Review: Cobra DS-ADAPT irons

Cobra DS-ADAPT irons review

It’s not just woods that we’re getting from Cobra for 2025. New irons, in the form of DS-ADAPT, are coming out in the new year. So, what can you expect from the latest addition to the range?

Well, we’ve got three models in the range. Firstly, there’s the standard DS-ADAPT, but there’s also a new addition for Cobra, the DS-ADAPT Max. This is designed to be a super forgiving iron for those who really want help with their ball striking. Also in the range is the Max Women’s, which again offers high levels of forgiveness.

Let’s take a closer look.

The First Look

These are unmistakably Cobra. If you liked the look of the Darkspeed irons last year, you’ll like these. The charcoal style finish is something that sets these apart so if you’re a fan of that, you’re in the right place. Of course, there is the new Adapt logo on the back which covers some impressive tech, which we’ll get to shortly.

When it comes to irons, I don’t like to see too much offset. I think these irons hit the balance correctly of having a good level of offset without it being overbearing and uncomfortable. If you’re someone who can hit the hosel on occasion, you’ll know what I mean.

Overall, for an iron that falls into the game improvement category, these really do look easy on the eye.

The Tech

360 Speedshell design

This is Cobra’s largest face cup design to date. Essentially, this allows for a thinner leading edge, which allows the club face to flex more at impact. More face flex means more ball speed.

H.O.T Face

An optimised variable face thickness design improves forgiveness across the face of these irons. That improves ball speed, particularly for mishits, but also boosts those that are hit from the centre.

PWR-Bridge

One of Cobra’s signature pieces of technology comes new and improved in this line. A larger mass, which is placed low and to the back of the iron, improves launch and reduces spin. It’s fixed to the body of the club to stiffen the head, for better acoustics.

23% more face flex

As you’ll have gathered, these irons are big on distance, and the technology culminates in 23% more face flex compared to last year’s Darkspeed irons. A hollow body design allows for more flex across the whole of the face.

The bunkered Verdict

I’ve never been a particularly long hitter, but these irons had me hitting distances that I didn’t think would be possible. Now, I’m well aware that’s thanks largely to the strong lofts on these – a 7-iron is 27 degrees, stronger than the equivalent from TaylorMade and Callaway – but it’s still impressive. Cobra pride themselves on length in their irons and that trend will continue with these.

Of course, you might be thinking that that strong loft means a trade off in height, but impressive tech from Cobra means you still get a controllable ball flight.

If you’re a golfer who does value distance in their iron, then you’ll enjoy these. That isn’t to say, however, that these are uncontrollable. On the range at Sotogrande, where I tested these irons, I found that if I wanted to take distance off them, that was certainly doable. Obviously, that’s not going to be the same levels of workability as a more compact shape, but it’s not crazy.

Personally I really enjoyed the look of the DS-ADAPT irons. They’re confidence inspiring without being overbearing, so I think they would suit an aspirational player who still wants help, particularly in the long irons.

Of course, I know that some will prefer a more traditional silver finish on their irons. If that’s you then I understand why you might look elsewhere. It’s all personal preference at the end of the day.

As I said in my review of the DS-ADAPT hybrids, I tend to get the ball a little low on the face, but these do a really good job at masking those mishits.

It’s worth mentioning the DS-ADAPT Max irons, which are marketed as irons that provide maximum forgiveness and the highest possible launch. These actually provide a slightly weaker loft, which will help get the ball in the air. More offset, a thicker topline and longer blade length make these super easy to hit.

However, the DS-ADAPT is going to suit a wide range of player and would be the irons from the range I would gravitate to most. If you’re someone who likes the look of a charcoal iron and wants something that will send your ball a long way, these will work for you.

The Details

Available: Pre-Sale: December 12 2024; Retail and Online: January 10 2025

More from Cobra

• Cobra DS-ADAPT driver review

• Cobra DS-ADAPT fairway woods review

• Cobra DS-ADAPT Drivers: How does FutureFit33 work?

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