While the LS fairway wood in Cobra’s new Optm lineup provides the fastest ball speeds in the range, the Cobra Optm X is designed to be the option that will suit the most golfers. Sitting as the middle sibling between the LS and the Max, the X model (£299) promises the most balanced combination of fast speed and forgiveness.
Where the LS model looked compact and a little intimidating, the Optm X is far more appealing down behind the ball and inspires genuine confidence. The face height is a little shallower than the LS, which helps it sit flush to the turf, making you feel like you can easily get under the ball and produce a really high launch, without feeling the need to have to help the ball into the air - a trait of some of the most forgiving fairway woods.
Cobra is moving the conversation from MOI to POI (Point of Inertia). The idea behind this is to minimise gear effect and tighten dispersion. Jose Miraflor, VP of Product Architecture at Cobra, says, “POI finetunes forgiveness into directional consistency as it allows the clubhead to rotate more naturally with your swing.”
To achieve this in the Optm X, Cobra uses a multi-material construction with a lightweight matte black carbon crown and a Titanium frame, which is paired with the same H.O.T. Face Technology we have seen in the past few models for ball speed retention.
Unlike the LS, which has three weight ports, the X features a mid-CG location with 3g and 17g moveable weights in the rear and toe. This setup is designed to stabilize and increase the forgiveness while producing a solid amount of spin required to keep the ball in the air.
Alongside the adjustable weighting system, the Optm X fairway wood features the FutureFit33 adjustable hosel, allowing for 33 unique loft and lie settings. This is an absolute dream for golfers who like to tinker with their equipment or for golfers who travel and play different courses that require slightly different equipment setups.
To get some baseline data, I took the Optm X fairway wood inside to hit on a Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor to see how it stacked up against the other models in the range.
I absolutely loved how this club performed. The standout metric was the ball speed, where I was seeing numbers almost identical to the LS model (around that 155mph mark), which is impressive given this is a more forgiving head.
However, the launch conditions were much friendlier in the X model. I saw around 300 rpm more spin than the LS (3208 rpm), along with a touch higher launch angle (12.1°). This didn't kill the distance, instead, it made the carry consistent and produced a high, stable ball flight. For the vast majority of golfers, that extra spin acts as a little safety net, keeping the ball airborne and stopping it from diving out of the sky on mishits.
Taking it outdoors, the Optm X fairway continued to impress, producing predictable ball flights and consistency. Through impact, the Optm X felt solid and powerful off the face - something that is very much a pattern across the Optm range.
In terms of playability, the Optm X proved to be extremely versatile. I found I could shape the ball well, hitting different windows of trajectory when required. It was particularly effective on the 3rd hole at North Hants Golf Club where I hit a few approach shots into the par-5, and I noticed the steeper landing angle was helping hold the green without any trouble.
While there was no major negative to the Cobra Optm X fairway wood, the naturally higher spinning and launching characteristics meant that hitting a low stinger or penetrating shot into the wind proved a little challenging.
The ball just wanted to climb, which is great 90% of the time, but requires some manipulation when the wind is howling into your face. You could change the setting on the hosel if you knew you were about to play in a strong wind, but you’re then sacrificing some launch and spin, so this is something to weigh up.
The Cobra Optm X is a solid all-rounder that I think ticks the boxes for distance, forgiveness, and aesthetics. While it may spin a fraction too much for the highest speed players in windy conditions, I still think the Optm X has the potential to be one of the best fairway woods released this year and certainly could take the crown as the most underrated model.
