Cobra Darkspeed Irons Review

The ultimate flexibility club face produces astronomical ball speeds compared to previous models

Cobra’s previous model AeroJet irons were a real hit, so they needed to pull out all the stops to better 2023s range. For Cobra to make a marked improvement with their 2024 Darkspeed irons and have them compete with the best golf irons in 2024 they’ve made some considerable changes to the technology and manufacturing process.

Darkspeed irons are aimed at amateur golfers and we expect them to be one of the best iron sets for mid to high handicappers. Although, that’s not to say better amateur golfers can’t play with them. They might not make their way into any Tour player’s golf bags, but Cobra have definitely improved their iron sets in recent years. Even players such as Justin Rose have had Cobra irons in the bag despite not being contractually obliged to use them.

The golfers’ Cobra are going to be appealing to with Darkspeed irons are very similar to the ones they were targeting with their AeroJet irons. It’s players seeking distance that Darkspeed irons will attract most because of how strongly lofted they are (although not as strong as AeroJet were – 27° compared to 26.5°). Despite being strong lofted, Cobra still believes these irons can generate enough height and spin to challenge the best high-launch irons that have much weaker lofts.

Tom Olsavsky, Vice President of Club R&D at Cobra Golf, has high praise for the irons Cobra take to market for 2024, saying “When we think about distance irons, Cobra has always been a leader in the category. We have upped the ante with Darkspeed for out-of-this-world speed, with even better feel.

“This truly is one of the best feeling irons we have ever created.”

Cobra Darkspeed irons technology explained

Feeling H.O.T., H.O.T., H.O.T.

The PWRSHELL H.O.T. Face has become a regular component of Cobra golf clubs over recent years, but it’s never the same as it was the previous year. 2024 sees Cobra introduce their thinnest H.O.T. Face in Darkspeed, it’s 21% thinner than it was in AeroJet (1.5mm at its thinnest compared to 1.9mm in last year’s irons). Thinning the face and making an L-cup insert makes the clubface more flexible, creating increased ball speed and leading to more distance.

Despite the face being unsupported the launch is much more robust thanks to the larger thinner face which has created a larger high-stress region. With the Darkspeed irons you can achieve explosive ball speed and launch to challenge some of the longest irons in 2024.

Chasing distance can sometimes compromise performance, especially in longer irons, but to combat this Cobra have increased the size of the CNC Milled Grooves in the longer irons (4 iron to 7 iron) and introduced a larger PWRSHELL insert in the same irons (plus the 8 iron). The PWRSHELL insert extends beyond the topline of the club and wraps around the toe area of the Darkspeed clubface which promotes flexibility and speed.

You might be thinking, it’s all fine and well a club increasing distance and feeling good, but will it help me when I’m going pin-seeking? The answer is yes! The dispersion of the Darkspeed irons is very impressive for a club engineered with the purpose of helping golfers hit the ball farther. Having a larger sweet spot helps to deliver more efficient spin and means even the mishits aren’t massively punishing.

Suspended weight bridge

Cobra have been taking inspiration from Da Vinci’s self-supporting bridge for several years, and they’re constantly striving to improve the PWR Bridge technology based on the work of the Italian polymath. This technology is a feature of every club in the Darkspeed range – and it’s no surprise considering the advancements they’ve made with this technology.

The PWR Bridge is only a feature of the 4-7 irons which have the 17-4 face insert. The purpose of the suspended weight bridge is to lower CG and improve flexibility – not much has changed there. However, the PWR Bridge has been modified for 2024 by having only one weld post (compared to two in the AeroJet iron head). This ensures that the entire body structure is more fluid and allows the face to flex more, increasing the elastic rebound effect which delivers more speed, distance, and launch.

Hollow body construction

Hollow body construction is becoming more and more popular in iron sets. Cobra’s first hollow body irons were their T-Rail hybrid-irons, but they’ve now implemented the construction into their game-improvement irons. It’s definitely a welcomed addition to Darkspeed. The 431-SS body offers an excellent feel and when partnered with the hollow body it offers incredible distance and performance.

Featuring a TECFLO construction, the hollow body construction changes throughout the set in order to optimize performance. The irons with a full-hollow body are 4-PW while the GW and SW are half-hollow bodies. The 4-7 irons are full-hollow and fit with the suspended PWR Bridge, whereas the 8-PW full-hollow construction is without the PWR Bridge.

The hollow body isn’t completely empty, it’s filled with 3g 924D foam microspheres which creates a more elastic rebound and 25% more face deflection resulting in increased distance by reducing spin from longer face interaction time. Although Cobra have built their Darkspeed irons with a more metalwood-like construction they don’t feel, sound, or perform in the same vain as metalwoods do. They are a joy to hit and definitely a contender for the best forgiving irons of 2024.

Sweet sound

What are the things you look for when purchasing a new set of irons? The first is likely to be aesthetics, following this, it’s probably sound and feel. Cobra have done all they can to make Darkspeed sound as appealing as it looks. They’ve done this by replacing the 7g polymer filling in the AeroJet iron with 924D foam microspheres weighing 3g. The weight saved here has been added to the PWR Bridge to lower CG and improve sound and feel.

To achieve a better sound and feel over last year’s AeroJet irons the foam filling isn’t the only factor. The improved sound and feel come from all of the components working in unison to deliver a nicer experience when playing with Darkspeed irons – from the increased distance to the dampened vibrations on off-center hits.

ONE Length is here to stay

Despite Bryson Dechambeau no longer being a Cobra Tour player, the company haven’t ditched the ideology of ONE length. It’s incredibly popular and Cobra enjoys a lot of success with the ONE length range of irons, accounting for 30% of the company’s iron sales. It’s no surprise they’ve decided to continue manufacturing the ONE length irons as well as the ONE length Darkspeed hybrid.

Every iron in the ONE length set is 37.25″ (7-iron length) which encourages a repeatable setup and swing. Compared to the long irons in the variable length set (4-6) the same irons in the ONE length Darkspeed set have a wider sole and are slightly weaker lofted to help deliver a higher trajectory. Apart from this difference, the heads are packed with the same technology whether you go ONE length or variable length.

Everything you need to know about the Cobra Darkspeed irons

Cobra Darkspeed irons

RRP: £849.00 (S) / $999.00 (S) / £949.00 (G) / $999.00 (G)

Pre-sale for Cobra Darkspeed irons begins on January 11, as it does for all clubs in the Darkspedd range. Eight days after this on January 19, you’ll be able to purchase the full range from retailers and online.

The market for distance irons is very competitive but we expect both the ONE length and variable length Darkspeed irons to be challenging the best irons in 2024. They’re aimed more toward amateur golfers, with their King irons being intended for Tour players and better golfers. Depending on how many irons you wish to carry, Darkspeed is available from 4-iron to sand wedge. Stock sets will run from 4 iron to pitching wedge or 5 iron to gap wedge.

Having achieved much success with the previous AeroJet irons, Cobra have continued to use AI to assist them in designing the H.O.T. Face which has been improved for 2024. The emphasis of these irons is on speed, sound, and efficiency. To achieve this Cobra have filled the hollow body with foam, increased the size of the PWRSHELL H.O.T. Face, and improved the PWR Bridge construction. The deeper body and high bounce leading edge make this club extremely versatile and a go-to no matter where you’re balls sitting.

Video: How does the Cobra Darkspeed compare to leading competitor Mid-Handicap Irons?

Verdict: Cobra Darkspeed iron

I’ve been testing golf clubs for a decade and a half and over the last 18 months it’s just started to feel like we’re nearing an exit from the era of stupidly strong lofted irons. One top iron engineer told me late in 2023 about designers now having a better understanding of how golfers play the game than ever before, which has led to lots of brands most game improvement irons no longer having the strongest lofts, as typically slower speed players need extra help launching shots higher not less.

The Darkspeed and its forged sibling the Forged Tec highlight perfectly what strong lofts do for the game. Both the Darkspeed and Forged Tec produced ball speeds above our test average. Yet shots from both models launched and flew lower, span less, and hit the green at shallower angles than the majority of the Mid-Handicap iron models on test. All traits that if you don’t have speed in abundance will impact your scoring potential as shots just don’t naturally want to land and stop quickly (which ups consistency and predictability).        

I’m absolutely not saying the Darkspeed isn’t a good iron. In fact, I like the sleek darker finish, the hollow body construction, and how the sound and feel have been tuned from previous models like the Rad Speed and King LTDx. Our data has it down as a solid Mid-Handicap iron option.

But it’s incredibly important you ensure if you’re considering a set of these attractive new irons that you have enough speed to launch them to a good peak height, as from my experience a good majority of club golfers don’t.

Interestingly the Darkspeed has a fraction weaker 7-iron loft than the preceding Aerojet, which Cobra insisted was launchable for regular club golfers – you have been warned.     

Data comparison: How does the Cobra Darkspeed compare to leading competitor Mid-Handicap Irons?

Iron	7-Iron Loft	Ball Speed	Launch Angle	Backspin	Height	Descent Angle	Carry Distance	Carry Distance Drop Off	Shot Area
TaylorMade Qi	28°	129.2 MPH (3)	15.6°	5065 RPM	33 YDS	44.2°	198 YDS (T1)	12 YDS	267.6 SQ YDS
PXG 0211 XCOR2	28°	130.1 MPH (2)	13.6°	5057 RPM	29 YDS	41.8°	198 YDS (T1)	16 YDS	193.6 SQ YDS
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke	28°	130.6 MPH (1)	14.5°	5311 RPM	32 YDS	43.4°	197 YDS (3)	18 YDS	552.6 SQ YDS
Wilson Dynapower	27°	127.8 MPH	15°	4910 RPM	31 YDS	42.7°	195 YDS	8 YDS (T3)	196.8 SQ YDS
Cobra Forged Tec X	27°	127.7 MPH	13.9°	4872 RPM	29 YDS	42.1°	191 YDS	9 YDS	360 SQ YDS
PXG 0311 XP GEN6	27°	126.2 MPH	13.7°	4726 RPM	27 YDS	40.8°	190 YDS	20 YDS	470 SQ YDS
Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal	28.5°	127.6 MPH	14.9°	5748 RPM	31 YDS	44.2°	190 YDS	13 YDS	243.1 SQ YDS
Srixon ZX4	28.5°	126.4 MPH	14.7°	5030 RPM	30 YDS	43.1°	189 YDS	22 YDS	594 SQ YDS
Ram FXT		126.1 MPH	15.4°	5395 RPM	31 YDS	43.7°	189 YDS	13 YDS	161.2 SQ YDS
Cleveland XL ZipCore	29°	125.1 MPH	14.6°	4719 RPM	29 YDS	41.8°	188 YDS	15 YDS	210 SQ YDS
Ping G430	29°	125.8 MPH	14.9°	5117 RPM	30 YDS	43.3°	187 YDS	7 YDS (2)	110.6 SQ YDS (2)
Inesis 500		125.1 MPH	15.6°	5456 RPM	31 YDS	43.5°	187 YDS	8 YDS (T3)	181.6 SQ YDS
Titleist T350	29°	125.5 MPH	14.3°	5159 RPM	29 YDS	42.6°	186 YDS	11 YDS	167.2 SQ YDS
Cobra Darkspeed	27°	126.7 MPH	12.4°	5298 RPM	26 YDS	40.7°	186 YDS	8 YDS (T3)	129.6 SQ YDS
Takomo 101	30°	123.8 MPH	14°	4784 RPM	27 YDS	40.8°	184 YDS	4 YDS (1)	52.4 SQ YDS (1)
Yonex GS i-Tech		125.2 MPH	13.8°	5373 RPM	28 YDS	42.2°	184 YDS	21 YDS	611.1 SQ YDS
Vega Mizar Plus	30°	125.4 MPH	14.3°	5858 RPM	29 YDS	43.8°	182 YDS	22 YDS	420.2 SQ YDS
Sub 70 699	31°	124.1 MPH	13.3°	5847 RPM	27 YDS	42.1°	179 YDS	11 YDS	154 SQ YDS
MacGregor V-Max		118.3 MPH	17.5°	6305 RPM	31 YDS	45.3°	171 YDS	8 YDS (T8)	121.6 SQ YDS (3)
AVERAGE		126.1 MPH	14.5°	5265 RPM	29.5 YDS	42.7°	187.9 YDS	12.9 YDS	273.5 SQ YDS

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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 Irons

RRP: £849.00 (S) | VIEW UK OFFER |$999.00 (S) | VIEW US OFFER | £949.00 (G) |VIEW UK OFFER | $1099.00 (G) | VIEW US OFFER

Construction: Cast hollow body

Category: Mid-Handicap Iron

Forgiveness rating: 4/5

7-iron loft: 27°

Stock shafts: KBS Tour Lite (steel) | KBS PGI (graphite)

Stock grip: Lamkin Crossline Black