Expert Review: Cobra King Forged Tec Gap Wedge
All photos courtesy of Danny Molineaux
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the wedge, which I purchased with my own money in March of 2022.
My take
The Cobra King Forged Tec Gap Wedge is ideal for mid-to-high handicappers. This is a wedge that’s forgiving and very easy to hit.
About the club I own
- Model: 2021 Cobra Forged Tec Gap Wedge
- Loft: 49°
- Grind: N/A
- Finish: Silver/Chrome
About me
- Average Score: Mid 70’s
- Handicap: 3.4
- Experience: 4 years of golf
- Right/Left-Handed: Right-handed
- Golf Ball Used: Pro V1
- Angle of Attack: Shallow
Test conditions
- When I bought the wedge: March 2022
- Days tested: 1 year
- Where I’ve used it: Range, course, and sim
- Weather Conditions: Wet and firm
- Green Conditions: Slow, medium, and fast
How it performs
What I was looking for
I was looking for the matching wedge to my 4-PW set of Cobra Forged Tec Irons. I wanted to get perfect gapping from the Forged Tec PW at 44°, so the Forged Tec GW at 49° was perfect.
What I love about it
- Launch: This wedge provides a high launch and strong ball flight. It means holding the green is simple, even with my longer irons.
- Forgiveness: Even on off-centered hits, I find my distances are only 5–10 yards shorter than ones I caught right in the middle of the club face.
- Around the Green: Nice to use for bump and run shots. My 54° and 60° wedges grip the green with far too much spin for bump and run shots, so this is where the Forged Tec Gap Wedge excels. I am able to play some very nice little bump and runs off the fringe or fairway when I have some green to work with.
- Full Shots: This is what this club excels at. It’s super easy to hit. I love the weight of the club for full shots. Choking down on the club also seems like a breeze.
- Shaft Feel: The KBS $Taper Lite is lightweight and easy to launch high—the exact combination I was looking for.
- Aesthetic Appeal: I particularly like the finish on the club head because it isn’t quite as shiny as other clubs and therefore does not clearly show chip marks.
- Grip Feel: I upgraded my grips because I wanted to match mid-size grips to my other wedges. They also have a bit more of a tacky feel to them.
- Innovation: There is a lot of tech involved in these, like injected foam, which makes them very forgiving and doesn’t make them sound too clicky.
- Other: Having this wedge in the bag made my gapping a lot easier, as the Forged Tec Irons are generally pretty forgiving and long.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Feel: It doesn’t feel as soft as traditional wedges. This may be due to the hollow-back design, but it didn't bother me too much for a gap wedge. I prefer the feel to be softer for my sw and lw.
- Spin: I don’t generate as much spin as with the previous 50° wedges I have used. But because they launch so high, I have no problem sticking the green on full shots.
- Bounce: There are no options to change the bounce or grind.
Best Shot with this Wedge
It was a closest-to-the-pin in men’s league on a par 3, 126-yard shot. I pitched three feet left of the hole and the ball just stuck to the green. It was a nice, little money maker for me that day, and one of my favorite holes on the course now because it's a perfect distance for a 3/4 or full swing of this club.
Value for the money vs. other options
The Cobra Forged Tec Irons are great value for money and compete with the likes of market leaders in players distance irons. They’re similar distance-wise to the Taylormade P790 and other hollow body irons—just at a much better price point.
Final verdict
The Cobra Forged Tec GW is a must-have for the Forged Tec irons. If choosing the 4-pw or 5-pw, I highly suggest adding the extra GW to the bag to make gapping more consistent and reliable.
