Cobra made a name for itself many years back with the launch of the Baffler fairway woods, which were popular due to being some of the easiest to hit woods especially out of tough lies. And after reintroducing the baffler Rail system in the KING F7 fairway woods as requested by Cobra staff player Rickie Fowler, the brand has further improved this technology in the KING F8 fairway wood. There has also been a host of other design improvements in the latest range of KING F8 fairway woods that makes them a popular choice for any golfer.
For the sake of clarity this review is only about the KING F8 fairway wood. There is a lower spinning KING F8+ fairway wood that is more compact in size and is designed to offer more distance and workability for better players with faster swingspeeds, but this has been reviewed separately.
Cobra KING F8 Fairway Wood Review
Our Assessment
The KING F8 fairway wood is without a doubt one of the easiest woods to hit on the market, and this is generally the main factor when it comes to selecting a fairway wood. Let’s face it, this category of golf club produces the most anxiety.
The shaft of a fairway wood is always an awkward length and it requires you to either tee the ball really low or hit it straight off the deck and this often leads to topped shots for amateur golfers as they try their hardest to keep the clubhead from digging into the turf.
The KING F8 fairway wood has the solution to this in the form of Baffler Rails on the sole. While they featured in the predecessor, the KING F7, they have been improved in the KING F8 and make the clubs much easier to use for all golfers ensuring a consistent high ball flight and a crisp strike much more often.
The KING F8 fairway wood has also adapted many of the design features found in the new KING F8 driver that makes these woods produce more distance with more forgiveness on mishits.
Check Latest Prices
Pros
Cons
Key Facts
Features | Details |
|---|---|
Launch RRP | $249.00 |
Gender | Mens & Women's |
Handicap Range | Low to High |
Hand Availability | Right & Left |
Swing Weight | Men’s – D1, Women’s – C4 |
Lofts | Men’s – 3-4 adjustable between 13°-16° with draw settings, 5-6 adjustable between 17°-20° with draw settings, 7-8 adjustable between 21°-24° with draw settings, Women’s – 3-4 adjustable between 17°-20° with draw settings, 5-6 adjustable between 21°-24° with draw settings, 7-9 adjustable between 24°-27° with draw settings |
Length | Men’s – 42.5-43.5”, Women’s – 41.25-42.25” |
Shaft Type and Name | Men’s – Aldila NV 2KXV 70 Blue, Mitsubishi Rayon Chemical Tensei Blue 50, Women’s – Aldila NV 55 |
Manufacturer's Website |
Official Video
Check Latest Prices
Detailed Review
Design & Appearance
The KING F8 fairway wood has a very pleasing look at address with the clubhead size being not too big but also not too compact.
The Aero 360 trips on the front of the crown help to line the ball up more effectively and frame the rest of the clubhead quite nicely.
The two-tone finish can be distracting for some and thankfully Cobra offer an all-black version as opposed to the Nardo grey and carbon black finish for those who prefer a more subtle look.
Build Quality
The KING F8 fairway wood is designed using many different materials to make up the clubhead. The body is made from a strong stainless steel while the face is forged from a different type of stainless steel that is lighter and stronger than the body material. The crown features a lightweight carbon piece attached to the body with the front section of the crown also featuring the same Aero 360 trips found on the KING F8 driver. They are made from a polymer material that is lighter than the rest of the crown. The sole features titanium Aero 360 trips fused to the stainless steel body.
All of these materials combine to ensure the majority of the weight of the clubhead is situated low and deep. This means a lower CG that produces a higher launch and improved spin for increased carry.
Control & Performance
Obviously the biggest feature on the KING F8 fairway wood is the Baffler Rails on the sole. They have been brought closer together and made larger thanks to the request by Rickie Fowler and Cobra claims these adjustments improve the club’s performance by up to 50% especially when it comes to hitting shots with this club out of the rough.
In this latest fairway wood model Cobra has reverted back to just one weight port in the sole and in the KING F8 it is situated close to the back of the clubhead. The weight in this port is adjustable, but the other variations of this weight aren’t available to the public making this feature purely aesthetic. This added weight in the rear end of the sole does still add a performance purpose and that is to keep the CG low and deep while also moving weight further away from the face to increase the MOI. The result is more clubhead stability and therefore more forgiveness on mishits.
Adjusting the MyFly hosel system changes the loft and lie angle, but mostly affects the launch and spin rates of the clubhead. This makes it easier to fine tune the club for when you want a lower trajectory with more roll out or the complete opposite when the course conditions are soft.
Value for Money
Much like the KING F8 driver, the fairway wood is more affordable than many of the other premium woods on the market.
And thanks to the impressive adjustability that makes this more than two clubs in one package, and the Cobra Connect system that gives this club a digital aspect you really are getting more than your money’s worth if you purchase a KING F8 fairway wood.