I tested the Cobra One Length Irons, watch the video and get my views and performance all measured by TrackMan.
27 comments
Very informing, I may make up 6 iron this winter and give it a try. I see where Pinhawk and Integra make component single length iron heads. I do have a loft and lie bending machine and my thing would be how much these heads can be bent to get the lie angle that I would need? Another concern would be maintaining the same swingweight through out the set. For me it would be between C-9 and D-1.
The Cobra and I guess the other makes are all able to be adjusted in length and lie to suit. As regard the weight you might find that if adjusted you might start to see a bigger change in the distances you achieve. Definitely worth having a play around though. Thanks Alistair
I want prepare my irons set for next season with one lenght,my question are: how tip trimming the shaft?? Same tip trim for all irons?? or the tip trim trim of the shaft are the standard and cut the butt of the shaft at same lenght???
No ones talking about swingweight which is an important concept to building a set of these irons. The weight of the shafts raw and uncut are the important factor in getting the right swingweight. You don’t want to end up with a C-2 or E-2 swingweight and you don’t want to add any weight to the heads. Get the right swingweight using the right shafts and grips.
Yes Alistair, Cobra has the equipment to build the clubs to a D-2 swingweight. If someone were to build a set of clubs for himself or someone else they would be lost if they didn’t have a swingweight scale. The cost of shafts are getting expensive and you can’t afford to make a mistake. Luckily I have all of the equipment to make a set. If anyone wants to play around, make one club,say a 6 or 8 iron and see how it feels compared to a variable 6 or 8 iron.
The real verdict is that the variable length irons give you more carry distance on the longer clubs, whereas the single length irons keep in touch with total distance only due to the fact of increased attack angle of the 7 iron length shaft (theoretically, not sure why yours is not consistent…) and therefore very likely helping to decrease dynamic loft at impact. It’s like hitting hitting a full swing 4 iron down the fairway pitching at 200y and ending at 210y or gripping it shorter, punching it for 190y carry which runs out also at 210y due to (max height/ landing angle) . I am hoping you checked the club’s lofts as well for your test. You never know what you’re getting delivered off the rack..
If we look at the 4 iron the carry changed by 4.1 yards ( shorter on the one length ) angle of attack by 0.3 ( steeper on the one length ) and carry 0.4 yards ( shorter on the one length ) so only negligible difference. I didn’t check the lofts no. Thanks
Great first review of the irons. The irons seem to hold up in comparison to the traditional set regarding gapping and distance.
On another website review of the irons, the reviewer found his contact improved (center hits on the clubface) not only in the long irons, but also in the wedges. This led to improved consistency throughout the bag. This test involved randomized club selection, so the reviewer did not hit the same club over and over. Comparing four shots from one 5 iron to four shots of another 5 iron are helpful, but how often do we hit the same iron four shots in a row?
I would be interested in a test along the following lines: hit your regular set in a random manner, making sure not to hit the same club twice in a row. Hit each club a total of 3 or 4 times within the random pattern. This would give us a baseline for comparison. Practice exclusively with the single length irons for a couple of days and then repeat the test with the single length irons. Such a test would go a long way to seeing if using single length irons truly leads to better consistency.
Hey!very interesting video! I’m gonna need a new set next year.i am a hcp 5.5 player after my 4th season of playin golf.My idea is to mix up the two sets one length forged from 4-7 and variable length from 8-pw because i am hitting my short irons very well but my longer irons arent that consistent. what do u think?
But what about the gapping?will it be the same? Now i have 8-10meter from 4 to gw at each step.4,5,6 irons will be harder to stop on the green right?what do u think?
From my testing gapping would be the same as a normal set. The spin and height was slightly less with the one length so might not stop as quick but it was negalble. Thanks
Alistair I enjoyed the review! I’m a plus handicap but I have always struggled with consistency in the longer irons with center contact. I might give these a try. They look beautiful.
A couple of questions and I should note that I’m pretty familiar with what I need for my normal standard length specs.
Do the forged ones have pretty low offset? I hate offset.
If I normally play a 7 iron at a 64.5 degree lie and their standard is 62 degree, should I order at 64.5 degrees for all clubs? I realize some further fitting and testing may be necessary as far as lies go for each club.
Seems like all of these clubs are within a degree of bending either way to get exactly perfect 4 degree gaps. Would it be possibly beneficial to bend them to those 4 degree gaps? Seems like it may make the clubs perform even closer to a standard length set but cobra may have done enough testing to prove otherwise and we should just leave them at what they recommend?
You say that your 7 iron’s lie angle is 64.5*. The 64.5* is usually on your 9 iron on down to your LW. Do your have any problems pulling the ball to the left? What’s the length of your 7 iron?
Hi Matt, If you are normally 2.5 degrees upright then that would remain the same, but definitely check with each brand and shaft you use, as this might vary. As for gapping i would look at your yardages with them and gap accordingly. Another option is to use the single length long iron and variable short irons. That is something the will allow with a custom fit set. Hope that helps. al
Dechambeau has a 5 degree loft gap between his 4 and 5, and 5 and 6 irons. Alistair how did you find the launch on the 4 Iron. I built a a one length set this winter and getting that flight up in the air concerns me when I finally get to test mine. I’m keeping the 9 Iron and up the shorter variable Length. And thanks for the great review.
Hi Patrick, the 4 iron launched 0.4 degrees higher than the variable one so nothing in it really. Height difference was 5foot peak height so again nothing in it really. Thanks for watching al
I really value and appreciate your unbiased test of these clubs. As a 10 cap that hit’s a lot of fairways but struggles getting greens in reg. to match my driving game I have been thinking about trying these irons. The theory makes sense to me. I will be buying a set this Spring.
Roberto Just finished session on the range with Cobra guy and launch monitor. Wanted to try the same length technology. Didn’t realize that it isn’t the length of the irons that matters but rather the relevance that you’re setting up in a 7 iron stance on ever friggin shot. Pretty cool but not enough to put a charge in my wallet, however he put a few graphite shafts in my hand that gave me just enough tingle for a chubby! Wow, it’s definitely time for this 67 year old to make the switch. Anyway, that my goofy review. Try the same length thing but beware of being in the same old boring 7 iron stance all day.
Great review. I made the switch about 4 years ago and my handicap has dropped from a 14 to a 4-5. There are a few things to consider when making the switch: 1. Practice any club and it’s like practicing every club. Get your mind right, hit every shot like it’s a 7. Don’t try to baby short irons or crush long irons. As you showed, 7i swing gets expected results.
2. One length short irons are more versatile. You can choke up for touch shots just as you would with regular variable clubs. However, if you need high shots (more clubhead speed, it’s easier with one length clubs.
Learning to hit half, 3/4, full swings can now be every club in bag vs just wedges. So much easier for average player.
Net/Net, having same posture And setup makes playing the game easier. You change clubs to match the trajectory you want to see.
For anyone just learning the game or for anyone higher than a 10 handicap, One length clubs will simplify the game. Period.
Very informing, I may make up 6 iron this winter and give it a try.
I see where Pinhawk and Integra make component single length
iron heads. I do have a loft and lie bending machine and my thing would be
how much these heads can be bent to get the lie angle that I would need?
Another concern would be maintaining the same swingweight through out
the set. For me it would be between C-9 and D-1.
The Cobra and I guess the other makes are all able to be adjusted in length and lie to suit. As regard the weight you might find that if adjusted you might start to see a bigger change in the distances you achieve. Definitely worth having a play around though. Thanks Alistair
Interesting review Alistair……thank you for doing this!
Thanks Tony
I want prepare my irons set for next season with one lenght,my question are: how tip trimming the shaft??
Same tip trim for all irons?? or the tip trim trim of the shaft are the standard and cut the butt of the shaft at same lenght???
It won’t work that way, there needs to be different weighting in the heads so it works. thanks
No ones talking about swingweight which is an important concept to building a set of these irons.
The weight of the shafts raw and uncut are the important factor in getting the right swingweight.
You don’t want to end up with a C-2 or E-2 swingweight and you don’t want to add any weight to
the heads. Get the right swingweight using the right shafts and grips.
Hi Joe, The swing weight was d2, I know other single length clubs come with swing weight options however these don’t I believe. Thanks
Yes Alistair, Cobra has the equipment to build the clubs to a D-2 swingweight. If someone were to
build a set of clubs for himself or someone else they would be lost if they didn’t have a swingweight
scale. The cost of shafts are getting expensive and you can’t afford to make a mistake. Luckily I have all of the equipment
to make a set. If anyone wants to play around, make one club,say a 6 or 8 iron and see how it feels compared to
a variable 6 or 8 iron.
The real verdict is that the variable length irons give you more carry distance on the longer clubs, whereas the single length irons keep in touch with total distance only due to the fact of increased attack angle of the 7 iron length shaft (theoretically, not sure why yours is not consistent…) and therefore very likely helping to decrease dynamic loft at impact. It’s like hitting hitting a full swing 4 iron down the fairway pitching at 200y and ending at 210y or gripping it shorter, punching it for 190y carry which runs out also at 210y due to (max height/ landing angle) . I am hoping you checked the club’s lofts as well for your test. You never know what you’re getting delivered off the rack..
If we look at the 4 iron the carry changed by 4.1 yards ( shorter on the one length ) angle of attack by 0.3 ( steeper on the one length ) and carry 0.4 yards ( shorter on the one length ) so only negligible difference. I didn’t check the lofts no. Thanks
Great first review of the irons. The irons seem to hold up in comparison to the traditional set regarding gapping and distance.
On another website review of the irons, the reviewer found his contact improved (center hits on the clubface) not only in the long irons, but also in the wedges. This led to improved consistency throughout the bag. This test involved randomized club selection, so the reviewer did not hit the same club over and over. Comparing four shots from one 5 iron to four shots of another 5 iron are helpful, but how often do we hit the same iron four shots in a row?
I would be interested in a test along the following lines: hit your regular set in a random manner, making sure not to hit the same club twice in a row. Hit each club a total of 3 or 4 times within the random pattern. This would give us a baseline for comparison. Practice exclusively with the single length irons for a couple of days and then repeat the test with the single length irons. Such a test would go a long way to seeing if using single length irons truly leads to better consistency.
Yes that would make a good test. Thanks for the feedback
Totally Agree.
Hey!very interesting video!
I’m gonna need a new set next year.i am a hcp 5.5 player after my 4th season of playin golf.My idea is to mix up the two sets one length forged from 4-7 and variable length from 8-pw because i am hitting my short irons very well but my longer irons arent that consistent.
what do u think?
Yes like that idea, thats probably the way i would go also. Thanks
But what about the gapping?will it be the same? Now i have 8-10meter from 4 to gw at each step.4,5,6 irons will be harder to stop on the green right?what do u think?
From my testing gapping would be the same as a normal set. The spin and height was slightly less with the one length so might not stop as quick but it was negalble. Thanks
Alistair I enjoyed the review! I’m a plus handicap but I have always struggled with consistency in the longer irons with center contact. I might give these a try. They look beautiful.
A couple of questions and I should note that I’m pretty familiar with what I need for my normal standard length specs.
Do the forged ones have pretty low offset? I hate offset.
If I normally play a 7 iron at a 64.5 degree lie and their standard is 62 degree, should I order at 64.5 degrees for all clubs? I realize some further fitting and testing may be necessary as far as lies go for each club.
Seems like all of these clubs are within a degree of bending either way to get exactly perfect 4 degree gaps. Would it be possibly beneficial to bend them to those 4 degree gaps? Seems like it may make the clubs perform even closer to a standard length set but cobra may have done enough testing to prove otherwise and we should just leave them at what they recommend?
You say that your 7 iron’s lie angle is 64.5*. The 64.5* is usually on your 9 iron on down to your LW. Do your have any problems pulling the ball to the left? What’s the length of your 7 iron?
Hi Matt, If you are normally 2.5 degrees upright then that would remain the same, but definitely check with each brand and shaft you use, as this might vary. As for gapping i would look at your yardages with them and gap accordingly. Another option is to use the single length long iron and variable short irons. That is something the will allow with a custom fit set. Hope that helps. al
Dechambeau has a 5 degree loft gap between his 4 and 5, and 5 and 6 irons. Alistair how did you find the launch on the 4 Iron. I built a a one length set this winter and getting that flight up in the air concerns me when I finally get to test mine. I’m keeping the 9 Iron and up the shorter variable Length. And thanks for the great review.
Hi Patrick, the 4 iron launched 0.4 degrees higher than the variable one so nothing in it really. Height difference was 5foot peak height so again nothing in it really. Thanks for watching al
I really value and appreciate your unbiased test of these clubs.
As a 10 cap that hit’s a lot of fairways but struggles getting greens in reg. to match my driving game I have been thinking about trying these irons. The theory makes sense to me.
I will be buying a set this Spring.
If your going to buy a set, get fit for the set. Don’t just buy them off the rack
Roberto
Just finished session on the range with Cobra guy and launch monitor. Wanted to try the same length technology. Didn’t realize that it isn’t the length of the irons that matters but rather the relevance that you’re setting up in a 7 iron stance on ever friggin shot. Pretty cool but not enough to put a charge in my wallet, however he put a few graphite shafts in my hand that gave me just enough tingle for a chubby! Wow, it’s definitely time for this 67 year old to make the switch. Anyway, that my goofy review. Try the same length thing but beware of being in the same old boring 7 iron stance all day.
Great review. I made the switch about 4 years ago and my handicap has dropped from a 14 to a 4-5. There are a few things to consider when making the switch:
1. Practice any club and it’s like practicing every club. Get your mind right, hit every shot like it’s a 7. Don’t try to baby short irons or crush long irons. As you showed, 7i swing gets expected results.
2. One length short irons are more versatile. You can choke up for touch shots just as you would with regular variable clubs. However, if you need high shots (more clubhead speed, it’s easier with one length clubs.
Learning to hit half, 3/4, full swings can now be every club in bag vs just wedges. So much easier for average player.
Net/Net, having same posture
And setup makes playing the game easier. You change clubs to match the trajectory you want to see.
For anyone just learning the game or for anyone higher than a 10 handicap, One length clubs will simplify the game. Period.