The 'New' Cobra Introduces King Cobra Line At Pga Merchandise Show

Leveraging the spirit of innovation that inspired the heritage and founding principles of Cobra Golf and the original King Cobra® franchise, Cobra® announces the introduction of the next generation of drivers, fairway metals, irons and wedges under the King Cobra name.

"With our new line of golf equipment, from drivers to irons to wedges, we have returned to the original mission of Cobra brand when it was founded by Tom Crow nearly 30 years ago," commented Jeff Harmet, General Manager, Cobra. "That is, to build the highest quality golf equipment and to consistently provide the functionality that golfers seek. By following that mission, the 'new' Cobra is intent on making the game more enjoyable for golfers by offering quality, performance and innovative technology-based products at a fair price."

Designed for the 'average, avid' golfer, generally those players with handicaps higher than an index of 10, Cobra's new comprehensive SS line of products will directly communicate the larger 'Sweet Spot' as the relevant point of difference versus other products in the game improvement category. From drivers to fairway metals to irons, the performance goals are distance, a larger sweet spot and greater accuracy.

"The 'new' King Cobra SS line will appeal to a wide range players of competitive products seeking game improvement clubs who may have once played Cobra, and want to return to the 'new' Cobra brand," said Harmet. "In addition, we invite new players seeking long, straight distance to experience the King Cobra brand for perhaps the first time." Below are the features and performance benefits of each model within the 'new' Cobra's product categories:

King Cobra SS Drivers

"The new King Cobra SS driver line offers cutting edge oversized titanium technology for golfers whose priorities in a driver are distance, accuracy and consistency," comments Harmet. "The SS stands for 'Sweet Spot', and the King Cobra SS drivers feature the largest and 'hottest' of any conforming driver in the industry, making it easier and more enjoyable to hit for players of all skill levels."

The King Cobra SS drivers are offered in straight neck head volumes of 427cc, 350cc and 310cc, with the SS 350 also available in a men's, senior's and women's offset. The drivers feature a thin 15-3-3-3 Beta Titanium insert surrounded by an even thinner titanium ring to generate the maximum allowable energy transfer and a higher coefficient of restitution (C.O.R.) over a greater effective hitting area. The result is more distance, greater forgiveness and a sweet, solid feel and sound. An internal low and back heel weight pad is positioned directly in line with the hosel axis to promote a higher, straighter shots, and greater forgiveness on off-center hits due to its lower center of gravity.

Characterized by its progressive oversize design, the aesthetic size and shape of the sweet spot is constructed into the face of the driver. The unique sole plate features the traditional King Cobra word mark, and identifies the head volume, loft, C.O.R., size of the sweet spot/Beta Titanium insert. The specific gram weight, flex and flex point are also identified on each shaft.

"We want to make it as easy as possible for our customers and consumers to obtain as much information as possible about these drivers," said Harmet. "By identifying these characteristics, both on the sole plate of the driver and its shaft, the golfer can make an educated and informed decision."

In comprehensive player tests of 30 competitive driver users with handicaps between 10-28, the King Cobra SS 350 was preferred by a wide majority of players in the areas of distance, trajectory, forgiveness, accuracy and feel.

The King Cobra SS drivers will carry a suggested retail price of $369 offering a significant volume and share shift opportunity for the Cobra franchise. A King Cobra SS 290 Hyper Steel will also be available at a suggested retail price of $249. The new line will be heavily supported by demo days, print, television and Internet advertising campaigns and introductory in-shop demo displays designed to stimulate trial and educate consumers of the products' pending arrival in the marketplace and its superior points of difference against competitive offerings.

King Cobra SS Fairway Metals

The King Cobra SS Fairway Metals are designed with thin faces, and with weight placed low in the back of the club head for greater forgiveness and a higher ball trajectory. The oversized head is designed with a 17-4 stainless steel body and a lightweight Aldila Graphite shaft for exceptional feel and "hot distance."

Similar to the driver line, the King Cobra SS Fairway Metals line are offered in Men's (straight neck), Men's Offset, Seniors' Offset and Women's Offset in lofts of 3, 5, 7 and 9 metals. The Men's line is offered in a standard 3 and a "strong" 3, both which feature a 275 Maraging Steel insert to generate greater ball speed at impact. All King Cobra SS Fairway Metals will carry a suggested retail price of $184.

King Cobra SS Irons

More than a half million golfers played the original King Cobra irons, and now they are back and better than ever. A new skid sole design promotes solid contact and helps prevent thin and fat shots for greater forgiveness. Its thin face and low and back perimeter weighting promotes a larger sweet spot, better accuracy and greater carry distance. A cavity "muscle arch" provides greater wall thickness behind the strike zone for solid feel. A tungsten insert is positioned on the 2, 3 and 4 irons for higher trajectory. The oversized cavity back promotes greater confidence at address and a larger hitting for a superior sweet spot.

Cobra's Men's Irons are designed with an Aldila HM Tour Graphite shaft or Precision Microtaper Steel from 3-PW, with a 2-iron, gap, sand and lob wedges available. The Senior and Women's sets are lighter weight and have greater offset and wider soles for custom slow swing speed performance, greater carry distance and accuracy.

The King Cobra SS Forged iron is a muscle cavity back design, with a low torque Dynamic Gold shaft for tour accuracy and feel. Its oversized head and skid sole design delivers greater forgiveness and versatility for the discerning forged iron player.

Suggested retail prices for the new King Cobra SS irons lines are: Men's Steel ($559), Men's Graphite ($684), Senior Graphite ($684), Womens' Graphite ($684) and Forged Steel ($999) per set of eight clubs.

Phil Rodgers Wedges

Phil Rogers enjoyed a professional career of more than 20 years on the worldwide tours and became renowned for his short game prowess. Phil has designed a line of wedges for the new King Cobra brand, featuring a unique skid sole design that keeps the club level through impact, promotes shallower divots and a more solid feel. The Rodger-designed flange keeps the golf ball from rolling up the club face for more stability and greater control over trajectory and spin. Its flat back head design gives it a classic look and contributes to its solid feel, greater forgiveness and versatility.

Constructed of 8620 carbon steel and non-plated for softer feel, the Phil Rodgers wedges are available in lofts of 50º, 53º, 56º and 60º, Phil Rodgers Wedges carry a suggested retail price of $99 per club.