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Cobra DS-Adapt MAX Irons Review: Up, up and away!

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What’s new? How much does it cost? And how does it perform? Jack Backhouse brings you the low down on the Cobra DS-Adapt MAX irons.

Cobra are a brand that tends to deliver clubs that are suited to what most club golfers need to help optimise their performance – which is speed and height. Does the latest offering from Cobra deliver the same benefits? Find out in our Cobra DS-Adapt MAX irons review…

5 star review
NCG SUMMARY

For game-improvement irons these Cobra DS-Adapt MAX irons doesn’t half get the ball to fly off the face. Some of the numbers I was experiencing whilst testing this set of irons out was seriously impressive.

Packaged in a large profile, with plenty of offset and a confidence inspiring look these are certainly high performing irons. With the inclusion of lightweight foam in the body of the iron heads they also feel great.

PROS

  • Confidence inspiring look at address
  • Extremely forgiving
  • Plenty of distance

CONS

  • A larger profile could be off-putting for some golfers

First Impressions

My first time testing these Wilson wedges was at La Cala Golf Resort in Spain and I have to say compared to the standard head DS-Adapt irons these have a much bigger profile. They have a much wider sole, more offset and a bigger head but they still have all the same tech that is evident in the more compact irons.

Cobra DS-Adapt MAX Irons review

Visibly, the MAX irons also have more loft as throughout testing Cobra found that 30% of golfers benefitted from having more loft on their irons. This is because players are able to hit the ball higher to be able to stop the ball on the greens quicker which will appear to more amateur golfers than the other DS-Adapt model irons.

NCG Verdict

The first thing that caught my attention during my initial shots was the exceptional feel of the clubs. Cobra has ingeniously filled the hollow cavities in the clubheads with soft, lightweight foam microspheres, enhancing both the sound and feel at impact. This pleasant sensation was noticeable even on off-center strikes, which is a fantastic feature considering that many of us, as club golfers, don’t always deliver perfect shots. These clubs are designed with that reality in mind, making them a great choice for everyday players.

Despite having a thicker profile, these clubs are still hot off the face. I was still hitting ball speeds of around 130mph with a six iron, but the ball flight was a lot nicer through the air than that from the core DS-Adapt irons. The ball tended to fly much higher reaching an ideal peak height of 105 to help maximise performance.

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Cobra DS-Adapt MAX Irons review

There is loads of offset on the Cobra DS-Adapt Max irons. So, if you are a player who tends to loose the ball low and out to the right then these clubs are really going to work with you to shape straighter or even with a slight draw.

Cobra are a golf manufacturer you may not have tried before but now maybe the time to start as these are really high performing irons.

For game-improvement irons these certainly fly off the face of the club. During testing I tried to squeeze every last drop of distance out of the six iron where I reached a carry of 202 yards and a total distance of 215 yards. For context I usually strike my six iron 20 yards shorter and if I was able to recreate this out on the course then it would be an absolute game changer. Some seriously impressive numbers.

Cobra DS-Adapt MAX Irons review

Overall, if more control and launch is what you seek from your irons then you may look no further. These are perfectly suited to those golfers with a more moderate swing speed and aren’t as feisty hitting through the ball.

I had no issues with the clubs, I’m aware they are fairly strong and there is quite a lot to look at behind the ball but I was getting very solid numbers from the trackman. Stood over the ball it does look extremely inviting with the extra loft making a big difference visually.

Cobra DS-Adapt MAX Irons Review: The Details

Available: Now

RRP: £799 steel, £899 graphite / from $999

Spec: 5-iron – Gap Wedge

Shafts: KBS Tour Lite steel shafts (S, R) or KBS PGI graphite shafts (S, R, A)

More information: Cobra Website

La Cala Resort

We were fortunate enough to head out to the La Cala Resort in Spain to conduct some of our equipment reviews. A picturesque resort that is located in the Sierra de Mijas, just 30 minutes from Málaga Airport and 20 minutes from Marbella.

The place offers outstanding views of the Andalusian countryside and the Mediterranean Sea as well as three magnificent golf courses. All three were designed by Cabell B. Robinson and it’s a popular choice for players seeking variety, challenge, and stunning scenery. For more information head to La Cala Resort’s website here.

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About the author

Max Mcvittie

A bit of a late bloomer to the game of golf, Max fell in love with the sport when he attended Saturday coaching sessions down at his local golf club after being inspired by friends and family members.

Max has remained a member of Eden Golf Club in Carlisle for a number of years now as he looks to get his handicap down into single figures. Most of his golfing career has been spent battling a permanent slice off the tee, which has led to some ugly rounds.

Having studied at the University of Sunderland, Max is starting out his dream career in sports journalism. During his time at university, he picked up valuable work experience at Reach PLC, BBC Radio Cumbria and GiveMeSport, whilst also getting work published in the Teesside Live. He also spent time working at a local weekly newspaper, Eskdale and Liddesdale Advertiser, as a general news reporter partially covering some local sport just north of the border in Langholm.

Max has just started his journey with the NCG working as the assistant equipment editor. He looks forwarded to reviewing the latest golf equipment, taking up an interest in reviews when buying his first golf club, a Cleveland RTX wedge.

With his bag not going under too many changes throughout the last few years, Max carries an M3 driver, Titleist GT3 Fairway Wood, M2 hybrid, a set of M2 irons, Callaway Jaws wedges and a TaylorMade Spider putter. And yes, Max is a bit of a self-proclaimed TaylorMade fan boy.

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