On this page you’ll find our detailed Cobra F7 Fairway Wood Review, the pros and cons, and a side-by-side comparison with other fairway woods we have recently reviewed.
Cobra were one of the big movers and shakers in 2016, with the F7 range making waves in what was a hugely competitive year for brand releases. We struggled to contain our excitement about the F7 hybrid, which we think was a revelation. The Baffler technology simply nailed it! We were pretty fond of the driver too – albeit perhaps not quite to the same dizzying extent.
So it was left to the fairway woods to complete the show, and we went into it with high hopes. After all, the rails are part of the deal for the woods too – just how good could they be though?
We reviewed the Cobra F7 Fairway Wood as part of our Best Fairway Woods Review.
If you already own the Cobra F7 Fairway Wood please leave your review in the customer review box at the end of this article.
Cobra F7 Fairway Wood
Our Assessment
There isn’t a world of difference between the F7 woods and the F6 Bafflers from the previous season, especially in terms of look and feel. But our ball speeds and distances were considerably higher, and what impressed us most was the forgiveness on offer.
There is only so much that the rail system can do, and, at the end of the day, consistency will always be hardest to achieve with fairway woods. But we’re converts to the rail system, and we think that for players from quite a wide range of handicaps, there are great results waiting to be enjoyed here – and at an excellent price too.
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Pros
Cons
Key Facts
Features | Details |
|---|---|
Launch RRP | $239 |
Gender | Mens |
Handicap Range | Low to Mid |
Hand Availability | Right & Left Hand |
Lie | N/A |
Head Type | 3/4; 5/6 & 7/8 |
Swing Weight | D3 |
Lofts | 3/4: 13.0° -16.0° | 5/6: 17.0° – 20.0° | 7/8: 21.0° – 24.0° |
Length | 43.25″ – 42.25″ |
Shaft Type and Name | Fujikura Pro 65 |
Grip | Cobra Lamkin |
Manufacturer's Website |
Official Video
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Cobra F7 Fairway Wood Detailed Review
Design & Appearance
As we’ve said above, there isn’t a lot in it between this model and the F6 before it. The head size is pretty standard in terms of size, and nice and compact. The shape falls somewhere between being round and pear-shaped, which we think is about right.
The woods we sampled had a crown with a very glossy black (although also available in blue and silver) coat, which was a bit more ‘in your face’ than the subtler matte finish with the driver.
Each to their own! As for the sole, it tows the line set by the other weapons within the F7 range, with the silver Baffler rails, in addition to the circle weights and the unmistakable tinge of orange (blue and yellow for the blue and silver heads respectively) surrounding them.
Probably the only other distinctive aesthetic feature is the groove lines on the face, which, like the hybrid are horizontally adjacent to the sweetspot, rather than the circular pattern you typically see behind where the ball would be.
Again, each to their own, and it’s a small issue, but we didn’t find it to be the best alignment aid.
Image Credit: Official Cobra Image
Build Quality
I was amazed to learn that the concept of the rail system dates as far back as 1974. I couldn’t quite believe it, but, although I have no prototypes on hand with which to make comparisons, I’d imagine the technology behind it has come a long way since!
The idea behind the Baffler Rail System is simple: it ensures that the clubhead stays squarer when making contact with the ground, while also gliding through the turf easier so that clubhead speed isn’t lost to friction.
Like the hybrid, they do this on a progressive scale too, such that the higher the loft of the club, the taller are the rails. Yet there isn’t ever the feeling that the sole sits too high off the ground, which is a positive.
It’s a fine innovation which produces tangible results (more on that below), but it isn’t the only impressive feature of the build. As with the other members of the F7 clan, there is a Forged 475 stainless steel insert in the face, whose strength and robustness allows for a thinner face – ergo, more distance.
And the simplicity of these woods is underscored by the MyFly8 adjustable hosel (where you can tweak the lofts by up to 3 degrees per club), and, more significantly, the two movable weights in the sole.
One weighs in at 3g and the other at 20g, and you can swap these between the two slots at the front and rear of the sole quickly and easily in order to temper the level of spin – again, a crucial factor in allowing you to use this as your club of choice both from the tee and off the deck.
Control & Performance
My first thought when I hammered out a couple of balls was how solid the sound was. The ball certainly knows it’s been hit when you get it in and around the sweetspot, and it makes a good crack. This was particularly noticeable with the 20g weight at the front of the sole.
The other important consequence of having the weight at the front was how much lower the ball flight was. It reduces spin, and, as a coastal golfer, this sort of penetrating trajectory is particularly welcome, given that you can offset this where necessary by adjusting the loft anyway.
But I think the more popular choice as a default setting, particularly off the deck, will be to have the heavier weight at the back, as it just gives you that cushion of a higher launch, and, quite frankly, it’s easier to home in on the sweetspot too.
Regardless of weight setting, what surprised me most was the amount of distance I was getting – even with the weight at the back there was excellent carry on offer. I also had found it to be very forgiving and consistent, especially as you move from the 3/4 downwards. For me, this lends a lot of affirmation to the progressive setup of the rail system too.
All in all, this club performed very, very well. It offers versatility, and the ability to customize each club depending on your swing speed, style, personal preference and specific shots for specific situations – but in a very simple, user-friendly way. There’s a lot to be said for that.
Image Credit: Official Cobra Image
Value for Money
We’ve said it previously with the hybrids, but there is so much real estate to be exploited in the mid-to-lower reaches when it comes to golf club pricing.
As technology has snowballed, so has the cost to the consumer, and at a time where many argue that we’ve reached critical mass in terms of participation levels, surely this isn’t the time to be pricing people out of the game?
In this respect, Cobra are leading the way, and the F7 fairway woods are another product exemplifying this. Do they involve the finest, most cutting-edge technology? Perhaps not.
But they aren’t a million miles away either, and, more importantly, they offer cost-efficient solutions to which players of many shapes and sizes will be more than happy with.