Cobra Darkspeed X Driver Review
Joe Ferguson gets his first look at the new Cobra Darkspeed X driver and gives it a thorough test on the golf course
The Darkspeed X is an exceptional all-rounder. Competitive ball speeds coupled with comfortable levels of spin and playability make this a great option for a huge range of golfers.
-
+
Stunning aesthetic
-
+
High levels of forgiveness
-
+
Will suit a wide range of players
-
-
Mostly cosmetic improvements over last year's Aerojet
Why you can trust Golf Monthly
Equipment launch season is well and truly upon us and I have gotten my hands on the new Darkspeed X driver from Cobra. I had been interested to see the new Darkspeed range since my colleague Dan Parker returned from a Cobra press trip where he got a sneak preview and was very impressed. So let's take a look and see if the Darkspeed X can rival the best golf drivers of 2024.
Out of the box, first impressions were excellent with the all matte black profile giving a seriously sophisticated appearance. The headcover is a thing of beauty too, continuing the all black visual and adding a touch of class with some high quality embossed logos.
Down behind the ball, the Darkspeed X looks very neat and tidy. The head is exceptionally clean with only a subtle Cobra logo and carbon highlights to compliment the pure simplicity and minimalism of the crown. In terms of the visual Cobra has created here, less is very much more and I'm fully on board.
The lack of accent colors and graphics makes the Darkspeed X look a little more compact than it actually is, which may deter some but really suited my eye. The aesthetic really makes you feel you have a really premium driver in your hands.
From a tech point of view it would be a lie to say that the Darkspeed X is a significant leap forward from the Aerojet driver, but in terms of performance, the Darkspeed X ticked a lot of my boxes.
I tested both on the course at the beautiful Saunton Golf Club and indoors with the help of a Trackman 4 launch monitor and Titleist Pro V1x golf balls, and the data was excellent.
Launch and spin sat perfectly in the mid-windows that I look for at around 11 degrees and the 2300rpm mark, and the ball speed was just as impressive as its predecessor the Aerojet, coming in at approximately 173mph.
The results were a really neutral ball flight with no noticeable curvature bias and the perfect blend of enough spin to make it feel safe, but not too much to negate the impressive ball speed.
If you are looking for a really low spinner, then you might want to check out the Darkspeed LS driver from the same family, but for me the X hit the perfect notes of power with playability.
The sound and feel are very similar to the Aerojet, which is no bad thing given the popularity and success of that range. Not too loud, but enough feedback and decibels to let you know you’ve given something a good whack!
With all that in mind, and with the masses of loft and face angle adjustability that Cobra gives you with the hosel, this driver will be accessible to a broad range of players.
Cobra had a really tough task following the Aerojet, and whilst this is more evolution than revolution, I think it has got it spot on. It has taken an already excellent framework and, in my opinion at least, just refined the look into a more sophisticated package.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Joe has worked in the golf industry for nearly 20 years in a variety of roles. After a successful amateur career being involved in England squads at every age group, Joe completed his PGA degree qualification in 2014 as one of the top ten graduates in his training year and subsequently went on to become Head PGA Professional at Ryder Cup venue The Celtic Manor Resort. Equipment has always been a huge passion of Joe’s, and during his time at Celtic Manor, he headed up the National Fitting Centres for both Titleist and Taylormade. He’s excited to bring his knowledge of hardware to Golf Monthly in the form of equipment reviews and buying advice.
Joe lives in North Devon and still plays sporadically on the PGA West region circuit. His best round in recent years came earlier in 2023 where he managed a 9 under par 63 at Trevose GC in a Devon & Cornwall PGA Tournament.
Joe's current What's In The Bag?
Driver: Ping G430 Max 10K 9 degree - Fujikura Ventus Red 6X 45.75"
Fairway wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour - Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro White shaft 70TX 43.25"
Irons: Callaway Apex CB 24' 3-11 - Project X LS 6.5 shafts
Wedges: PXG Sugar Daddy 54 and 60 degree - Project X LS 6.0 shafts
Putter: Odyssey Toe Up #9
Ball: TaylorMade 2024 TP5x
-
Guy Kinnings Reveals When He Believes Negotiations Over The Future Of Men's Pro Golf Will Begin (And When A Resolution Might Arrive)
Guy Kinnings also suggested - once unification talks are complete - men's pro golf is unlikely to begin its new dawn any earlier than 2026
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
'We're Not Going To Change Anything' - Rahm And Hatton Remain Eligible For Ryder Cup Selection Says New DP World Tour Boss
New DP World Tour boss Guy Kinnings says Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton will remain eligible for Ryder Cup selection as long as they follow the current criteria already in place
By Paul Higham Published
-
Watch: Cameron Smith Followed Down 18 By Massive Crowd In Throwback Scenes At LIV Golf Adelaide
If anyone doubted The Australian's cult status Down Under, these pictures from LIV Golf Adelaide should clear it up...
By Jonny Leighfield Published