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GolfWRX member testing: Reviewing Wilson Staff Model ZM wedges

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Our forum faithful are well acquainted with the incredible giveaways and review opportunities in the realm of threads and comments, but we want to ensure front-page readers are involved as well.

Check out what GolfWRXers are saying about Wilson’s new Staff Model ZM wedges after putting them through their paces.

Wilson Staff Model ZM wedges

We have five GolfWRX members testing Wilson’s new Staff Model ZM wedges.

Wilson on new Staff Model ZM wedges

“This family of low, mid and high-bounce wedges delivers short-game confidence for players at every ability level. The forged 8620 carbon steel and precision-milled face provide a soft feel, maximum spin and greater stopping power in all conditions thanks to the unique engineering of the ZM Grooves and our high-tech garnet face blasting.”

How we choose our testers

GolfWRX staff evaluates each entry against the criteria laid out in the testing thread to determine the best fit for each specific product — For example, if a game-improvement iron is being tested, game-improvement iron-playing golfers will be considered.

Member testers

  • @Ben Berube
  • @QuigleyDU
  • @wam78
  • @wcbjr
  • @DallasSteve

Wilson Staff Model ZM wedges review themes

  • Classic looks, shaping — appealing look at address
  • Face roughness, durability, spin generation
  • Glare-reducing finish
  • Versatile grind options without creating confusion
  • Excellent distance and consistency
  • Solid feel — not mushy, not clicky
  • Compelling price point — value

Member review highlights

@Ben Berube

“First impression is wow! Take a look at these babies and how old-school they look. But right out of the box I was blown away. They look legit…”

“On the range, these wedges were locked in. It was 52/53 degrees out so chilly and hitting range balls, but wow they were on point. Familiar shape, topline is perfect, which I am a big fan of. I hate thin top lines in wedges and like when they blend well with my irons…immediately I was thumping the 100-yard flag left and right and then even 20 yards behind that with the 50*.

“Team, these wedges GO! Sure, looks, feel and sound are all important. But kind of hard to screw that up in wedges. I need accurate distances and repeatable feel. These ZF wedges have that factored.”

“Sound and feel are pure. Awesome wedges that stop. Awesome-looking throwbacks.”

“These ZM wedges are performing. The ball blasts off the face and not sure why I am the only one talking about this. The sound is so crisp and not a mush feeling. They feel just as you would expect with the sound…The ball spins too. I continue to suck shots back several feet with the 58-degree.”

“I am truly impressed with these Wilson ZM wedges. Plus for the price point, how can you pay double for a Vokey that will not guarantee anything?”

“Long. Solid. The ball goes. Sound is great. Spin is exceptional, stops on a dime and can suck them back easily.”

“Like we have all said, not “clicky” but a hard hitting sound that I am really liking. Matches the distances and results in full swings. The feel is just solid. What one would expect forged wedges to feel. Not soft like Fourteen. But a nice hard feel like older Miuras or Forged Vokeys used to. Older Pings also come to mind.”

“I dig them all around.”

“I guarantee these Wilson ZM wedges add, or feel like they add an extra 1/2 a club. 58* – goes over 100y easily. 50* – goes like 135’sh for me which is very odd. They are long and what we all want. No? Or maybe it’s the Spinner shafts are kicking these things, fellas?”

“58* – lays nice and flat, I am a big flop shot guy, love to open my faces on all irons and play “super flops”. Nice heel grind so the square leading edge sits flat. It runs through sand like butter.”

“These ZM wedges go like a bandit for me. I am liking it because the sound and feel match the distances and the spin.““Absolutely worth the $$.”

“They are long. Stop on a dime. Have a grind that most would expect. Traditional looks. Sound and feel is really what anyone would expect from crispy-looking wedges like these. Hands down I am so impressed with these wedges…”

@QuigleyDU

“I think these wedges look fantastic…they are a great size and shape. They are a chrome plated wedge that has a little bit of a dull finish that is appreciated to ward off glare.”

“I took them to a practice area and hit some short chips and pitches with the 56 and 60. I actually enjoyed the feel. They are a bit more firm. But I am not yet willing to call the “clicky”. I did like the launch window I was seeing coming off the 60. It was coming off and pitching out low.. I love that. That means the face is grabbing the ball and it is not sliding up the face. That means control.. again love it.”

“The 60 High is the one wedge that is a bit different. But I love the shape. I have loved full-face wedges since they became a thing, I think this wedge is the best shape of all the full toe/high toe wedges out there. The sole is also a bit different. It is wider but still only has 10 degrees of bounce. To me, that means forgiveness and margin for error. I need that at the moment.”

“The grinds to me are minimal. By looks, I would call my 52 an F grind for comparison, the 56 maybe a D grind with a little heel/toe relief. My 60 high toe is a bit of a wide sole. I am not really sure what to compare it to as the bounce is not super high like a K grind. I guess a low bounce K maybe? Personally, for 99.999% of golfers, I think grind is not something most really need to worry too much about. I know I am not really skilled enough with a wedge that I need something super specific. That is why in the past I have mostly opted for Cleveland wedges and the low/mid/high bounce system was fine for me…I think the Wilson bounce and grind options are simple and effective enough for basically all skill levels without getting overly complex.”

“One thing I enjoyed was the flight on fuller shots. It was pretty flat and didn’t get up in the wind. I was able to flight them and hit shots and see them in windows I expected.”

“Feel wise they are firm. I do not want to call the clicky as I don’t think that is true. But they are firmer feeling then say Mizuno or Cleveland wedges. So if that is something that you can’t look past you may want to look elsewhere.”

“I do really like the high toe 60. The shape is great and I felt really comfortable with it. The 56 may be my fav. I used it the most today. I hit some little bump and runs, some pitches, full swings, and even a bunker shot with it. It did well at everything. The sole was versatile enough and I felt I could trust the bounce and sole grind and get out of it what I put in.“

“The 56 is still the star in my book. I feel really comfortable with it. I even start using it more around the green were previously I would default to the 60. It just makes things simpler.”

“Very happy with these wedges”

@wam78

“The shape of these are outstanding! Really love the straighter leading edge and the pinched toe. Not as round as a Vokey and a little more squared off. Also, really love the look from hosel to leading edge as well, very smooth. Overall, the shaping from previous release is a little smaller, straighter lines and that squared off toe I mentioned. Really attractive!”

“Wilson wedges have had my interests since last year. Currently playing a split set of staff model cb’s and d9 forged irons and absolutely loving them! I’ve been a fan of Wilson irons for a while now, but ever since the PMP wedges and previous release, I’ve been wanting to give the wedges a go.”

“I was able to get a small bucket of balls in and have to say, the shape of these is really growing on me. Really like the sharp toe and straight leading edge…Feel off the face is firm, but not clicky at all. More of a solid, dense feel. Kind of addicting honestly.”

“The flight window is perfect. Really easy to flight down which I love!”

“All in all, fantastic look, nice solid feel with a great ball flight.”

@wcbjr

Appearance: “Finish is great. Not too busy. Font is nice, like the small insignia. Clubs are very nice and refined overall.”

50 degree

Definitely a full shot wedge. This is little to no trailing edge relief, as shown above on the left. This suits my game just fine. I use my 50* from about 90-110 yards depending on desired flight. 90 yards is a low shot with spin, 110 is a full shot with moderate spin. I can hit both of those shots, this wedge is very workable. With the combination of the head profile and the Dynamic Gold shaft, the flight is low/mid and boring. Turf interaction is great in all conditions. Rough, fairway, soft, and hard ground. I am a bit steep with my wedges and have not had any issues with digging, which is a very big positive for me. Shots toward the toe and heel obviously will have reduced distance, but not as bad as I had expected. There’s no added tungsten anywhere (I think) so this is the same as any other players wedges out there. Spin is in-line with other brand new, top of the line wedges. But again, I only use this on full shots. I don’t need a 50* spinning off the green.

54 degree

Things start to change a bit with this wedge. Two big things to note on the 54* against the 50*, there is a bit of trailing edge relief and the bounce stays the same at 8*. I only hit full shots with my 50*, and I only use my 60* when I really have to, so I need to hit a variety of yardages. This club is comfortable from 50 yards or all the way 90. I think it’s the combination of the edge relief and the lower bounce. This club is versatile. Spin is great, too. If you get really steep on one, which I do, you can start to scuff the ball. Performance in dry and wet is great. To be honest, I didn’t really even notice a change.

Feel: Overall on all the wedges, I compare them to a Vokey. Even though these wedges are forged, with the exception of the high-toe, they still have some feedback. They aren’t clicky by any means, but they aren’t as soft as say a Mizuno. I’m not really sure how they did that with the fluid-feel/bore-through design. Makes me wonder why they went that route. Maybe it’s just a throwback to their older models.

@DallasSteve

Full disclosure: I got my first set of good irons in 1975 – a set of 1957 Dyna-Powered, leather-gripped 2-PW. I’ve had a few other sets of Staff irons off and on over the years, but I fell in love again with WS because of the FG-59 irons. Now playing a combo set of 2021 Staff cb’s and mb’s, with a full set of mb’s in reserve. Still have the FG Tour V6 set, too, and they may jump back in the bag on occasion! I’ve never played the WS wedges for very long at a time; chipping and pitching are my major weakness and I’m always trying new wedges because it can’t possibly be me, right?!?!? The new Staff Model wedges have had my eye for a bit, and I’ve been really excited to test these beauties out!

“Everyone has seen pics of these wedges by now. They are gorgeous. I love how the weight is distributed in the heads, very much like the Fourteen wedges — more weight on the topline theoretically creates more spin. Vokey picked up on the concept, too. The styling on these Staff Models is superbly done.”

“I’m sure I’ll find something not-as-nice to say at some point, but right now, it’s all good!”

Any room for improvement?

GolfWRX members hoping for the addition of a raw finish. Multiple expressed their preference for a stock shaft other than True Temper Dynamic Gold Spinner.

Bonus comment

QuigleyDU: “One cosmetic thing I want to call out right now that I am glad to see. It is a super simple thing. But! It is a slightly big deal. The bottom groove. It’s a full-size groove. Not some stupid half groove.”

Check out the full member review thread here. 

More about GolfWRX member testing

Member testing gives our forum members the opportunity to put the latest golf equipment through the paces. In exchange for getting a product to test (and keep), forum members are expected to provide in-depth product feedback in the forums, along with photos, and engage with the questions of other forum members.

For brands, the GolfWRX member feedback and direct engagement is a vital window into the perceptions of avid golfers.

You can find additional testing opportunities in the GolfWRX forums.

We share your golf passion. You can follow GolfWRX on Twitter @GolfWRX, Facebook and Instagram.

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Product Reviews

GolfWRX member testing: Reviewing the SQAIRZ LT Series golf shoes

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Our forum faithful are well acquainted with the incredible giveaways and review opportunities in the realm of threads and comments, but we want to ensure front-page readers are involved as well.

Check out what GolfWRX members are saying about the SQAIRZ LT Series golf shoes.

SQAIRZ LT Series Golf Shoes

The LT series offers three lightweight performance shoes, each designed to match how you like to play. All three weigh in under 425 grams — SQAIRZ’s lightest shoes yet — and feature the same ground-force optimizing SQAIRZ tech that helps you stay stable, connected, and powerful through every swing.

Check out the full testing thread here.

How we choose our testers

GolfWRX staff evaluates each entry against the criteria laid out in the testing thread to determine the best fit for each specific product — For example, if a game-improvement iron is being tested, game-improvement iron-playing golfers will be considered

Member testers

Member review highlights

@N8dogg2669 (ProS2 LT)

“I was somewhat skeptical of the look of these shoes. I prefer a classic, not too busy shoe as you will see when I post the rest of the shoes. When I pulled them out of the box, I noticed that the squared toe is noticeable for sure. I will say that within a few minutes of wearing them and just having them, it was kind of an afterthought.”

“Overall super good fit. It feels like the shoe is sort of suctioned around your foot in a good way. I think an 11 would actually fit me a bit better but I wear 10.5 in everything else so we went with it. Maybe keep this in mind if you buy a pair, go a half size up.”

On the overall performance: “Solid feel. Foot stayed connected the whole day and I hit about 200 balls and did a full chip/putt session. I notice I’ll have a right foot slip here and there just in general, never had one today so that was good.”

Well.. what about the socks? N8dogg2669 on the SQAIRZ socks: “Fantastic, cannot recommend them more. I’ll be buying some more that’s for sure.”

@thaar (ProS2 LT)

Appearance (7.5/10): The ProS2 LT delivers a traditional look which I prefer but takes me back to the late 90s with that distinctive square toe lol. I was a bit skeptical initially, but it’s really not that bad at all. In fact, many may find the square toe helpful to align for both putting and full swings.

Fit (7.5/10): I have a fairly normal profile foot and am pretty much a 10 in everything (never have a need for wider shoes), but following Bob’s recommendation, I sized down half a size to 9.5. They’re a touch snug – a 10 would be too big, but the 9.5 is just slightly small. Surprisingly, this didn’t impact comfort during play. One nice tough are the laces – they have a coating on them to ensure they stay secure throughout the round. Others have noted it takes away from the aesthetics, but I don’t really agree and don’t think it’s all that noticeable.

Comfort (8.5/10): I typically walk, so comfort is a top priority when selecting golf shoes. These are quite comfortable overall, and really didn’t require any break-in which was nice. I’d prefer a bit more heel lockdown or an additional top eyelet for better lacing options, but that is going to change from person to person. Not a major issue, and I wouldn’t hesitate to play 36 holes in them. That said, my 360s and maybe my Jordans edge them out slightly in pure comfort.

Performance (9.5/10): This is where I hoped to see the biggest difference given my type of swing. The stability is solid – comparable to my 360s. No issues whatsoever with lateral movement or power transfer, and the grip is solid. I’m planning to test swing speeds between the 360s and Sqairz at my indoor range (hopefully today) to see if there are any significant differences.

Overall (8.5/10): Tough review since I’m comparing against what I consider the holy grail of shoes – the Adidas Tour 360s. While I’m not completely sold on the square toe aesthetics, these are genuinely high-performing, comfortable shoes that won’t disappoint. My main advice: take time to nail the fit, as sizing seems more critical than with other brands. I think those with wider feet will certainly appreciate these.

“I was able to get on a Trackman tonight. It was actually great to be able to test the shoes back to back. I will say, I could notice a touch more stability with the Sqairz over my 360’s. They’re super stable. And that’s in a controlled, indoor environment on a mat. I can see them having quite a bit of benefit on the course.

In order to try to be as fair as possible in the test and not let fatigue have too much impact, I hit the first half of my shots with my Tour 360’s, then a complete set with the Sqairz, and finished with the 360’s. I hit a total of 12 shots with each shoe. My average swing speed with the Adidas was 110.6mph topping out at 112.4mph, while my average swing speed with the Sqairz was 110.8mph topping out at 112.9mph.

So the Sqairz did edge out my 360’s on both average and highest swing speed, but marginally.”

Bottom Line: Solid performance shoe that delivers on stability claims, just don’t expect them to revolutionize your game if you’re already in premium footwear.

Cole_Williams11 (SPEED2 LT)

“I tried them on, and immediately noticed the square look of the toe. There is a sharp-looking foam on the top base of the sole of the shoe. Finally, the laces have small squares embedded into them. A fun play on the brand, but also helps the laces stay in place as you tighten your knot. Overall, a very modern look with the shape of the toe and the color pattern. I personally really like the aesthetics and have nothing negative to say about them. For me, it’s difficult to compare the look of these shoes to any other OEM. They stand out, but in a good way. Overall, a very high-quality looking product with a unique toe shape.”

“The first thing I noticed was how roomy they feel in the toe. By no means would I need a wide version of this shoe. It fit my foot snugly, yet comfortably, with plenty of space in the toe! I was pleased with the amount of  cushion that was visible on the inside of the shoe, but also tangible on your feet. The shoes feel extremely comfortable right away. I don’t foresee any break-in  period like you’d need with a traditional leather golf shoe. There will be much more to report on in this section following next week’s round, but the initial feel is a 10/10 for me!”

“All in all, I give these shoes a high A grade. 94/100 for me. If these shoes stay as dry as I hope they do, and nothing would otherwise suggest they wouldn’t, I can’t recommend these enough. I’ll also add, I wore the socks on two of the three experiences, and they are tremendous. Will be buying some very soon.”

medic170979 (SPEED2 LT)

“The shoes arrived nicely packaged complete with a pair of socks.  I chose the white/teal color way since it was mostly off-white/black with just an accent of color, and I am very happy with the look.  The square toe is a bit striking at first, but honestly it really isn’t that noticeable when looking at the shoes from a side profile.”

“Since they arrived so quickly, I was able to wear them Sunday for a round.  I wore them around the house for a while on Saturday night, and I noticed immediately that my feet did not feel any ‘squeezing’, which is something I usually experience with brand new Eccos until they are broken in.”

“First off, I got compliments from nearly everyone in my foursome on the shoes.  The definitely have ‘curb appeal,’ and surprisingly no one commented or asked about the square toe.  It is clearly more obvious to the wearer who is looking down at it.  I wanted to test the lace tech, so I only single knotted the shoes.  I was very impressed with the comfort of the shoes, as my feet felt relaxed and well-cushioned throughout the round.  There is definitely something to five points of contact theory, as I felt very connected to the ground with my toes not being scrunched up in the shoe.  Anecdotally, I would categorize the stability and traction of the shoe as better than my Eccos.”

“The shoe is very lightweight and I think it will lend itself well to walking a round.  I feel like I sacrificed walking comfort for stability when I swapped to spiked Eccos, but these seem to have both without compromise.  As for the laces, I only had to retie my left shoe once on the 12th tee, which is pretty darn good for single knots.  Oh, and the free socks are nice and comfy with plenty of arch support.  I could do with a more subdued branding on the socks, but thats minor given the comfort.”

“Overall, I am very impressed with the shoes.  While I’m not sure if I was experiencing significant speed gains, I did pipe one 295 down the fairway on 18, which is pretty darn far for me.  I can safely say I felt very stable throughout my swing, which combined with the comfort factor is enough for me to call these an early win for both my golf game and my feet.”

player922000 (VELO LT-X)

“First off, I do want to mention that the founder of SQAIRZ, Bob, called me to make sure I was set up with the correct size for this testing. I really appreciated that attention to detail and his desire to make sure I get the best and most comfortable testing experience.”

“They have a clean/minimalist look that says ‘I mean business.’ The only semi-negative thing I’ll say is that I think they would have looked a little cleaner without the horizontal white stripes. It doesn’t take anything away from the looks for me, but I think I might prefer them more without those stripes. The white is super crisp which I think looks very very nice and helps the blue really pop.”

“They have a very locked-in and grounded feeling right off the bat. I think the silicone lacing system takes away from the looks just a little bit, but is excellent for functionality, which is what matters most for me. I think they have very solid comfort right out of the box and they didn’t feel bulky or heavy, which was a nice surprise. I have flat fleet so arch support is important. I do think these have better support with just the basic insole they come with than most if not all other shoes I’ve tried. ”

“I put the VELO LT-X shoes to the test today. I played in a scramble but we’ve had a ton of rain the last few days so it was cart path only. So, I got plenty of walking in with these and I got to see how they perform in wet conditions. First off, the grip was incredible, I didn’t feel even the slightest bit of slip in these and that includes 2 holes while it was raining on us. Secondly, I had the best driving round of my life today, and I don’t believe in coincidences.”

NickieT55 (VELO LT-X)

“I have a very weird foot because I have a narrow heel, but a wide toe box, so that is truthfully one of the main reasons that I was interested in this shoe! I often times have to order a wide shoe, but it is not always conducive to the rest of my foot. I can often slide a little bit because of the wider heel section.”

“These are a very simple shoe in my opinion but I think that that is a great thing more than a knock on it! I wear mostly black, gray, and white shoes, so I just enjoyed the looks of these online the most! They have some great subtle designs and are just a good-looking shoe! I think that the toe box is not overly wide where it is gaudy or ugly, but it is nice to look down at it and know that there is plenty of room there!”

“They feel really comfortable, while also sturdy! I am normally the guy who wears more ‘athletic’ golf shoes, but I really love a shoe that just feels like it is supporting you when you have it on! Sometimes, especially with brand new shoes, my feet will be sore after wearing them. I did not have to worry about that, so that is a great feeling! The shoes were just comfortable and that extra room in the toe box certainly seems to help!”

“In regards to performance, I definitely think that they were adding some distance in certain situations. I was about where I normally am on most of the holes (but I wasn’t really striking the driver well honestly) so that is maybe due to a little bit of speed increase with a bad strike even. The big one was a 510 yard par 5 that was playing maybe a little downwind, but it was mostly off the left. I hit a really good drive and had 225 into the hole, so it was nice to be up that far!”

“Overall, I certainly think that these shoes are some of the most comfortable shoes that I have worn.”

Bonus Comment

Cole_Williams11: “Let me start with the most pressing issue facing walking golfers when it comes to buying new shoes…are they comfortable to walk in? Listen folks, I’m not just saying this because they sent me the shoes for free…these are absolutely the most comfortable out-of-the-box shoe I’ve ever worn while walking!”

More about GolfWRX member testing

Member testing gives our forum members the opportunity to put the latest golf equipment through the paces. In exchange for getting a product to test (and keep), forum members are expected to provide in-depth product feedback in the forums, along with photos, and engage with the questions of other forum members.

For brands, the GolfWRX member feedback and direct engagement is a vital window into the perceptions of avid golfers.

You can find additional testing opportunities in the GolfWRX forums.

 

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Product Reviews

Rokform G-Rok Pro bluetooth speaker review – Club Junkie Reviews

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You don’t see too many reviews from me that aren’t golf clubs, shafts, grips, or bags, as those are the things I love to test. But when something is really good, unexpectedly good, I have to share my thoughts on it. Rokform was not a brand I was very familiar with, but they were kind enough to send over the G-Rok Pro for me to try. I will be honest, I wasn’t that motivated to really try it since I thought it was just another speaker. Rokform proved me wrong, and it has been my go-to speaker ever since I first tried it.

You can listen to the full review on the Club Junkie podcast, streaming on YouTube or any podcast platform — and be sure to follow on Instagram.

The entire package is great, and Rokform did a nice job creating a body with a rugged, high-quality construction that feels ready for anything the golf course can throw at it. Dust, light rain, or the occasional bump from tossing your bag on the cart doesn’t faze the G-Rok Pro, and mine still looks brand new. Combining typical-looking black plastic with premium metal parts gives it a great feel and further gives you confidence that this speaker will last for many years. So long as you don’t leave it attached to the cart when you exit the course.

Every golf speaker has a way to attach it to your cart or golf bag in order to take your favorite music with you. Magnets are one of the more popular options, but the Rokform magnet is incredibly strong. This thing does not move. Even over bumpy cart paths or taking a corner a little fast, the G-Rok Pro doesn’t flinch. My brother tried to remove it when I told him about it, and was shocked at the force it took to remove it from the golf cart’s roof support. Rokform claims the magnet uses 49 pounds of pull force, and while I didn’t go Mythbusters with a scale, the speaker stays in place no matter the conditions. At one point on a bumpy course, my rangefinder had slid down and was resting on the G-Rok Pro; the speaker didn’t budge.

Battery life is also listed at a crazy 24 hours of play time! I haven’t run it for a full day and night, but have played multiple rounds with plenty of battery to spare. I started one round with 89 percent listed on the LCD screen and finished 18 holes with the screen showing 81 percent.

Rokform also nailed the usability of this speaker. The external buttons are large, tactile, and super easy to hit while you’re riding down the fairway or reaching back from the driver’s seat. Play, pause, skip, volume — it’s all at your fingertips without needing to dig for your phone. You also have the ability to connect more than one G-Rok Pro together so you can go full stereo in the cart or set the group vibe with the same playlist. If you phone needs a charge, you can use the speaker as a battery backup, but unfortunately you can’t charge your phone while listening to the speaker.

Since I started using the Rokform G-Rok Pro, it hasn’t left my bag. I have other speakers that are golf specific, but none of them seem to get any use from me anymore. I love the feeling that once I slap the G-Rok Pro on the cart, it isn’t going anywhere, and I don’t have to watch it as I drive down a rough section of the course or cart path. While it isn’t the cheapest option in the Bluetooth speaker world, it does everything so well that I can see where the price is justified.

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Product Reviews

GolfWRX member testing: Cobra DS-Adapt driver

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Our forum faithful are well acquainted with the incredible giveaways and review opportunities in the realm of threads and comments, but we want to ensure front-page readers are involved as well.

Check out what the most-trusted GolfWRX forum members have to say about the Cobra DS-Adapt driver (and fairway woods!) here.

Cobra DS-Adapt driver

Cobra Golf on the DS-Adapt driver:

Building off the original Darkspeed driver designs, Cobra again employs Progressive Aero shaping uniquely across the family.

    • The DS-Adapt LS’ dramatic shaping is employed in the form crown height, a raised rear aft, and heel aero shaping. Additionally, at 445cc, the profile is more compact.
    • In the 460cc DS-Adapt X, weight is balanced between the front and back of the driver head in a traditional profile for a blend of forgiveness and speed.
    • The DS-Adapt Max-K is Cobra’s foray into the ultra-forgiving 10K MOI space. Not surprisingly, the club’s stretched 460cc profile is the largest in the lineup.
    • Cobra’s draw-biased offering, the DS-Adapt Max-D, is designed with a low, heel-biased CG.

Read our full DS-Adapt launch piece here.

 

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How we choose our testers

GolfWRX staff evaluates each entry against the criteria laid out in the testing thread to determine the best fit for each specific product — For example, if a game-improvement iron is being tested, game-improvement iron-playing golfers will be considered.

Member testers

  • @jasman29
  • @adamwon84
  • @Bridges
  • @Cliffy2020
  • @BigBlue7

Member review highlights

@jasman29

“Two big things drawing me to the new DS-Adapt X over the LS was that I didn’t want to go down in size to a 440 driver and I loved not just the new FF33 adapter adjustability and the ability to adjust loft independent of lie but the new front and back weights that would/could reduce spin while still providing a high level of MOI and forgiveness.”

jasman29’s driver set up

Model: DS-ADAPT X Driver Playing 45” in length at D3 swingweight
Loft: 9 degrees of loft
Shaft Flex: X-Flex Shaft
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue TR 6 X-stiff
Grip Type: Golf Pride
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus 4 Standard
Grip Options: +1 extra wrap
Grip Orientation: Logo down

“I played the AeroJet LS with a great deal of success since 2023, I had moved to this driver from my TSR3 for spin and launch reduction. I’ll start with my misses with the AeroJet LS driver, they were very spinny cuts or hard push cuts that that would leave me in in some precarious positions. Late last year I started to think about moving to a more forgiving driver that would also provide the type of ideal launch characteristics that I was getting from the AeroJet which is what drove me to pick the DS-Adapt X.”

“The sounds and feel of this driver is so good, I can’t emphasize enough how great this driver feels on both center and off center hits, it has such a great punching feeling when you center strike it. I’m really loving this driver and she is a keeper in the bag for the long term. It has been a short time comparatively with this driver, but it is one of the best I have ever hit. It checks all the boxes in the forgiveness, performance/playability, looks, sound and feel. I already have one guy in my group that went down to Cool Clubs and got fit into the same head and he is impatiently waiting for his club to get to him before his trip to Bandon later this month.

“If you are looking for a lower spin driver, but with forgiveness, I can’t recommend this one enough. I would also offer that if this is a driver you are in the market for, look at having a weight setup that can give you the best of both worlds.

“All in all I love this driver and it is my gamer and has been for a while now, no looking back. I love everything about this driver and am excited for the rest of the golf season with my tee game.”

@adamwon84

“When I was chosen, I went through a few different build ideas and when I was told that I could pick any of the custom options from the Cobra site, I got very excited! I spoke to my local fitter that I have been going to for years now with my clubs and after we discussed a few ideas I ended up with the following:

Model: DS-APADT MAX-K Driver
Hand: Right
Loft: 10.5
Shaft Flex: Stiff
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF-7
Grip: Jumbo Max Ultralite Small Black

I went with the Max-K 10k because I am currently swinging the G430 10k and wanted to go all out on the 10k Cobra driver to see how it does against my Ping.”

“The Max-K driver is incredibly easy to hit and looks fantastic. When I set up with it at first, I was smiling because of how good it actually looked and how deep the face looks! Compared to my G430 10k, it looks like its twice the size but that is because of how flat the G430 10k is designed. I hit about 12-15 drivers with the Cobra and initial impression is that this thing is incredible in flight, feel and sound.

“The forgiveness of the Max-K is shocking. I picked this one to compare to my G430 10K and the Cobra is just impressing me more and more. The toe shots are so much better on the Max-K over the G430, its been really fun going back and forth with both drivers. I am glad to see others messing with the Max-K, the driver is already in the bag going forward.

” I haven’t had this level of confidence on the tee box in forever. I can really lean into this driver when I need to and get a few big swings out there. This last weekend I was able to play Sunday and I hit every single fairway that I used the driver on (7 times total), 5 of them were over 300 yards (we used 18 birdies and our scopes to double check) which I haven’t seen these distances with the driver in forever. The Ping G430 10K is still fantastic, but the Cobra is just out performing it. Max-K in the bag, it’s unreal! One friend has purchased a Max-K because of mine”

@Bridges

“It looks so good at address. The matte black top line blends with the carbon crown and face nicely. The bulge and roll of the face is not pronounced and the dark features mask it even further. I am not picky about shaping but this should appeal to the most discerning among us. Great job by Cobra on the aesthetics of the DS ADAPT line.

“The sound is just what I like. Nothing muted here. No carbon sound. It’s like the classic titanium sound but very powerful. No aluminum bat sound. It’s powerful yet pleasing to the ear.

“I have used the X driver for three rounds in ten days so I am getting to know it pretty well. I had one great driving round, one inconsistent round with several great drives and today’s round that was pretty bad. The good shots with the X are among the best I have ever hit but the forgiveness of the Max-K may be what I need. I think it’s time to see what the Max-K can do for me. If the well struck shots are close to the X but the misses are noticeably better it would be the obvious choice.

“The DS Adapt Max-K driver has been incredible. The Callaway Epic Max LS it replaced has been in my bag since it was released in 2020. The Max-K offers the same ease of launch, mid to low spin and neutral bias but the forgiveness across the face of the Max-K is ridiculous! The Epic Max LS was no slouch in that regard but the way the Max-K keeps the ball in play on bad swings is noticeably better. I see very little curvature with the Max-K, my pushed and pulled shots stay on line.”

@Cliffy2020

“LS Driver – Stunning has been mentioned – hard yes! Best I can add is cocky yet muted. The dull carbon fiber top with black Cobra alignment aid is exactly what I want in a driver finish. Paired with the flat black Velocore+ shaft it’s the perfect complement.”

“Not to be ignored. The quality headcovers are worth mentioning. Design, stitching, colorway, loops and handles are all quality, well thought out, and functional.

“I initially set the Cobra adapter in a fade biased position (habit) and the LS consistently stayed right on me. The more I tried to turn it over, the more often I got the ugly tumbler. Once I was brave enough to aim left and push the ball the driver really came alive which got me thinking about playing a fade off the tee again.

“This driver is crazy tunable! I know I can make it consistently go right (unusual for me). The fun part will be finding a consistent draw setting for my swing and of course the straight bomb! I have several courses where one particular shot shape favors another off the tee and this driver can be made to do both.”

@BigBlue7

“Looks are everything you want in a “player’s” driver – simple graphics, great shape and, for me, a matte crown. Cobra nailed the aesthetics across this entire line”

“Sound and feel are interesting to me. I would describe the feel as extremely solid – borderline too solid and the sound is very muted. I don’t know how else to say it other than it just doesn’t sound or feel explosive. However, that sound and feel does not mean the head isn’t explosive. In fact, it is the exact opposite. I was VERY impressed with the LS driver. My stock ball flight is relatively straight and I saw that consistently off the tee. I played with the weights in the “neutral” setting and ball flight was a nice tight fade with a mid trajectory.

“For the LS Driver, I felt like things were still launching a little bit lower than I would have liked, so moved the 10g weight from heel to the back and instantly got the ball up into a better window. It not like I was hitting line drives before the switch, but I just wanted to see things peak a little higher. Moving the CG back did make a bit of a difference and produced a ball flight closer to what I am used to seeing. When struck well, the Adapt LS is a launcher. It feels great off the center of the face and was seeing similar carry distances to my G430 LST. That being said, I am still finding the G430 LST more forgiving – especially off the toe.

“Ball slightly forward, stance set up for a fade, and woah did I unlock something in this driver. Now when I hit a fade off the tee, I line up a good bit left and hit more a slight push fade – this allows me to maintain my positive angle of attack and helps mitigate a potential double cross. Well – the Adapt LS Driver apparently loves this. Beautiful, high (but low spin) fades that held beautifully against the wind. I never felt that the ball was spinning up to the point where the wind would start moving it back left. The more I swung, the more confident I became and the more free I swung. I duplicated a similar high fade with the 430LST, but it actually felt easier to do with the Cobra – the ping tended to launch a little too high with that swing and thus the wind would catch it more. If the Cobra allows me to make that my stock shot with little to no fear of a double cross, that could really be beneficial to someone like me that is scarred from a couple of wasted years due to the hooks. The sound and feel of the Adapt LS Driver gets better every time I hit it. Moving the heavier weight to the back makes enough of a difference to get it into a realm where I enjoy hitting rather than having it feel and sound a bid dead.

“On well struck shots it sneaks past my G430 LST, but that is mainly due to the lower spin. When I try to hit a draw, results are mixed. When struck perfectly, the LS Adapt can go toe to toe with any driver in terms of total distance. However, if you are missing on the toe, that is where this spin drops off pretty drastically compared to my 430LST and I saw some dive bombers. However, when I set up to hit a fade, it really comes to life. I think this driver is a fantastic option for someone who plays a high fade and wants to drop a few RPMS. The misses are steel penal, but the club head delivery with the fade just mitigates that snapper left and I don’t see many of the high weak right misses with it.”

Bonus Comment

jasman29 on the DS Adapt 5-wood: “The DS ADAPT X 5 wood, for me, has been the biggest surprise and I just can’t emphasize enough how much I love this club! I never played a 5 wood, never thought I could, and this has totally changed my mind. I love this club, I can hit it from many different lies. As an example, we were playing yesterday and on the last hole which is a dog leg left par 5 and was in the light rough, second cut, bit of a side hill downhill lie where trouble is right and I had to hit it around a tree to get it to the green and was 241 to the flag as the crow flys. I hit a nice high slight draw with this club pin high in the green side bunker. I mean I just have so much confidence with this club and there is no chance this is going anywhere EVER! It out performs the hybrid I was playing hands down and flat out performs from all sorts of lies. If you are in the market, can’t recommend this one enough, you won’t be disappointed.”

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