Cobra always feels like they are almost recklessly at the forefront of innovation. I envision walking into their headquarters only to see it has been overrun by mad scientists. Think about it. These guys have been 3D printing putters for years now, and then decided they might as well 3D print some irons too. Their Darkspeed line of metalwoods is considered by many to be the fastest on the market thanks (in part) to advanced aerodynamic modeling. Cobra Golf has become synonymous with advanced golf club technology and their products continually surprise us.
As fast as the company seems to move, one piece of their lineup comes to us at a slightly slower cadence. Thirty months, over two years ago, was the last time Cobra refreshed their King Tec line of irons, but it just feels longer than that. We couldn’t help but love the King Tec line over the years with its masterful blending of streamlined looks and exceptional performance. 2022’s hollow body King Forged Tec line introduced a new category of iron we didn’t even know we needed – the Forged Tec X, which they described as player’s game improvement iron.
The wait is over though. On November 8, 2024, Cobra is launching their new King Tec line of irons. Three new sets will complement the rest of the King line, providing a viable option for those players that value high end performance, but not at the expense of visuals and premium feel. While each of the three sets shares some of the same aesthetic qualities, each is uniquely designed for a specific type of player. Let’s dive into all of them to find out which might be the right fit for you.
Cobra King Tec
As the flagship iron in this new release, Cobra is calling 2024’s King Tec the “Ultimate Player’s Distance Iron”. Though there is certainly some wiggle room on both ends, the company has positioned King Tec for players with handicaps ranging between 0 and 12. It’s the most compact of three new irons and features a newly shortened blade length, softened topline, and what Cobra calls a “tucked” toe. In addition, Cobra has completely updated the shaping of the Pitching Wedge, giving it a flatter topline and straightened leading edge.
King Tec is of course a hollow body iron, with the body’s 1025 Carbon Steel going through their intensive 5 Step Forged Hollow Clubhead Construction Process. While most forged irons typically go through a four-step forging process, Cobra added a fifth that they believe adds to both the precision shaping and soft feel that better players are looking for. The fifth step subjects the iron heads to 2000 tons of pressure at 700 degrees Celsius, which creates an “extremely uniform grain structure”. In addition to feel benefits, the forged King Tec body touts improved flexibility and elastic rebound that produces exceptional ball speed.
Attached to the 1025 Carbon Steel body is the forged PWRSHELL Face which is thinner, stronger, and features a newly designed H.O.T. Face Variable Thickness Geometry. This ensures that the King Tec irons will deliver consistently fast balls speeds across the face. To further enhance feel at impact, a soft foam insert lies behind the face.
Inside the hollow body of the 4-7 irons is a 20g tungsten weight that is positioned low and slightly toe-side, designed to both increase MOI (resistance to twisting) and launch angle. The King Tec scoring irons do not have the tungsten insert, which should produce a slightly flatter, more controllable trajectory.
The King Tec irons ($1299/7-piece set) are available in 4-PW with KBS $-Taper Lite steel shafts and Lamkin Crossline grips. LH models available through custom only.
| 3i | 4i | 5i | 6i | 7i | 8i | 9i | PW | GW | |
| Club Length | 39.25” | 38.75” | 38.25” | 37.75” | 37.25” | 36.75” | 36.25 | 36” | 35.75” |
| Swing Weight – Steel | D2 | D2 | D2 | D2 | D2 | D2 | D2 | D3 | D3 |
| Loft | 19 | 21 | 23 | 26 | 29.5 | 34 | 39 | 44 | 49 |
| Lie | 60.5 | 61 | 61.5 | 62 | 62.5 | 63 | 63.5 | 64 | 64 |
Cobra King Tec-X
As we mentioned earlier, King Tec-X irons are really a category of their own. Cobra calls them player’s game improvement irons. Categories can confuse some people, so let’s just simplify this a bit. King Tec-X irons are designed for players with handicaps in the 10 to 20 range that want a relatively compact iron with premium looks and feel. They’ll trend a bit larger than King Tec, but a few design elements are included to give them as much player-preferred shaping as possible. For example, a rounder topline, something that worked wonders for the Darkspeed irons is included. This tends to trick the eyes into seeing a slimmer profile at address. In addition, Cobra has reduced visual offset with King Tec-X via reduced hosel taper. While King Tec-X will not be mistaken for King Tour at address, Cobra has a done a great job at making a very forgiving iron appear sleek.
King Tec-X is also a hollow body design, though the body is constructed of cast 431 steel. The L-Cup PWRSHELL face insert is forged 4140 stainless steel that also utilizes the H.O.T. Face Variable Thickness Geometry. With the slightly larger head and unique face design, King Tec-X will provide top-tier speed, launch, and forgiveness across the entire face.
Inside the head, a whopping 70g tungsen insert is positioned in the low-center region of the King Tec-X irons. Yep, you read that right. 70g of tungsten. It’s actually suspended in the club head, which gives the face and body the ability to flex unhindered. As you should already know, this is going to result in explosive launch angles and stability though impact. Early reports from our testers indicate soaring ball flight with King Tec-X, making them a must try for those seeking more height. Similar to King Tec, the Tungsten insert is included in the 4-7 irons, which is where players typically need the most assistance with launch angle.
Like King Tec, King Tec-X has an all new, softer Foam Microsphere insert positioned behind the face. Again, this is designed to enhance feel, primarily via the way it impacts the sound the irons make. This new material acts as a medium to absorb vibrations and impart better acoustics without negatively impacting feedback.
The King Tec-X irons ($1299/7-piece set) are available in 5-GW with KBS TOUR LITE steel shafts and Lamkin Crossline grips. LH models available through custom only.
| 4i | 5i | 6i | 7i | 8i | 9i | PW | GW | |
| Club Length | 38.75” | 38.25” | 37.75” | 37.25” | 36.75” | 36.25” | 36” | 35.75” |
| Swing Weight – Steel | D1 | D1 | D1 | D1 | D1 | D1 | D2 | D2 |
| Loft | 19 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 31.5 | 36.5 | 42 | 48 |
| Lie | 62 | 62.5 | 63 | 63.5 | 64 | 64.5 | 65 | 65 |
Cobra King Tec-X One Length
With its 2024 line, Cobra decided to build their One Length irons on the King Tec-X chassis. This is slightly different than the way they’ve done this in the past. One Length players will now be able to enjoy the same distance and forgiveness attributes the Tec-X irons offer, but with the benefits that only One Length can provide. We’ve talked quite about One Length over the years. In fact, our forum has a thread with over 100 pages where our readers have shared their experiences. If this is something you’re interested in, King Tec-X One Length is as good a time as any to commit.
Many people don’t understand that Cobra’s One Length irons aren’t just their standard heads with the same shaft throughout the set. There are some design attributes unique to the Tec-X One Length irons. Obviously, the most noticeable is that each iron is the same length, but there are considerations needed to ensure the entire set provides the desired height and distance to go along with the consistency they offer. Cobra has increased the sole width in the 4-6 irons by about 1.5mm, added offset, and slightly weakened the lofts. The net result of these changes should make the Tec-X One Length irons the highest launching and most forgiving of all three new sets.
| 4i | 5i | 6i | 7i | 8i | 9i | PW | GW | |
| Club Length | 37.25” | 37.25” | 37.25” | 37.25” | 37.25” | 37.25” | 37.25” | 37.25” |
| Swing Weight – Steel | D2 | D2 | D2 | D2 | D2 | D2 | D3 | D3 |
| Loft | 19.5 | 22 | 24.5 | 27 | 31.5 | 36.5 | 42 | 48 |
| Lie | 65 | 64.5 | 64 | 63.5 | 63 | 62.5 | 62 | 61.5 |
The King Tec-X One Length irons ($1299/7-piece set) are available in 5-GW with KBS TOUR LITE steel shafts and Lamkin Crossline grips. LH models available through custom only.
Cobra Golf’s King Tec line will be available online and at retailers November 8, 2024. Stay tuned to the THP forum for feedback as we continue to test them out and share our thoughts.
