Gear: Cobra LTDx Hybrids
Price: $249 each with KBS PGI graphite shaft and Lamkin Crossline grips
Specs: Available as a 2-hybrid (17 degrees), 3-hybrid (19 degrees), 4-hybrid (21 degrees), 5-hybrid (24 degrees), and 6-hybrid (28 degrees)
Available: February 11
While Cobra designers worked hard to make the new LTDx irons easy to hit and forgiving, many players opt to not carry a 3-, 4- or 5-iron these days, choosing instead to use hybrids. It is a smart move for most recreational players because hybrids tend to generate more power and their larger size creates a greater margin for error.
With the new LTDx hybrids, Cobra brings several technologies from its new fairway wood lineup to the long-iron replacement world to give players more distance and forgiveness.
Cobra added the PWR-COR weight system to the LTDx hybrids to increase ball speed. It positions an aluminum and tungsten weight low and forward in the head, directly behind the leading edge, to drive the center of gravity down and forward. This should increase ball speed and reduce spin for more yards off the turf and when golfers use the LTDx hybrids off the tee on par-3s.
Cobra designers gave the LTDx hybrids the company’s PWRSHELL Tech face. The forged, L-shaped hitting area wraps under the leading edge and into the sole, pulling down the sweet spot to improve performance on thin shots.
Cobra designers studied 15 distinct locations on the face and adjusted their thickness. To speed up the whole face without creating hotspots, some areas were made thicker and others were thinned, and the result is more consistency, especially on mishits.
While the LTDx does not have rails on the sole as did some previous Cobra hybrids, the leading edge was rounded and the club has a higher bounce angle to improve turf interaction and help golfers maintain speed through the hitting area.
For golfers who utilize Cobra’s One-Length irons, which are all the length of a typical 7-iron (37.25 inches), Cobra is offering One-Length versions of the LTDx hybrids. As with the irons, the 3-hybrid (18 degrees), 4-hybrid (20 degrees), and 5-hybrid (23 degrees) are also 37.25 inches long to allow golfers to create one swing and hit the ball to different distances by simply switching clubs.