Cobra has long been a brand synonymous with speed and innovation, and 2026 looks to be no different. With the introduction of the new Optm family, the brand is shifting the conversation from MOI to POI (Point of Inertia), and while the drivers will likely grab the headlines, I was eager to see if the fairway woods, specifically the Optm LS model, will contend among the best fairway woods in 2026.
Retailing at £349, this sits as the premium, tour-inspired offering in the lineup, boasting a compact titanium chassis, designed for those seeking lower spin and maximum workability.
The headline story across the Optm range is the shift toward 'Low POI'. For years, manufacturers have chased high MOI for stability, however, Cobra argues that POI - which measures how a head rotates diagonally across all axes, is the new route to increased accuracy.
Essentially, a lower POI reduces the gear effect that causes a big miss on heel and toe strikes. To achieve this, the LS Titanium features a multi-material construction with a lightweight gloss carbon crown and a Titanium frame, which is then paired with A.I.-optimized Adaptive POI Weighting.
The LS model features three weight ports (high toe, mid heel, and back), which contain 11g, 7g, and 3g moveable weights, allowing you to dial in the CG to an incredibly precise degree, creating preferred ball flights or to help fight a certain miss. This, combined with the FutureFit 33 hosel, allows for arguably the most customisation ever built in to a fairway wood.
Down behind the ball, the Optm LS head appears extremely small and compact, and honestly, it’s a little intimidating when playing from the fairway attempting to reach a par-5 in two. While it is 170cc, the shaping and matte black crown make it look significantly smaller than that.
The head looks sleek and premium, although it really hasn’t changed much from the likes of the Darkspeed LS and DS-Adapt LS. The head sits perfectly square, perhaps a fraction open depending on the sleeve setting - something I love as a drawer of the ball, but it certainly doesn't offer the comforting footprint of the Max model or some of the other most forgiving fairway woods on the market.
I initially tested the Cobra Optm LS Titanium fairway wood inside on a Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor to gather data, followed by on-course testing to assess playability. The Titanium construction and the H.O.T. Face Technology delivered blistering speed numbers. I was averaging 157mph ball speed and had a club speed of 110mph, and the feeling through impact mimicked those fast speeds - lively and energetic.
What stood out most was the launch characteristics of the Optm LS fairway wood. Usually, low-spin heads can struggle to get the ball airborne, but the low and forward CG location in the Optm LS worked wonders both from the fairway and when used from a tee. This was probably because the Optm LS is a 14.5° as standard rather than the typical 15° you see in most three-woods.
I saw a solid carry thanks to a high launch, low spin combination, averaging 2897 rpm of spin and just under 12° of launch. This created a penetrating rainbow flight that saw me average 258 yards of carry when struck from the deck and a couple of yards more when hit from a tee. The sensation on the face is powerful and almost ‘spring-like’, which I really like in a fairway wood.
In terms of playability, it was exceptionally easy to manoeuvre the ball flight, although I found this was fairly hard to control. I had no trouble getting the ball moving in the direction I wanted, hitting different shots and trajectories on command, although there is a caveat to that workability.
Because the spin was so low, I often found the ball curving a little too quickly away from my target. On a few occasions, I overworked the draw or fade I intended to hit and saw my ball sailing pretty quickly into trouble.
With higher spin, a fade holds its line, however, with the Optm LS, a fade was quickly turning into a slice, and vice versa with a draw. This confirms that while the tech reduces gear effect, the low-spin nature of the LS head demands a consistent strike and someone with extremely good clubface control.
The Cobra Optm LS is a serious weapon for those wanting more distance and ball speed in this area of the bag, but for those seeking control, you’ll want to look towards the Optm X or Max fairway wood models. The compact matte black look is stunning but demanding, requiring a player who knows how to control their spin and clubface to get the most out of it.
