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In this review, I’ll be taking a look at the Cobra LTDx driver.
The LTDx carries forward a concept that was first found in the Cobra KING LTD, known as “zero CGna”. This pushes the center of gravity as low and forward as possible, right on the neutral axis line. Combined with a new high-MOI design, the end result is low spin, extreme ball speeds, and great mis-hit forgiveness.
The LTDx is engineered for maximum total distance. But how does it actually perform when put to the test? How does it compare with previous Cobra offerings like the KING RADSPEED, and does it set a new bar in distance? Is it worth putting in the bag?
Read on to find out what you need to know to make an informed purchase.
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?
Customer reviews of the LTDx driver are highly positive — the driver has an average rating of 4.9/5 on the Cobra store, 5/5 on Global Golf, and 5/5 on PGA TOUR Superstore.
It’s also worth noting that the LTDx earned a gold medal on the Golf Digest 2022 Hot List.
What People Like
- super long
- impressive forgiveness considering the low-spin profile
- two different colour options
- very stable feel and solid sound
- not quite as expensive as current-gen drivers from other brands
What People Don’t Like
- not much performance gain over the previous generation RADSPEED
- some don’t like the stock shaft offerings
The Features
PWR-COR Technology
This weighting system positions 19g of weight (5g exterior aluminum weight and 14g machined steel internal weight) low and forward, right behind the hitting zone, to maximize ball speed and reduce spin.
This is combined with a 15g back weight (10g fixed weight and 5g tungsten weight) that shifts the CG back slightly, adding some launch and forgiveness in order to appeal to a wider range of players.
H.O.T Face
The idea behind H.O.T (“Highly Optimized Topology”) is similar to Callaway’s A.I. Flash Face.
Using machine-learned data from thousands of impact simulations, the thickness of the face is optimized in multiple locations through CNC machining. The result is increased ball speeds across the face, not just in the sweet spot.
This technology gets its name from the fact that these zones create a topology map consisting of peaks and valleys.
Infinity Face
The CNC-milled face of the LTDx driver wraps around the leading edge in an effort to increase ball speeds on the bottom edge. It also creates a traditional top line meant to improve visual alignment.
Multi-Material Construction
The LTDx’s multi-material construction consists of a light and strong titanium chassis, sole plate, and lightweight carbon crown.
Compared to the previous RADSPEED driver, the new chassis design is 8.3g lighter and features up to 30% more carbon. This enables weight savings that are shifted low and forward in the PWR-COR for increased speed.
Arccos Sensors
The purchase of Cobra golf equipment like the LTDx driver immediately makes you eligible to receive free Arccos Smart Sensors and a one-year free trial to the Arccos Caddie app.
Arccos sensors are attached to the clubs in your bag and enable automatic shot tracking, real-time GPS yardage information adjusted for environmental conditions, caddie advice, and post-round strokes gained analytics.
Arccos features can be accessed through a smartphone, smart watch, or Arccos Link device. It is said that Cobra players improve by five strokes on average after their first year using the Arccos Caddie system.
Stock Info
The LTDx driver is available in 9°, 10.5°, and 12° standard lofts at 460 CC.
The LTDx comes with a MyFly adjustable hosel that has eight loft settings: -1.5°, -1°, -1° Draw, STD, STD Draw, +1°, +1° Draw, and +1.5°.
Several premium aftermarket shafts are available with the LTDx. The stock options are the:
- Project X HZRDUS Smoke iM10 (60g) (mid launch, mid spin)
- Project X HZRDUS Smoke RDX Blue (60g) (mid launch, low spin)
- UST Mamiya Helium Nanocore (40g, 50g) (high launch, high spin)
The stock grip is the Lamkin Crossline 58R. Custom options are available.
Below are the specs of the LTDx driver. Click or zoom to enlarge.
The Performance
Distance
LTD stands for “longest total distance”, and indeed, the LTDx is right up there with the longest modern drivers I’ve ever tested.
Perhaps more important than even the raw ball speed potential (which is tremendous) is the back weighting that helps ensure golfers get enough launch. Without this, I feel like golfers that don’t have very fast swing speeds or amazing consistency would not be getting as much distance out of the LTDx as they could.
In a nutshell, the LTDx driver strikes the perfect balance between speed, low spin, launch and stability. Thus, it fulfills its primary marketing promise.
Forgiveness
The LTDx driver is above average when it comes to forgiveness. You will find yourself hitting the fairway most of the time unless you make a bad swing.
Are there more forgiving drivers out there with tighter dispersions? Of course. But when you consider the LTDx’s overall performance, the level of forgiveness it provides is more than you could ask for.
This is really thanks to the technologies that are packed into the driver including the PWR-COR and H.O.T face, which improve ball speed across the face, and the tungsten back weight which bumps up the MOI.
Playability/Trajectory
The standard trajectory produced by the LTDx is medium with either a neutral or slight draw ball flight. It’s surprisingly easy to get the ball up in the air, even when you deviate from the center of the face.
You can switch out the back weight on the sole with different LTDx weights sold separately, and this can alter performance. You can also use the MyFly hosel to add loft, remove loft, or introduce additional draw bias.
So, even though there’s no sliding sole weight, which you often find in modern drivers, there is plenty of opportunity to dial in a driver setting that gives you the best results.
Although the LTDx LS model is meant to have the most workability in the LTDx line of drivers, the workability of the LTDx is still respectable. You should have little issue hitting fades and draws.
The Look
The way the LTDx driver sets up behind the ball at address is one of my favourite things about it. It frames the ball beautifully and appears to sit slightly closed. The alignment aid and the raised crown accents help keep the ball in visual focus.
Cobra drivers tend to have a shape that is sharper and more triangular than other brands. You do have this with the LTDx family, but the shape of the standard LTDx (which I’m reviewing right now) has the most rounded and traditional shape of them all.
Another thing I love about the LTDx is that, unlike with other brands, there are two different colour schemes available: matte black with gold or gloss peacoat with red. Providing more choice when it comes to colour aesthetic is a great way to attract more players to the driver.
The overall design of the LTDx is sharp and bold, which is typical of Cobra equipment. One of the best examples of this are the distinctive coloured lanes on the sole. This kind of flare should generally appeal more to the younger crowd.
The Sound & Feel
When you strike the ball in the center of the face, the feel is phenomenal: solid, muted, and very explosive, which is what most people are looking for these days. The sound at impact is a satisfying “crack” with a little bit of a “pop” mixed in.
Having said that, mis-hit feel is certainly not the best. The sound gets less sharp and the feel gets noticeably more dull as you move away from the sweet spot.
Many, particularly lower handicaps, would consider the distinct feedback of the LTDx a positive because it’s very useful to know where you make contact with the face. But when you market a driver as forgiving, you sort of expect that forgiveness to extend to the feel as well, so it’s bittersweet in a sense.
Where To Buy This Driver Online
The LTDx driver is not a current-season model, so ordering it custom can be difficult.
A fantastic place to snatch up this driver at low prices (new or used) is eBay.
I also recommend looking at the stock available on Global Golf and PGA TOUR Superstore. These vendors may offer club trade-ins, performance guarantees, and/or financing plans to help you minimize the financial hit and maximize peace of mind.
Conclusion
Cobra golf equipment is often overlooked in favour of the most popular brands like Callaway and TaylorMade. But I don’t feel this is entirely warranted, especially given the fact that it’s used by many of the best professional golfers in the world including Bryson DeChambeau, Lexi Thompson, and Rickie Fowler.
Owners of the previous-generation RADSPEED driver may feel like the LTDx doesn’t offer enough of a performance boost to justify upgrading.
However, the LTDx driver offers just as much (if not more) value compared to the best models of other brands. It packs a ton of speed, balanced spin, excellent sound and feel, and great forgiveness. In this way, the LTDx is a terrific all-around performer.
Is it a distance machine? It can be, but that potential is hindered a little bit by the back weighting which adds stability. There are some tradeoffs that you just can’t avoid.
Are you interested in the Cobra LTDx driver? Have you tried it yet? What’s your experience? Let us know in the comments below.
I’ve got this driver. I’m a 12 handicap. My previous driver was a Callaway. I hit this driver 20 yards further easy with a titleist velocity golf ball. My only complaint, my golf ball is being cut all to pieces by this driver. I tried my previous driver, no cuts. After every hit, a little more of the ball peels away. Any other complaints with this?
Hi Kenny. Are the balls refurbished or refinished? If not, it may be that the fresh, sharp grooves of the LTDx and the CNC-milled face are just chewing up the ball. If you have a high swing speed, perhaps you could try a ball with a higher compression and see if you get the same thing.
Have the exact same problem. Hit the ball, if one dimple touches the top of the ball, bye bye ball. Tears the outside cover. I’ve tried 5 different types of balls all the same results. I like the driver but I don’t like going through a dozen balls a week.
Hi guys, anybody knows the total weight of the driver?
The cobra air x is around 280 gr but for this one I can’t find any information.
With which stock shaft? It will depend on the shaft and grip. The AIR-X only has one stock option which is probably why a weight figure is given. Driver weights in grams aren’t normally advertised, but a closely related measurement you should look at is swingweight. These figures are given in the posted specs sheet.