INTRODUCING AIR-X
Last week, COBRA’s flagship LTDx lineup took center stage. Today, their other franchise makes an appearance: COBRA AIR-X.
For me, the beginning of the year is an extension of Christmas. Products are pouring into our facility for Most Wanted testing. Some are kept tight-lipped. Others, well, the whole world knows about. In January, it feels like not a single day goes by without a new product announcement.
Today is no different.
AIR-X follows F-Max, one of COBRA’s signature franchises. Needless to say, big shoes to fill. However, with constant focus on innovation, COBRA believes with AIR-X, the sky is the limit – at least for golfers within the AIR-X demographic.
INNOVATION and DESIGN
While not as flashy as others, the AIR-X line deserves its share of attention in the lightweight golf club category. Through a concentrated effort to maximize weight savings, COBRA’s new design saves eight grams of weight in their men’s and women’s drivers and fairway woods. Additionally, COBRA is able to save two grams of weight in their new AIR-X Irons. By saving weight, COBRA achieves their goal to provide a lightweight golf club that offers forgiveness and potentially more speed.
AIR-X DRIVER and FAIRWAY WOODS
For golfers with slower to moderate swing speeds, COBRA believes the AIR-X can provide extreme (hence the “X”, I assume) performance gains. The entire premise is on saving weight. As I mentioned, COBRA has saved eight grams in their drivers and fairway woods compared to the previous F-Max franchise.
How?
Well, the most significant contribution comes from a new thin-ply carbon crown construction. Save the obvious outlier in the equation (PXG), carbon fiber construction isn’t typically found at Air-X price points. Carbon construction enables COBRA to save five grams over the previous crown and two grams of head weight overall. Lightweight components used throughout the club help reduce the weight even more. By using a lighter grip and a sub-50 gram ULTRALITE shaft, COBRA is able to reduce the overall weight by six grams. Thus, they achieve an overall club weight of 277 grams in the AIR-X driver—eight grams lighter than F-Max.
In addition to the weight savings, the AIR-X Driver features 20 percent more offset versus the F-Max driver. With this increase in offset, the goal is to reduce left to right bias shots (slices). COBRA knows it’s not a look that appeals to everyone, so a straight-neck model is also offered
I can personally confirm … Oh wait, I can’t spill any beans from the Most Wanted driver test just yet. Oops.
The weight saving rolls over to the AIR-X fairways as well. From a design perspective, the AIR-X fairways feature a low-profile, shallow-face design. This lowers the center of gravity which leads to higher launch. Back/heel weighting creates a more right-to-left bias club (draw bias).
Both the AIR-X driver and AIR-X fairways target a niche demographic. If you are a golfer with a slow to moderate swing speed, these metalwoods might be for you. They have the potential to raise your ball flight and hit straighter shots or even draw the ball, depending upon your swing characteristics.
SPECS and RETAIL PRICING
Men’s AIR-X driver – $349
Available in right-hand and left-hand Choice of offset or straight-neck hosel 9.5°, 10.5° and 11.5° in right-hand 10.5° in left-handWomen’s AIR-X driver – $349
Available in right-hand and left-hand Offset head only 11.5° (RH only) and 15° (RH/LH)Men’s AIR-X fairway – $229
Available in right-hand and left-hand 16°, 20° and 23°Women’s AIR-X fairway – $229
Available in right-hand and left-hand 19°, 23° and 27°All AIR-X drivers and fairways will be available starting Jan. 28.
AIR-X IRONS and HYBRIDS
In addition to the metalwoods, COBRA is launching their AIR-X irons and hybrids. AIR-X irons predecessor, F-Max Airspeed, were arguably one of the best irons we have tested at MyGolfSpy in the Super Game Improvement category. It finished on top two years running.
No pressure, AIR-X.
Piggy-backing on the weight-savings train, the AIR-X irons yield two grams of weight savings versus the F-Max Airspeed. With the development of the AIR-X Irons, golfers have the potential to see maximum forgiveness with a playable ball flight from a lightweight iron. Strategic Weighting, Progressive Offset and Low Profile with Deep Undercuts combine to offer a forgiving, high-launching product.
While golfers (and their irons) are often jacked-up for more distance, the higher launch and additional spin provided by the AIR-X will very often work better for the slow to moderate swing speed crowd.
Finally, the AIR-X Hybrids. Featuring back/heel CG weighting and an offset hosel, the AIR-X hybrids have the potential to be the ultimate iron replacement for those who struggle with longer irons.
SPECS and RETAIL PRICING
Men’s AIR-X Irons – $699 steel; $799 graphite coimbo
Available in right-hand and left-hand 7-Piece, 5-PW, GW (steel) 7-Piece, 4H, 5H, 6-GW (graphite)Women’s AIR-X Irons – $799 (graphite)
Available in right-hand and left-hand 7-Piece, 5H, 6H, 7-PW, SWMen’s AIR-X Hybrids – $199
Available as combo purchases and stand alone 19°, 22°, 25°, 28° and 31°(RH only)Women’s AIR-X Hybrids
Available in right-hand and left-hand 23°, 26°, 29°, and 32° (RH only)All AIR-X irons, hybrids and combo sets will be available starting on Jan. 28.
AIR-X COMPLETE SETS
Want all the features that come with the AIR-X franchise? Well, they are available in men’s and women’s complete sets. With the beginner to intermediate golfer in mind, the AIR-X complete sets are potentially a perfect way for someone to get a quality product in a full package.
With a retail price of $1,499, both men’s and women’s sets will feature a driver, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, a COBRA putter and a premium cart bag.
AIR-X complete sets will be available starting March 4.
READY TO LAUNCH
Over the past few years, golf’s popularity has reached new heights. Prioritizing a specific target market is COBRA’s intention with the launch of AIR-X. By building upon the momentum set by F-Max, COBRA believes it has an innovative lineup to help golfers across the board. With the increase in golf’s popularity, COBRA is prime to capture an audience within the beginner to intermediate golfer demographic. AIR-X has the potential to perform for most beginner golfers. It’s product lineup that emphasizes forgiveness, speed gains, and higher launch. Yes, aesthetically, an offset driver might be off-putting to some people, but some golfers need the extra help. However, if you can overcome looks, this driver, and the entire lineup, might be worth your consideration.
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