TESTED: Cobra’s single-length irons

Published: 06 January 2017 Last updated: 07 March 2017

How do single-length irons fare against their standard equivalents?

For the first time same-length irons will be widely available in 2017, thanks to Cobra Golf.

Here, we pit these new One Length designs against their standard length brothers to see if the concept’s got legs.

Cobra King F7 One Length v Cobra King F7 (standard length)

King F7 One Length £549 (s), £649(g)

Availability: 5-GW (Stock set 5-GW) RH, LH

Stock shafts: True Temper King F7 (s), Fujikura Pro 63i(g)

7-iron loft/length: 30º/37.25in

King F7 £549 (s) £649 (g)

Availability: 4-GW (Stock set either 5-GW or 4-PW)

Stock shafts: True Temper King F7(s), Fujikura Pro 63i (g)

7-iron loft and length: 30º/37.5in

For this iron, aimed more at the game improver, Cobra boffins broke the set down into individual irons and looked at what club golfers need from each.

That means four different head constructions: A full hollow in the 4/5-iron gives the forgiveness of a hybrid; The 6/7-irons turn into half-hollow heads, while the 8-PW are cavity backs and the GW and SW are blades.

How the Cobra King F7 One Length and Cobra King F7 compared

5-iron: One Length posted a 3mph lower ball speed drop off (between centred and off centre hits) than the standard-length F7. This gives instant validation to Cobra’s One Length concept.

7-iron: The One Length idea is all based around the 7-iron, so it’s no surprise on such a forgiving model the numbers are very similar. The shaft length, loft and weight are all exactly the same so there was no more than a single yard or 1mph of carry distance or ball speed to choose between either model.

9-iron: On average the One Length’s ball speed was 3mph quicker than F7 standard length (which comes from a 3mph faster club speed, thanks to the extra length) which adds up to an increase of six yards in carry distance. Drop off between distances was also tighter by six yards (eight yards to 14 yards).

The short game: Cobra researched how single-length irons performed in the short game. They say the consistency of having all shaft lengths the same leads to improved performance from three of the four areas golfers are most likely to find themselves in around the green. For us it’ll take some getting used to, but with the benefits of the rest of the set being demonstrably better, longer shaft lengths in the short game are certainly something we reckon we can get used to.

There is also a forged set of single-length irons…

Cobra King Forged One Length v Cobra King Forged Tour

King Forged One Length £849

Availability: 4-PW (stock set 4-PW) RH only

Stock shafts: KBS Tour FLT

7-iron loft and length: 33º/37.25in

King Forged Tour £749

Availability: 3-GW (Stock set 4-PW) RH only

Stock shafts: KBS Tour FLT

7-iron loft and length: 33º/37.25in

How the Cobra King Forged One Length and Cobra King Forged Tour compared:

5-iron: Chris’s average ball speed and carry distance were exactly the same (129mph ball speed and 192 yards carry). But the drop-off between centre and off-centre hits was five yards tighter with the One Length
(11 compared to the Forged Tour’s 16 yards), suggesting much greater consistency.

7-iron: Ball speeds rose by 1mph in the One Length with a slightly better drop-off between good shots and mishits. Chris launched shots higher with less spin, carrying six yards further with the One Length (172 yards v 166 yards) with a five-yard tighter drop off (seven yards v 12 yards).

9-iron: A 9-iron the length of a 7-iron won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but looking at data the One Length concept stacks up again. On average Chris increased ball speed by 2mph, and added an extra five yards of carry distance (141 yards v 136 yards).

The short game: Not all golfers use irons for chipping and pitching, but if you do chip with your irons, yes, initially it feels weird using a 9-iron the length of a 7-iron. But we don’t think it would take too much practice for them to become part of the furniture within your bag.