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About Jamie
Handicap: 6.5
Expertise: reviewing clubs since 2015
Right/Left-Handed: Right-handed
Typical ball flight: Mid-High Tight Draw
Golf ball used: Range Balls
Driver Specs
Loft: 10.5 degrees
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue Frost CB 60g 6.0
Shaft flex: Stiff
Launch: Mid
Cobra OPTM Max K Review
Launch Monitor #s
I used range balls for this one and my swing was off. I hit this driver MUCH better on the course.
Launch Monitor #s
Club Speed102mph
Ball Speed154mph
Carry Distance247yds
Vertical Launch9°
Peak Height78ft
Spin3474rpm
Bag Appeal (4) Sole graphic are average at best. The crown is plain shiny black with a subdued Cobra logo for alignment. BUT, I love the head shape and the way it sets up to the ball.
Sound & Feel (4) Very solid with excellent feedback. It doesn’t fell “springy” like the G440 series or even the new Qi4D drivers I’ve tested.
Forgiveness (5) As I’ve said a couple times above. You can swing pretty bad and end up with good distance and a mid or short iron into the green.
Distance (5) As long as any driver I’ve tested this year on the course. (Not per the range session though) I’m talking about on the course. I track distance there too.
Flight/Launch (5) It generally went mid-high for me when I hit it well and got plenty of roll.
What Makes the Cobra OPTM Max K Driver Different?
Cobra says the OPTM Max K is the most forgiving, highest-MOI driver it has ever made.
MOI means moment of inertia, the head's resistance to twisting when you miss the center of the face. Cobra gets there with a fixed 11-gram weight in the back, which it says puts the center of gravity low and back. The weight doesn't move, so the only tuning is at the hosel. Cobra also says the forged face insert, its H.O.T. Face technology, improves flex on off-center strikes.
Cobra says the whole OPTM line is shaped and weighted to minimize what it calls Products of Inertia, or POI. Where MOI covers twisting on one axis, POI is the head's resistance to twisting across multiple axes at once, and Cobra says reducing it means less side spin, tighter dispersion and more fairways.
The hosel is Cobra's FutureFit33, with 33 loft and lie settings. It adjusts plus or minus 2 degrees in any direction, and Cobra says its SMARTPAD sole keeps the face square at every setting. Lofts offered are 9, 10.5 and 12 degrees, in right and left handed.
My Experience with the OPTM Max K
Straight to the course. No range. No warmup, other than a few exercises I do to get my body somewhat ready.
No matter, the OPTM Max K started bailing me out from the very first swing.
I came nicely over the top (the exact opposite of what I want to do), yet ended up with a pretty little fade on the left side of the fairway - 260ish yds. (I then wedged it to the center of the green and two putted)
Next hole is a long par 5. I managed a slightly better swing with better contact and pulled it about 4 yards into the left rough.
I started tatooing my drives after that. Except for a couple where I got away with a couple heinous swings and had to be saved by the Max K part of the OPTM Max K.
Bottom line: A great driver if all you want is longer playable drives and something that can bail you out when your swing isn’t the best.
Who Should Play the Cobra OPTM Max K?
Cobra says the OPTM Max K is made for distance and accuracy (forgiveness) - Yes, I agree.
I like it for ANY golfer that prioritizes forgiveness and preserving distance on mishits.
Low handicaps (Yes) I’m one and I would play this driver in a nanosecond. But…I don’t have elite speed (say consistently over 110 mph) and I don’t have to deal with the issues that may bring. Mid handicaps (Yesss) A great driver for you. High handicaps (Yep) It’s got all the forgiveness. All the high launch. And, all the help with distance you should be looking for.
Potential Alterntatives
Ping G440 K - Awesomely forgiving and long. a pure pleasure to hit and play. Though, pricey.
Ping G440 Max - Neck & neck with the G440 K. Maybe, possibly as forgiving and long. Maybe, possibly a little less forgiving and long. So, hard to tell. A really great driver in its own right.
Taylormade Qi4D Max - One of my favorite Taylormade’s of the last few years. Loads of forgiveness and distance with superb sound and feel. Also a pleasure to hit and play.
As you might guess, buyers rave about distance, accuracy, and forgiveness.
Final Verdict
The OPTM Max K is what Cobra says it is.
It saves you from your worst swings and richly rewards your good swings. I tested both during my rounds with the Max K.
I’m also a great big fan of the head shape as well as the sound and feel. Don’t sleep on Cobra drivers and woods. They’ve been making some of the best in golf for years now.
Thank you for checking out our Cobra OPTM Max K driver review.
My Favorite Cobra Driver in Years
Cobra OPTM Max K Driver
★★★★★★★★★★4.6
Pros
✓It feels super solid all over the face.
✓It brings all but your worst drives back into play
