Cobra King & King Max Irons 2026 Set The benchmark (reviewed)

Advantages and disadvantages

✅ 3D printed medallion allows Cobra to reposition mass for a lower center of gravity, promoting higher launch and steeper landing angles for better stopping power
✅ 360 SPEEDSHELL face insert wraps the sole for approximately 23% more face flexibility, enabling faster ball speeds and extra distance on center and off-center hits
✅ SKID SOLE design with a worn leading edge and a flatter midsole improves surface interaction for both sweepers and diggers, reduces grease shots and maintains speed through the surface
✅ Clear model separation: King suits faster 10-20 handicappers, while King Max offers more offset, a larger profile and a higher launch for higher handicappers who need help turning the ball
❌ Stronger lofts in the King irons may require gap checks and potential loft/lie tweaks to avoid yardage buildup at the short end of the bag
❌ The sound/feel is more modern and springy than traditional forged players’ irons, which may not appeal to purists who prefer a compact, forged hitting feel
❌ The King Max’s larger head and extra offset will inspire confidence for some, but may look bulky for golfers switching from compact hollow backs

Specifications and design of Cobra King Irons 2026

The 2026 King irons are classic cavity-back game-improving heads, built around a multi-piece construction that pushes the center of gravity low and deep, allowing golfers to launch the ball higher with a steeper angle of descent.

Cobra’s key technologies in the King include a 3D printed medallion, 360 SPEEDSHELL face insert and a heavy slingshot weight system, all of which work together to combine ball speed, forgiveness and play feel.

The face features the 360 ​​SPEEDSHELL insert that wraps the sole and allows the hitting area to flex up to 23% more, adding speed and maintaining distance as the shot drifts toward the heel and toe.

An 80-gram slingshot weight, suspended in a shock-absorbing polymer, sits in the low part of the club head and is 15 grams heavier than Cobra’s DS-Adapt irons, aiding launch and energy transfer while taming harsh vibrations.

Cobra’s 3D printed medallion saves weight in the cavity, allowing engineers to drop the center of gravity approximately 2mm lower compared to previous designs and tune the acoustics without adding unnecessary bulk.

The updated SKID SOLE design provides a worn leading edge, added bounce and a flatter center section that sits the club closer to the ground, facilitating entry and exit through the ground for more consistent shots from varied lies.​

Visually, the King irons maintain a traditional game-improvement look with a moderate offset and a manageable topline, offering confidence at address without appearing overly chunky.

They are best suited for golfers with a handicap of 10-20 with average to higher swing speeds who want help raising long and medium irons while maintaining spin and control in the scoring clubs.

The King irons are available in 4-iron (19 degrees) to Sand Wedge (54 degrees).

Cobra King Max Irons 2026 Specifications and Design

The King Max irons are the more forgiving, super game-improvement option in the family, designed for players who need maximum launch assistance, directional control and stability across the face.

They share the same core architecture as the standard King – 3D printed medallion, 360 SPEEDSHELL face and slingshot weight – but with a larger footprint, more offset and weaker lofts to make it easier to get shots in the air and turn the ball over.

A larger cavity and slightly wider sole increase inertia and stability as contact drifts away from the center, keeping ball speed high and reducing distance loss on mishits.

The extra offset is combined with higher lofts (two degrees weaker than the King) to promote higher launch and a built-in draw bias, helping players combat a fade or slice square the face more consistently.

The King Max also benefits from the updated SKID SOLE, which is especially useful for steeper swings that tend to dig, as the worn leading edge and flatter midsole help the club glide rather than grip.

Despite the larger shape, Cobra has worked to keep the topline and overall geometry relatively clean, so golfers switching from older models for game improvement will still find a familiar yet confidence-inspiring take on the address.​

Target players for King Max are higher handicappers and slower swingers who prioritize easy launch, forgiveness and straight-shot bias over shot shaping, but still want modern distance and technology.

For many, the King Max will make long irons or hybrid replacement irons more playable, especially from imperfect lies on rough or softer fairways.

The King Max irons are available in 4 iron (21 degrees) to Sand Wedge (56 degrees).

Cobra King & King Max Irons 2026 Review: Are They Any Good?

The new Cobra King and King Max irons offer two different game improvement options, built around the same technology platform of 3D printed medallions, 360 SPEEDSHELL faces, slingshot weighting and SKID SOLE shaping.

The standard King suits golfers who want speed and forgiveness in a relatively compact package, while the King Max is tailored to those who need extra help with launch, directional control and stability from a larger profile.

The King is the more neutral, distance-oriented model, ideal for players who already generate decent clubhead speed and prefer a slightly sleeker look with less offset.

The King Max leans into super game improvement territory with its higher lofts and pronounced draw bias, offering a straighter, higher ball flight for golfers who struggle to square the face and keep shots online.