SPY PICS! – 2012 Cobra Long Tom Driver

Is RAW The New White?

Question: Imagine for a second you owned a big golf company and you were in charge of designing the next best selling driver in golf…what color would you paint it??  Yes I know paint doesn’t equal performance but it can separate you from the field to some degree.

I mean all these golf companies make drivers and nowadays they all perform fairly similarly…so how do you separate yourself from the field?  Well…Taylormade did it by painting their drivers “white”…which we all agree was pure marketing genius.  Even though almost no other company would have been able to pull it off (maybe we should write an article about the reasons it was such a success).

But is the R11 the best performing driver?  NO.  Is it the best selling?  YES…by leaps and bounds. So yes even though you might hate to hear this: paint color and finishes really can and do effect sales numbers.

What’s the Next Hit Color In Golf?

Speaking of color…Cobra may or may not have a gem on their hands with their newest finish or lack thereof.  I envision Cobra and other companies sitting around in design meetings trying to brainstorm what the next BIG hit color will be in golf.  And there have been lots thrown around…trust me…I’ve heard of numerous companies toying around with some outlandish stuff in the past few months.  But Cobra is going an entirely different route…and as far as I can remember NO one else has done before them.   Cobra is going with NO paint or finish at all.  There gonna show their true colors and go RAW!

Introducing: Cobra Long Tom & Long Tom RAW (Limited Edition) Driver

Back in November 2010 we saw Cobra had applied for the Trademark “Long Tom” so we felt they might be coming back out with this.  There will actually be 2 different versions of the new 2012 Cobra Long Tom driver but both are all about driving for show and letting it fly!  The Long Tom Driver is a four foot long (48″)…ultra light driver built for distance off the tee.  They will also incorporate the following:

• DUAL-ROLL – they have adapted their face bulge and roll to better fit with their E9 face technology.  Meaning the bulge and roll will not be as straight up and down as it is on other drivers.  It will better align with the elliptical face pattern they have created which they feel better fits on golfers misses.
• NEW TITANIUM ALLOY – it will be the first time they have used 8-1-1 TI in a face of their drivers…which gave them 20 more grams of weight to play around with.
• SPEED COAT TECHNOLOGY – a paint on the shaft that creates faster swing speeds?  Well that is what they are saying.  They have worked with Grafalloy to product the only driver next year you will see with the new Grafalloy Blackbird shaft.  That might have to be a labs article ;)
• PROTOTYPE GRIP – a shorter grip made to discourage you from choking down on the club.  WHY YOU ASK?  This thing is all about distance…well and it probably helps with the swingweight issues as well.

The RAW Version! (LIMITED EDITION) – 500 PRODUCED

So why the RAW finish?  Well…because of its military-esque background.  The Long Tom name comes from a cannon that was used during World War II and the Korean War. The inspiration from the Long Tom Cannon was then used in this new limited edition 48” Long Tom Driver not only because of its  length, but also because of its looks. The all black and the RAW unfinished look of the Long Tom RAW are finishes stemming from the look of the cannon.

So take a look and let us know what you think!  Because from what I have heard this finish might be used again.  So let the guys at Cobra know how you feel about the RAW finish.

AVAILABILITY:

Cobra Long Tom Driver – cost $349 and available in stores November 25th.

Cobra Long Tom RAW Driver – cost $499 and available October 14th.

SPECS:

Cobra Long Tom Driver – 269 grams // 8,9, 10 degree RH // 9 degree LH // Lite, R, S, X Flexes //

Cobra Long Tom RAW Driver – 275 grams // 9 degree RH // Lite, R, S, X Flexes //

// click images to enlarge

LONG TOM HISTORY

Tom Crow was a founder of Cobra Golf and its original president was responsible for the first Cobra Long Tom version you see pictured below…he also:

• Developed the “Baffler” in 1975.  Variations of the Baffler have been made and sold by virtually all major golf companies.
• He is credited for creating the three-wedge system.
• The first extra-length driver dubbed the “Long Tom”
• Re-introduction of graphite shafts for lighter weight clubs into the domestic market in 1985.
• The King Cobra line of oversized woods and irons.