Shiels 5 year Cobra test

[rainkingjr]

So the 5 year Cobra driver video was posted yesterday. He did all of the forgiving models. Amp Cell, Bio Cell, Fly Z, F6 and F7.

 

I have to say. He completely lost me on this one. In this comparison the Fly Z finishes at 3800 total spin with a 268 yard total distance; however, in his own head to head video between the regular Fly Z and Ping G30, the Fly Z averages 2114 total spin with a whopping 319 yard total distance.

 

He uses a Project X in this 5 year comparison and the Stock Matrix for the head to head with the G30. 51 yard difference. Seriously?

 

I know a lot of factors go into it. The PX shaft might just be a horrible fit for him. He also just seems to be all of the map when hitting Cobra drivers which isn't a knock on Cobra. Different strokes for different folks.

[CCTxGolf]

Yeah I watched this last night and thought it was odd. By far the most difference in any of is five year test. Now that you mention his past cobra head to heads I am even more intrigued. I don’t think it could be the shaft as he got decent number in two of the other heads with the PX. All of the strikes looked to be close to center when he showed that graphic. Very interesting stuff. Can an old driver head just be “dead”? That would be an extreme case if so.

[Mcgeeno]

I've watched a lot of Shiels, I've enjoyed his 5 year tests.

 

That being said, I've always gotten this vibe he is not a Cobra fan at all.

 

The data was definitely funky though. Amp and Fly Z spun too much and went nowhere. He needs to hit the Pro/Plus versions of the Cobra clubs.

 

King, F6+, Bio Cell Pro etc.

[aceofclubs]

I was looking forward to the Cobra test also. Pretty disappointing he just used stock shafts instead of ones that I believe he said were fit for him in other tests.

I actually still use the Amp Cell with an aftermarket shaft and get better performance with alot less swing speed. That stock Fuel was a noodle, of course it didn’t work well for him.

 

I was really hoping this test would be the same as all the rest as far as all drivers being within 7-8 yards of each other so im not tempted to replace my Amp.

[dxdgenert]

I've watched a lot of Shiels, I've enjoyed his 5 year tests.

 

That being said, I've always gotten this vibe he is not a Cobra fan at all.

 

The data was definitely funky though. Amp and Fly Z spun too much and went nowhere. He needs to hit the Pro/Plus versions of the Cobra clubs.

 

King, F6+, Bio Cell Pro etc.

I’ve heard others echo this sentiment, as well, but I don’t think it is true. I’m posting this before researching but I’m certain he has either an F7 fairway or hybrid in his bag.

 

I agree that there shouldn’t be a 30-50 yard difference between clubs, however. There was definitely something out of the ordinary with this test.

[RamminMopar]

He should of done the +/pro versions

[TravAz]

I've watched a lot of Shiels, I've enjoyed his 5 year tests.

 

That being said, I've always gotten this vibe he is not a Cobra fan at all.

 

I agree - and I posted the same thing in another thread that was around when he announced this vid but before it came out. Others pointed out he currently bags either the f7 hybrid or fairway wood. There is always the possibility that a you tube star has undisclosed business agreement(s) in place with certain outside entities. I don't think that's the case with him, but you never know - he did go full on TM fanboy around the M1 launch.

 

That being said, I think his testing methodology is fair and sound. Of course as a WRXer we would like to see more shots, lower spin heads, more adjustments tested, but at the end of the day, he probably has a pretty good hunch on how many eyeballs a particular video will draw, and thus, exactly $$ value it will bring. Why spend 20 hours in production of a video that will bring the same $$ as one he spends 5 hours on? For everyone that thinks he can do better - well, go do it better yourself and become a youtube star too.

 

Now, if the testing method is sound, and there isn't a hidden bias, WTF is going on here? Assuming that Cobra sent him the head for the test vs G30, and these drivers came from Golf Bidder, which I assume to be some sort of 2nd hand shop. Maybe the used head was cracked or something and he didn't notice? Now that I think of it, I had a BioCell+ that I bought from Global that I had to return almost immediately due to some sort of defect. Moved on to the BioCell Pro, and that never felt/sounded like I wanted it to.

 

Driver materials don't have a shelf life, right? Maybe the head Cobra sent him for the test had some secret sauce that didn't make it into the retail version?

 

Also possible that Cobra just doesn't have a firm hand on quality control. I mean look at Hideki - he broke a driver a few MONTHS ago and has struggled with the driver since, with the full support of Callaway and the tour crew behind him. Tour pros are known to hit multiple heads the tour van guys think are identical on specs, but the pro keeps hitting them until he finds the "right" one. If the tour stuff for the big boys is that inconsistent, I imagine off the shelf main line drivers from a company like cobra could have some issues.

 

I've had some cobra stuff in the bag over the past few years. All of it was an incredible value purchased at the end of a season or the next year - but even as a bit of a cobra fanboy, I am not paying full retail for it. But I usually don't pay full retail for anything.

 

Currently have F7+ driver, F7 fairway and Hybrid. Love the F7+ for its accuracy - only the worst moves I put on it miss the fairway. I knew I was giving up 7-10 yards vs epic, but between the look/feel/sound/accuracy and the $350 price difference I was happy to do so. Im not as in love with the FW/Hybrid, but they are pretty new. Both have a little left bias in them for me.

[c0delift]

I feel like the results of this one were heavily influenced by the shaft he used. In the other tests he used a shaft that he games or is similar to his gamer. I am unsure on the specs of the Project X shaft he was using but it is the only thing I can think of for him to get those numbers, especially when comparing the numbers he got on his F7 review video he did a while back. The numbers he got there were pretty consistent with what he hits most other drivers he tests.

[gdb99]

I was hoping he was going to add the LTD.

[suprfli6]

I feel like the results of this one were heavily influenced by the shaft he used. In the other tests he used a shaft that he games or is similar to his gamer. I am unsure on the specs of the Project X shaft he was using but it is the only thing I can think of for him to get those numbers, especially when comparing the numbers he got on his F7 review video he did a while back. The numbers he got there were pretty consistent with what he hits most other drivers he tests.

The shaft alone did not add 1500 spin compared to his earlier test with the same head. It might have contributed but there was definitely other stuff going on too. The average impact location on the head looked low and heely which probably played a larger part. Or there was an issue with this particular head that he was hitting.

[Wardman]

Need to get my BioCell+ back and test it against my LTD based upon this data. But it also shows fitting could play a role in the test. not sure why he used those heads either or it speaks to mass produced and inconsistency. He does call out being shorter with the f7 in his demo than he'd like. Personally, I did not get along with the F7 either in recent shaft tests.

[Nixhex524]

I just feel like he wasn't all that into this test.... different vibe.

[Taz Kim]

I've watched a lot of Shiels, I've enjoyed his 5 year tests.

 

That being said, I've always gotten this vibe he is not a Cobra fan at all.

 

The data was definitely funky though. Amp and Fly Z spun too much and went nowhere. He needs to hit the Pro/Plus versions of the Cobra clubs.

 

King, F6+, Bio Cell Pro etc.

 

 

well he did have nothing but great things to say about the cobra f7 3wood which is the wood he is currently gaming as well.

[Lincoln_Arcadia]

So the 5 year Cobra driver video was posted yesterday. He did all of the forgiving models. Amp Cell, Bio Cell, Fly Z, F6 and F7.

 

I have to say. He completely lost me on this one. In this comparison the Fly Z finishes at 3800 total spin with a 268 yard total distance; however, in his own head to head video between the regular Fly Z and Ping G30, the Fly Z averages 2114 total spins with a whopping 319 yard total distance.

 

He uses a Project X in this 5 year comparison and the Stock Matrix for the head to head with the G30. 51 yard difference. Seriously?

 

I know a lot of factors go into it. The PX shaft might just be a horrible fit for him. He also just seems to be all of the map when hitting Cobra drivers which isn't a knock on Cobra. Different strokes for different folks.

He did note that everything was very accurate. So, if I were to look at accuracy and distance together, the Bio Cell and the F6 seemed to be the clear winners. Also note that he said Cobra drivers seem to find fairways better in general.

 

I have an old Bio Cell lying around, should probably put in a nice shaft and try it out again. That was a pretty decent club, just got tired of the bright orange.

[golfgirlrobin]

I find it a little disappointing that he didn’t recognize that there was a problem with the Fly Z numbers. He raved about that club when it came out; this different shaft wasn’t responsible for a 40-50 yard difference from his original numbers. That should have been a red flag that something was wrong and yet he just merrily called it crap.

 

It was number 4 on his list of best drivers of 2015. Not sure how he didn’t at least wonder what was going on.

[DaRiz]

I appreciate Shiels, but I think we all realize he's not the sharpest blade in the bag

 

Anyone with common sense would have not even posted the video with data all over the place like this.

[ian-500]

To test the drivers aimed at the average joe and use his non-average joe swing is crazy. He definitely should have tested the lower spin models.....

[Lincoln_Arcadia]

To test the drivers aimed at the average joe and use his non-average joe swing is crazy. He definitely should have tested the lower spin models.....

 

The Bio Cell and F6 were pretty clear winners and are targeted towards golfers with slower swing speeds.

 

What most people are complaining about seems to be the inconsistency with this 5 year review with the reviews he did at the time these clubs were introduced.

[Belmont148]

I appreciate Shiels, but I think we all realize he's not the sharpest blade in the bag

 

Anyone with common sense would have not even posted the video with data all over the place like this.

 

I agree. I still get a laugh anytime I watch his Callaway review with Rob where Potter uses the word trepidation and Shiels about loses it. Like he couldn't believe such a "big" word just used in his hitting bay.

 

I think he missed a golden opportunity with all those drivers at his finger tips to do a test with his swing against the low spin models and let Potter hit the ones he tested. That would have been some useful data.

[rainkingjr]

I look at it like this. Do it right or don't do it. Of all of the tests so far, This one seems the most thrown together last minute.

[chch3]

The Bio Cell is a great driver. I have been playing it since it was released. A BIO Cell with a Whiteboard was money combination for me. Long and straight. I have had some great days playing that thing. I tested it every year against all the drivers that were released and it was right there with every single one. I did crack the face of my original one, but bought another head. I was using it this year until the crazy Cobra deals at DSG last month and picked up a F7+. The F7 is very much like the Bio Cell in feel and sound. That is why I picked one up.

[aleph]

I've always taken issue with the "5 arbitrary shots" method of most of the popular Youtube reviewers but this takes the cake. You'd figure a teaching pro who also tests new clubs every week would never intentionally obfuscate the importance of a proper shaft and head fitting, but I guess "THESE CLUBS SUCK!" is better for clickbait.

[dxdgenert]

Isn’t Rick a member or is he just a contributor? I’d be curious to hear why the discrepancies from his own review testing (Fly Z and F7) and this 5 Year Test.

[rawdog]

LOL, the video seems to undermine all his other "5 year" tests.

 

The methodology is just bizarre. Comparing apples to oranges to bananas to... to...

[Dasenergi]

sadly this test makes him loose a ton of credibility imo.. he either doesn’t care or money is involved or what’s the point of posting the irratic results, not sure which is better for a golf “instructor” I guess it’s possible he got his monitor from golf galaxy.

[Mcgeeno]

I've heard others echo this sentiment, as well, but I don't think it is true. I'm posting this before researching but I'm certain he has either an F7 fairway or hybrid in his bag.

 

I agree that there shouldn't be a 30-50 yard difference between clubs, however. There was definitely something out of the ordinary with this test.

 

Well I remember The King LTD vs M1 video (I rewatched it tonight) He took a lot of flak for that one too if you read the comments.

 

His gamer M1 at the time 'destroyed' the King LTD when in reality his review of the King the day before was night and day different to when he did his "head to head" contest. He showed bias right off the bat. I noticed it and I'm a Ping guy. The numbers seemed completely out of whack compared to the King numbers he put up the video right before. It looked weird...

 

People tend to have bias whether they mean to or not.

 

In the end, the Cobra test would have been a whole lot better numbers-wise if he used the Pro/plus versions. He ends up pounding the heck out of any of those versions of the Cobra driver.

 

I don't really care though, I find his stuff entertaining and fun to watch and wasted 10-20 minutes on.

[TheLetterSee]

Not to veer too far off topic but does anyone else remember him talking months if not years ago about this crazy new way of testing that was developed by a scientist in New York? He hyped it up so much and then he never spoke of it again. Unless this 5 shots with each and alternating that he's been doing is that insane, scientist-driven method, I can't recall him ever doing anything different.

[Belmont148]

Not to veer too far off topic but does anyone else remember him talking months if not years ago about this crazy new way of testing that was developed by a scientist in New York? He hyped it up so much and then he never spoke of it again. Unless this 5 shots with each and alternating that he's been doing is that insane, scientist-driven method, I can't recall him ever doing anything different.

 

I remember, and I have been wondering the same thing. His wedge and ball tests seems pretty well thought out. Maybe that was a result of the smarter than Shiels guy helping out.

 

For the life of me I don’t know why he takes 5 shots then switches, then comes back again. It takes 2-3shots to get in the groove of swinging a club and then you stop. Should go all the way to 10. And any test that doesn’t include a shaft fit for you is just bogus imo. I understand some of the older stuff will be tough, but he could find a shaft as similar as possible. I promise you a Project X PXv is not even close to spec as an Aldila Silver.

[TheLetterSee]

I remember, and I have been wondering the same thing. His wedge and ball tests seems pretty well thought out. Maybe that was a result of the smarter than Shiels guy helping out.

 

For the life of me I don’t know why he takes 5 shots then switches, then comes back again. It takes 2-3shots to get in the groove of swinging a club and then you stop. Should go all the way to 10. And any test that doesn’t include a shaft fit for you is just bogus imo. I understand some of the older stuff will be tough, but he could find a shaft as similar as possible. I promise you a Project X PXv is not even close to spec as an Aldila Silver.

 

I get that the average consumer uses stock shafts and he wants everything to be a head-to-head test and not a shaft-to-shaft test. That said, I don't understand why he insists on using the forgiving, high-spin models of the clubs he's testing. It just gives a false impression to the lay-man. They see a Cobra driver spin up at 3000 and go 260 and then see an Epic Subzero or some other low spin head spinning 2000 and flying 300. Which one do you think, in their minds, sucks? When a fit driver of any brand or style can more or less be fit towards your swing.

 

I still appreciate all the content he puts out

[dxdgenert]

I appreciate all of his content and the work that goes into it. At the risk of appearing to be a Cobra fan (I’m not but got some crazy deals), something was wrong with this test. As others have pointed out, he hit the Fly Z and F7 better in their individual reviews. It doesn’t make sense that on center strike hits, one club would be 40 yards less. Could the head be defective? I don’t know but I believe the clubs were used. I just can’t wrap my head around a golfer of his ability, hitting a club very well then so poorly, a few months/years later.