TEST: Cobra Fly-Z+ driver

After fitting sessions, our two testers took to the course with new drivers. How did they perform?

MODEL AND SHAFT PLAYED: Cobra Fly-Z+ driver, fitted with a regular-flex graphite shaft. The loft was set to 10° (draw) with the FlipZone weight positioned at the front of the clubhead.

Editor’s note: Before play Gary went through a fitting session, trialling several different shafts and clubhead settings before settling on this configuration.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The fitting process – my first one – was highly valuable. After getting the desired shaft and loft setting, I felt confident I had the right club for me. The most interesting thought I took away from it was the recommendation to not try to shape the ball with my swing but instead allow the tailored setup of the driver to do that for me.

VERDICT: The strikes I achieved off the tee with the Cobra Fly-Z+ driver were really good. Admittedly, my best drives were on the practice fairway as I struggled a little to take that onto the course, but through the bag I wasn’t swinging the club overly well all round. That said, my driving got better as the round went on. Impact felt strong and I’d estimate it gave me an extra 20 metres in distance. My bad drives were still pretty accurate, which was encouraging. The boring trajectory was ideal for carry and roll, too.

WHAT I LIKED: The design and shape of the clubhead. You can see from the start it sits nice and square.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Nothing.

MODEL AND SHAFT PLAYED: Cobra Fly-Z+ driver, fitted with a stiff-flex graphite shaft. The loft was set to 9° with the FlipZone weight positioned at the back of the clubhead.

Editor’s note: Before play Steve went through a fitting session, trialling several different shafts and clubhead settings before settling on this configuration.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I honestly felt my swing changes so much shot-to-shot that a fitting session might not be so beneficial, yet I was astounded at how even a minor tweak or a shaft switch could fix my bad shots. For me, it turns out a heavier shaft slows me down and puts me in better position at impact.

VERDICT: I hit the Cobra Fly-Z+ driver consistently further and phenomenally straighter. I have hit longer drives but not with the consistent extra length of this club. This was one of the best, if not the best, driving rounds I’ve ever had. I normally hit a high draw but the shape of my shots was more penetrating and with less curve, but still with strong carry and a trajectory that produced roll.

WHAT I LIKED: That I could really swing at it. I had the confidence in the club and the settings to go after my tee shots.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Not a thing. Swinging the driver better filtered down through the rest of my game as I hit the ball as well as ever.

FACTS & FIGURES

SUITABILITY: All golfers.

SHAFTS: Standard is the Matrix VLCT ST 60-gram graphite in regular, stiff and X-stiff flexes, with the option to upgrade to the Aldila ATX Tour Blue, Tour Green or the Matrix White Tie X4 53-gram shafts. There is no additional charge to upgrade to a premium shaft.

LOFTS: The loft is adjustable through Cobra’s MyFly8 technology, creating 8.5°, 9°, 9° (draw), 10°, 10° (draw), 11°, 11° (draw) and 11.5° settings.

LEFT-HANDED MODELS?: Yes.

HOW MUCH?: $499.

COBRA SAYS: “At Cobra, we like options. So our engineers designed the Fly-Z+ driver, featuring FlipZone weight technology: a revolutionary, moveable weight system engineered to provide two different flight paths in one club that enables maximum distance for any swing and any golfer.

“The key to increased distance is the ultra-low centre of gravity embodied in Cobra’s new FlipZone weight technology that gives golfers the ability to move the low centre of gravity to the front or back position. The front position provides a mid-launch angle with ultra-low spin and a penetrating ball flight with more roll for maximum distance, while the back position delivers a mid-launch angle with 400rpm of additional spin, resulting in a towering ball flight, maximum distance with more carry.

“The Fly-Z+ driver also features Speed Channel Technology for increased ball speeds across the face for distance and forgiveness, Forged E9 Zone Face technology for a larger sweet zone and more distance on off-centre hits, multi-material construction to maximise discretionary weight and MyFly8 and SmartPad, allowing golfers to select from multiple settings to tune their game.”

Contact Cobra Puma Golf on 1800 053 164 or visit www.cobragolf.com.au