Gear: Cobra LTDx, LTDx LS, LTDx Max fairway woods
Price: $299 each with Mitsubishi Tensei AV White or UST Helium Nanocore shaft and Lamkin Crossline grip
Specs: Stainless steel heads with tungsten sole weight and adjustable hosel. Available as 3-wood, 5-wood, and 7-wood.
Available: February 11
[mm-video type=video id=01fssmphq5snr25baj8h playlist_id=none player_id=01f5k5vfbhv59szck1 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fssmphq5snr25baj8h/01fssmphq5snr25baj8h-9e1a85d495e298c9c30fcdca50c59f3d.jpg]
To increase ball speed and boost distance, Cobra added the PWR-COR weight system to each of the new LTDx fairway woods. As with the system in the LTDx drivers, it involves positioning an 8-gram aluminum and tungsten weight low and forward in the head, directly behind the leading edge. It lies flush along the sole and shifts the center of gravity down and forward, reducing spin and increasing ball speed.
Fans of Cobra’s fairway woods may notice the company’s signature rail system is missing on the LTDx 3-wood. Designers had to remove the rails to make room for the PWR-COR weight, but for golfers using their 3-wood off the tee, that should not be a problem. The LTDx 5-woods and 7-woods, which golfers more frequently use off turf and hit with a steeper swing, still have rails to help the heads work over the turf more efficiently.
Cobra designers created a new hitting area that they call a H.O.T. Face to further increase ball speed. It stands for Highly Optimized Technology and was developed after engineers studied 15 locations on the face and made them work more efficiently. Cobra said golfers will obtain better performance on shots hit outside the center of the face, so mis-hits will fly farther and straighter.
Cobra anticipates that the LTDx Max will be the most popular of the three new fairway woods. Available as a 3-wood (15.5 degrees), 5-wood (18.5 degrees), and 7-wood (22.5 degrees), it comes with two moveable weights that can be positioned in the back of the heel of the club. They weigh 3-grams and 8-grams, and when the heavier weight is in the heel, the LTDx Max has a draw bias. Putting the 8-gram weight in the back boosts the moment of inertia and creates more stability.
The standard LTDx fairway woods have only a single 8-gram weight in the back center of the sole. Available as a 3-wood (15 degrees), 5-wood (18.5 degrees), and 7-wood (22.5 degrees), this club focuses on speed and stability. It should help golfers launch the ball higher with more spin to maximize carry distance and stopping power.
For players who create excessive spin, Cobra is offering the LTDx LS. Available as a 3-wood (14.5 degrees) and 5-wood (17.5 degrees), the LTDx LS comes with a 3-gram and 12-gram weight that can be put in the front heel and toe areas. Adding more weight to the front of the head reduces spin even more while giving the club either a draw or fade bias. The LTDx LS also has a deeper face, which many accomplished players prefer.
[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]