Cobra Golf has been pushing the boundaries of manufacturing for years, and with the expansion of its 3D-printed iron lineup to include the new MB and X models, it has truly arrived. While the original 3DP Tour iron (or the Limit3D, which was the early prototype I tested) was a game-changer, the new 3DP MB takes that technology and refines it into a package that is unapologetically designed for the purist.
From an 'in the bag' perspective, these irons are nothing short of astounding. The looks are a stunning blend of simplicity and sophistication, with a subtle nod to the ultra-modern manufacturing process that created them. The finish is clean, while beautifully highlighting the complex internal lattice structure that lies beneath.
However, it is in the address position where the 3DP MB truly shines. This is one of the few iron sets I have ever picked up where I can categorically say that, to my eye at least, every single iron is perfect in terms of its shaping and profile.
In 99.9% of iron sets I test, there is always at the very least one iron I would like to tweak - whether that be the offset, blade length, or general shaping. But these are absolute perfection to the eye, from the 4-iron right through to the pitching wedge. Not too boxy, not too curvy, just pure design excellence!
Influenced by a prototype made for Cobra staffer Max Homa, the shaping features a slightly thinner topline and subtly different offset compared to the standard King MB, resulting in a look that I don’t think can be beaten in behind the ball.
As with the 3DP X irons that I have previously waxed lyrical about, the feel here is as good as anything I have ever tried in any category. There will still be those who would defiantly say that 3D-printed golf clubs couldn't possibly feel as good as traditionally forged models, but they need to think again.
The 3DP MB irons are buttery soft, offering excellent feedback that lets you know exactly where you struck the ball without being unduly punishing.
The secret lies in the 3D-printed internal lattice core, which allows Cobra to fine-tune the acoustics and dampen vibrations without using a face insert. It is a pure, dense sensation that creates a genuine connection between player and club.
While the 3DP MB is undeniably a blade, it offers more forgiveness than I have ever felt in this category before. The 3D printing process allows for a lattice structure that saves weight internally, which Cobra has redistributed using tungsten weights in the heel and toe. This essentially creates perimeter weighting to boost playability, and it is genuinely noticeable during play.
If you have been desperate to ‘game’ some blades before, but have always been a little intimidated, you may just find these surprisingly accessible.
When looking at the launch monitor data from my Foresight Sports GC3, the numbers won't blow anyone away. This is exactly what you would expect from a conservatively lofted set of blades (the 7-iron sits at a traditional 34°); however, this iron is about a lot more than impressing with raw data; it is all about the hitting experience. The distance control is precise, the flight is workable, and the interaction with the turf is sublime.
The knockout looks and the stunning feel combine to make this one of the most desirable golf clubs I have ever come across. But, as with the 3DP X iron, there is a catch - an expensive one.
The Cobra 3DP MB irons are retailing at $1,980, and that isn't even for a 4-PW set. For your two thousand bucks, you are only going to see a six-iron configuration, placing them at an eye-watering $330 per stick.
Sadly, this is going to put these irons out of reach for many of the golfing public, and this is a crying shame for one of the most aspirational overall packages of an iron set I have ever seen.
This is not meant to be a brag, or to rub it in (as I certainly couldn't afford these out of my own pocket), but to highlight what high esteem I hold these irons in: Cobra will have to wrestle them out of my cold, dead hands if they want these samples back, as they are going straight in my bag!
This is a quite frankly astonishing manufacturing achievement from Cobra, I just hope that manufacturing costs drop in future iterations so that these stunning irons become more accessible to a golfing public that would absolutely love them.
