Cobra F-Max Driver

Cobra designed the F-Max driver to be easier to hit, longer flying, and just straight up more fun for players with slower swing speeds.  To see how well Cobra did, I worked with a range of golfers with slower swing speeds to get their thoughts.  My target audiences were players who are learning the game or older players that have lost a few MPHs in recent years.

First Impressions

Let’s face it, in the ever-rising prices of the golf industry, $300 has become a budget-driver price.  As such, I expected the Cobra F-Max driver to have that kind of feel and look to it.  When I actually saw the F-Max driver in person, I was pleasantly surprised.  The overall look of the F-Max driver is very clean and has a great shape to it.

It’s hard to miss the alignment stripe down the center of the crown.  Though a nice aesthetic touch, it’s also there to make lining the club up square an easier task.  Frankly, I expected my F-Max audience to not be crazy about the big design on the crown, but received a differing opinion.  They all thought it gave the F-Max a nice change of pace from the usual crowd.

How Does it Feel?

Light, light, light.  Cobra put a significant focus on making the F-Max driver a lightweight and comfortable quality option for moderate (aka slower) swing speeds.  For players in this category, the F-Max’s noticeable lighter weight stands out because these players live in a world where most golf equipment is not designed for them, but they have to live with it anyway.  Every single player found the F-Max to be remarkably light.

The F-Max face provided good feedback and response.  Mishits weren’t painful but were certainly noticeable.  A well hit shot felt solid and more pure in the hands.  In my experience, this category of club will often feel a little “wet noodley” and kind of dead, but the F-Max held up well and felt very solid.

How Does it Sound?

Most of our Cobra F-Max testers experienced a similar sound with some change depending on swing speeds.  The player with the numbers below inched a little closer to a “crack” tone whereas the sound became more of a “pop” as speeds decreased.  One thing that was consistent across all of the players was that the sound also had a metallic underlying tone to it.

On-Course Performance

The data above shows an average of 16.9º of launch.  This was the highest average launch angle in my Cobra F-Max testing, but what was apparent was that my players all seemed to be able to achieve high launch with relative ease.  At slower swing speeds, getting the ball up in the air and flying is key to maximizing carry and distance.  This easier launch paired with higher swing speeds from the lighter weight gave these players more distance.

Another area Cobra tried to help players hit better, straighter shots was including a draw bias.  The F-Max is offered in two configurations, straight neck and draw, and both versions have some degree of built-in draw bias.  We tested the straight neck version and the ball was drawing with ease across the board.  Does that mean the slice is impossible?  Of course not, but right-side wigglers were straighter.  If you’re a straight-ball hitter, you can definitely expect the ball to draw.

Final Thoughts

Each player I worked with to test the Cobra F-Max driver seemed genuinely impressed and pleased with their results.  In the interest of full disclosure, most of these players had never been remotely fitted, but it was still a testament to how much this part of the market can benefit from a little attention.  If your game has hit a point where you feel you could use all the help you can get to get the driver flying again, the Cobra F-Max may be a great option for you.

Stock Cobra F-Max Driver Specs

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