January is new gear season, and for 2026 Cobra are introducing the new Optm Driver family as part of their metalwoods range. First things first, what is it with OEMs using misspelt words for the names of drivers? Not for me…
Most brands are aiming for faster ball speeds with their new driver ranges this year. Cobra however are arguing that accuracy is the key. They feel that hitting the ball straighter will help most golfers to hit it further anyway.
To do this they’re introducing an all-new concept to the market. We’ve all heard of MOI… now it’s time for a new buzzword Cobra are going to be shouting about – POI.
Who Is It Aimed At?
Cobra themselves are marketing these drivers as being all about reducing dispersion. Therefore, if you’re someone who values hitting fairways over out and out distance, this could be the one for you.
There are four different models in the new Cobra Optm range, each with slightly different playing characteristics. The Optm X model is what you would call the standard model in the range, which will be suited to the majority of golfers, featuring a blend of forgiveness, speed and versatility.
You also get the benefit of Cobra’s FutureFit system. With so many different loft and lie combinations, you can really dial in your ball flight. If you’re someone who likes being able to tinker with your gear, this is ideal for you.
In the past Cobra have always been seen as providing good value for money, especially compared to some of the bigger competitors – usually their drivers come in at around £100 cheaper than the big four. An RRP of £479 is a little more expensive than last year’s DS-Adapt, but is still considerably cheaper than the new TaylorMade Qi4D and Callaway Quantum Drivers.
The Tech
Cobra claim that their new Optm drivers can reduce shot dispersion by as much as 23% compared to previous models, which is a huge claim! This is done by combining their existing driver technologies with the all-new focus on POI.
Whereas MOI looks at how much the club twists vertically and horizontally when you mis-hit shots, POI looks at how the head rotates diagonally across all axes at once.
As a result, you want a high MOI to correct off-centre strikes, but a low POI to reduce gear effect and produce straighter shots. It allows the club to rotate more naturally with the swing, tighteting dispersion.
Each driver in the range features a unique AI-optimised POI shaping to add rotational stability. There is also adaptive POI weighting, for better CG placement.
Compared to the DS-Adapt range, the drivers are more rounded to move the CG closer to the centre of the clubhead. External weights have also been placed in new locations, to try and produce the lowest possible POI.
The Optm drivers see the continuation of Cobra’s FutureFit33 hosel system. This offers 33 unique loft and lie settings, providing more fitting options than any other brand.
You also get the forged face insert with H.O.T face technology. There are 15 hot spots across the face, helping to keep up ball speeds and distance.
Cobra Optm X Driver Review
Looks
Over the last few years we’ve seen Cobra keep things pretty simple when it comes to the design of their drivers. This really continues in to the Optm range, with a very similar overall style to the Darkspeed and DS-Adapt – nothing has really changed to much.
If you’re familiar with Cobra drivers and liked the look of those previous two ranges, you will probably like the look of the Optm too. It’s not the most imaginative design, but I think it’s smart, modern and pretty clean.
The Optm X has a pretty gloss finish, both in terms of the sole and the crown design. Personally I prefer a matte finish as it stops any glare or reflections, but the two-tone design looks pretty good and paired with the great-looking H.O.T. face design, I thought it shaped the ball brilliantly.
I like the overall footprint as well – it’s not as large as some previous Cobra heads, but still looks forgiving enough.
There are blue highlights to show that this is the ‘X’ model, which also features weights at the back of the head, and slightly towards the toe at the front of the head. Cobra have also gone to the trouble of labelling the weights ‘forgiveness’ and ‘accuracy’ which to be honest I think looks a little daft, but is theory isn’t a bad addition – there will be so many golfers that don’t really understand what the weights on their drivers are for!
Do I love the looks of this driver – no. Would it put me off using it – not at all.
Feel
I’d describe the overall feel as solid, punchy, and meaty with good overall feedback. Cobra have managed to avoid any a tinny sounds too and you get a really satisfying wack at impact.
Feedback from the face was good meaning that I really enjoyed hitting it during testing. Similar to Dan’s testing of last years DS-Adapt X driver, I didn’t think there wasn’t much “zip” – it just didn’t feel particularly hot, but as Cobra suggest that’s not what they’re chasing in 2026.
Performance
To test the Optm X driver, I decided to put it head to head against their previous Darkspeed X from two years ago. Not many golfers change their driver year-to-year, but if you’ve had the Darkspeed in the bag for a couple of years and you’re thinking of upgrading, this is what I found.
The Darkspeed X produced marginally faster ball speeds, at 153 mph compared to 151.8 mph with the Optm X. However, I did launch the Optm about a degree higher, and my spin rate was slightly lower too.
As a result, I saw about 1.5 yards more carry distance with the Optm X, including four well struck shots with a total distance of over 280 yards, which is pretty impressive in context of how the driver felt.
I found that the Optm X was launching and flying a bit higher, which seemed to give me a bit more distance even if the Darkspeed was faster off the face ballspeed-wise.
Obviously the key thing that Cobra are claiming this time around is tighter dispersion, one thing I did see was a clear left bias with both drivers. I hit ten shots with each head, and 14 of the 20 shots finished left of the middle line.
Credit where credit is due, I found the Optm X was straighter in terms of dispersion however. There was just one bad shot that finished well left of the target, compared to three bad ones with the Darkspeed X – so my overall dispersion was definitely tighter with the Optm X – POI could catch on after all…?
Cobra Optm X Driver Verdict
At first I was a bit sceptical of the fact that Cobra were seemingly going after accuracy when every other brand this year seems to want to chase ball speed and distance in the driver category.
However my testing proved that the new Optm X driver was flying straighter than previous generations, and I did actually pick up a bit more distance too.
I don’t think it will have the same top-end speeds as the likes of the TaylorMade Qi4D, so it may struggle if it comes to head-to-head fittings.
But if you’re someone who is sick of traipsing through the rough or the trees to find your ball after every tee shot, you may decide that hitting it straighter is more important than a few extra yards. If this sounds like you, then I would definitely suggest trying the Cobra Optm X as there’s plenty of benefits to be had here.
Would I Use It?
I enjoyed testing the driver and it did perform well, but I think I’d like a bit more ball speed.
