Cobra Darkspeed LS Driver Review

In my Cobra Darkspeed LS driver review, I question whether a low-spinning driver that delivers more speed and distance thanks to improved aerodynamics means forgiveness is forgotten.

Cobra have been at the forefront of golf club manufacturing for more than 50 years and they have enjoyed incredible success with some of the best golf drivers the game has ever seen. Not only have Cobra been the brand behind some amazing and innovative drivers, but they’ve also had some of the best drivers of the golf ball playing with their clubs, most notably John Daly, Bryson Dechambeau, and Lexi Thompson.

The California-based golf giants continuously strive to create quality equipment loved by Tour players and amateur golfers alike. At a time when most of the biggest golf club manufacturers are finding ways to increase MOI and improve forgiveness, Cobra are choosing a different avenue, searching for ways to boost speed and distance – but does this mean forgiveness is forgotten and lost?

Cobra proudly manufactures some of the best forgiving golf drivers on the market and their Darkspeed Max and Darkspeed Max Women’s drivers are surely going to be challengers in 2024. However, that’s not to say that their Darkspeed LS driver isn’t forgiving, it just isn’t the focus of this driver, and definitely isn’t a club every golfer should be reaching for given its low-spinning nature and Tour shape.

2023 was a tough season for Cobra, only having one victor across all professional Tours playing with a Cobra driver – Rickie Fowler at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Cobra will be hoping for a better season in 2024 and Darkspeed could help them to succeed.

The background

Where did the design inspiration for Darkspeed come from?

Before discussing the technology packed into the Darkspeed driver, let’s first discuss the aesthetics. Cobra took inspiration from fighter jets and spaceships, primarily to create the angular and aerodynamic speed found in the driver, but also to develop the appearance of the club.

They aren’t the only brand to adopt a very dark and monochromatic color scheme which differs from previous models. Compared to the previous model Cobra AeroJet driver, the Darskpeed is much meaner and more fierce in the new sleek black colorway.

People on social media have had their say on the aesthetics of the Darkspeed, and it’s been really positive. One person commented, “Nailed the look!”, with another of the opinion that “Black on black is fire.” Perhaps the most positive feedback from social media is that it has been likened to the Batmobile – something I can’t disagree with and now can’t unsee.

It’s not only the aesthetics of this driver that’s impressive. By engineering all three Darkspeed driver heads with a multi-material chassis, consisting of lightweight carbon crown and sole plates and a reinforced titanium frame, Cobra have been able to create optimal weight distribution and maximize stability.

The satin frost carbon fiber crown is 30% thinner than last year’s AeroJet crown which has allowed more weight to be pushed forward and lower into the PWR Bridge structure.

Stratospheric speed

The sole purpose of a driver is to hit the ball as far as possible, and Cobra have gone to town on this concept. With Darskpeed they have put their foot on the gas and created a driver that generates more speed and distance than previous models – they’ve set out to engineer their fastest driver yet.

Brand ambassador and Tour player, Rickie Fowler, must have been itching to get this club in the bag because he was seen using it at the Netflix Cup back in November. He’s also been spotted with it in the bag at the 2023 Hero World Challenge. It’ll be interesting to see if it will make its way into Lexi Thompson’s bag and replace her 2021 Radspeed driver.

Advanced aero shaping has enabled Cobra to generate speed and distance across all three driver heads (the Darkspeed Max and Darkspeed Women’s Max are identical with regard to technology). Cobra found the best way to balance speed and forgiveness with each head is to use progressive aerodynamics meaning the Darkspeed LS is the most aerodynamic, the Darkspeed Max (and Darkspeed Women’s Max) is the least aerodynamic, and the Darkspeed X sits in the middle.

The advanced aerodynamics of the Darkspeed LS come from the high skirt height, high crown peak, softer edge radius, flush weighting, and ultra-raised aft. This allows Tour players and elite amateurs to unlock uncompromised speed and distance – some might say out of this world!

Mike Yagley, Vice President of Innovation, Cobra Golf, said “The aerodynamic package in the new Darkspeed family of drivers is our most advanced to date. 

“We continue to push aerodynamic shaping, mass properties, and resilience to drive technology and innovation, providing golfers the most advanced and high-performance clubs possible.”

Cobra Darkspeed LS driver technology explained

Larger PWRSHELL with A.I. Designed H.O.T. Face

Cobra aren’t the only brand to depend on AI to assist them in manufacturing equipment. Callaway have continued using AI in their 2024 Paradym Ai-Smoke drivers and in their Odyssey Ai-One Putters.

The A.I. designed H.O.T. Face is found in every Darkspeed head, from driver through to irons, to help deliver more efficient speed and spin across the clubface thanks to the 15 different hot spots situated across the face. Incorporated with the H.O.T. Face is the 13% larger PWRSHELL L-cup face which improves the flexibility of the face to deliver more robust launch conditions. This larger face has been achieved by laser welding.

Improved PWR Bridge

Cobra introduced the PWR Bridge in last year’s AeroJet driver and they have drastically improved this feature in Darkspeed. For 2024, the PWR Bridge sits closer to the face, lower in the head, and is unsupported, bringing the CG forward and unleashing quicker ball speeds.

Trajectory Tuning

Each driver head can be tuned in different ways. Every head can be lofted up or down by one and a half degrees with the MyFly adjustability. However, you can then alter the flight and launch differently on each head thanks to the trajectory-tuning ability presented by the interchangeable weights on the sole of the club.

The Darkspeed LS comes with three interchangeable weights – 3g, 3g, and 12g. You can either position the heavier 12g weight in the back of the club for a higher ball flight, in the heel of the club for a more neutral ball flight, or in the toe of the club for a more fade-biased ball flight. Moving the weights and playing the MyFly adjustability affects launch, ball flight, spin, and forgiveness.

Everything you need to know about the Cobra Darkspeed LS driver

Cobra Darkspeed LS driver

RRP: £429.00 / $549.00

Lofts: 8° / 9° / 10.5°

If you want to get your hands on a Cobra Darkspeed LS driver, or any other club from the Darkspeed range, you can do so from January 11 when pre-sale begins. You only have to wait a further eight days until January 19 when they’ll be available at retailers and online.

LS has become a well-known initialism in golf over previous years, and Cobra continues to call their Tour-inspired driver the LS model (TaylorMade have joined the party by releasing a Qi10 LS driver). This head is the lowest-spinning Darkspeed model. It will challenge the best low-spin drivers and the longest drivers in 2024. It’s designed for Tour players and better players who have high demands of their driver. With the adjustability from the MyFly adjustable settings (offering eight loft settings) and weight positions on the sole of the club, golfers can tune the driver for maximum workability and control to their preference.

Compared to the previous AeroJet LS the PWRSHELL H.O.T. Face is 13% larger (as it is with all four Darkspeed drivers). The emphasis of this driver is on speed and distance, to achieve this Cobra have made the Darkspeed LS more aerodynamically advanced and positioned the PWR Bridge further forward and lower in the club head. It’s the most aerodynamic head which has been inspired by Tour players’ preferences to promote workability and control while ensuring spin and launch remains low.

Which Cobra Darkspeed driver will suit you?

Cobra are offering four different driver models to cater to the vast majority of golfers. The four Darkspeed driver heads you can choose from are Darkspeed LS, Darkspeed X, Darkspeed Max, and Darkspeed Max Women’s. Depending on your ability, needs, and preferences finding the right driver head for you is massively important, and choosing the correct driver head can have a major positive impact on your game. However, on the (dreaded) flipside, picking the wrong driver head could seriously hinder your game.

To help you figure out which Darkspeed driver head is best for you we’ve compiled a a brief overview of each head so let’s take a look at the options and what they have to offer…

Cobra Darkspeed LS driver

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 the preference of Long Drive Champion, Kyle Berkshire, doesn’t mean the 8° head is only suitable for that calibre 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).

The LS won’t be for everyone, but if you can get away with it it’s an absolute rocket!

Cobra Darkspeed X driver

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 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

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 haven’t been thrown out of the window because this club delivers competitive distance and helps you find more fairways by stopping the ball from 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

The Darkspeed Max Women’s is 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 hitting the Max Women’s model.

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

Video: How does the Cobra Darkspeed LS compare to other Low Spin drivers?

Verdict: Cobra Darkspeed LS driver

Cobra LS drivers whip up lots of noise from bloggers online around being some of the lowest spin most powerful drivers available for the game’s highest speed players. Yet year-on-year thanks to being so front-loaded with weight to lower spin we see how head-to-head against the competition they’re usually an unforgiving option. In the past, they’ve struggled to set the world alight for us, and pretty much it’s the same story again for 2024.

To see how the LS performs we put it up against the leading 2024 low-spin driver models in the hands of TG Test Pro Neil Wain at Keele Golf Centre. Our test data below shows how all the models compare.

Soft silhouette

As much as I like the head shape and super aggressive aerodynamics there’s no getting away from how softening the head’s edges creates a very soft silhouette at address. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the look but if you’re the type of golfer that likes definition, you will pick up on how the LS has an almost ghostly appearance with no definitive edges sat behind the ball on the tee.      

If like me you’re also not a fan of the distracting thin sliver of titanium across the topline of the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke TD driver you’ll very much appreciate the Darkspeed’s super clean crown and appearance.  

Performance

With 22 yards of carry distance difference between our test pro’s longest and shortest shots with the LS, the model produced our 2^nd largest shot area of the entire low spin driver test. The models off line average was 1089 SQ YDS, which is 494.1 SQ YDS larger than our test average and 637.8% bigger than the shot area registered by our most accurate low spin driver – the PXG 0311 GEN6.  

It doesn’t make great reading if you need a degree of forgiveness built into your low-spin driver, but remember dispersion will change from session to session. It just so happens Cobra low-spin drivers have a habit of appearing among our least forgiving models all too often. My advice would be if forgiving low-spin drivers are what you need take a look at the Ping G430 LST instead.

By posting a carry distance of 273 yards the LS is no slouch when it comes to power, that’s just 3 yards down on our longest but playable low spin driver this year. Levels that could easily be reversed on another day’s testing.

And finally…

Bomber is a term used lots in modern-day golf, and to me it feels like you really need to bomb driver to even consider looking at the LS. To give the model a chance we teamed the LS head up with the stock UST Mamiya Lin-Q Blue mid-launch shaft from the Darkspeed X as the White just felt too hard to launch and flight for our test pro. Even then backspin numbers are on the low side which has to spell out just how demanding the lower launch White would be to live with on the golf course.

Driver	Ball Speed	Launch Angle	Backspin	Height	Descent Angle	Carry Distance	Shot Area
Titleist TSR4 (10° – Tensei Blue)	162.4 MPH	10.8°	1921 RPM	28 YDS	32.8°	277 YDS (1)	589 SQ YDS
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke TD (Denali S – Back Weight)	161.9 MPH	11.2°	2099 RPM	31 YDS	36.2°	276 YDS (2)	424.5 SQ YDS
TaylorMade Qi10 LS (Tensei Blue S)	163.6 MPH	10.7°	2338 RPM	32 YDS	37.8°	275 YDS (T3)	1148.4 SQ YDS
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke TD (Denali S – Front Weight)	161.7 MPH	10.2°	1896 RPM	25 YDS	31.5°	275 YDS (T3)	553.8 SQ YDS
TaylorMade Qi10 LS (Diamana X)	160.4 MPH	12.5°	2260 RPM	36 YDS	39.9°	274 YDS	179.2 SQ YDS(2)
Cobra Darkspeed LS (Lin-Q Blue)	159.9 MPH	11.8°	2007 RPM	31 YDS	35.7°	273 YDS	1089 SQ YDS
PXG 0311 GEN6 (Aldila NV Green)	161.1 MPH	10.5°	2240 RPM	30 YDS	36.9°	271 YDS	147.6 SQ YDS (1)
Titleist TSR3 (10° – Tensei Blue)	162 MPH	10.5°	2435 RPM	32 YDS	38.2°	271 YDS	566.8 SQ YDS
Ping G430 LST	161.4 MPH	9.7°	2301 RPM	28 YDS	35.1°	270 YDS	246.4 SQ YDS (3)
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke TD (Ventus Blue – Back Weight)	161.7 MPH	9.9°	2006 RPM	26 YDS	32°	270 YDS	800.8 SQ YDS
Srixon ZX7 MK II	159.8 MPH	11.4°	2313 RPM	32 YDS	38.2°	269 YDS	1036.5 SQ YDS
Wilson DynaPWR Carbon	158.5 MPH	11.2°	1828 RPM	27 YDS	32.9°	269 YDS	509.6 SQ YDS
Mizuno ST-G (9.5° – Back Weights)	162 MPH	9.1°	2109 RPM	24 YDS	31.3°	268 YDS	442 SQ YDS
AVERAGE	161.3 MPH	10.7°	2135 RPM	29.4 YDS	35.3°	272 YDS	595 SQ YDS

*All lofts at 10.5° unless otherwise stated.

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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.

Cobra Darkspeed LS Driver

RRP: £429.00 | VIEW UK OFFER | $549.00 | VIEW US OFFER

Lofts: 8° | 9° | 10.5°

Stock shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black, UST Mamiya Lin-Q White

Stock grip: Lamkin Crossline Black

Adjustable hosel: +/-1.5°

Flight bias: Adjustable

Lie angle: 54.20° (8°) | 55.70° (9° & 10.5°)

Shaft length: 45.50”