeed range is brilliant. You can feel the H.O.T face working when you do miss the middle of the face, which is certainly reassuring.
The distance in the Darkspeed drivers is impressive. Clearly, with more weight low and forward and with the PWR-bridge weighting and a larger face insert, the distances and dispersion are very good. I can't fault it.
What they have done is taken everything that was great with Aerojet, refined it and made it even better in the Darkspeed drivers. It is longer and faster, with even better aerodynamics and will appeal to more golfers with the matte black finish. They’ve doubled down on speed and distance when everyone was focusing on more forgiveness, and they have knocked it out of the park.
You can watch our review of the Cobra Darkspeed range in the player below, or on the bunkered YouTube channel!
The Cobra Darkspeed range
• Cobra Darkspeed fairway woods review
• Cobra Darkspeed hybrids review
• Cobra Darkspeed irons review
How we picked
Performance Consistency
We meticulously evaluated each piece of equipment's performance across a number of variables.
Forgiveness and Playability
With golf clubs, our assessment always considered the versatility and forgiveness levels, especially on off-centre strikes.
Innovative Technology
We scrutinise the incorporation of innovative technology in each piece of equipment we review.
Customisation
We consider factors like adjustable features and customisation options available to the buyer.
ALL ABOUT THE MASTERS
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