Cobra KING Black Edition Irons

Posted by GolfBox on 3rd Oct 2024

Cobra’s requisite cosmetic refresh of their popular Cobra KING Tour, CB and MB irons comes at a perfect time for the forged franchise. Entering the second half of a two-year product lifecycle, Cobra KING irons have received — depending on your musical preferences — either the Amy Winehouse treatment or the AC/DC update.

Yep, they’re Back in Black.

Cobra KING Black Edition irons are identical to regular chrome Cobra KING irons. However, their premium, hard-wearing DBM black satin finish means they’ll stay darker, for much, much longer.

WHAT DOES DBM MEAN?

In the past, golfers have often viewed black irons somewhat suspiciously.

Black PVD finishes would either blemish to the point of distraction or wear off entirely after just a few rounds. Black, it seemed, became chrome rather quickly.

However, the new KING Black Edition irons happily avoid that angst-inducing issue thanks to their DBM finish.

DBM, which is Cobra-speak for Diamondized Black Metal, is no ordinary finish. In fact, it’s not even a finish, really; rather, it’s part of the iron itself. DBM is chemically infused into the steel to create a stunning black satin finish.

As such, it offers extreme wear resistance and is the most durable black in the game

FIVE TIMES FORGED

Unlike other iron manufacturers, Cobra’s forging technique isn’t shrouded in mystique, nor can its genesis be found in the ancient handiwork of the Samurai.

But that doesn’t mean it’s unworthy or uninteresting.

Cobra employ a five-step forging technique, which goes an extra step beyond everyone else in the forging space.

The first three steps are what you’d expect. Billets of 1025 carbon steel are heated to 1200C before being pounded three times in a row to form the rough outline of a Cobra KING iron head.

A fourth strike is then applied at higher pressure (1200 tons) and lower temperature (800C) to refine the shape and apply details.

The fifth strike, however, is Cobra’s secret sauce. The head is cooled to 700C and a massive 2000 tons of pressure is applied. Cobra believe this final strike is critical to achieving a uniform grain structure within the steel to create a soft and buttery feel off the face.

COBRA KING BLACK EDITION TOUR IRON

The Cobra KING Black Edition Tour iron is formed through a five-step forging process, however, it’s a multi-material iron — unlike the one-piece CB and MB Black edition models.

Intended to be gamed by scratch players up to the mid-teen handicappers, the Tour offers a blend of distance, forgiveness and playability that is achieved through a series of CNC-milled undercuts around the rear cavity.

These gave Cobra the freedom to position the centre of gravity lower while also offering extra support in zones around the heel and toe to improve launch and forgiveness for off-centre strikes.

The undercuts are filled with a vibration-damping thermoplastic material and the rear cavity is capped with an aluminium medallion to enliven feel and improve sound.

COBRA KING BLACK EDITION CB IRONS

Cobra KING Black Edition CB irons are traditional one-piece cavity back irons that offer precise feel and feedback.

Highly workable, the CB’s cavity design offers more forgiveness than Cobra KING MB irons as well as slightly more offset.

COBRA KING BLACK EDITION MB IRONS

Cobra KING MB irons are classic muscle back blades that are designed to suit the eye of the elite ball striker.

Featuring the same thin top line and compact head as their KING CB contemporaries, MB irons are the most precise irons in the KING line-up and offer exacting ball flight control and shot-making capabilities.

COBRA KING BLACK EDITION COMBO SET

Cobra also offer a CB/MB Black Edition combo set featuring CB long irons (4-6), which optimise trajectory and distance, and MB short irons (7-PW), that prioritise control and spin.