Best Cobra Drivers 2025

Drivers are one of the biggest investments a golfer is likely to make, particularly if you are shopping at the top end of the market. The best golf drivers on the market do not come cheap and there are many to choose from, with most of the leading brands bringing out a new range of drivers every year. Cobra is a brand that has established a reputation over recent years for producing premium, high-performance golf drivers that will not break the bank. The brand is trusted by many players on tour including the likes of Rickie Fowler.

WATCH: Joe Ferguson tests and compares the Cobra DS-ADAPT drivers

Some of you may have fallen in love with the brand when it introduced its 'Baffler' utility wood, that boasts technology that is still used in many of the Cobra's recent releases. Since then, there's been no lack of innovation, especially where drivers are concerned. Cobra's 2024 offering is the Darkspeed which, like its predecessor the Aerojet, has three head designs available.

In this guide, we'll be walking you through the best of Cobra's driver range and what each design offers to help you determine which one is best for your game. Alternatively, if Cobra is not for you, we have also created guides for other brands too – such as the best Titleist drivers, the best TaylorMade drivers, and the best Callaway drivers.

The Quick List

Best Cobra Drivers 2025

DS-ADAPT Models

We'll begin dissecting the latest range of drivers from Cobra, the DS-ADAPT family. First up is the DS-ADAPT X, a driver designed to be an all-rounder and appeal to players of all levels and abilities.

Starting with the looks, it oozes shelf appeal, thanks to some subtle blue accent colors to help differentiate it from the rest of the range and the somewhat triangular head profile of its predecessor has been softened a touch which is getting closer to the look I prefer. Then from a hitting perspective, the X delivered. I experienced a nice, comfortable level of launch, with mid-range spin and strong levels of forgiveness. My predominant miss is low and from the heel which the X dealt with, maintaining strong ball speed and relatively tight dispersion. I also loved the feel of the X too, best described as smooth and with minimal vibrations.

I should finally mention the FutureFit33 adjustable hosel. It allows players to de-couple loft and lie angle for the first time ever meaning 33 unique individual settings are available to keep even the most avid tinkerer happy. The main benefit of this is allowing players to fine tune what ball flight they want from their driver.

Read our full Cobra DS-ADAPT X Driver Review

Cobra DS-ADAPT LS Driver

The low-spin member of the DS-ADAPT family is the 'LS' model. Too often manufacturers dip their toe into a genre or profile of driver and it creates too many crossovers in a range, here, Cobra has positively leapt into it.

During testing, our spin numbers struggled to get over 2000rpm which is about as low spin as it gets - so it's a big green tick in the box of Cobra's main promise with the LS.

The DS-ADADPT LS has big shoes to fill after the success of the Darkspeed LS the year before but we found this version actually had more playability and forgiveness than the Darkspeed. We were also glad to find that feel of the LS was fantastic - a common them across the entire DS-ADAPT family. Acoustics were lovely and the feel was lively without feeling too harsh.

The Darkspeed LS set a high benchmark for the DS-ADAPT LS and we think the latest model has passed that benchmark with flying colors.

Read our full Cobra DS-ADAPT LS Driver Review

Cobra DS-ADAPT MAX-K Driver

The MAX-K is Cobra's entry into the high-MOI category of modern drivers. In short, MOI is the magic behind giving a driver forgiveness, meaning the MAX-K will appeal to plenty of players of all handicaps.

We found both forgiveness and stability levels to be terrific in testing, which will undoubtedly lead to plenty of shelf appeal when considered alongside the attractive look on offer. The MAX-K boasts a 10K MOI, aiming to deliver extreme forgiveness and consistency. The MAX-K features a slightly oversized profile (460cc), and the highest MOI of the DS-ADAPT family models.

Coupled with the FutureFit33 adjustable shaft adapter means the MAX-K is a really, really high tech piece of kit. This is a high-spinning driver and thus may not suit those with faster swing speeds, but more advanced players are more likely to be able to dial in how they want their driver to perform via the adjustable shaft.

Read our full Cobra DS-ADAPT MAX-K Driver Review

Cobra DS-ADAPT MAX-D Driver

The MAX-D is designed to suit the sizable number of players who struggle with a right miss off the tee and we concluded after testing that we likely won't see a better draw-biased driver on the market in 2025.

Ball flight is as expected - extremely left-biased, which is exactly what we want from this type of driver. Launch was also easy to come by, impressing us in testing with the high level of stability at impact no matter what area of the club face the ball made contact with.

The DS-ADAPT family of drivers all deliver excellent feel, but the MAX-D might be the star of the show. The feel is once again complimented with wonderful accoustics that our driver guru Joe Ferguson described as "a sweet spot right in the middle of ‘thuddy’ and dull, and ‘clangy’ and high-pitched that the DS-ADAPT range has dissected perfectly."

The angular head shape may not suit the eye of every player, nor will the multi-lateral crown flows with the design, but this is nit-picking at an otherwise quality driver.

Read our full Cobra DS-ADAPT MAX-D Driver Review

Darkspeed Models

In comparison to the Darkspeed X and the Max versions, the LS is slightly more compact in profile and sits very neatly behind the ball. We noted that the slightly conical shape that was synonymous with the Aerojet LS remains as part of the aerodynamic tech story, but unlike the Aerojet the head is exceptionally clean with only a subtle Cobra logo and carbon highlights breaking up the simplistic look.

We like it when brands don't try too hard to impress with fussy logos and colors, and the Darkspeed range certainly epitomises that ethos, which makes it very much to our taste visually.

What of performance though? Well we remained impressed. The ball flight was suitably aggressive with a mid-to-low launch angle and it produced good, low spin numbers that are comparable with any of the best golf drivers on the market. The Darkspeed LS produced a seriously penetrating flight which was never in any danger of climbing or being adversely affected by the wind, and it will certainly appeal to the better ball strikers out there.

We did experiment with lofting up a touch, and whilst this did raise the launch angle the spin remained steadfastly low, which is encouraging. We have to say that the R&D team at Cobra really have nailed the brief on this one in terms of producing another low-spin bomber.

• Read our full Cobra Darkspeed LS Review

Cobra Darkspeed Max Driver

Along with the rest of the Darkspeed family, the draw-biased Max is straight out of the top drawer when it comes to looks. Taking the “dark” theme to the extreme, Cobra has almost entirely done away with any color here, which is unusual for them but really works. Whilst the head shape of the Max isn’t quite as refined as its siblings listed above, the carbon effect crown and minimalist Cobra logo give a very sophisticated look which we appreciate.

Onto performance, and the Darkspeed Max delivered strong results for us right across the board. We tested the Darkspeed Max both on the golf course and indoors, using Trackman 4 launch monitor and Titleist Pro V1x golf balls and the first thing to note was that the ball speed was strong, producing some very pleasing carry distances.

As we expected, launch and spin were predictably a little higher but not excessively and we feel that Cobra has done a great job of finding the right balance of adding some spin and launch to help the golfer this driver is tailored for, while not adding so much that it would alienate higher speed players who might be wanting to switch to a draw bias option.

• Read our full Cobra Darkspeed Max Review

How we test

When it comes to product testing, our reviews and buyers' guides are built upon a rigorous testing procedure as well as the knowledge and experience of the test team. The driver section is headed up by Joe Ferguson, a PGA Professional who has been working in the golf industry for over two decades, and has tested golf gear for most of those as well.

He is also ably assisted by Joel Tadman. Both have been testing golf clubs for years and are very accomplished golfers who are also able to efficiently test the vast majority of the biggest product releases and convey the pros and cons eloquently.

Getting into specifics for drivers, we first attend product launches and speak to manufacturer's to understand the technology. We then hit the golf clubs indoors, usually at Foresight Sports and test the products with premium golf balls on a launch monitor. Outdoor testing is the next port of call and this usually takes place at West Hill Golf Club, a course in Surrey with top-notch practice facilities. Ultimately, we aim to be as insightful and honest as possible in our reviews so it is important to acknowledge that no manufacturer can buy a good review. This is because our team tells it how it is.

How to choose

There are plenty of things to consider when purchasing a brand new driver. Some of the top models on the market right now come with a whole ton of design features and technology that can make buying a new driver a very complicated thing to do. But don't fret. We've put together a list of key considerations that you should keep in mind when buying your next Cobra driver.

1. Size

The first thing to think about is how big your driver should be. In order to conquer this conundrum we recommend heading down to a club fitting session to get the right size and length of driver for you. You're also going to want to think about the size of the clubhead on your potential new driver. Do you want a larger head to help you feel more confident over the ball, akin to some of the models on our best drivers for high handicappers guide, or are you a more experienced player looking for something a little more compact?

Forgiving drivers tend to be slightly larger than other models for the basic reason of giving them a larger clubface and larger footprint. When hitting, try and take note of where you are striking the golf ball with the face of the club and see if there is any performance drops. Many forgiving drivers these days are designed to perform regardless of where you strike them off the face and you being able to see and understand that in person will help you be more confident with one model over another.

2. Forgiveness

On that note, it is vital to consider how much playability each driver offers. Some of the most forgiving drivers on the market help you consistently strike the ball right down the middle of the fairway no matter where you hit the ball on the clubface. That can also be helped by buying a driver that has a built-in draw bias, that'll help you eliminate a slice.

3. Style

Confidence can come from the equipment you're playing with, so, if you're using a driver that looks and feels the business then, more often than not, that can help put you in the right mindset to play better! There are plenty of drivers out there that offer bags of shelf appeal, with some of the best golf drivers offering glossy and matte finishes that look stunning behind the ball.

4. Weight

Weight has become a big factor when it comes to forgiving drivers, with most brands making models that have a weight towards the back of the head to aid forgiveness and launch. When it comes to whether you want a forgiving driver, it is worth acknowledging whether this is important to you because if not then manufacturers usually make a model without a weight there. If you're looking for better launch angles and longer carries, look for clubs that have the weight pushed towards their heel, a design feature that moves the center of gravity lower, helping you to hit upwards on the golf ball.

5. Adjustability

Often this weight is moveable too and adjustability has become a huge part of modern golf. Being able to tinker and change loft, lie, and many other factors, has become all the rage and if you like to try new things then plenty of the models above will cater to that. However if that doesn't interest you one bit, there are also models which keep things more simple, like the Ping G430 Max.

While there are plenty of fantastic options on this guide, we have been hard at work testing some of the top driver models in the game right now. We have come up with some definitive walkthroughs on the best golf drivers for distance, best budget golf drivers, and best golf drivers for beginners, which you should check out if you're in the market for a new club!

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