Cobra OPTM MAX-K Driver

The Cobra OPTM MAX-K is Cobra’s most forgiving driver head, with a fixed 11 g back weight and a 33-setting FUTUREFIT33 hosel.

Why it made the list

Cobra says the MAX-K has its highest MOI ever, and it rates the head’s forgiveness as Extreme. The 11 g weight is fixed low and back in the head, which keeps the center of gravity deep and the face steady on off-center strikes. Cobra also shaped and weighted the head to reduce what it calls products of inertia, which it links to less side spin and tighter dispersion.

The price is the other reason. Cobra sells it for $399, down from a $599 regular price, which puts a top-tier forgiving head close to budget-driver money.

What it does well

• Keeps mishits on line with Cobra’s highest MOI and a low, back center of gravity
• Adjusts loft and lie in 33 settings, 2 degrees in any direction, through the FUTUREFIT33 hosel
• Keeps the face square at every hosel setting with SMARTPAD
• Adds ball speed on off-center hits with a forged face insert and H.O.T. Face design

The fixed weight suits a lot of high handicappers. There is nothing to move, so the club stays set the way it was built, and you still get loft and lie changes through the hosel if your fitter wants them.

Who it’s for

Buy it if you want one of the most forgiving heads you can get and you would rather spend about $400 than $650. It suits golfers who miss both left and right and want a neutral, stable head that they don’t have to tinker with. It comes in right-handed and left-handed models, in 9, 10.5 and 12 degrees.

Who should skip it

Skip it if you slice almost every drive. The MAX-K has no movable weight for draw bias, so a golfer with a big slice may do better with Cobra’s draw-biased OPTM MAX-D or another driver with a draw setting. Skip it too if you like to tune spin with sliding weights, because this head has none.

Key specs, explained

The head is 460cc with a 45.5 inch standard length. Standard lie is 58 degrees in the 9 degree head and 59 degrees in the 10.5 and 12 degree heads. With FUTUREFIT33, the 10.5 degree head can be set anywhere from 8.5 to 12.5 degrees, so you can add loft for a higher launch without buying a new head.

Stock shafts vary by loft. The 10.5 degree head comes with the MCA Kai’li Dark Waves Blue 60, the Project X Denali Blue 60 Frost CB and the Kai’li Dark Waves Red 50. The Red 50 is the lightest at 51.5 to 55.5 g, with mid-high launch and spin, and it is the one to try first if your swing is on the slow side. Swingweights run from D3.5 to D6.5 depending on the shaft.

How it compares

The PING G440 K Driver costs about $250 more and adds a 32 g back weight you can move for draw or fade. The Tour Edge Exotics Max Driver sells for about the same price and has a movable 18 g weight. Choose the MAX-K if you want a fixed, neutral head and the most hosel settings of the group.

Good to know

Cobra’s store lists the MAX-K at $399 in right-handed and left-handed models, with free shipping over $100. Some head, shaft and flex combinations are custom only, and Cobra says custom builds ship in 3 to 5 business days. A wrench is not included, so you will need one to change hosel settings. You can also order Cobra Connect Arccos grips.

Questions about the Cobra OPTM MAX-K

Does the Cobra OPTM MAX-K have adjustable weights?

No, the 11 g back weight is fixed. You can still change loft and lie through the 33-setting FUTUREFIT33 hosel.

Is the OPTM MAX-K good for a slice?

It helps by keeping mishits straighter, but it has no draw bias. Golfers with a strong slice should look at a draw-biased driver first.

What lofts does the OPTM MAX-K come in?

It comes in 9, 10.5 and 12 degrees. Each head adjusts 2 degrees up or down.