How Cobra's 3D Printing Has Unlocked A New Level Of Putter Forgiveness

Cobra has never been a brand to shy away from pushing the boundaries of golf club engineering, and its latest dive into the world of 3D printing is no exception. It absolutely nailed it with the 3DP Tour irons this year, but Cobra has never really hit the nail on the head when it comes to putters. However, the brand will be hoping the 3DP Agera RS putter ($379/£299) will be the model to turn this around.

To see how this striking technology performs on the greens, I took the Cobra 3DP Tour Agera RS putter out onto the golf course to put it through its paces and see if it deserves a spot among the best mallet putters on the market this season.

Right out of the box, the first thing you notice about the 3DP Tour Agera RS is the aesthetics. The putter looks very futuristic, and to be completely honest, I just can't make up my mind on whether it looks ultra-premium or just a little tacky with the gold and matte carbon combination. Breaking in amongst the best putters is tricky, and so I at least applaud the effort for creating something aesthetically unique.

It is a bold visual statement that will undoubtedly be a conversation starter on the practice putting green and with anyone you play with. The large mallet shape is combined with an intricate 3D printed lattice structure, which Cobra says is designed to save weight and significantly increase the MOI for improved stability.

Despite my slight reservations about the busy colorway, sitting it behind the ball at address tells a different story. The footprint is confidence-inspiring without feeling overly large, and the single-bend shaft profile is perfectly tailored for golfers who putt with a relatively neutral, straight-back-and-through stroke, although there are different necks and styles available for those who prefer more toe-hang or a counterbalance design.

So how did it perform when I put it to the test? In short, remarkably well. One of my biggest worries with multi-material, 3D-printed putters is the sacrifice of feel through the hands, but Cobra has equipped the Agera RS with a 100% milled MIM 304 stainless steel face, which I loved. It provides a beautifully crisp, responsive feel that elevates feedback and distance control, and I got a satisfying, muted click through impact that I felt helped my pace control on longer lag putts.

Where I truly began to appreciate this putter was the roll on offer. The Agera RS features LA Golf’s Descending Loft Technology integrated into the face, which utilizes four descending face lofts (4°, 3°, 2°, and 1° from top to bottom) to optimize launch regardless of your shaft lean or head position at impact.

During my round, I noticed that whether I inadvertently pressed my hands slightly forward or hung back a fraction, the ball launched fairly consistently and got into a true, end-over-end roll almost immediately - I was thoroughly impressed. This, alongside the high MOI head design, meant that inside 15 feet, the resistance to twisting on off-center strikes was exceptionally noticeable, and I found the ball wanting to stay on my intended line.

For the gear tinkerers out there (myself included), Cobra hasn't overlooked customization and actually offers an adjustable weighting system on the sole, to give you the ability to interchange to a lighter or heavier weight (with additional weights from 5g up to 30g sold separately) to achieve the feel of your preference.

If you are in the market for a highly forgiving putter and you don't mind stepping away from traditional putter aesthetics, the Cobra 3DP Tour Agera RS is well worth taking a look at.