Cobra DARKSPEED MAX Driver Review
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you if you decide to purchase.
In this article, I will give my honest Cobra DARKSPEED MAX driver review after playing multiple rounds with this smart-looking driver and hitting it in the studio on Trackman.
I will examine the different features and determine, from an experienced amateur golfer’s perspective, whether the DARKSPEED MAX driver is a step up from the previous Cobra beauties, the LTDx MAX and Aerojet MAX drivers.
Those predecessor drivers offer outstanding performance at a very reasonable price, so is the DARKSPEED MAX worth the extra shekels?
Let's get into it!
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Cobra DARKSPEED MAX Driver Review in Short
The look and performance of the Cobra DARKSPEED MAX came as a gratifying shock. The feel of the ball off almost any part of the face is virtually seamless and forgiving, resulting in a majestically soaring ball flight with fantastic carry distance and an overall explosive outcome that I was not expecting.
Cobra continues to release reliable driver after reliable driver, and this time around, they packed an absolute punch into the DARKSPEED MAX.
Pros and Cons of the Cobra DARKSPEED MAX Driver
Pros
Captivating look.
Astounding forgiveness.
Packed with distance.
High launch and driving ball flight.
Borderline slice proof.
Cons
Premium price tag.
Slightly higher spin than competitors.
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Cobra DARKSPEED MAX Driver Performance
Specs of the Cobra DARKSPEED MAX driver I tested: 9.0 Loft, Standard Lie, Standard Length, Regular Flex, UST Lin-Q M40X Red 50 Graphite shaft.
I played multiple rounds with the Cobra DARKSPEED MAX and tested it on Trackman in the studio, hit 48 drives. I used Pro V1 RCT (Radar Capture Technology) golf balls on Trackman to get accurate data.
Here is the data from my Trackman testing:
Avg Carry Yards | Avg Total Yards | Avg Swing Speed (mph) | Avg Ball Speed (mph) | Avg Smash Factor |
226.43 | 251.45 | 98.70 | 143.60 | 1.45 |
Appearance: A+
Cobra either saw my previous reviews of the LTDx and Aerojet lines, or somebody woke up in the design team and said, “We need a big change!”.
I am on record stating that I believed Cobra regressed when they designed the Aerojet line because the LTDx seemed more refined and premium-looking.
Well, Cobra knocked it out of the park with the DARKSPEED line, and in particular, the DARKSPEED MAX. The design is incredibly cool looking and feels like the Evil Empire from Star Wars showed up and it’s here to hit towering drives.
The black primary color with the carbon weave on the sole, coupled with the popping red for the “MAX” and black “DARKSPEED” writing, is incredibly well executed.
The carbon crown is a beautiful matte black with an underlying carbon weave that almost fades out as the design approaches the face.
The patented Cobra H.O.T. Face has remained constant from the previous Aerojet. (I still wish they kept the infinity symbol sweet spot; I’ll die on that hill.)
Overall, the design team's impressive job improving the color scheme makes up for the more toyish-looking Aerojet line. Cobra has leaped back into the premium look its drivers deserve.
Sound: A
Another improvement over the previous Aerojet line is the sound that came off the face of the DARKSPEED MAX.
Instead of a louder “crack” sound, like the Aerojet, the DARKSPEED MAX generates something more muted and strong but not inordinate or annoying.
The “crack” is replaced with a smoother tone, and when hitting right off the sweet spot, it sounds more profound without overwhelming.
The sound is very rewarding.
Forgiveness/Feel: A+
The moneymaker of any MAX forgiveness driver should be just that, and the DARKSPEED MAX is no exception.
The swing feels spectacular, and the extreme MOI provides a seamless energy transition from face to the ball on contact. There is almost no feedback at all, and it feels incredibly smooth.
Forgiveness made it feel like unless I had a dreadful swing and hit the ball with the literal top of the face where the crown meets, I was getting a great result.
During my rounds with the DARKSPEED MAX, there were a few drives that I hit pretty high off the toe (with some excellent ball marks to show), and I still got a great result of about 240-250 yards with steady control.
This is a testament to its forgiveness, as balls off the toe are generally where the most significant drop off in distance happens. With the DARKSPEED MAX, the forgiveness performance is handy for most amateur golfers.
Distance: A+
The distance off the DARKSPEED MAX is what impressed me most. The look was amazing, and there was no doubt that forgiveness would be plenty—I knew that going in—but the ball speed and distance were amazing with this driver.
The longest drive I hit during my rounds measured 290 yards on a short 375 yard par 4, which was downwind but not THAT windy. The feeling was unbelievable off the center of the sweet spot, and the sound was so pure. With such a smooth energy transition from face to ball, it felt like hitting a cloud that exploded high and straight.
(To keep it honest, I butchered the short approach shot on the same hole and walked out of there with a bogey -- one of us!)
In the studio, on Trackman, my longest drive was 274 yards, my average carry yards was just over 226, and average total yards was just over 251 after hitting close to 50 balls.
The distance felt improved over the Aerojet MAX, with my average carry yards being 6 yards longer. Interestingly my average total yards was around the same, and one constant was that the DARKSPEED MAX did feel like it had a bit higher average spin than some of the competitor drivers in the same category, specifically the Qi10 MAX.
That said, distance was packed in the DARKSPEED MAX, which was an unexpected and wholly welcomed surprise.
Accuracy: A-
So, if there is any “blemish” that I can put on the Cobra DARKSPEED MAX, it would be in the area of accuracy.
Honestly, and it’s not even a blemish; it felt like the driver was a litle to draw biased at times. That sounds funny coming from a golfer who has had, in the past, problems slicing, but now that I worked on my swing to produce straighter/draw ball flights, I found the actual draw bias to almost be hook-worthy during some drives.
Interestingly, the DARKSPEEX MAX isn’t overly advertised as having a considerable draw bias. Still, there is the adjustability to move the 3 gram weight to the back of the sole and the 12 gram weight to the heel, giving it a higher draw bias.
For those asking, yes, I checked, and I had the 12 gram weight on the back sole for more forgiveness promotion than draw bias.
That said, once I realized that this was happening, it was relatively easy for me to slightly adjust my grip/swing so the face was a tad bit more open a few degrees, and ultimately, I just ended up getting fantastic results from there.
For most amateur golfers, the big problem is the slice, so this heightened draw should help you get some straight shots.
Just note: This doesn’t altogether remove your responsibility to improve your swing path and face-to-path so you can stop your slice (if I could do it, so can you!); the DARKSPEED MAX does what it can to help curb your slice but you play a role as well.
Overall Swing Enjoyment: A+
The DARKSPEED MAX exceeded all expectations, and I had such a great time swinging it. There is something pure about the way the DARKSPEED MAX design transfers energy from face to ball, and the result is that the ball just jumps off the face.
The aerodynamic, almost bullet-like design allows for a fast free-swinging club speed, which helps make it easy to handle.
Value: Is the Cobra DARKSPEED MAX Driver Worth it?
I expected the Cobra DARKSPEED MAX to be just like its predecessor, the Aerojet MAX, providing a reliable experience with sufficient distance and continuing the Cobra tradition of well-built drivers.
What I ended up with is that the DARKSPEED MAX is a massive win for Cobra. With some subtle changes, they have improved the performance over the Aerojet MAX, aggregating those changes into one of the best drivers recently released as part of the barrage of new options from the different manufacturers.
The appearance is fantastic, the performance is off the charts and beats all my expectations, and even though it currently has the new driver price tag of $549, the cost is 100% worth it.
I said the same about the TaylorMade Qi10 MAX driver and I am starting to see a trend of great quality drivers in the 2024 releases.
The DARKSPEED MAX is a driver you can run into the ground and enjoy every single swing during that lifespan.
If you do already have an Aerojet MAX driver, I think you are still well equipped continuing using it.
Cobra DARKSPEED MAX Driver Technology
There is a lot of carryover of the same base technology from the Aerojet MAX; however, they have made some improvements to the design of that tech, which has shown impact, given the results with the DARKSPEED MAX.
The leading tech, along with improvements, includes:
PWR-BRIDGE
This feature gives you enhanced control over ball flight by giving that draw bias I mentioned.
However, in the DARKSPEED line, Cobra lowered the position and moved it forward (in comparison to the Aerojet line) to improve energy transfer and help the DARKSPEED line generate faster ball speeds.
Aerodynamic Design
The aerodynamic features help reduce drag and create faster clubhead speed and, of course, ball speed.
The crown peak was designed slightly higher and reduced club surface area to help generate better clubhead speed.
PWRShell Technology
This innovative design provides a large sweet spot and yields excellent ball speed retention on mis-hits.
Another added feature to help with distance is that Cobra increased the size of the PWRShell by 10% on the DARKSPEED line.
H.O.T Face
The DARKSPEED line also features an updated H.O.T Face design, resulting from using artificial intelligence to create a variable thickness pattern.
The updated design on the DARKSPEED line is intended to deliver even more efficient speed and spin across the clubface.
Order HERE for lowest price available:
Disclosure: This link can provide a commission to me in order to run the website, at no extra cost to you 🙂
Who Should Play the Cobra DARKSPEED MAX Driver?
Any beginner or high handicapper will get the full benefits of the DARKSPEED MAX from Cobra. The ease of hitting and strong draw bias provided, not to mention the distance capability (wow!), is a benefit to help out any beginner or high handicapper.
The majority of golfers in those skill categories slice and/or do not make square contact on the sweet spot, so loaded forgiveness can really help produce decent results off the tee.
It isn't just for golfers of that skill range. As a mid-high handicap golfer with a much-improved driver swing, I found it an exceptionally electric driver that had me hitting absolute bombs (for my game) off the tee with an incredible, effortless feel overall.
How We Test and Our Methodology
Golferperformance.com is a 100% independent publisher aiming to provide tips to improve your golf game and bring more relatable equipment reviews after first-hand club testing.
At Golfer Performance, we personally purchase the products we test, ensuring that our reviews are not influenced by any company or manufacturer. This commitment to independence guarantees the integrity of our opinions and decisions.
After purchasing the products, we conduct hands-on testing in our Trackman studio and/or out on the course to report statistical performance and a first-hand feel for each product.
Jeff K is our resident expert and author. He has 20+ years of experience playing golf and solving swing problems that everyday golfers deal with, bringing his game to mid-handicapper status and shooting scores in the low-to-mid 80s.
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Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you if you decide to purchase.