An Expert Guide to Cobra Fairway Woods


Photo by Photoongraphy
Tl;dr: Cobra fairway woods can help your long shots and improve your confidence like never before. Whether you’re a scratch golfer or brand-new player, there is a Cobra fairway wood for you.
Cobra Golf is helping everyday golfers conquer challenging long shots with their latest fairway woods. The LTDX series from 2022 were very popular with all types of amateur golfers, but the new tech of the Aerojet is hard to beat and it’s easy to see why.
Today, I’ll help you understand more about the different Cobra fairway woods, and what to consider when buying these clubs. After trying out tons of equipment at the PGA Show and being an avid golfer myself, I know that the right equipment can play a pivotal role in getting the most out of your game.
Who is Cobra Golf?
Photo courtesy of Cobra
Cobra is a top name in the golf world, and makes everything from complete sets, to wedges, to woods. They’re a popular brand for amateur golfers, and they make some phenomenal equipment to help improve your long game.
Today we’ll focus on their new fairway woods, which received a big upgrade from last year’s models. There are different options for every type of golfer: Whether you need a new 3W to hit off the tee, or a 5W to help you with tough shots in the fairway or rough, there's a huge selection of Cobra woods.
What to Consider When Buying Fairway Woods
When buying fairway woods, you want to consider a few things.
First, how many woods do you want or need? Some golfers like their fairway woods more than hybrids or utility irons. Others prefer to only carry a 3-wood alongside hybrids and longer irons. For most everyday golfers, I’d advise having more hybrids or fairway woods than hard-to-hit long irons.
The second thing to consider is the other hybrids or long irons that you have in your bag. You don't want to buy a club that is similar in terms of distance to another club in your bag. For example, I have a 3-wood (15 degrees), 2-hybrid (18 degrees), 3-iron (21 degrees), as well as my iron set. Each club is spaced out perfectly. I suggest having 3–5 degrees of loft between each club to avoid any distance gaps.
Types of Cobra Fairway Woods
The latest fairway woods from Cobra are part of the Aerojet series, which replaced the LTDx fairway woods from 2022. Their new woods were rated gold in Golf Digest’s 2023 Hot List, as they’re a top pick for all types of players. They also released a new version of their Air-X fairway wood, which is designed for golfers who want a lightweight club.
The new Aerojet Cobra woods have a few things in common, including:
- Improved turf interaction, making them easier to hit off the fairway and tee shots.
- PWRSHELL with H.O.T. Face technology: This face insert leads to faster ball speeds across the face (even on mishits).
- Carbon fiber crown: This helps lower the CG (center of gravity) for a higher launch and more forgiveness than previous designs.
- Adjustable loft features: Each of the Aerojet fairway woods have an adjustable loft sleeve so you can fine tune it up to 1.5 degrees of loft.
Here’s a quick description of each model to help you figure out which one is best for your game.
Aerojet (Mid-Spin Design)
The classic Aerojet is best for the average golfer who wants a combination of distance, forgiveness, and workability in a fairway wood. It has a great weighting to it, and should inspire a ton of confidence when hitting from the fairway.
The PWR-BRIDGE suspended weight design makes these woods hotter and longer than ever. If you’d like to add a few miles per hour to your clubhead speed without swing changes or speed training, these woods can likely help.
The main Aerojet design has back-weighted forgiveness, which is a single back weight in the middle of the club. The positioning of this weight makes it easier to launch higher and improve forgiveness on mishits. It also has a neutral shot shape design, so you can easily work the golf ball in either direction depending on your desired shot shape.
There are two stock graphite shaft options to choose from. The first is the MCA Kal’li Blue 60, which is a mid-launching, mid-spinning shaft. This is the best fit for average or slightly faster swing speeds. The second is the UST Helium Nanocore 5F2, which is about 10 grams lighter and has more of a higher-launching shaft. This shaft is a better fit for players with a less-than-average swing speed. These woods are available in 3W, 5W, or 7W options. Unfortunately, there are no 9-wood or heavenwood options.
Aerojet Max (High Launch)
The Aerojet Max has a lot of similarities to the original Aerojet, but it is even more forgiving and higher-launching. This model has a back weight like the main Aerojet fairway wood, but also a heel weight. It’s easy to see why it made my list of best fairway woods for high handicappers.
The adjustable heel weight makes it easier to straighten out a slice and changes the center of gravity. The extra weight makes it the easiest to hit out of the three Aerojet woods, and it is incredibly forgiving. The same two stock graphite shafts are available as the original Aerojet, but if you’re playing with the Max, the UST Helium is likely the better choice. Available in R or A (senior flex), it can help improve launch and confidence when hitting from the fairway or rough.
Aerojet LS
The final option in the Aerojet series is the LS model, which stands for “low spin.” This lower-spin model is made for faster-swinging golfers who need to minimize spin, not add more.
The clubhead is more compact than the previous two models, making it less forgiving but also more workable. If you’re the type of golfer who likes to hit draws and fades, this is the best choice for you. One of the perks with this design is that the two weights are forward on the club in order to maximize speed and reduce spin. There is no back weight like the other two models, so it’s not as forgiving or high-launching, which is intentional for type of player ideally using these woods.
Another big change is the MCA Kai’li White 70 graphite shaft. It’s a lot heavier than the other stock shafts at 77 grams, and only available in S or X flex, but it’s perfect for golfers who have plenty of speed and want a mid-launch shaft. The LS woods are available in 3W or 5W—no 7-wood option.
Air-X
The final option when it comes to Cobra’s fairway woods is the Air-X. This is the most forgiving and lightweight option, designed for higher handicap golfers.
I bought the 2022 version of these clubs for my dad last year, and saw firsthand what a difference they can make. They’re one of the lightest fairway woods ever, making it easy to improve clubhead speed for longer distances. They are ultra-lightweight, making them a top pick for seniors and new golfers who don’t have much clubhead speed. The Cobra Air-X fairway wood also has a hotter face, thanks to its new AI design. This makes mishits better than ever, even if they’re off the toe or heel of the club. Finally, they also have more heel weighting and an offset hosel. This will help tame a slice for a straighter ball flight without having to adjust the club.
Speaking of adjustability, that's one of the few downsides to this club. Cobra designed these woods to be as light as possible, which comes at the expense of not having an adjustable hosel.
This Cobra fairway wood comes with the “Ultralite” shaft, which only weighs 55 grams! It’s available in stiff, regular, or lite flex in a 3W, 5W, or 7-wood. If you want an easy to hit, incredibly lightweight fairway wood, it’s hard to beat.
Features to Look Out For When Buying Fairway Woods
Photo courtesy of Cobra
When buying fairway woods you want to consider a few different features.
- Loft: The amount of loft will correlate with distance—less loft equals more distance. The Cobra fairway woods have standard lofts compared to other brands like Callaway and TaylorMade. Plus, the Aerojet series also has adjustable sleeves so you can tweak the loft up or down to fit the rest of your bag.
- Size of clubhead: The bigger the clubhead, the more forgiving it is on less-than-perfect shots. But that also means that it's less “workable,” and it’s harder to shape shots in either direction. Higher handicaps will want a bigger head, while lower handicaps will benefit from a more compact shape.
- Shaft: The shafts of your fairway woods are one of the most important things to consider. Different shafts have different profiles, meaning some launch higher or lower than others. Lightweight shafts tend to launch higher and fit slower-swinging golfers better, while more advanced golfers should use a heavier shaft to minimize spin and maximize distance.
How to Choose the Right Fairway Woods
Cobra has no shortage of fairway woods, so let’s consider how to choose the right ones for you. Below, I’ve described three individuals who represent three different types of “player personas,” and will have different equipment needs for their game. I’ve highlighted what they should look for based on their unique needs.
Steve: 30 handicap
As a higher handicap golfer, the Aerojet Max or Air-X is likely the best fit. If you’re actively working on your game and trending down, the Aerojet Max is probably the better choice. However, if you’re more of a recreational golfer and want to make the game as easy as possible, the Air-X is a better fit. It’s also better for senior golfers thanks to the lightweight head and shaft combo.
Mark: 18 handicap
As a mid-handicap golfer, the Aerojet is likely the best Cobra fairway wood. It’s forgiving, mid-launching, and very easy to hit. If you’re a slicer of the golf ball, or want a higher ball flight, the Max version might work out better. But if you’re trending down in handicap and have no issues with launch, choose the Aerojet.
Phil: 4 handicap
As a lower handicap golfer, it’s best to go with the Aerojet LS. The lower-spin model is ideal for faster-swinging and more consistent golfers. The heavier shaft also promotes a slightly lower ball flight, and will make a 3-wood a great fairway finder.
Find the Best Fairway Woods For You
Photo by Olimpik
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of these Cobra fairway woods so that you can pick the right one for your game. A good 3-wood and 5-wood can not only help with long shots from the fairway, but also help build your confidence off the tee. If you have more questions about choosing the right fairway wood, chat with a Curated Golf Expert today for free, personalized advice on the best choice for you.