Best Cobra Golf Irons: Quick Menu
1. The list in brief
2. Top pick
3. Best looking
4. Best for beginners
5. Best for distance
6. Best for slicers
7. Best compact distance
8. How we test
9. How to choose
10. FAQs
When it comes to searching for golf irons for your bag, it's crucial that you find a set that is best for your game. At the end of the day, they're the clubs that are likely to be in your bag the longest and the clubs which will set you back the most money. Many manufacturers fall under the category of making the best golf irons, with one of those companies being Cobra, which produces some outstanding models, as shown by some of the review ratings below.
Its irons cater for a wide range of abilities and even rival the best Callaway irons and best Mizuno irons on the market, models that are used by the professionals out on the world's biggest Tours. After extensive testing, I've narrowed down the best models from the company and suggest the ones that might be best suited for your game.
The Quick List
For the low handicapper, this is one of the best all-round packages we’ve tested this year. Some may hit the ball too far versus their traditionally lofted set.
An excellent all-round distance iron. Cobra has produced a high-performing iron, packed with distance and a surprisingly good feel. We really enjoyed the dark finish.
We rate this as a stable and solid iron, with a powerful feel that is consistently long. We also found a very forgiving centre, making it a strong choice as a forgiving club.
The new slimmed down King Forged Tec manages to offer even more firepower for the competent golfer seeking a compact, distance-orientated iron.
A mightily impressive lightweight iron set that is easy to launch and forgiving. Users should look up to see a high and consistent draw-biased ball flight with a springy, stable feel off the face.
If you’re a mid to high handicapper that wants to play a cool-looking iron that looks like it is aimed at a good player, this is certainly a model to consider.
Best Cobra Golf Irons
Why you can trust Golf Monthly Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Top pick
A model that is one of our absolute favorites in 2023, the Cobra King Tour is one of the best all-round packages we’ve tested this year. An iron aimed at low handicappers, it has a 1025c forged body and a CNC Milled undercut, which removes weight from the center and repositions it to the heel and toe. You’ll also see the TPU insert, which dampens vibrations for a softer feel.
The result in testing was the feel off the face was livelier than most compact cavity back irons married with a dense, soft feel at impact. We also quite liked the ball flight too, it came out low with a healthy amount of spin, which gave us really good control of the trajectory as well as plenty of stopping power into firm greens.
Additionally the forgiveness was excellent given the level of player this iron is aimed at, and visually this iron is a stunner. The clean lines and classic profile really suits the eye at address and the slightly larger dimensions means it inspires a little more confidence than most tour-played irons.
- Read our full Cobra King Tour Iron Review
Best looking
Cobra has produced some exceptional game improvement irons in recent years including the Aerojet and King LTDx models that excelled when it came to distance, so we were excited for the Darkspeed.
Firstly the charcoal finish looks really sleek and sophisticated, and down behind the ball the shaping of the head is nice too. Nothing too angular, just some lovely soft curves and not a crazy amount of offset. The dark colorway again minimizes a decently thick top line.
In terms of the tech, Cobra is telling us that the Darkspeed iron is filled with a lighter foam material than the Aerojet iron and we think the changes internally within the clubhead have created an exceptionally good feel for irons in this category. The flight was strong as we would expect from a pretty strong lofted set up and as a result spin levels were relatively low. Any mis-struck shots retained a really good level of ball speed which was a real positive too.
Overall we certainly haven’t tested any irons in this category that have impressed us more in terms of 2024 releases, so if the charcoal finish is something that appeals to your eye, you most certainly won’t be disappointed with the performance.
- Read our full Cobra Darkspeed Iron Review
Best for beginners
Cobra has fine-tuned what they achieved in the impressive Radspeed and King LTDx irons in their latest upgrade, the Aerojet. And having recently got our hands on this iron, I think it might be one of the best distance irons on the market. Visually, the Aerojet boasts several pops of color and a sleek carbon fiber back plate that does add a premium feel to the club. That nestles in behind one of the club's newest features, the PWR Bridge. This is a fully suspended weight on its body that allows the face to be more flexible, while lowering the CG to help reduce spin and improve the launch angles the club delivers.
The Aerojet comes with a generous head size that inspires confidence at address, and when talking about consistency, this iron was hard to fault. Whether I struck it low or high on the face, the ball still travelled well, something we'd expect from the most forgiving irons. The feel was lively but delivered a slightly subdued sound, thanks to the polymer that fills the club head's cavity which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It does a great job of maintaining the feeling of power while dumbing down any harsh vibrations that often crop up when the ball is struck off center.
Well struck shots carried well and I really enjoyed the distance the club gave me on the course and when testing it out with the the Foresight sports GCQuad launch monitor against the LTDx. Overall, it is a fast and fun-to-hit iron that has an explosive feel.
- Read our full Cobra Aerojet Iron Review
Best for distance
With these King Forged Tec Irons that is certainly the case, as stunning, clean looks play wingman to premium performance. Featuring a new five step forged body and face, along with the tungsten weighting inside the hollow head, I was blown away with how well it performs as an incredibly powerful feel offers up a more metallic sound akin to that of a metalwood. Part of the improvement in feel can be attributed to the stability, where you don't get any harsh vibrations in your hands unless you really mishit one.
Aesthetically, it is clean and elegant and, when down at address, provides a streamlined look, which will attract the attention of many better players. The new five step forged body and face along with the tungsten weighting inside the hollow head did combine to produce some excellent yardages off the tee. Cobra didn’t need to reinvent the wheel with the new King Forged Tec iron because of how good the outgoing model was but its clear the refinements on show here make this an excellent club you should definitely check out if you're looking to send the ball further with your irons.
- Read our full Cobra 2022 King Forged Tec Iron Review
Best for slicers
These Cobra Air-X Irons are some of the best golf irons for seniors, as the lightweight and forgiving feel help those who want to swing the club faster for longer carries. Beginning with the looks, the Air-X features lots of design elements and flashes of red that will pop off the shelf. Down at address, the thick topline and wide sole make it inviting to hit and there is also a generous amount of offset in the seven iron to compliment the draw bias in the head. This helps serial slicers overcome their most common miss.
There is also a significant amount of forgiveness in the iron which also makes it a great iron for low handicap golfers. In testing, I found a soft draw seemed easy to replicate and the feel off the face was lively and consistent off what felt like a large area. Even shots struck quite low on the face had ample launch, thanks to the deep undercut design and the fact the lofts aren’t super strong.
- Read our full Cobra Air-X Irons Review
Best compact distance
The Cobra King Forged Tec X is a new entry within Cobra’s iron line up and said to open up a brand new ‘players’ game-improvement’ category with its strong lofts and shrunken profile. Providing neat and tidy looks behind the ball, it is undoubtedly one of the most compact game improvement irons on the market. What's more, it has a fairly thick topline that will inspire confidence at address.
Away from its looks, it has a very springy feel off the face with a relatively clicky sound, but the flight is best described as flat or penetrating. It is also consistent, thanks to the stability in the head, with shot shaping relatively easy and, because it is forgiving, you achieve ample distance, even on off-centre strikes.
- Read our full Cobra King Forged Tec X Iron Review
How we test irons
Our testing for golf irons is built upon a comprehensive process combined with the knowledge and expertise of the Golf Monthly test team. As far as the specific procedure goes, before testing, the team will usually attend product launches and meet with the manufacturer's R&D experts to understand the new technology.
When it comes to testing, we often head indoors first to try the irons in a controlled environment. This usually takes place on an indoor simulator at Foresight Sports, with premium balls and the GCQuad launch monitor. Our outside testing normally takes place at West Hill Golf Club, a course with top-notch practice facilities.
We think it is vitally important to do both and continue to test the irons so they have been comprehensively put to the test in different conditions. It should also be mentioned that manufacturers cannot pay for a good review and we make our conclusions from the testing and our experiences. This is because we strive to give the best reviews possible so you can get a greater understanding of the irons themselves.
How to choose new irons
Buying a new set of irons can be a difficult and sometimes overwhelming purchase. The market is crowded with a ton of different types of clubs that are all suitable to different kinds of players and can offer a ton of different features. But don't fret. We've set out a list of key considerations below that you should think about when purchasing your next set of irons.
1. Your Handicap And Ability
This is probably the most important first step: knowing which type of iron best suits your game. This is by no means gospel, but higher handicappers tend to use cavity back irons that offer maximum forgiveness in a larger iron head, while mid-low handicappers tend to use more bladed irons that are forged, offer more feel and control but less forgiveness.
You'll know how good or perhaps not so good your ball striking tends to be, so make sure you invest in a set of irons that matches where your game is out now, not where you'd ideally want it to be. We have great guides that go into more detail on this, so check out our guide on the most forgiving irons if you're a higher handicapper and our guide on the best irons for mid-handicappers.
2. Price
This will be a major factor in anyone's decision of what irons to go for. As you'll have seen in this list, the price can vary dramatically between irons. Typically, for a set of cavity back irons - those that provide most distance and forgiveness - you'll be looking between $600-$800 for a set of seven irons.
This obviously can fluctuate between brands, and we've highlighted in this list the ones we think give the best value for money in this category. The price jumps quite significantly when looking at the forged and bladed options - up to and above $1000 - but this is par for the course and you'll be getting a high quality, premium product in return.
3. Custom Fit
This is probably the most essential part of the iron buying process, no matter the irons you're after or how good you are at the game. A custom fit session will make sure you get the right flex and length of shaft, correct lie angle and correct iron head for your game, meaning you'll finish with the best golf clubs that are as suitable as possible for you out on course.
Custom fits can be a daunting process if you're a true beginner or you aren't that confident hitting golf balls in front of people, but they're a vital part of the club buying process. We recommend having a shortlist of three or four iron heads you like the look of before entering a custom fit and then whittling them down to the best for your game during the custom fit process. Custom fits are provided by a number of golf retailers or club professionals at your local golf club.
4. Shaft Flex
Shaft flex is also an important point to consider when purchasing your next set of irons. Depending on your swing speed, you need to think about the kind of shaft you're playing with in order to get the club that suits you the best. If you're a faster swinger, you might want to buy a set of clubs that have a stiff shaft flex to help you rip through each shot. Equally, if you're a slower swinger, you might want to buy clubs with a more flexible set of shafts in order to help you generate ball speeds.
While Cobra are one of the best golf iron manufacturers on the market, it's also worth looking at what other companies have on offer. So for that reason, why not take a look at our guides to the best Titleist golf irons, the best TaylorMade golf irons, and the best Ping golf irons.
FAQs
Are Cobra good irons?
Quite simply, yes, Cobra produces some of the best golf irons that money can buy, with the brand catering for a range of different players from tour players, low and high handicappers.
Do any professionals use Cobra?
A number of professionals use Cobra, like Bryson DeChambeau, Rickie Fowler and Lexi Thompson as well as Ewen Ferguson across the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LPGA Tour.
What sort of irons are best for low handicap players?
As your irons can be some of the most unforgiving clubs to play with, it is wise to get a playable and easy to use set that deliver excellent forgiveness off the tee and off the deck. If you're a low handicap player, look out for a set of cavity backed irons that have a wide sole and a large club head which will inspire confidence at address.
-
Rory McIlroy Set To Make Shock Return To PGA Tour Policy Board - ReportThe World No.2 could be returning to the PGA Tour policy board as a player director once again after stepping down from the role last November
-
LIV Golf Adelaide Prize Money Payout 2024The big-money League resumes and there’s another huge payout on offer for the 54 players in the field
