By: Matt Fryer Golf | Duration: 00:13:52
Video Description
COBRA DARKSPEED – The 1 BIG PROBLEM!
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I bought the X version and tried all of them. I agree that including the roll out for total distance the LS was only marginally longer for me and importantly only when I nailed it. The X was slightly higher launching and more forgiving so it was a no brainer for me – I also tried against latest Taylormade, Callaway and Ping offerings. The X was the fastest swing speed and the winner for me even although the orhers weren’t far behind. – the X is £100 cheaper though! Also the Max versions were higher ball flight still and slightly lower on the distance as unable to get as fast a swing speed with the larger heads and weight was at the back too.
The new LS driver is by far the coolest looking driver I've ever seen, but I guess its not optmized for us average golfers with average swing speed, especially if we aim to hit it long on the fairway. If I were to choose one its X driver all the way, much better dispersion and looks more consistent to me from most data out there, while getting lots of speed and distance.
It's common business practice to have a halo model, in any industry. And you can guarantee that a percentage of your viewers will only see the headline carry numbers, and make their decision based on that.
I have the LS and I put the heavier weight in the back . I feel like I get the foregiveness of the X but I get the better looking profile and added aerodynamics of the LS
I’ve got the X plus the 5W and 2 hybrids in the range and I can’t say anything wrong at all and that’s up against the Ai Smoke and Qi10 👍👌
They are awful the ltdx driver I bought is trash
I tried these a couple days ago at a demo day on a sim. I'm a high handicapper (very). I also have a very high launch angle and slow swing speed. They started me on the max but that made my LA even worse. In the end the best they could do for me was about 10 yds. They sent me home to work out my swing problems, lol.
Matt would you call the Darkspeed X the best driver of the year so far?
Ah yes indeed ,,, the golf industry ,,, more hype and bullshit ,, there is nothing they won't do or say or claim to entice you to depart from stupid amounts of money for the " latest " driver. Golfers, forget the ridiculous hype and foocus on the shafts ,, that's where it's at.
The high majority of the " latest " drivers are no better than the crap they were flogging ten years ago. Always keep in mind the priciple object of these golf companies is to baffle the golfing public with bullshit.
Thanks
I think any "Low Spin" model from any manufacturer is aimed mostly at tour players and the few amateurs that can consistently strike the center over and over. From what I've read and seen on other reviews, most people live the LS, so maybe you got a head worth some issues, Matt? Great review, and that distance is getting very impressive, my friend!
As others have said, you need to play with the weights. I have the LS and I watched a fitting for it and he said move the heavier weight to where you are hitting it. For example, consistent toe or heal shots weight goes to that area. Right now I removed all the weights, except for having the heavier weight at the toe since that is my miss.
Hogwash! Just get a better shaft fitting for the LS and then give it a try. You just got to tinker with it and get used to swinging it. Take the distance, just because you didn’t hit it as straight?
Great review!!! I always had the same feeling with the low spin callaway driver heads. Has no idea where it was going and I’m usually pretty consistent with the driver.
These are clubs from a multi-million dollar company with an Engineering team made up of Doctoral level Engineers. I guess you know better 😳
Darkspeed Ls for me out performed my gamer fitted tsr3. Was more forgiving same distance as tsr3 but on off centre strikes it had better spin than the tsr3. Fitted nicely into UST shafts. Never tried them before but it was nicer feeling shaft for me than the tensi 1k black.
Great video. Which do you think is more forgiving the Darkspeed X or the TSR2?
I picked up 15mph ball speed with the LS, and had a nice tight dispersion rate.46 out of 50 balls were a nice tight and boring draw. LOL Obviously its not for everyone, but I hit it better than the X or the Max. Both of which had too much spin for me. And I'm not swinging the club any faster than you? I don't think your average customer would be fitted for the LS. But I do think it will work for more people than just the log driving pros.
Hit 10 fairways at 320-360 yds with ls. Gotta swing faster mate
Honma
Great review as always Matt, I really enjoy your content especially more recently with your dad and your swing issues.
I've been contemplating changing my Cobra King F7 driver, so went for a driver fitting with the new Cobra Darkspeed X/Max, Ping G430 Max/G430 Max 10K and TaylorMade Qi10/Qi10 Max. The 10K drivers did not suit me at all, but when I got into the "standard" models, The Cobra blew the Qi10 out the water, and the G430 came a close second though the dispersion and consistency with the Darkspeed X was far better. I have to say, it was exactly the same with the fairway woods too. The Cobra was just so much easier to hit and get the ball out there. The 5 wood was a lovely hit! So I am now the proud owner of the Darkspeed X driver, plus 5 and 7 woods
Thanks as always Matt and keep the good content coming. Looking forward to seeing you, Finchy and Carter on the course again soon.
You answered your own question in the review, most better players like the smaller head and shape. Most players care about how a club sits and looks behind the ball. Your problem with Cobra seems not very well thought out just because you like the X. If the players on tour are plying the LS models why wouldn’t they sell that model? Seriously?
What I saw in the data is the smash factor in the LS was 1.49 and the Max and X were 1.44 and therein lies the difference between them and the difference in the distance. What good golfers (scratch) want is a high SF because they generally hit the middle of the face. I play the Aerojet LS in a 9 degree delofted to 8 with a 44.5" Ventus Velocore TR Blue Stiff. I am hitting in 15 or 20 yards longer than my Mizuno STZ with the same shaft and it's winter in the pacific northwest. It does demand a consistent center strike though. To each his own…
Just purchased the X version and Yeah!! Just filthy and am LOVING this driver!!! Great review and video Matt as appreciate you brother!!
The sun might not shine Up North in Manchester where you are but down here in civilised Kent is often very sunny and warm. ☀🌞🕶😎
Right on the money Matt, totally agree. LS aimed at a very small market share.
Science nerd alert, yes a shadow (i.e. dark) can move faster than the speed of light. Utterly irrelevant to golf of course 😅
Great video. Remember these are HIS results! Yours will be different
What were the gram settings on the Driver?
Have to ask, how did you get Carry Distance into the 290 range, that's fn Awesome, been working on carry and can't get it to 220 can you share your secret…
Cuz its 100 more and ppl buy it thats why they sell the ls version..
LS trajectory better for me; X was good but my dispersion and trajectory window with LS were spot on.
Just got fitted for, and purchased the X. The big thing it fixed for me was spin. I went from 2800 average with my Cobra F9 to about 2400 with the X. This gave me about 15-20 more yards on average (plus I think the face is just a bit hotter since it's newer). It also felt a bit more forgiving than the F9.
Statistics is also hard. People look at averages and state "LS is 3mph faster ball speed than X" but with 1.6 and 2.2 standard deviation respectively, the mean is not statistically significantly different from each other with significant confidence. Therefore, statistically, we cannot accept the hypothesis that the LS is any faster than the X. At a minimum we would need many, many more swings to reduce our standard deviation.
I bought the LS this year, project X extra stiff shaft 60G. I tested out the Paradym and the AI Smoke. I was getting the same specs and same distance with all 3. My previous driver was the f7+ from Cobra. It felt like home and was cheaper so I bought the LS Darkspeed. It had the best dispersion of the 3 for me combined with total distance and it was cheaper. It also got my spin down which is great as I couldn't stay below 3500 before. You asked why would you buy this one vs the X. I wanted the standard loft at 8 degrees that way its a more neutral face. I didn't want a 9 degree loft for standard my old driver(9.5 loft) did that and cranking it down I found wasn't good. Being the general public with a high swing speed this driver fit my mark, I needed the low neutral loft.
thanks for this video. excuses French….
great review! but…… nowhere do you mention what shafts you were testing! Was the review done with off the shelf shafts? or did you install a Fujikura $350 shaft?
Everyone should get fitted for their swing… I play with the Aerojet Max and like it a lot, however I wanted to get some more distance. After a fitting trying Ping, Cobra, Mizuno, Callaway and Taylormade driver heads with different shafts, the driver head that gave me more ball speed was the Cobra Darkspeed X. I tried the Cobra Darkspeed Max and it performed almost identical to my Aerojet Max in ball flight and distance. The Darkspeed X gave me similar ball flight to the max with a consistent smash factor of 1.49 and 1.50, more consistent center strikes and 1 – 2 mph faster club head speed which gave me 10 – 15 yards more distance without affecting my dispersion pattern.
Love these new driver bought the X it so forgiving..bought the 3 wood and the 7 wood ..All I can say is very well done Cobra!!!!
The LS is just not meant for u my man. Cant knock the club for being what it is. Its meant for high swing speeds and centered hits. The players that can do that benefit from the LS.
I saw a YouTube girl hit 300 with a 97 mph swing speed. Everyone hits longer than Bryson on YouTube. It's amazing
Ok I am a golf tech geek. I try many different models each year. I got the tested The Dark Speed LS and X. I junked my Taylormade and put the LS in my bag. Low spin rate was good, head speed was 1.4 mph faster than the Taylormade and 1.1 faster than the Dark Speed X. After 6 weeks I,ve gained 15-20 yards on my center strikes, I lose less than 10 yards on toe strikes. My dispersion is very tight. End results I am hitting a lot more short irons and wedges on my approach shots. My handicap has dropped more than a stroke and a half (3.2). At 65 I feel like I’m able to play with the young hardbodies. This is my story, it has really worked for me.
Good review Matt. But, in the end, marketing IS the name of the game. Personnally, I think Cobra made a fantastic job, and for a while now. They went the avenue of cheaper drivers, but VERY efficient. And if they decide to go on with 3 models, fine with me. There will always be people who consider theselves better than they really are, And let them choose their tool of trade. I bought a Radspeed and that driver changed my game!
Bought the LS 4 months ago.(6.7 hcap)…not the easist to hit…never feels like you really hit out of the centre..Had a Titleist (TS3) before ….might be going back.
Why not keep the LS and not the X since it it longer, faster, and has draw and fade adjustment????
Right its longer, faster, and has adjustments for draw and fade…. The LS is aimed a t very small market share. NOT!