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In this review, I’ll take a look at the Cobra F-MAX and F-MAX ONE Length irons.
Cobra claims the F-MAX are their lightest, most forgiving irons yet. They are intended to deliver super game-improvement performance with maximum swing speed, distance and forgiveness at an affordable price point.
How does the F-MAX really perform when push comes to shove? Is it a good option for higher handicaps? Is it lacking in any areas?
Read on to find out what you need to know before putting these in your bag.
Note: Unless otherwise stated, stock shafts and stock grips are used when evaluating this club. In most cases, the golf clubs reviewed on Golfstead are acquired temporarily for testing purposes and are not purchased. The review that follows is based on the personal experience and research of the author. Because everyone’s swing and body are different, results with a particular club may differ from person to person.
What are the reviews like?
The F-MAX and F-MAX ONE Length irons have been received very well.
The F-MAX ONE Length has a 5-star rating on Global Golf and the F-MAX has a 5-star rating on the official Cobra website. Overall, the irons have gotten very positive verdicts from critics and consumers alike.
What People Like
- the straight-to-draw flight bias
- towering ball flight
- very good ball speed, distance and forgiveness
- lightweight feel that’s easy to work with
- simplicity in the swing throughout the set afforded by the ONE Length configuration
- affordable price
What People Don’t Like
- Feedback on mis-hits can feel a bit strange
What are the features?
Cobra labels the F-MAX “elevate your iron game” and calls the F-MAX ONE Length “your best golf in one swing”.
Cobra’s main selling points for these irons are:
Lightweight Technology Built For Effortless Speed & Distance
The F-MAX iron features a light construction aimed towards those with moderate swing speeds.
Larger, midsize grips improve comfort and consistency with every swing. Lighter shaft weights help golfers with moderate swing speeds generate more clubhead speed with less effort for increased distance.
Lighter swing weights improve comfort during the swing to help moderate swingers realize better clubhead speeds and an optimal launch.
Improved Clubhead Construction
A deeper undercut creates more face flex for improved ball speeds on off-center hits, while a lower profile clubhead design moves the center of gravity (CG) lower and further back for a higher launch angle.
The long irons (4-7) use a thinner, 17-4 stainless steel for improved speed and distance, while the short irons (8-SW) use a softer 431 stainless steel for soft feel and precision.
The irons are nickel chrome plated, improving aesthetics and durability.
Designed With Easy Launch And Forgiveness In Mind
Weight is strategically positioned back and heelward to increase moment of inertia (MOI) and promote straighter, more forgiving ball flights.
An offset hosel design promotes higher launch with draw bias for straighter, more accurate approach shots.
Weaker iron lofts help golfers with moderate swing speeds to get height on their shots.
The F-MAX gap wedge (GW) and sand wedge (SW) have a specialty design that provides added versatility and shot control around the greens.
F-MAX ONE Length Vs. F-MAX
How the F-MAX ONE Length irons differ from the F-MAX irons is, as you might guess, in the length of the clubs.
Normally, foot positioning, spine angle, ball position and other variables change as you move up or down the set, decreasing the margin of error in your swing.
With F-MAX ONE Length irons, every iron in the set is the same length as what Cobra found is the favourite club of most players, the 7-iron. This allows you to play every iron in the bag as if it was your 7-iron, increasing confidence and improving your results on the course.
Stock Info
The stock set for the F-MAX consists of 7 clubs (5-PW, GW) while the stock set for the F-MAX ONE Length consists of 5 clubs (6-PW).
Several stock shaft options are available.
The stock grips for the F-MAX and F-MAX ONE Length are the F-MAX Lamkin R.E.L Mid Size (black) and F-MAX ONE Lamkin R.E.L Mid Size (blue), respectively.
Full information on shafts, grips and their specs can be found on the Cobra website. Note that the F-MAX irons are available in women’s variants as well.
Below are the specs of the F-MAX and F-MAX ONE Length irons. Click or zoom to enlarge.
How do these irons perform?
Distance/Distance Control
Distance results with the F-MAX were pretty good all things considered.
They’re long, but definitely not the longest I’ve tested. That’s to be expected though for several reasons.
One is that they’re not top tier irons (I’m not saying they’re poor quality, but they aren’t premium $1100+ irons), and another being that the CG is placed low and back, which increases spin.
Still, though, the lighter swing weight promotes a faster clubhead speed and higher launch for players who normally have trouble getting height on their shots; this will absolutely increase your distance.
Moreover, the high launch and excellent forgiveness translates to excellent distance control, allowing you to hit consistent precision shots into greens that land softly.
Comparing the F-MAX and F-MAX ONE Length, I tended to hit the latter a touch (maybe 2-4 yards) longer; otherwise, performance was more or less the same.
Forgiveness
This really stood out to me.
As I touched on above, the CG positioning causes an increased MOI, and a high MOI translates to improved forgiveness; I definitely saw that here.
Not only that, but the CG is more towards the heel which produces a draw bias that helps to straighten out the unintended cuts that so many amateurs hit. This obviously will keep your shots on your intended line.
Ball speed preservation across the face is also good thanks to Cobra’s undercut in the head. Top marks in this category.
Ball Flight/Playability
This also deserves praise. Typical ball flights with the stock shaft are high with a slight draw bias, although the ball flight tendency will vary from individual to individual.
Indeed, the F-MAX iron is effortlessly easy to hit. I imagine golfers with a naturally low ball flight and slight fade bias will find these irons to be a godsend. Skilled players can work shots to an extent.
This iron is generally very stable through most of the hazards and obstacles you’ll come across on the golf course.
The F-MAX ONE Length irons can be even easier to hit if you tend to do well with a 7-iron length.
What about look, sound and feel?
The Look
The F-MAX is unmistakably a super game-improvement iron, sporting a long head from heel to toe, thick top line, thick sole and offset that increases as you move towards the long irons.
The offset in particular is substantial — it’s greater than other Cobra game-improvement offerings like the KING F6 and Fly-Z XL — but Cobra does a good job of not making it look so obvious.
The F-MAX and F-MAX ONE Length look the same structurally, but they do have a slightly different colour scheme on the badge (yellow for the F-MAX and red/blue for the F-MAX ONE Length), and the stock shafts look different as well.
The ladies variants of the F-MAX irons have a pink and light blue colour scheme.
The chrome finish is lovely. I have nothing to complain about in the looks department.
The Sound & Feel
Well-struck shots with the F-MAX produce a nice “pop” sound. The undercut combined with the dampening material inside mean that the ball feels like it springs off the face at impact.
Feel holds up well in a variety of situations. As you move away from the center of the face, the sound and feel dulls, but the actual shot turns out better than what the sound and feel implies.
In terms of feedback, you generally know when you hit a poor shot, but during my testing I found it difficult to discern where exactly I made contact with the face using sound and feel alone.
Where should I buy these irons online?
When this review was originally written, Global Golf was offering stock sets and combo (hybrids included) sets of F-MAX, F-MAX ONE Length and ladies variants.
Right now, you might be able to find these iron models on Amazon, but eBay has the best prices and availability right now, new and used.
Conclusion
Rating: 9.1/10 (a must-try)
Classification: Super Game-Improvement
Best suited for: Golfers with a moderate swing speed who want forgiveness and control in their irons.
The F-MAX is a quality game-improvement iron from Cobra that packs a lot of value for the price.
It delivers great distance, great distance control, a high launch and exceptional forgiveness, with options for ladies and for those who prefer the same club length throughout the set.
This iron is a must-try for players who want an iron with super game-improvement capabilities without paying four figures for a set.
Thanks for reading this review. Have you tried the Cobra F-MAX irons? Feel free to leave a comment below with your thoughts and experiences.
Good review of the f max irons. Do you have any reviews for the rest of the f max clubs. I was considering buying the complete max set. Also thinking of the callaway rogue or ping g400. Do you have any recommendations for those or any others? The f max would be considerably cheaper for more clubs including putter and bag, but if other clubs are a better choice I’d go that way.
Thanks Al. We currently have reviews of these irons, the Cobra MAX, and the PING GMAX irons, but none of the ones you mention. We will look at putting out reviews of them at a future date. The Callaway and PING models you mention are also game-improvement. What kind of forgiveness and other attributes are you looking for in your irons? When you’re talking about iron sets from these major manufacturers, it’s difficult if not impossible to say which is “better” than the other; it really depends on your swing and what you want in your iron. If possible, you should try these different models in your local area, see which works best for you, and buy them online if it’s a better price. Otherwise, I would just get the F-MAX irons. They are affordable and have great performance.
I have used Cobra F max and it’s a nice club but the accuracy is not that good.
What does accuracy mean to you? Is it when you try to hit a high straight ball into the green that starts and stays left? When you try to hit a low draw but hit a high fade instead? This concept of “accuracy” in an iron is murky because your intended shot and swing are the main determinants of it. Forgiveness across the face is excellent, and distance is good. The real question is: how does your swing type match with the ball flight tendencies of the F-MAX? But at the end of the day, this iron can work for anyone.
Are the hosel lengths on the irons the same or shorter/longer in progression like the F Max Superlite?
As far as I know, the lengths are the same, but I’m not 100% sure. It seems like the F-MAX Superlite irons are the only irons that have this “progressive hosel length” selling point.
Can you expand on the term “moderate swing speed”? Is this sub-100 mph? Sub-Pro speeds? I’m looking at these clubs and I swing ~105mph. Not sure if they are right fit or not.
Thanks for the comment Chris. 105 mph is an above-average clubhead speed, and I think it’s a little bit higher than what the F-MAX is aiming for. But you should consider other factors; for example, do you have difficulty getting your irons up in the air? If you already have plenty of height in your trajectories, the F-MAX might not give you the best results, but it’s really hard to say without knowing more information. If you generally like the F-MAX, I suggest picking up a used set at a steep discount (it’s an old model) and giving them a try.
Hi Paul,
I’m about to buy my first set of irons but not sure whether to get the F-MAX ONE or F9 OL irons?
With the current clubs I’m borrowing, I consistently hit 9i about 130m (141y) and 7i about 140m (150y) and 5i about 160m, based on online charts, I assume about club speed between 85-90mph?
I’m 27 y.o and have been playing golf for just over one month now, planning on playing consistently 3-4times a week.
Would love to have your feedback on this.
Thanks for the comment. First off, those are pretty impressive distances for only playing one month. Your 9-iron distance is nearly Tour-level, but that might suggest that your trajectory is lower than optimal. When it comes to irons, longer isn’t necessarily better; you want good distance with precision, high trajectories, and stopping power into greens. Many factors can influence your club head speed.
Both of those models will be good options for you if you have low trajectories. On the other hand, if you have a high swing speed, you may get to a point where you’re hitting ballooning shots that are too high. What I would personally do in your shoes is get irons that have a solid amount of forgiveness but aren’t necessarily marketed as “max game-improvement”, because I think this will end up being better for most younger people in the long run.
Having said all that, the ideal thing to do would be to test both models and see which works better for you. If you’re not able to do this for whatever reason, then I would go for the KING F9 irons because they’re newer and they offer excellent distance, launch, and forgiveness. Plus, they’re not much more expensive than the F-MAX at this point. If you want the best deal on them, you’re probably going to have to go online, somewhere like here.
I hope this helps!
Hi paul,
Im still beginer and considering to play golf. Is fmax and fmax one suitable for beginer like me? Pls help. Thanks
Hi Yusmie,
It depends on what you’re looking for. If you want an iron that is super forgiving, then yes, the F-MAX is a great choice. It’s hard to say if the F-MAX ONE Length would be better, but if you like the idea of your irons all being the same length and taking the same setup position, then go for it.
If you want an iron that is less forgiving but more workable (it can be a great challenge for beginners that gets their game into shape faster), there are many GI and players options out there. You can check out our reviews here for more ideas.
I hope this helps. Good luck.
What would the difference be for swing speed regarding the regular and stiff shafts on a steel set. Would the swing speed be similar?
I’m not exactly sure what you mean. The faster your swing speed, the stiffer the flex you should play. As a general rule, if your club head speed with a 6-iron is 75-83 mph, you should go regular, and if your speed is 94-91 mph, you should go stiff. This isn’t a hard rule but we don’t think of shaft flexes as producing certain swing speeds. You’ll need to find the shaft flex that works best for you.
I’m playing these clubs now, but am considering the Apex 21 DCBs with the stock graphite shaft.
I’ve got two issues. 1) The lofts are much stronger on the DCBs and I’m assuming that’s what’s accounting for the increased distance I get with them on the simulator. Not sure these much of an advantage if I get them a degree weak, or even 2 degrees to match the f-max. Any thoughts? Also, (2) I can’t seem to find any kind of measurements on the offset. Do you know of any way to determine which has the greater offset, and if there is how much?
Appreciate any help you can give me. I really dig my Cobras, but I bought the Callaway Mac Daddy wedges and hit them so well I’ve had the DCBs on my mind since the wedges went in my bag.
Hi Bob,
1) You’re probably right on that. I’m not a big fan of strong lofts on irons myself. I suggest comparing the trajectories with both irons; if the DCB trajectory is a lot lower, go 2° weaker, but if it’s not much lower, go 1° weaker. If you find that you’re getting too much distance with the DCB and have less stopping power into the greens, this is also a good reason to go 2° weaker. It’s a bit of a balancing act but you want to be able to achieve a high enough trajectory and at the same time not have to pull out your long irons all the time. In my experience, the DCBs to a good job of providing length without sacrificing too much height in trajectory.
2) The offsets for the F-MAX irons are listed in the table farther up the page. As for the offsets of the DCB, you can find them in the Product Specs table here. The DCB irons have comparatively lower offset in the longer irons but more offset in the short irons and wedges.
Hope this helps!
Hi, I am a senior and my golf swing speed has dropped from 75/to 65 miles per hour. I am playing Tour Edge HL3 which is a good club. Is the F-Max or F-Max Super an upgrade for me?
You know, it’s really hard to say. The F-MAX is many years old, so if you’re looking for an upgrade, it might be better to get one of Cobra’s latest models. But if you’re set on the F-MAX, I recommend trying the Superlite version because 65 mph is a very low swing speed (unless you’re talking about swing speed with an iron, not a driver) so you might benefit from a lighter configuration.
I have been using the FMax Superlite One Length steel shaft iron set since 2019. Game improvement up to 165 metres has been the change I needed for my handicap to come down to as low as 7 but currently 9.
Confidence and consistency are the 2 things I have picked up from these irons, I really feel the difference has been the weight of the superlite irons that enabled me to pick up some much needed swing speed. 64 years old now and the shoulders do not open like they used to, so the best option was equipment that helped rather than hurt my game. If you are considering new or new 2nd hand irons give them a go you will surprise yourself.
can you band the lie on fmax irons
Cast irons like these would be difficult to bend, and I don’t know how risky it would be for the F-MAX in particular. It’s likely possible to a limited extent. I recommend reaching out to Cobra to inquire about it or a golf club repair place as there is a lot of risk involved.