Cobra ZL Driver – looks good…feels good…and sounds good too
OK…I am impressed! The guys at Cobra have created a driver that not only looks good…but it feels good…and sounds good too…there aren’t many drivers like this out there. I have to say Cobra might be the most under-rated driver company in all of golf. Year in and year out they put out one impressive driver after another…which is more then most golf companies can say. I can name quite a few of the big dogs that put out a dead duck on a routine basis. This year’s Cobra Zero Limit driver is the real deal…they just always seem to put out a hot face driver…kudos fellas 
Using A Technology Many Have Given Up On
And they have done it with a technology that many have gone away from (Carbon Fiber Tech). Many companies have tried the carbon fiber technology but given up on it for one reason or another. It either effected the sound too much…the returns because of breakage were too high…it just caused a lot of problems…and companies thoughts the disadvantages outweighed the advantages. And the word on the street was not good from consumers…so most companies just gave up on it. But there are advantages to the technology and every company knows it. And Cobra has been the one company that has chosen to stick with it and almost perfect the technology and use it to its advantage.
“But I am tired of those “Speed Dimples Cobra always uses”, you say. Well you will be happy to know they have been replaced with a more traditional crown for a better look at address too. They were smart…I think the dimples were catchy at first but that fad is over and I think they recognized it in a timely manner…so kudos again for that.
Easy…User-Friendly Adjustments…Shew!
Now the adjustable hosel isn’t new…almost every company has their own version…but what I like about Cobra’s is they made it simple and user-friendly. I mean compared the Nike’s STR8- FIT driver that had a 50 page manual you had to read in order to know how to use the thing…this is a dream. I mean don’t they know…MEN DONT READ INSTRUCTIONS. This one is a 3 way adjustable hosel – open/neutral/closed (O-open, N-neutral, C-closed) and adjusting it is fast and easy.
PROS
- Sound – Much improved over the L4V and the L5V.
- Looks – The driver looks like a mix between classic and modern…this is one of the best looking drivers puton the market in the last 5 years.
- Feel – The feel was above average for a driver with a carbon fiber crown…I think they achieved this by using 6-4 titanium for the face. It gives a softer feel on impact…but generally is not used as much in oversize heads. Another advantage to using carbon fiber for the crown…because it allows the 6-4 titanium to be used.
- Distance – was on par with all the other drivers we tested it against. I think the 6-4 is responsible for its average distance. Where it does feel better it unfortunately is not as long of the tee compared to some of the newer blends of titanium. But all in all the combo is great for Cobra.
CONS
- I do not think they should have gone with a stock 46″ club length. I understand why…although it is much too long for the average golfer and creates more problems in regards to accuracy then it helps with distance in my opinion.
- Not a fan of the stock shaft…although I was lucky enough to get one with the cool new prototype Aldila R.I.P shaft which was a great combo for this review.
Overall Score= 93 (A-)
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Cobra Golf ZL Zero Limits Encore Driver 9.5* Stiff Flex Motore F1 Graphite Shaft US $219.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Jun-19-2013 23:49:35 PDT Add to watch list |
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{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
one word – STUNNING!
I agree 100% Cole…thanks for your comments.
I love the looks of the head and that shaft is super radical. Great review guys. I think you have something really special going on with this website. I can not believe how much it has grown in as short of a time frame as it has. And it just keeps getting better. Thank you for all your hard work. I think you guys are going to blow up.
Greatly appreciated Al…we hope you continue to enjoy it for years to come. We have a lot of amazing things planned for the next few months. So make sure to keep checking back in.
The sole of this club is simply amazing. You said the sound was good, is it better then L5V?
Yes…much better Gil.
This driver is really, really, really good looking. Is that a real RIP shaft in it, or is it one of those deals where it says, Aldila RIP by Cobra? If it sounds as good as you say, then I would love to try one of these babies out. The only driver out right now that I think is worth spending money on is the Ping i15 with the UST AXIVcore shaft, but this Zero Limit might be worthing gaming too.
Don`t bother with the i15….just replaced it with the Cobra ZL – Cobra RULES
Your website is very helpful . I appreciate the reader comment(s) on many of the clubs I hear about but have not yet tried . It reduces or mostly eliminates the hype from the marketing people on which club to purchase . Recently I tried 3 different hybrids , and I can tell you that the one I least expected to purchase , was actually the best fit for my ability . It was a Cobra 3-wood offset , and the salesman at Golf Town at Heartland , in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada , was a golfer 1st and salesman 2nd . He recommended this club when I mentioned that I can drive 220-250 yards , when I relax and get the mechanics right , and not overpower it , but I tend to slice left up to 30 yards . This 3 wood virtually corrected my frustration . I am strickly an amateur who has taken up the game recently, and enjoy it for the pure fun and exercise , and social atmosphere . My 2 buddies , Ted and Ken , have mentioned my overall improvement in the last 3 years . Now I just have to cut down losing 6 balls over 9 holes (dang! i know where they landed, but the golf ball fairy whisks them away too fast before I can walk up to the rough) … Oh yes , I also purchased 4 hybrids , same brand, graphite shaft, and wow ! they are soft to the swing . Thanks , David
So glad to hear you are enjoying the site. We have tons of amazing thing planned for the very near future so keep checking back David. Hope to see you around often.
Going to disagree with the underrated company comment, I still believe Adams still hasn’t received the recognition they deserved yet. But Cobra is still up their for under rated companies, the baffler was Ridiculously awesome.
I agree Adams is very under-rated although. Cobra has been making good drivers for a longer time then Adams and the quality of Adams heads can sometimes not be up to par. With Cobra being under the Titleist umbrella they do not have those issues. And Adams also might not survive the present economic times. Cobra will 100% survive it.
True, I would have to say that one of there most successful line up of drivers was the LD series and those were amazing drivers. too bad their irons aren’t getting the attention they are looking for.
Funny you mention the Cobra Titleist link. I recently had my own version of a reality show. As a former CPGA card holder I’ve been disillusioned by the new equipment. Drivers on average have been lasting me 1 season to 1 season and 1/2. I know this because I benchmark all my new equipment against an old Powerbilt persimmon driver from the early 80′s. When I find my current flavour of the day going into its death throw I take it to the range with the old furniture. If the furniture is consistantly longer than the Ti mutant I go on another Driver hunt. Back to the reality show, I spent 3 hours on the range with 12 Drivers threatening to purchase my first Taylor product since the late 80′s 7 degree Tour Burner. After 30 solid minutes with the R11 I realized I wasn’t getting the proper feedback i like from a driver. One shouldn’t have to look up to know if something was well struck. I wittled things down to a battle between the Zero and a Titliest product I regret not getting the model # of. I’m happy to say I settled on the Zero. The club was easy to adjust and gave me the playability feel I love in a driver. Tomorrow will be it’s first Tournament test hopefully it will pass that. As a range tool it makes me look good and pondering a comeback.
I must say the looks of the Zero Limit driver are much improved over past offerings in the Cobra line. There is a good chance that I will get to try this club out this week and I look forward to it after reading your review.
You missed the most important pic.. the pic at address.
We apologize…you are absolutely correct. Some how we cannot find it…but we will put another one up soon. Thanks for letting us know Gary
Great catch on the “sound”. I think it is an underrated design characteristic. Some clubs need to come with earplugs for your fellow players. Can’t you just see Hogan with one of these monsters? Me neither …
Im one of these players that have a problems with the Carbon drivers, sound, feel, looks, etc. Although I do like Cobra’s noncarbon line of drivers, I will love to try it out. P.S. I’ve always liked the dimples on top of the drivers, they (mentally) helped me with alignment.
how do you get one with the RIP, I was thinking of ordering one with the oban devotion..
Cobra does not sell direct to the consumer so you would have to do a custom order through a local shop…be your best bet John.
Thanks for your report, I have been a Callaway Man for Donkeys years, Big bertha, Warbird, VFT, FT3, FT5, FT9, FTiZ,,,,,,,,,,, decided to give it a go mainly from reading your report, my ZL 10.5 Degree, regular stock shaft, arrived this morning, I have just got back from the driving range – VERDICT- AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! The ZL is way longer than the Callaway (my FT9 is longer than the FTiZ and the FT9 is in my Bag….. I honestly never thought that I would find a club better than the Callaways for me, but the ZL was longer and more consistent from the very first hit……I am on a golf trip this weekend and it will be the ZL that will be gojng with me………….thanks a million.
The Zero Limits Driver is the best that I have every owned…and I have bought many. The worst is the highly overrated R11…I even spent another $220.00 to purchase a better shaft for the R11…(boy am I stupid). First of all…I had to send the first one back because the white was chipping off where it meets the black face. They sent me another (30 days later)…then I order an upgrade shaft (15 days and $220.00 later) I hit 20 balls at the driving range…it snapped like a “potato chip”…sent it back…they made it good…two weeks later. Every time I look at that white monster setting in storage, it reminds me of that old song “She got the gold and I got the Shaft”…and boy did I ever!
This driver is really, really, really good looking. It is very STUNNING! Good infos.
Have loved the looks of Cobra’s ZL since it hit the shelves, but waited until it dropped in price.
Have played Titleists, Taylormade, Wilson, Rage (long drive), Warrior (steel shaft) and a few others along the way.
This thing kicks it in a huge way! I have the 8.5 degree stiff and have hit the longest drives of my life with it..That’s the good news…I’m 53 and we’re talking up to 360 yards in favorable conditions. That wasn’t an aberration. That particular day I had 3 over 350 yards (My previous longest drives were in the 330′s and in neutral conditions were around 320).
All good, right? Well, that’s the fun, boast over beers talk..but the truth is I’m still trying to keep it in the fairway. Some days I work to get it in the fairway at all! It’s a fickle beast and I’ve never been described as a technician, which makes for great days and some really BAD days. Primarily it’s me. I tend to get quick with a high torque swing and when I’m pumped up I lose my tempo. But I can usually adapt. It may have something to do with the 46″ Voodoo shaft in both the length and the way it loads up. I really have to slooooow my tempo down and get my hands through the ball to keep it in play.. If I get quick I fight slices much more than usual and when I’m slow I fight pulls. But on the days I find my zone, it’s remarkable.
The sound off the club face is muted and solid. Close to perfect to my ear.
Part of me wants to try a Serrano or RIP shaft at 44 1/2 or 45 inches…But I think I’ll spend this summer with what I’ve got and see if I can choke up a little and work with it. It’s good drives are incredible but tight courses are eating me up and costing me too many strokes off the tee.
It sets up great and for a 460cc head, I love the looks of it. We shall see.
The Callaway guys came on a demo-day. I hit their RAZR HAWK with incredible results and was about to buy it but it was too pricey. My Callaway Ft-i came apart in two pieces at the head. I then had a chance to demo the ZL at my local course. WOW, EVERY bit as good as the HAWK and 1/2 the pricetag. I’m now the envy of my foursome. As I get tired, I tend to leak the ball in the slice direction. I’m about to change the housal to the C side to see if I can get some correction. Like everyone seems to think, it sounds GREAT! Instant feedback on each and every drive. I’ve got the 9.5 degree with the standard stiff shaft….wouldn’t change a single thing.
Chris
Hey just wondering whether anyone has any info about the adjustable weights. I know the weight kits are very hard to find and wondered whether there was any compatibility between any of the other brands just by chance.
I wonder about the weights also in the ZL…..whats the option?