Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Product Review: Cobra Golf BiO Cell and BiO Cell+ Drivers

Cobra Golf has been making a lot of noise in recent years. While having young gun Rickie Fowler endorse your products doesn’t hurt, the new BiO Cell family of woods is clearly an example of substance over style.

That’s not to say they lack style, of course. Cobra has taken customization to a new level with five color options: Blue Aster, Barbados Red, Vibrant orange, Silver and new to the line up - Black.

But what’s new? Sticking with customization, MyFly8 offers eight adjustable loft settings to maximize distance and manage trajectory. Smartpad technology ensures the face is square when the club rests on the ground, regardless of the change in loft.

MyFly8 allows golfers to switch loft in the BiO Cell from 9 to 12 degrees in half-degree increments. There are also three draw settings to help players who fight the slice.

Weight is a big issue with drivers. Cobra has created a larger “Sweet Zone” by removing weight from the face via BiO Cell pockets and their E9 Face technology. This combination lowers the center of gravity and increases the Moment of Inertia - creating higher-launching, lower-spinning drives.

Perhaps the best news ... off-center hits see the greatest improvement. Your game plan remains the same - hit the sweet spot - but it’s good to know that off-center shots (especially off the heel) aren’t penalized as much as in the past.

In testing, average ball speeds (speed of the ball immediately following impact) ranged between 135-138 with the sample driver. Though, seemingly not a big difference, ball speeds with the BiO Cell driver rose to 137-141, with one peaking out at 146. Speed is just one factor, but safe to say that each mph gained leads to greater distance.

Accompanying the BiO Cell is the BiO Cell+. A slightly smaller head (440cc vs 460cc) and shaft that’s a half-inch shorter are designed to assist golfers who put an excessive amount of spin on their drives. Venollum, an ultra-light alloy, is used in the crown of the BiO Cell+. Weight saved up top was repositioned lower in the club to provide a lower launch.

I set the BiO Cell driver at 10.5 degrees with a draw for on-course testing. From one round to the next (switching from sample driver to the BiO Cell), I went from fades and slices to draws and hooks. I’d prefer to eliminate the extremes, but it’s safe to say the 10.5 D setting achieved its goal.

The Cobra Golf BiO Cell and BiO Cell+ are the real deal, delivering faster ball speeds and longer, straighter drives ... the Holy Grail in golf. Take away the aesthetic appeal of the five color options and you still have one of the most adjustable drivers in the game.

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