Two release cycles ago, Cobra came out with a head unlike others we have seen. Their technology advanced to the point where they could eliminate large amounts of headweight by wrapping carbon around the traditional ‘edges’ and provided extreme weight saving opportunities alongside a milled face that promoted consistency. They took it a step further in their next release by sending that milled face through the hard edges of the crown and sole to promote better aerodynamics (and let’s be honest, less chance of skymarking), with a brilliantly designed metal exoskeleton that further promoted weight efficiencies. It is simply hard to fathom how you can build off that kind of design. Enter the Cobra RADSPEED Drivers.
A name that absolutely begs to be explained because it is somewhat out of left field after “F9 Speedback” and “Speedzone” by comparison. Where does it originate? A concept we as basic consumers are probably unfamiliar; “Radius of Gyration.”
If you ask Cobra what that means (I thought about Googling but decided to commit to their smart people definition), “The distance away from an object’s geometric center that an engineer or designer can position mass or a technology. The further away from the center it is, the better the performance gain.” In short, locating weight away from the CG offers different benefits. The more forward, the higher the ball speed. Going lower promotes the lowest spin. It seems like that critical give and take between forgiveness (MOI), spin, and speed.
Now that we have mentally unlocked what radius of gyration is, and can only assume based on “RAD” that it is a big part of this release, where does it come into play? For Cobra, it came down to their engineers finding the perfect blend using extreme weighting to maximize the critical elements of performance for all types of players, continuing their trend of low back weighting but also taking into consideration extra weight low and forward to gain on that ball speed metric. And, for the benefit of our golf swings, have three heads to deliver performance where we need it.
First, RADSPEED- the primary source for ball speed and low spin workability. This head is designed for the better player hunting for maximum performance with extra weight forward by comparison. Taking full advantage of their TBar Speed Chassis, they were able to save enough weight to get apply 16g of locked weight in the front of the head, with 8g locked into the back. Weight ports of 12g in the front and 2g in the back (that can be changed out) produce in total, 28g forward and 10g in the very back of the head. It will be available in 9.0 and 10.5 degree heads.
For RADSPEED XB (or ‘xtreme back”), the design lends itself more to forgiveness while maintaining solid speed. In this head, the near-to-face weighting is dropped to 8g and a whopping 14g of secured weighting in the back, with a 6g movable weight. This is definitely looking like the next generation of the Xtreme lineup for those who enjoyed the forgiveness and support of the last offering. It will be available in 9.0, 10.5, and 12.0 degree heads.
Finally, RADSPEED XD (or ‘xtreme draw”) – built on the same basic platform as the XB but have moved 10g of radial weight to the heel side halfway between the hosel and the back of the head to promote a draw bias. There are still 8g of weight locked into the front and 8g in the back, with a 6g movable weight. It will be available in 10.5 and 12.0 degree heads.
It is an awful lot to take in, but the basic reality is, Cobra has taken radial weight placement with their new driver head, and allocated weight to places that promote benefits for all levels of golfers. They were able to do this because of new carbon wrap technology that saved six grams of weight from the crown, and continue to promote consistent performance with their infinity face, which is a 25 minute milling process that results in a level or precision that greatly exceeds hand polishing. Continuing from previous models, the dual roll tech (where the face operates slightly different when hit high vs low), and their tri bulge face (basically autocorrect for golf balls) are still very much present. Slight improvements to the face milling came from solid tour feedback and additional research, which include the decision to introduce a horizontal milling pattern in the central location for moisture management, and a new laser etching of the central circle and infinity logo to further support that moisture control.
It would not be a Cobra driver release, however, without discussing color. To continue with their last couple models, they have added a fresh version of the yellow using what they call “turbo yellow” as an option, offering a matte black in the RADSPEED head, and gloss black in the XB and XD offerings. While this type of discussion will be a totally personal perspective, I believe the yellow they selected was a great transition from former offerings. A little livelier, more ‘current’ so to speak.
Additionally (and from my perspective the greatest thing ever), they have brought in their ever popular peacoat blue color for the RADSPEED and RADSPEED XB heads. A perfect combination of blue, white, and red accents compliment the overall presentation and present two outstanding cosmetic choices for consumers looking for variety in the RADSPEED and RADSPEED XB heads. Anyone who is familiar with Puma knows that Peacoat is a popular color throughout their apparel, and it makes perfect sense to bring that subtle yet solid presentation onto a driver. For the first time, I am not totally for one color and indifferent on the other. This is about two great choices, and it would not surprise me to see people feel the same way (although the right answer is of course, blue).
Each setup comes with a couple popular shaft options, Cobra connect in the grip, and tour length will return with the RADSPEED head. On the junior head, Cobra is still honoring the free shaft upgrade which is a great feature. MAP for all three heads is $449.
I for one am incredibly excited to give RADSPEED a try. F9 came in with a bang, redefining what could be done with carbon fiber, and showcasing that there are numerous ways to achieve consistent performance off the face of the head. They doubled down on Aerodynamics for Speedzone, and are now going another direction to make sure that we as golfers make only the concessions we need to promote the performance we seek.
The Details
Available: January 29, 2021
Price: $449
Website: www.cobragolf.com
I am a high launch high spinner with the driver. I’m playing the RADSpeed 9 degree set at 8 degrees (opens face 2 degrees). I’ve almost eliminated the left side of the golf course unless I set up to hit it that way. When looking at the numbers my strokes gained against scratch are favorable to me. I use the F3 in Stiff flex. Only because it felt better.
I did that to mine too.
What is the standard weight? I’ve been thinking about playing with that some.
Most people seem to want lower spin, but I think most experts in club fitting would say that living in the 2500 range is ideal for actual golf out on the course.
If I had the coin to drop I might. Some of those combos look great.
Looks
I got the Peacoat version and right out of the box I loved the look of this driver. The matte navy on the crown is really sharp. The Infiniti face coming over the top of crown is a really good way to line up the shot and make sure the face is pointing in the right direction off the jump. This club sits squarely instead of open when placed on the ground which I had read was a complaint of the Speedzone lineup. The head is also very big and inspires nothing but confidence when getting ready to hit the ball. It makes you feel comfortable that you can get a piece of the ball even if you don’t put a great swing on it.
Feel & Sound
I always put these together because I think they are very closely connected. If a driver makes a loud clacky tingy sound it will feel hard and if it makes a thwack it will feel soft. The only word I can use to describe the feel of this club is stable. It has a nice solid sound on impact with a just-right ting. The ting Cobra has achieved is a ting of stability and not a ting of a driver that sounds as hard as a bell. In short this is a driver that will check a lot of boxes for feel and sound for a lot of golfers. The only gripe anyone could possibly have is that there is not a ton of feedback on misses until you get way off the center of the face. You really have to be on the edges of the face to get a big feedback on your miss.
Performance
First coming from a 10.5* B21 to this 10.5* XB I immediately noticed this driver was lower launching and a little bit more squirrely than the B21. I imagine if I took them to a launch monitor I might see a bit less spin and launch with this head shape than the B21. Obviously YMMV. I decided to up the loft to11.5* and put the driver in it’s draw setting. That gave me some more launch and control of the club. I did that 2 weeks ago and since then I have gone back to seeing very solid results off the teebox again. Stock flight for me is a high fade and this delivers that ball flight on demand. I absolutely loved the B21, but I would have liked to see a bit more rollout as that driver is a carry monster. With this I am getting a bit more rollout and Arccos data is showing me getting the ball out past the 230 yard mark 3-5 times a round which is really good for me. I think this driver would check a ton of boxes for a lot of different golfers. I also imagine at brand agnostic fitters this is a driver that is ending up in a lot of people’s hands. It’s basically a mid-launch, mid-low spin, mid-high forgiveness driver head that almost anyone could use. This would also be a low risk all around head for someone buying off the rack without a fitting as well.
Overall Impression
I am really happy with this driver. I came from the very best driver possible for me on the market right now in the B21. I thought Ireally had nowhere to go with driver but down. Given the B21 is a forgiving head and lowish spinning (unicorn as @Jman describes) it seemed this XB which is very forgiving, but also low spinning for a forgiving head based on feedback and reviews here on the forum and elsewhere, was the way I should go. The only slight tweak I would have made to the B21 is to get a bit lower launch and maybe pick up some rollout. This is basically what I feel like the XB has delivered for me. This is a driver that is working very well for me, but also has the potential to be a big weapon for golfers that are much better ballstrikers than me.
With months still left leading up to the MC, I am sure you will have some additions as well.
Absolutely. This is the club that I have gotten comfortable with first so I wanted to really share my full thoughts. I like this driver a lot. Hopefully we get a lot of questions on it. I think anyone wanting some good forgiveness and a lot of oomph would really like this head.
Definitely was in the 10.5* for me. At 11.5* harder to tell. I am seeing more bounce and roll though, but it’s dry as a bone here too so everything is a bit baked out.
thats what I need ??
This is crazy, but exactly what I did with my 9* XB. Turned it up 1* and playing in D position, bombs and fairways away!
I know I’m the outlier here as it’s a miracle stick for near everyone else. I was hoping for some of that magic but for me, it was the exact opposite.
Same experience for me with the RDX Blue in the standard Radspeed. Currently sitting in my spare bag waiting for me to retip an extra HZRDUS Yellow I have laying around.
Based on nothing other than SS and that the yellow worked for me previously. They said the F1 was a similar profile
For me: stable
It’s just never gets me in trouble if I put even a remotely decent swing on it.
That’s me too. Very stable head. If you control the clubface, you will get a good shot.
I kind of think that’s any club tho. If you control the clubface it should turn out good.
My driver is the RadSpeed XB Peacoat 10.5 degree with Motore X F3 stiff shaft cut -1" short with Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align Connect Grips
Really felt great at address and layed the way I like my driver….the 1" short was a little odd til I hit a couple!!!
First hit was a long pull left, 2nd was a high slight fade to the right side of the fairway at 271 yards. That’s a bomb for me. I was a single with a dad and his young son in front of me, so was hitting 2-3 balls every shot.
I think I’m going to get along very well with this RadSpeed XB driver!!!
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There is one I can get used but it has the Matore F3 in stiff for $350. How different is the RDX vs the Matore F3? I’d love to buy used and save $100 but I’m concerned the shaft won’t be as good of a fit.
I’m sure others more knowledgeable than me can chime in on shaft specs, but when I did a fitting I noticed a small difference in the shafts. My dispersion was simply better with the F3. It sounds like you may be different.
Is that confidence of being in love worth the $100? Only you can answer that.
I will say Cobra offers shafts fully gripped and with the adapter for $180. So in essence you would be betting $80 that the F3 is as good or almost as good as the RDX if you bought the RDX after the fact. Just another angle to think about.
Agree, RDX Blue stiff knocked my spin down when I was fit.
I’m now going with 9* XB RDX Blue stiff in Draw setting with 8g in rear. I was trying it at 10* in Draw but the pull hooks sometimes came into play and that’s a no no for me playing a fade.
Been alot fun playing around with the settings and weights on this XB driver, it’s so good compared to my previous G400 MAX that I couldn’t get spin down from mid 3000s. Now I’m in the mid 2000’s on good hits.
I won a RadSpeed XB in the peacoat color last night with this exact shaft (RDX Blue Stiff 60g). Only concern is the head is 10.5. I will probably take it down a degree and curious to see how it does against my gamer, EPIC Max LS 9* turned down to 8* w/ MMT 60x.
In testing I did not find the RDX Blue lower spinning. I over spun the RDX. I play the RADSpeed 9 degree with Motore F3 in 60grams stuff. It wasn’t a launch issue over the F1. It was feel. Slightly softer in the handle is all.
I wish they would post their “standard” as to what they compare as mid spin/mid launch
What were you measuring launch on?
I would agree, I’ve only got a couple of rounds in with it but it want’s to find fairways. So far I’ve used most of the face and if I don’t toe hook it I’m hitting fairways about 50% of the time with a few just off of the edge and a few bombs (for me) when I hit center on a good swing. So far it seems to be a good fit for me and as long as I don’t try to ramp up too much I’m hitting solid drives with it.
once was GC2 and other was GC Hawk. Dicks and PGASS
I recently benched my Mavrik for the Xtreme and like it a lot. But dig the color scheme on the Rad better. If this pans out it will essentially be the first driver to check all the boxes for me.
hoping it comes in before my round next Thursday.
I will say after looking at 4 shops in the area nobody had an XB 12* in stock. Either they are selling really well or nobody needs a 12* these days lol
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And the great thing is my left and right misses have all been 1st cut rough, still very playable.
My recent swing changes in combination with this driver has introduced me to someplace I have never played from, the left side of the course! ?
I’m happy to be off the left side, just cant make myself mentally set up for a true fade because I hit it that way for so long. Shaft change?
I have heard of this mythical place you call the left side of the course. It’s not a place I’m familiar with, but I’m hoping that from Wednesday onwards I will be visiting there a little more frequently!
It may be an unproven legend that golfers dream of finding one day and some believe the Radspeed is the key that will unlock it.