The KING F9 Speedback club line that Cobra debuted today is going to attract a lot of attention. I’ve been trying out the clubs all month and am generally impressed. The driver ($449) looks like a race car compressed into a clubhead, with a glossy black crown flanked yellow and red highlights on the sole. Soft, curved edges are alluring, as well. As nice and fast as it looks, it feels even better. Saving you the tech-speak, its aerodynamic shaping and use of weighting helps pick up speed through impact. Loft and sole weighting are adjustable, and as a result I achieved high, soaring tee shots that went consistently long. By the way, there’s a toned-down version also offered, with a matte crown and grayish white highlights instead of color. Matching fairway woods ($269 each and hybrids ($219 apiece) are offered, as well. The fairway woods bear Cobra’s first-ever CNC-milled face that adds up to 2.4 miles per hour to ball speed. The irons ($799-$899/set, depending on shaft) — which come in both variable- and single-length versions — are game-improvement clubs for mid-to-high handicaps. They’re made to help you hit long and high shots with “best-in-class” feel and sound. Being the lofts are slightly jacked down, I found the distance to be more than satisfying. When they hit pro shops in January, there will also be a women’s version of the line.
