Cobra Darkspeed Drivers: Everything you need to know about the 2024 models

Cobra Darkspeed Driver family

Cobra unveils their ‘fastest driver ever’, delivering out-of-this-world speed for golfers of all abilities

Jump to: Darkspeed X | Darkspeed Max | Darkspeed Max Women’s | Darkspeed LS

It’s everyone’s favorite time of year once again when the brands unveil their new equipment for the upcoming golf season – and Cobra’s doesn’t disappoint.

Cobra’s fresh claims for 2024 are that Darkspeed is the fastest driver they’ve ever brought to market. At a time when most brands are looking to break the illustrious 10k MOI barrier, Cobra have their sights on offering speed and distance.

Every single golfer is “chasing more”, and whatever that is for you, Cobra are hoping their brand new Darkspeed driver can help – and cement itself as one of the best drivers of 2024.

AI is becoming a pivotal assistance in golf club manufacturing and Cobra are continuing to use AI in their Darkspeed range to help engineer a smarter clubface.

Cobra haven’t introduced many new components to their driver in 2024, but they have made drastic improvements to the technology featured in last year’s AeroJet driver. Something Cobra have changed is the name. Unlike certain brands, Cobra are known to bring a completely new name to market year after year.

This year the California-based golf giants have elected to name their 2024 range of drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, and irons Darkspeed – a very appropriate name.

Darkspeed sees major technological advancements from last year’s AeroJet. Specifically, the driver has been modified to deliver out-of-this-world speed while not compromising on forgiveness and accuracy. Cobra have done this by increasing the size of the PWRSHELL insert, improving the PWR Bridge, and modifying the A.I. designed H.O.T. Face.

Cobra will be hoping for a more successful year across all professional tours in 2024 after their AeroJet driver only had one victory in 2023 – Rickie Fowler at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Let’s take a look at the range of Darkspeed drivers Cobra are bringing to market in 2024…

Cobra Darkspeed X driver

RRP: $549.00 / £429.00 | Lofts: 9° / 10.5° / 12°

Being the middle-of-the-road driver in Cobra’s Darkspeed line-up, it’s expected that the Darkspeed X will sell best to amateur golfers, and we also think it will find its way into the bags of Tour players. The X is available in typical driver lofts (9°, 10.5°, and 12°) which makes this a suitable option for the vast majority of golfers whether you combat a slice or hit 300-yard bombs down the middle of the fairway (even if it is in your dreams).

Progressive aerodynamic technology exhibited by Cobra makes the X not as aerodynamic as the LS but more aerodynamic than the Max, which only adds to this driver heads versatility, offering speed and forgiveness. I was blown away by how effortlessly this driver head was able to deliver distance and accuracy – especially when taking advantage of the interchangeable weights and eight MyFly loft settings.

Read our full Cobra Darkspeed X driver review.

Cobra Darkspeed Max driver

RRP: $549.00 / £429.00 | Lofts: 9° / 10.5° / 12°

As is the case with so many brands, the Max option refers to the most forgiving driver in their line-ups. While certain brands are on a quest for 10,000 MOI Cobra’s Darkspeed Max isn’t quite as forgiving as that but it’s certainly the easiest driver head to hit in the Darkspeed range. Despite being forgiving, speed and distance hasn’t been thrown out of the window, this club delivers competitive distance while ensuring you find more fairways and stop the ball leaking out to the right (or left if you’re left-handed).

The Darkspeed Max will be challenging the most forgiving drivers on the market in 2024 – even though it doesn’t have an MOI touching five figures. If you’re a golfer playing with a predominant fade or slice then it could be a smart move turning to the Max head which has two interchangeable weights that can be moved to generate a higher ball flight or a more draw-biased flight shape.

Read our full Cobra Darkspeed Max review.

Cobra Darkspeed Max Women’s driver

RRP: $549.00 / £429.00 | Lofts: 9° / 10.5° / 12°

The Darkspeed Max Women’s is exactly the same head as the Darkspeed Max, except for the colorway. Cobra haven’t decided to create a vibrant club head for women, but they have added a splash of light cool blue on the club head to make it more appealing to female golfers – and possibly some male golfers. With it being the same head as the most forgiving “men’s” it’s not unlikely that you may find this club in any golfers bag.

Being the same as the Darkspeed Max this driver is draw-biased so if you are a female golfer who doesn’t need help in straightening a fade or slice then you’ll want to be looking at either the Darkspeed X or LS.

Another factor to consider when choosing heads is that this is the only head with color on the top of the crown. It might only be a trim around the back of the club but it could be enough to put you off and choose the fully blacked-out Max head instead. Similarly, if you like having a bit of color in your sight at address then it could be worth giving the Max Women’s head a hit.

Read our full Cobra Darkspeed Max Women’s driver review.

Cobra Darkspeed LS driver

RRP: $549.00 / £429.00 | Lofts: 8° / 9° / 10.5°

Cobra’s low-spinning driver head differs most from the other three driver heads in many ways – most notably being that there’s no 12° head available, instead, there’s an 8° head. Being inspired by the prototype head used by Long Drive Champion, Kyle Berkshire, doesn’t mean the 8° head is only suitable for that caliber of golfer. It might come as a surprise, but I’m miles off driving a ball to the same standard as Kyle Berkshire, but the 8° is the one that worked best for me.

Being an intentionally low-spinning head it does make sense to offer the Darkspeed LS in lower lofted options (8°, 9°, and 10.5°), but it’s unlikely the 8° LS will be flying off the shelves as frequently as a 10.5° Darkspeed X. The LS is tailored to Tour players and elite amateur golfers because of the head profile, but if you struggle from high spin it could be worth giving the LS a try. The LS is the most aerodynamic head of all Darkspeed drivers and the progressive aerodynamic technology has been fully utilized to make the 8° head more aerodynamic than any other club head, releasing increased speed and distance (when struck properly).

Read our full Cobra Darkspeed LS driver review.

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About the author

James Hogg – Golf Equipment Writer

James has a degree in English Language from Newcastle University and an MA in Journalism from Kingston University.

He spent seven years working for American Golf as part of the sales and fitting team alongside his studies and is a specialist in putters, golf balls, and apparel.

James took up golf as a teenager and, thanks largely to his length and consistency off the tee, he plays off a handicap of 4.7 at Cleveland Golf Club.

You can contact James via email for loads more golf equipment insight.