TECH ON TEST

Three GM readers sample Cobra’s versatile hybrid alternatives

ince their mass introduction 15 years ago, hybrids have helped many golfers to find extra distance and consistency in their long games.

But as with drivers, irons and balls, you can’t pigeonhole every player into one style of club, so many still go out of their way to find a 2-iron or 5-wood they get on with.

Cobra recently spotted this trend, and moved to introduce a couple of versatile alternatives, with the King F6 Baffler and the King Utility iron launched earlier this year.

Both these clubs are adjustable – the King F6 Baffler from 16° to 18.5° and the King Utility iron from 18° to 21° – and it’s a feature that makes them ideal for players looking to fill a specific gap in their bag.

SAs well as suiting a particular yardage, Cobra says these clubs can also offer extra shot options. The King Utility is ideal for tight tee shots and links golfers, and the King F6 Baffler’s sole rails are useful for escaping the rough and hitting off bare lies.

To put these claims to the test, we took three Golf Monthly readers to The London Club for a fitting on its grass driving range with Cobra brand experience manager, Joe Folker.

During a 60-minute session, he would assess their average carry yardages with their current long irons, hybrids and fairways, and then test those figures against their numbers with the King Utility and King F6 Baffler. Would the use of adjustable lofts help them fill any gaps, and could extra versatility expand their on-course shot repertoire? Three GM readers put Cobra’s claims to the test

Validating any improvements in their distance gapping and consistency would be a TrackMan launch monitor, which measures all the relevant shot data.

But which club would our three golfers opt for, and why?

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