The Cobra DARKSPEED X driver offers a wonderful combination of speed and forgiveness with low spin, mid-launch, and straight shots. The club has an attractive matte black finish with subtle pinstriping and a Cobra logo alignment aid. The aerodynamic shaping of the clubhead was developed with aerospace engineers, resulting in a streamlined profile.
The sole of the DARKSPEED X driver features exposed carbon weave and pops of blue for added visual interest. The club comes with a luxurious feeling headcover in an all-black color palette. The sound of the driver is lower in tone with a hint of timbre, providing a medium plus volume level. Strikes with the club feel solid and powerful, offering a broad sensational feel.
Performance testing of the Cobra DARKSPEED X driver revealed impressive smash factors and consistency. The driver features improved face design and a repositioned PWR-BRIDGE for energy conversion. Dual weights in the sole contribute to low spin and forgiveness, with one weight in the rear for stability and launch, and a second weight closer to the face for spin control. The shaping and weighting of the club result in a neutral shot shape.
Despite initial issues with the stock shaft not being suitable for the tester’s swing, the Cobra DARKSPEED X driver proved to be highly playable. The addition of a custom shaft improved speed and launch angle, tightening up dispersion. While unable to confirm claims of being the fastest Cobra driver ever built, the tester had no reason to doubt the performance of the DARKSPEED X driver.
Overall, the Cobra DARKSPEED X driver lived up to expectations by delivering consistently strong ball speeds. The club is praised for its appealing looks and rewarding sound, making it one of the best looking and sounding Cobra drivers tested by the reviewer. With a variety of shaft options available, the DARKSPEED X driver is a strong contender for golfers in the market for a new driver in 2024.
