![]() Not only does that get you more reliable CT (speed), it gets you bulge-and-roll radii (a contributing factor to both accuracy and launch and spin consistency) that are consistently closer to the actual design spec than what you get from hand polishing.Īgain, “polishing” is a euphemism for “grinding”. Ultimately, that leads to more consistency from part to part. ![]() ![]() Cobra’s position is that milling allows for more precise tolerances. The CNC milled face has become a signature feature of Cobra’s drivers and that’s not changing with RADSPEED. We’ll talk about what Cobra did with that extra 13 grams in a bit. The two-piece thin-ply carbon-wrap body and crown pieces have also been refined, saving another six grams relative to SpeedZone. It’s seven grams lighter than the original version. T-Bar ChassisĬobra RADSPEED drivers feature a refined version of the T-Bar (think T-top Trans Am) chassis construction that was integral to the SpeedZone design. So, as we move forward, keep in mind that while the goal of the RADSPEED lineup is to provide three discrete performance options, low CG (relative to its competitors) is an integral to each of the designs.Ĭobra RADSPEED Drivers – What They Have in Commonīefore we get to what separates Cobra’s RADSPEED, RADSPEED XB and RADSPEED XD, let’s quickly run through what the three models have in common. ![]() Through several years of progressions – Fs 6 through 9, SpeedZone and now RADSPEED – the engineering philosophy hasn’t changed. The goal is to get more speed and lower spin while trading away as little forgiveness as possible. LTD and, to an even greater extent, LTD Pro pushed the idea of low CG into uncharted territory. You can go back at least as far as FLY-Z to find Cobra talking about pushing centers of gravity low. That’s core to every driver design philosophy and there’s no deviation within the flagship line. To every extent that PING is a back CG, high MOI company, Cobra is a low CG brand. In that respect, RADSPEED is an evolutionary product but it also serves to reinforce Cobra’s position as the leader in low center of gravity engineering. Moving weight to the perimeter isn’t exactly new thinking. To be sure, this whole “radius of gyration” thing is fresh language around what golf club engineers have been doing for years. The idea is to push significant chunks of mass away from the center of gravity to create distinct performance differentiation between RADSPEED models. In this context, the radius of gyration can be thought of as the maximum distance away from the center of the clubhead’s center of gravity where Cobra engineers were able to position weight in a way that actually improves performance. Radius of Gyration: The radius of a cylindrical surface coaxial with the axis of rotation of a body such that if the entire mass of the body were concentrated in that surface the moment of inertia and energy of rotation would be unchanged That said, it’s probably best we consult with our friend at Merriam-Webster for this one. That’s my second Rachel’s reference this year. In a normal year, it would almost be PGA Merchandise Show time so I’ll forgiving the Orlando contingent for thinking that Radius of Gyration describes the minimum distance from the talent at Rachel’s Men’s Club and Steakhouse - at which it’s not entirely hygienically unsound to eat your steak dinner. ![]() The RAD in Cobra’s RADSPEED is actually short for Radius of Gyration. That’s some of it but far from all of it. The RADSPEED name itself is meant to be both memorable and fun in much the same way as Rocketballz and Big Bertha were for TaylorMade and Callaway. it’s short for “radical” which I suppose could apply to Cobra’s weighting strategy across the RADSPEED lineup – though that’s not it entirely. “RAD” is an obvious play on 1980s’ slang. But even if we all know it, there remains a compulsion to say it. If we’re going to wrap our heads around the story behind the new Cobra RADSPEED Driver family, we’re going to need to establish a basic understanding of where the name comes from. The retail price is $449 with full availability beginning Jan.Low spin and forgiveness are key elements of all three designs.For 2021, Cobra is introducing three RADSPEED Driver models. ![]()
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