Shiels 5 year Cobra test

[scomac2002]

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.

 

Yes the clubs were used. What are the odds that the Cobra drivers were any more defective than the corresponding Ping/Callaway/Taylormade/Titleist clubs in their respective tests? If that is in fact the case then I wouldn't have much faith in Cobra product period!

 

ISTM that in big driver tests done here at WRX that the results with Cobra have been uneven at best -- some real winners, but a lot of ho hum mixed in with it. I think it just might come down to the suitability of a specific design to the individual. I've seen that over the years with most brands. Some real winners from time-to-time and then some real dogs all within the same brand over a succession of years even in subsequent models of given product lines. Not all that glitters is gold.

 

Perhaps the most important thing we can take from these various tests is that there hasn't been any real material improvement over the past five years to warrant changing drivers on an ongoing basis.

[Lincoln_Arcadia]

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.

 

Yes the clubs were used. What are the odds that the Cobra drivers were any more defective than the corresponding Ping/Callaway/Taylormade/Titleist clubs in their respective tests?

 

20% chance?

Or that that one club was possibly damaged by the previous owner in a way that was not perceptible to anyone with a swing speed lower than Rick's?

[bbfifas]

Rick has made comments that shots lower on face seemed poor to him. He even shows that he was hitting them dead center and/or towards the heel and low on the face. Perhaps that is why his smash factor was down. Would be cool to see him bring that strike point up like he always seems to mention. Oh well. I do agree this review just seemed off especially compared to prior reviews with same club. Perhaps he was just having an off day like us mere mortals.

[YoungGunz23]

I agree with everyone here. Use the low spin versions without the stick noodle and watch these Cobra Drivers come to life. I have an LTD with HZRDUS Yellow 6.5, and it's like cheating how accurate and long this combo is for me.

[Milfordlefty]

The apples to orange comparison is the avg GolfWRX member vs the avg Youtube golf viewer. I am a hack golfer, have been all my life. Most postings on this forum are by the upper 10% of amateur golfers. Have any of you ever looked at the club profiles posted by members? Aftermkt X flex shafts that retail for $300, 9 degree drivers, 13 degree 3 woods, 2 irons or driving irons, if not blades, at least forged irons, 60 degree wedges. The average golfer has no business playing with those clubs. Rick is trying to hit clubs that fit into two general sets of criteria, 1) fits his swing with stiff flex shafts and 9.5 degree heads and 2) the club the largest group of avg golfers, not avg GolfWRX golfer play. Do you think he makes these videos only for GolfWRX members? How many posts do you read here where the golfer says, hit my driver 300, 3 wood 285 and need a 275 club to reach par 5's in 2? The avg golfer in the US can't hit his driver 275. Can't hit it 250. The avg golfer has no business hitting a driver with a HZRDUS Yellow 6.5 shaft (not picking on YoungGunz23). His videos are not meant for the avg GolfWRX member. Stepping down off my soapbox now.

[scomac2002]

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.

 

Yes the clubs were used. What are the odds that the Cobra drivers were any more defective than the corresponding Ping/Callaway/Taylormade/Titleist clubs in their respective tests?

 

20% chance?

Or that that one club was possibly damaged by the previous owner in a way that was not perceptible to anyone with a swing speed lower than Rick's?

 

That theory holds water if you've got one club out of five that comes in well below expectations, but in this case two of the five were way below normal. Were they both damaged? It's possible, but I would think the odds of two out of five randomly selected clubs being bad are probably in the area of less than one chance in ten and that's probably being generous.

 

Personally, I've found Cobra's offerings to be very much hit and miss as you find them OTR. I remember distinctly that the Amp Cell was a complete bust in my hands. Conversely, the Bio Cell was quite agreeable. I haven't hit any of their product since that time, so I can't comment on more recent offerings, but I will point out that in the big driver shootouts done here with the membership that Cobra does tend to lag some of the other OEMs in terms of results across a large number of testers.

[OsnolaKinnard]

When he originally tested the Fly Z, he had the VLCT ST shaft in X flex. I am going to bet that had a LOT to do with the difference in performance that we saw in the 5 year test.

[DFS PFD]

When he originally tested the Fly Z, he had the VLCT ST shaft in X flex. I am going to bet that had a LOT to do with the difference in performance that we saw in the 5 year test.

 

+1 for the Pepe frog, off topic but couldn't help and admire.

[OsnolaKinnard]

When he originally tested the Fly Z, he had the VLCT ST shaft in X flex. I am going to bet that had a LOT to do with the difference in performance that we saw in the 5 year test.

 

+1 for the Pepe frog, off topic but couldn't help and admire.

 

Shadilay from a proud Kekistani! Many tendies for you.

[TravAz]

Sorry, but yes, it would take someone with a pepe avatar to believe a shaft change = 1800 spin difference.

 

Is russia selling shafts now? :dntknw:

[jonn443]

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.

 

Though he has a Cobra F6 3 wood in the bag and spoke very highly on the LTD Driver.

[Cruisin1966]

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.

 

Though he has a Cobra F6 3 wood in the bag and spoke very highly on the LTD Driver.

 

It's actually an F7 3 wood.

[MrFlapjack]

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.

 

Agreed. I always take his findings and comments with a grain of salt.

[Belmont148]

Notice how for his 100 pound driver video he selected all pro versions? Not the high spin stuff like for his 5 year test. His agenda is to support the instructor community not the manufacturers.

[Dpavs]

He's completely lost me as an avid follower this year as a result of hitting shots off the toe, low on the face, etc. and then saying that the club is not very consistent (which I have seen him do in a few videos this year).

 

The club is not consistent because he can't hit the center with any consistency??? Yeah, right... sure thing Rick.

[Mcgeeno]

I'm not trying to harp on Rick, I like his videos a lot.

 

For some perspective though, even in his F7 review which I watched today as I was wasting company time watching golf club vids, when he moves the weight to the front to knock down spin for himself, he gains 12 yards in carry distance. From 266 to 278 I think it was...

 

So I think this test was a little more apples-oranges-bananas than some of the other tests :::for him:::

 

But you take from it what you want.

[GHIN n Juice]

When he originally tested the Fly Z, he had the VLCT ST shaft in X flex. I am going to bet that had a LOT to do with the difference in performance that we saw in the 5 year test.

 

+1 for the Pepe frog, off topic but couldn't help and admire.

 

That avatar is disgusting and racist. I’m surprised it is still up on the site. You should both be removed for that racist filth.