The Cobra RADSPEED Driver Review

Cobra just released their new line of RADSPEED drivers, named after the “radial weighting” on the sole of the drivers. The original (not the XB or XD models) Cobra RADSPEED driver is recommended for 0-15 handicaps, but obviously that is just a recommendation. In this post, we’ll explain why it’s recommended for mid to low handicaps, and give our unbiased review in general.

Performance and Appearance

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Let’s start with appearance, shall we? The RADSPEED driver comes in two different color options: red/white/blue and white/black/yellow. Let me start by telling you that I have a weird obsession over red/white/blue golf clubs. So yeah, I absolutely love the look of the red/white/blue RADSPEED driver sole, but I’m not a huge fan of the blue crown at address. It’s all personal preference, really. The white/black/yellow driver is a great look as well, and I like the black crown more personally.

If you take a look at the sole of the club, you’ll see the radial weighting that is the basis of the name. The original RADSPEED has far more weight towards the face of the club as opposed to the back. That’s a tell-tale sign of a driver seeking to be low spin for those that with fast swing speeds.

It’s impossible to tell you how you will perform with the Cobra RADSPEED driver. It depends on too many factors, like: swing speed, angle of attack, shaft option, etc. However, I can give you general expectations.

It’s hard to tell you exactly how YOU and YOUR swing are going to perform with the Cobra RADSPEED driver. As a result, we strongly recommend that you get professionally fitted by a club fitter or at least a PGA professional to find the best head & shaft combo for your swing.

In general, the Cobra RADSPEED driver is best for those with fast swing speeds that want a lower spin driver. Truthfully, I find it very deceiving that Cobra is recommending this driver for “0 to 15 handicaps”. It would be more helpful to put it in terms of swing speed, but even that isn’t a perfect way to pick a driver. If you don’t have a super fast swing speed (100mph+), you most likely would hit the ball longer with the XB or XD drivers. And if you are looking more forgiveness or for a large draw bias, then you should look at the XB or XD models instead.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

great option for those with fast swing speeds that generate too much backspin
available in two different color combinations: red/white/blue and black/yellow/white
adjustable front and back weights to adjust ball flight and spin levels
easiest of the three models to work the ball left or right
lower, more penetrating ball flights that many golfers like (best if you play in windy conditions often, too)
lower in price than many other brands like Callaway and Ping ($450 vs $500/$530)
comes with a grip with an Arccos tracking ability if you want to use the app

Cons:

least forgiving of the three models
won’t be a good fit or the large majority of golfers that simply want to hit more fairways
most golfers won’t generate enough club head speed to warrant gaming a low spin driver head
in my opinion, most looking for a low spin driver head should instead work on their swing to decrease speed levels
still on the pricey side for a single club. I’d strongly recommend a slightly used driver of an older Cobra model.

Comparison to RADSPEED XB & RADSPEED XD

Compared to the other models in the series, the Cobra RADSPEED driver:

will generate lower spin & more distance for fast swing speeds due to the more forward placed weights
is less forgiving than the other two models
is more workable than the other two models
has the same size 460cc head the other model, but a more traditional shape (not pear shape) that looks more compact at address
SHOULD be the least bought driver of the three. The XB and XD models are far more forgiving and will be better choice for 95% of golfers

Who is the Cobra RADSPEED driver best for?

The Cobra RADSPEED driver is best for those with fast swing speeds that generate too much spin on their drives. If your swing speed is 100mph+ or more AND you know that you are hitting drives that fly too high and with too much spin, definitely give the RADSPEED a try.

But, keep in mind that your spin problem may be a swing problem, not a club problem. I’d always recommend trying to incorporate low-spin features into your swing first, before buying a low spin driver. An easy way to decrease spin would be to hit more up on your drives, as opposed to a downward strike. Teeing the ball more forward and incorporating a small tilt (right shoulder lower than left at address) can make a big difference, but also take some getting used to. I’d recommend getting some lessons with a PGA professional so that he/she can help you in person figure out why you are hitting drives with too much backspin/sidespin.

Better Value, Similar Driver

If you are looking for a lower-priced alternative to the Cobra RADSPEED driver, then I’d highly recommend the Cobra KING F7 driver. With the Cobra KING F7 driver, you can simply adjust the weights (more weight towards the face) to turn the club into a low-spin, low trajectory driver head just like the RADSPEED.

I’d wager than the KING F7 (in low spin settings) and RADSPEED will perform within 1-2% of each other when it comes to distance, forgiveness, and low spin rates on average. So is the extra $$$$ worth it? That’s up for you to decide.

The Cobra RADSPEED in priced at $450, while you can get a good condition KING F7 driver for around $100-$150.