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.
I don’t disagree with this statement. I was pretty happy with my wedges and tried the Snakebites on a lark. They work super well for me. The combination of a 56* versatile and a 60* wide low is giving me options that I cannot remember having for a long time.
You are correct here. This was probably the area of the bag I was least excited about, but man these wedges are dependable. They bite hard and consistently on the little hop and stop shot I hit sometimes. That shot makes it hard for me to trust a new wedge, but once I see they can be trusted I use it quite a bit. These are really fine wedges. I have been a Vokey guy for the last 5 years, but I really like these a lot. This is an important part of my game as well so performance is key for me in this spot.
He’s them into orbit with 72* lol
I agree. Now that I am getting dialed in I am able to flight these and spin them really well. I like them better than the Vokey’s they replaced at least during the summer firm turf. This winter we will see how they handle the moosh.
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Still working some on shorter chips but not really concerned, 0-25 is usually bump and run territory for me which chipping stats don’t reflect. 25-50 I am going for the pin!
In speaking strictly to the full face grooves, I’m starting to get more comfortable with them. My issue with the full face grooves is that I like to use the vertical line created from the grooves for alignment, much like a putter. In that manner it has taken a bit of adjustment. That said, I have noticed additional spin from when I miss towards the toe (my typical miss) or when I open the face. I had one on Monday that dropped and stopped when I opened the face which was really nice. Felt a bit towards the toe so was afraid it was going to knuckle out but it didn’t. I’m a believer in the tech.
Is that a snake bite wedge?
It is, 58 bent to 59.
I want to know how your MIM’s feel.
I got the Pro Tour Raw, not Mims ?
Well then inquiring minds want to know how those feel and hold up being raw.
I am with Ricardo on this. I also had MD4s and they are just wildly different from the snakeskins. The wedges are taking time to adjust, some rounds are better than others. But this last round on Sunday around the green, I finally starting to see some great results, and 4 chips to within inches to save par. I think I need some quality range time with the 52 degree.
But as I have stated before the winner of the wedges so far is the 58 wide low. It’s a gem out of green side bunkers. That club will be in my bag for a very long time.
I just need to save a couple of those for October.
I have yet to have that happen, but I will tell you I come close A LOT to hole one out from the GSB with the 58. Really a great club
One of the reason I just made a ball change is they were ripping the covers on my Cut Blues.
I can confidently say I prefer these over the Vokeys and I’ve been a die hard TItleist guy for a long time! Only complaint is I wish they would offer a satin/black/raw finish.
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have to be the unsung hero of the Cobra line up. Really great wedges
Glad I bought it. It stays in the bag.
I have both, but have not done a comparison. You will be here in a few weeks, I say you should do one
Around the green the chipping is fantastic though. Out of the bunker is easy work as well.
Do you think that is because of cleaner contact?
It might be because I activate my glutes now.
I haven’t noticed cleaner contact really. I did also drop 40 lbs so the belly isn’t getting in the way any more either. The shaft changed from KBS 610 wedges to the Modus 125 wedge. I like the feel better but that could be the issue as well.
I wish I had some more info to give you. I haven’t got out much. And my last round was a tournament with @tucsoncacti so I didn’t want to make any major changes prior to that round. So I’ve hit about 3 range shots and one shot during a practice round. And I still haven’t used my grandsport 35. I am chipping better than I ever have with my MD4. So didn’t want to mess things up.
That being said, I had the 56 versatile bent 1* weak, to match up to my Rad SW at 1* strong for that full internet golfer gapping, lol. I’m not a huge fan of the SW yet- but I’m absolutely deadly with my GW.
I hit the OL wedge beautifully, and it is absolutely as easy to hit as my MD4, but they were all full swings without choking up around a green. My plan at this point is to keep them both in the bag, and use the MD4 as a rock club and as a “comfort” club as I adjust to the OL concept around the greens.
If I get out again I will use the OL wedge exclusively- didn’t want to throw off my game before the tournament. I might be heading out of town for work and if that’s the case I won’t be able to get a round in for several months. If I have any updates I’ll post them here.
That being said, @tucsoncacti has 3 of the snakebites (VL) in his bag, and if his usage is any indication, they are amazing clubs.
I have chipping well with my OL set wedges lately. Fwiw, I have also been chipping well with the 54/60 variable wedges as well. That said, I haven’t felt great with full swings on the VL wedges and want to give these a go sometime. Just haven’t been able to find them and trying to live vicariously through those that have them.
Groove types, And full face grooves on Snakebite higher lofts.
I believe the Morgan Cuppers have a mix of those, not sure if anyone has any direct comparisons in hand. Might have to do a chip off in Vegas!
Maybe on toe strikes with the full face, but is an extra couple of hundred rpm of backspin significant for mid level hackers like myself?
That isn’t trying to pooh pooh any of them, just a genuine question/concern.
I take mine to the beach (my inlaws live there) with me and leave them outside for a few nights. Between that and playing they usually patina up real nice.
That’s a solid start!
Better.
The 60° Widelow in my MC bag is just money when I want a high, soft landing shot! Anything from 50 yards to short sided it is amazing and effortless to just hop and stop the ball!
I’ve often pondered this as I consider myself a mid-level golfer. Where I’ve landed is that they don’t spend all that time and effort on R+D just to pull one over on the consumer. So even if there are marginal gains that I might not fully capture, it’s worth the $20 or $30 to get the new model compared to a prior for me.
Now I’m going to show you rust. ?
Oh when I get back from work tonight I’ll show you photos of mine, they have some solid solid ‘trusty rusty’ action going on