Cobra Darkspeed LS Fairway Wood

You ever think how cool it would be to have a golf club made of space-grade materials? Well now you can have one with the Cobra Darkspeed fairway woods! Made up of lightweight aerospace-grade titanium and carbon fiber for long distances, the line of Cobra Darkspeed fairway woods have precise weighting for more stability and tight dispersion. The Cobra Darkspeed LS fairway wood is for the players with faster swing speeds seeking lower launch and lower spin from their fairway wood.

The Looks

Head shape/profile will vary depending on which model of Cobra Darkspeed fairway wood you choose. Like the drivers, each shape is developed to fit the preferences of the players they’re designed for. For example, the Cobra Darkspeed LS fairway wood featured here has a more compact profile with a slight pear shape and a moderate face depth. I will say that fairway woods of this variety historically tend to be a bit more peanut/narrow than the LS, which is a hair “fuller”. (Take a look at this Cobra Fly-Z+ for reference.) Behind the ball, the matte carbon crown looks really clean and the LS fairway wood sets up really nicely. I think better players will really appreciate this club’s appearance.

Let’s not forget that the lightweight carbon fiber crown which allowed Cobra to strategically locate weight in the head. According to Cobra, the center of gravity (CG) sits 3.2mm lower to the ground than it did in the previous model. So not only does the carbon fiber look super cool on the crown, but it serves a very functional purpose we’ll discuss throughout the rest of this review.

How Does it Feel?

The Cobra Darkspeed LS fairway wood feels exactly how a good low launch, low spin fairway wood should. With the carbon fiber crown being so lightweight, the low and forward CG is very noticeable throughout the swing. This is achieved through two forward adjustable sole weights, the suspended PWR-BRIDGE, and internal tungsten weighting (68g!). Now, normally I might tell you that it’s TOO weight forward for a mortal like myself, even with my swing speed. However, there’s a third adjustable weight in the rear of the sole that helps balance the club out a bit. This weight goes a long way in making the club feel more controlled, especially if you put one of the heavier weights in this position.

In terms of feel at impact, the titanium elements of the head really come into play. First, the titanium body creates strong rigidity so the head retains its shape at impact and doesn’t flex. This makes the strike feel much more forceful. We do want flex in the face, however. The PWRSHELL H.O.T. face provides optimal flex so there’s a lot of life when you strike the ball. “H.O.T.” stands for “highly optimized topology” meaning the face thickness varies in different places based on machine learning. Cobra used AI to determine how thick to make the face in different areas for optimal feel and speed while staying within legal limits.

How Does it Sound?

The carbon fiber doesn’t play as much of a role in the sound of the Cobra Darkspeed LS fairway wood as it does in the driver. The titanium body and face give the strike a very precise, delicate, and tight “tick” with just a hint of a metallic tone to it. It’s very solid and reaffirming with a fast swing speed, which is who the LS is designed for. There’s none of that “hollow airiness” that often accompanies a fairway wood at faster speeds. Overall I found it to be sound powerful, firm, but not loud and screaming out for the attention. Very direct, to the point, and satisfying.

On-Course Performance

If you’re looking for a fast low launch, low spin fairway wood, look no further than the Cobra Darkspeed LS. With both 15-gram weights in the forward position, I was hitting low-launching bullets that barely got off the ground, even at my swing speed. By moving a 15-gram weight to the rear position, I was able to get the ball in the air a bit more without spinning the ball too much. The trajectory was still a bit low for my liking, but between my swing speed and the speed off of the face, I was still getting good distance. The Darkspeed LS fairway wood definitely favors faster swingers, but if you have the swing for it, it’s HOT.

With more time, I might try a different shaft and tweak the MyFly8 hosel adapter. I found placing a 15g weight in the rear position made the head feel quite a bit more stable and helped with lift, so a little more loft could help me optimize my launch. This change could allow me to rely on my swing speed less and have better control. I also believe that I could put two 3g weights in the front (available to be purchased separately) without sacrificing the low/low benefits of the LS, much like I experienced with the driver. The internal PWR-BRIDGE does a really good job of keeping launch and spin contained for the player that this club is geared toward regardless of sole weight placement.

Final Thoughts – Cobra Darkspeed LS Fairway Wood

The Cobra Darkspeed family of fairway woods covers the whole spectrum of golfers. Players seeking maximum forgiveness with high launch and draw bias will be best suited for the Darkspeed MAX fairway wood. Most players likely fall into a group with swing speeds ranging all the way from moderate to fast and are looking for a combination of easy launch, distance, and forgiveness in a fairway wood. The Cobra Darkspeed X fairway wood will likely be the best candidate for this group of players. But players looking for a workable, low launch, low spin, long fairway wood should look to the Darkspeed LS. There’s no question that this club is fast, but having the swing speed for it will be critical. The Darkspeed LS fairway wood looks great, feels powerful, and is definitely long.

Stock Cobra Darkspeed LS Fairway Wood Specs

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