Cobra's Limit3d is the first consumer-friendly 3D printed metal on the market.
Jonathan Wall/GOLF
Welcome to GOLF.com's ClubTest Proving Ground, where managing equipment editor Jonathan Wall and senior equipment editor Ryan Barath test the latest designs and cutting-edge technology in test equipment on the range and on the course.
Tools: Cobra Limit3d (7-iron; NS PRO MODUS³ Tour 105X shaft), Ping i230 (7-iron; NS PRO MODUS³ Tour 105X shaft)
Examination: To determine if a 3D printed iron with a $3K price tag can live up to the hype.
Results: Sticker shock is a great way to grab a golfer's attention. Throw a $2K-plus price tag on a set of instruments and watch what happens. Curiosity often catches up, which is exactly what happened in 2016 when PXG introduced its first 0311 irons for $400 per club. The polymer-filler, hollow-cavity iron was unlike anything else in the industry.
Fast forward to 2024 and almost every major equipment manufacturer has hollow-cavity metal-grade players.
Who can say if Limit3d's 3D printed Cobra will follow a similar path, but it is interesting to note that the two instruments share some similarities. Sky high price tag ($3K per set), limited availability and innovative technology. It also helps that Bryson DeChambeau uses a set of 3D printed bars with a custom bulge and baked roll.
This could be the future of metal design. Or it could be fashion.
To get a better handle on Limit3d's bona fides, I compared the 3D design to my Ping i230 players to see how they stack up. Although the iron looks like an iron at address – it is less compact than the i230 – the lattice design behind the head makes it possible to reduce the weight which makes it possible to add up to 100 grams of tungsten inside the heel and toe.
More tungsten means better ball speed on hard hits. As Mike Yagley, Cobra's VP of innovation and AI, commented in a recent interview, he noticed a slight loss of the ball in the toe-off during his first test. To put that observation into perspective, it is natural to see anywhere from 13-18 yards of distance loss with the same models that play better, according to GOLF robot data.
It almost sounds too good to be true.
However, based on the numbers I saw during my testing, the hype is real. Let's start with the launch monitor numbers from Foresight's GCQuad launch monitor.
Cobra Limit3d: 131.1 mph (ball speed) | 20.4 degrees 6,652 RPMs | 179.8 yards (carry)
Ping i230: 127 mph (ball speed) | 20 degrees 6,396 RPMs | 175.3 yards (carry)
Cobra unveils first 3D-printed consumer electronics. Here's how they work
Ryan Barath
The numbers above are an average of the 8 shots I hit with each iron. The numbers tell an interesting story that highlights the importance of resilience. The Limit3d was 4 mph faster than my i230s with the same launch angle and 300 more RPMs. If I spend some time finding the right shaft, I can squeeze a few more yards into the Limit3d.
Not only was the iron fast, it produced impressive ball speed numbers on toe strikes, too. At one point during the test session, I hit several balls on the toes to see how they performed. For the most part, ball speed drops by about 2 mph even at extreme toe positions — a sign that the extra tungsten packed inside the heel and toe is doing its job.
Sports Predictions
The overall feel of the club was what I can see as a strong muscleback with a touch of defense to improve the game. It feels like a solidly built model with impact, but you don't get any negative vibrations when it misses the toe or heel. The sound of the touch was heavy and purposeful. If I didn't know what I was using, I would have sworn it was a fake model. That felt good.
If there was one quibble, it's that the Limit3d was almost too far to the left of the target line for my liking, which is saying something considering I like to stay left of center with my shooting position. The i230 had a strong dispersion and was always left in the center.
Sports Predictions
I spent about half a day building my i230 irons at Ping HQ, so I'm waiting for a call. Can I get Limit3d to produce the same scatter pattern and shot mode? It is possible. But with only a 7 iron to test, I'll probably stop testing instead of continuing down the rabbit hole. My biggest fear is getting the metal to be significantly better and not having a chance to test it with a bag.
Who is the right hand worker it does I have the ability to take a full set, I can confirm that Limit3d does a lot of things well. The overall feel and ball speed retention was so impressive, that I'm willing to declare them worth the $3K number.
This sounds like the infancy stages of 3D printing in the mechanical space, but there's no question that Cobra is already on to something with its first metal offering.
Looking to revamp your wallet for 2024? Find the perfect spot near you at True Spec Golf.
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