COBRA KING TEC Hybrid Review

There is a lot of cool gear in the golf equipment world that doesn’t always fit neatly into Most Wanted Tests or Buyer’s Guides. You still want to know how it performs. In our We Tried It series, we put gear to the test and let you know if it works as advertised.

What We Tried:

COBRA KING TEC Hybrid. My current hybrid, the COBRA King F6, is pushing eight years old so I figured it was time for an upgrade. Does eight years of innovation really make a difference? Let’s see if the KING TEC hybrid can knock off my trusty F6 in what I’m calling the COBRA Cup.

Who Tried It:

Connor. Director of Soft Goods Testing and resident sneakerhead. I believe golf is better with a pair of cool shoes and comfortable joggers. Big hybrid guy because I suck at golf.

The Challengers

Keep in mind that this COBRA KING TEC hybrid review is based solely on my subjective feedback. Data-driven hybrid testing is a little above my pay grade so I’ll leave that to Phillip. If you are interested in how the KING TEC hybrid fared in our Most Wanted testing, you can read that full report before reading my findings.

COBRA KING TEC Hybrid

• Adjustable hosel
• Adjustable weights
• Retails for $300

COBRA KING F6 Hybrid

• Adjustable hosel
• One sole weight (back position)
• Retailed for $199 in 2015

COBRA Cup Round 1: Adjustability

I’m of the opinion that all golf hybrids should offer some level of adjustability. At the time of its release in 2015, the COBRA KING F6 was one of the few options with an adjustable hosel. Fast forward to now: four of the top five hybrids in our Most Wanted testing are adjustable.

The COBRA KING TEC Hybrid takes adjustability a step further, though, with an adjustable hosel and adjustable weights. It comes standard with two 12-gram weights and one two-gram weight.

Throughout my testing, I struggled to get the ball in the air as high as I’d like and I had a tendency to shut the face at impact. After moving the weights around, I found the shot shape and peak height to be much more playable for my game.

Thanks to the versatility that adjustability offers, I’m gonna have to give the edge to the KING TEC hybrid here.

Round 2: Sound

I’ve never put too much stock into the sound of a golf club … Well, that is until I tested my KING F6 side-by-side with the new KING TEC hybrid. A well-struck shot on the KING F6 Hybrid produces a high-pitched, seemingly “tinny” sound. A similar shot on the KING TEC Hybrid offers a deeper, more flattering tone.

The best (but not the most eloquent) way I can describe the difference between the two hybrid golf clubs is akin to a young man who’s just “found his voice.” The higher pitch can get a little annoying after a while. The KING TEC hybrid, on the other hand, is fully developed (sans the facial hair). Another round to the COBRA KING TEC hybrid.

Finish Him!

The last thing I was looking for in a new hybrid golf club was a confidence-inspiring look at address. I need all the help I can get. While I’ve gotten along quite well with my old F6, the KING TEC hybrid has a much larger footprint that’s hard to ignore. I’m much more inclined to find the face of a golf club when it’s bigger. Makes sense, doesn’t it?

As someone who needs more margin for error, a larger head and deeper face do more to build my confidence than a compliment from the cart girl.

The Best Hybrid Since The Prius

Am I happy with my hybrid upgrade? Absolutely. The COBRA KING TEC hybrid is everything I’m looking for in a hybrid golf club. The confidence-inspiring design, adjustability and solid sound give me plenty of reasons to retire or replace my old F6.

Now if only I could get it in orange.