First Cut
Cobra's Forged Tec and Tec X irons: What you need to know
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: An updated Cobra Tec and Tec One Length iron is joined by a new addition with the game-improvement Tec X. All are hollow-body designs and use tungsten weighting to enhance launch and stability.
PRICING/AVAILABILITY: The irons cost $1,199 in steel and $1,299 in graphite for seven irons (4-PW in the Tec and 5-GW in the Tec One Length and Tec X). The irons are available at Cobra Golf's website or at retail starting April 29.
THE DEEP DIVE: Cobra’s Forged Tec irons possess a solid history, which is why the company is introducing its fourth iteration of the hollow-body, players-distance iron. Just because the name is the same, however, does not mean significant enhancements have been bypassed.
A slimmer topline with reduced offset provide a more player-ish look, while a lighter, softer foam is used inside the 1025 carbon-steel clubhead to enhance the sound and feel. Cobra also is using a five-step forging process that helps create a more precise shape while also assisting sound. “The forging process and softer foam helped us create a lower sound that we’ve found appeals to better players,” said Tom Olsavsky, Cobra’s VP of R&D. “Additionally, since the foam is lighter, it allowed us to move some weight and therefore the CG lower in the long irons to help make those easier to get in the air.”
By utilizing multiple materials, Cobra was also able to bring speed in an iron with a traditional shape while continuing to enhance feel and distance. The muscle-back shape hides the fact the head is hollow and utilizes the company’s PWRSHELL face (first used in a Tec iron in the previous iteration) for higher ball speed.
A 20-gram tungsten toe weight is positioned in a manner that allows the center of gravity to be more in line with face center. The use of tungsten not only helps provide a satisfying feel on center hits but assists stability on off-center strikes as well.
On the One Length model, each iron has been designed to match the length (37.5 inches) and weight of a 7-iron. Weight is added to the long irons to achieve this and removed from the short irons. Lie angles also have been adjusted with more upright lie angles in the long irons and slightly flatter in the short irons and wedges. The shafts also are lighter in the long irons to help assist launch while heavier wedge shafts promote control.
A new addition to the Tec family is the addition of the Forged Tec X, which is more of a game-improvement iron. Cast from 431 stainless steel, the Tec X boasts a slightly thicker topline and stronger lofts (including a 42-degree pitching wedge).
Though the irons are hollow-body and have foam inside like the Forged Tec, the Tec X features a shallower blade height and lower CG, particularly in the long irons. “We use a 65-gram tungsten weight, which is 45 grams more than the Tec iron,” said Olsavsky. “That makes the long irons almost play like utility irons. The CG is lower and the clubhead more stable, which helps deliver a higher launch even with the stronger lofts.”
For shafts, the stock steel offering is the KBS $-Taper Lite in the Tec and Tec One Length and KBS Tour Lite in the Tec X. Lamkin’s Crossline grips are standard for the Tec and Tec One Length and Crossline STD grips are used for the Tec X.
The irons cost $1,199 in steel and $1,299 in graphite for seven irons (4-PW in the Tec and 5-GW in the Tec One Length and Tec X). The new King Forged Tec irons are available at Cobra Golf's website or at retail starting April 29.