Companies tend to get “typecast” a bit as it relates to categories of equipment, and while it may not have any current merit, sometimes a great product flies under the radar. While that may have been the case with some previous lines, I have a feeling that may change with the release of the King Cobra wedges.
Enter Snakebite technology. More on the grooves coming up, but this new lineup features a throwback King Cobra logo to sort of pay homage to the evolution of the brand. Before jumping deep into the tech story, here are the lofts and the entire specs that will be available at launch.
Three grinds are available in the King Cobra Wedges consisting of Versatile, Classic and Widelow. Breaking those down a bit, the Versatile grind features toe, heel and trailing edge relief, which as you can imagine, provides some versatility around the greens. The Classic grind features a progressive sole width from heel to toe and would be what you have come to expect from a “do everything” type of grind. Finally, the Widelow grind features a wider sole to add some forgiveness, yet done with a reduced bounce. This is exceptional out of deep rough and bunkers.
The Snakebite groove technology is quite unique. It is manufactured in a way that they replace the cutting tools a bit more often than normal to tighten up tolerances and create incredibly sharp and accurate grooves across each product. By design, these are going to sharpen the edges by 40% and increase the depth by 11% to produce the spin you might be searching for.
That may explain Snakebite Technology from a manufacturing stand point, but there is a bit more to it as the lineup comes with a progressive groove system. What this means is that depending on the loft you choose, the groove shapes have been optimized for each product. The 48-54 degree lofts feature traditional length scorelines, and the actual grooves are a bit narrower, but deeper, to give the most consistent spin possible for the squared up shot. Moving to the 56-60 degree lofts, the King Cobra wedges feature grooves that go across the entire face. These will be a bit wider, but shallower, and will channel away debris such as grass and sand and help promote clean contact. This will also come into play as you open up the face of the club, and contact becomes a bit higher on the face and towards the toe.
Cobra didn’t forget about its One Length users with the King Cobra wedges being offered in the single length variety as well. While the loft choices are limited to only 56 and 60 degrees, the Versatile grind was the choice here and should match up well with the One Length set following the GW.
Both sets feature Cobra Connect, Powered by Arccos. Each wedge has a Lamkin Crossline smart grip that works in conjunction with the Arccos Caddie app to give a ton of data. If you pick up a wedge, and are a new subscriber, Cobra will give you a free 14-piece Arccos Caddie Smart Sensor kit to make sure all of your clubs are “plugged in”.
We have a feeling these will be quite popular with those that are interested in the 2021 Morgan Cup sponsored by Cobra PUMA Golf where each participant receives a full bag of clubs and gets a chance to play golf with members from the Cobra Golf innovation team.
The Details
In Stores: March 19th, 2021
Cost: $149 per wedge
Dexterity: RH and LH (see specs above)
Shaft: KBS Hi-Rev 2.0
For more information on the King Cobra wedges, visit www.cobragolf.com.
Interestingly, the 56º is my most-used of the three, whereas it had been the 60º in my previous set. The sole gets through the grass so well, and has been a phenomenal tool around the greens. I especially like the full-face grooves on both the 56º and 60º!
Still have mine paired with the UST Mamiya Recoil 110 in F4, and won’t be making a change there. I’m actually quite enjoying the Golf Pride Tour Velvet +4 as well.
As of today, on full swing shots, Arccos has my Smart Distances as:
– 52º at 121 yds
– 56º at 115 yds
– 60º at 97 yds.
I’m going to go against the grain and call it: Black >> Rusty .
You think you know people.?
That was worth a good laugh ??.
I’m full in on Team Chrome Wedges.
been thinking about putting those shafts in my wedges as well! Glad they’re working out!
I highly recommend them. Great feel, with enough weight for intricate short game shots.
Well, chipping and short pitches specifically. Very happy that I am finally hitting shots with my Snakebites. Spent about 15 minutes chasing a ball around with the 54* in the front yard, getting comfortable and starting to hit targets out to about 15-20 paces. I am enjoying the feel, even with (despite?) an old Titleist HP2 I grabbed out of the shag. Sweet! Progress is progress!
I’m not seeing the crazy spin that a lot of you guys are getting but that is likely to be a mixture of poor technique and trampoline like greens that we have at the moment, but the distance is super consistent and the 60 in wide low is just superb off the tight lies.
The perpetual tinkerer in my always likes the idea of an extra spot in the bag, but I don’t really need one. The 54* has just felt a little underutilized in my last couple bags and I’m always wondering if there’s a better setup. Once I’m inside 90 yards if I want to go lower trajectory than a lob wedge I find I usually want to go way lower with something like an iron or hybrid.
Having said that, somehow managed to get a serious case of the sh***s coming down the last couple of holes last week and managed to rocket 3 in a row 45 degrees right straight into the woods. Will give me nightmares that!
Well that is always unnerving – good luck next round. I’m sure you will put that behind you! Wrong thread, but remind me when you leave on your North America Tour?
Oh it will be completely fine, just got myself out of sync and then it got in my head ? I fly out on 30th September to San Diego and then it all starts!
Snakebites are awesome, it is fun to have new wedges to play with.
So I ordered an SB 58WL to come in to the end of the bag to combat this. Additionally I have a LTDx set SW coming to bridge my full swing from 85m (56W) to 110m (GW). Will be interesting to see how the WL behaves and when I get comfortable with it.
The versatile grind works really nicely in wet ground. A bad swing will still give you a bad result, but it’s nice to not feel the wedge really dig as much on those shots. Tight lies, into the grain lies, it didn’t matter so long as I just put a committed move on it.
It was enjoyable and a fun practice session given the gross conditions, and hopefully one I won’t have to do much longer!
Not sure what that is about, but I need to test that little move more and see if I can get that on video cause ?
I’ve found them wonderful out of the bunker as well, #teamscallop
I hit a wedge shot with my 52º yesterday to clear a water hazard and I hit it pretty well. I flipped the club over to clean off the grass (as I do after every shot) and I couldn’t help but notice the little bits of ball cover that had been shredded off and got stuck in the grooves. Such an improvement from my previous wedges!
Distance control has been spot on too. I’m getting exactly the numbers I’d hoped for when I picked out my set. Right now, these are my Smart Range numbers from Arccos:
– 60º: 83 to 105 yards
– 56º: 111 to 120 yards
– 52º: 119 to 131 yards
I went chrome and I’m still super happy with that decision.
Way too lazy to go to my car to get the bag out of of the trunk, will photo tomorrow. They’ve held up nicely I think.
Way too lazy to go to my car to get the bag out of of the trunk, will photo tomorrow. They’ve held up nicely.
When you locate that button, please let me know!
Haha! How do you like and laugh at a post at the same time?!
Curious about both faces and soles.
I have mine since they came out in black. The wear better then the other black wedges I’ve had.
They are holding up pretty well. I really like how the sole has faded a little bit and the raw logo and text on the back has rusted. I think these would be amazing in a raw version.
I went with the black and couldn’t be happier. they are wearing fine and I don’t get blinded when I look down at them at address
Got to give the operator some credit.
Good to hear! Have to admit that the black version does look pretty good…
Yeah, the chrome version does reflect light pretty well! ?
I can confirm with this. Last week I had about a 20 yard bunker shot to the pin. Open up the 58 and hit it. It came out pretty high and landed on a little upslope about 10 ft past and one hopped and spun back a few inches.
Yes, I remember that shot vividly!
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they Don’t get a whole lot of love, but I Abe really enjoyed the wedges.