Next Year's Cobra Driver?

[Boiler0007]

Good morning. I watched Rick Shield's interview with Bryson DeChambeau. During the interview, Bryson mentioned this year's LTDx was a good driver, but next years will be way better. Do you think that could potentially affect this years sales?

 

Personally, I don't think that comment affects me at all since my own swing speed is like half of Bryson's. I was all set on purchasing an LTDx head when I could.  I will admit it did give me some pause, knowing that Cobra's main dude is basically saying he'd rather play next year's driver now if he could. It's that much better. Thoughts?

 

Here's a link to the interview. Comment about the driver is around the 42:53 mark

 

 

Edited January 26, 2022 by Boiler0007

[HarborMike]

That’s really interesting. I’m not sure if this will have an overly negative impact on LTDx sales since a small and probably only a decimal of a percent of potential LTDx consumers listen to Rick Shiels or morso this particular podcast. But I can see it negatively impact if media runs with Bryson’s comments or Bryson keeps repeating in public interviews. 
 

I also did some video comparisons from Rick Shiels review of the LTDx and his reviews on the Radspeed. Take it for what it is, but his overall numbers (including distance, carry, swing speed, etc.) were worse with the LTDx vs last years Radspeed numbers. I also reviewed some others in similar comparison and came to similar conclusion LTDx is not really moving the needle and results are basically same as Radspeed with some just slightly worse or better within few yards. 

[me05501]

This is silly. Next year's driver is *always* better, lol. 

[ode]

A big nothing burger....he's doing his part for Cobra and hyping it up like he should!

[jholz]

So much talent. So much potential. BDC should be winning everything...

 

if only he could get his hands on a quality driver. 

 

So, what's up? 

 

From where I stand, and after some "research on the internet," it seems abundantly clear that the PGA, USGA, R&A, the World Bank, and UNICEF are trying to undermine his career and are pressuring Cobra to provide him with shoddy equipment.

 

Why you ask? Well, to eradicate single length irons and the single plane swing once and for all. 

 

I mean, we still don't know what happened to Moe Norman... THINK ABOUT IT! 😄

[getitdaily]

I'm a bryson fan. I like guys who do things their own way. 

 

But I hate it when he talks. There was absolutely zero need for that comment when this year's driver JUST GOT RELEASED.  The guy has zero presence for what his words say. Dude is a narcissist...and i don't say that lightly. 

[amace04]

33 minutes ago, HarborMike said:

I also did some video comparisons from Rick Shiels review of the LTDx and his reviews on the Radspeed. Take it for what it is, but his overall numbers (including distance, carry, swing speed, etc.) were worse with the LTDx vs last years Radspeed numbers. I also reviewed some others in similar comparison and came to similar conclusion LTDx is not really moving the needle and results are basically same as Radspeed with some just slightly worse or better within few yards. 

 

I'm not sure that's necessarily a great comparison.  Rick isn't exactly a long hitter, and his driving seems somewhat inconsistent.  It's very hard to compare drivers through two separate sessions, nevermind 2 sessions a year apart.   (I also didn't realize Rick was only 35 years old, he seems to have been losing club speed over the past few years)

 

35 minutes ago, HarborMike said:

results are basically same as Radspeed with some just slightly worse or better within few yards. 

Isn't that going to be the case with almost every new release?  You can't really make a driver any hotter anymore.  The gains are now focused on making the entire face a sweet spot, not just the centre.  

Square up an LTDx or an F8 with the same launch conditions they should go pretty much the exact same.  Difference is what happens off the toe?  Heel?  People are seeing this with the Stealth vs SIM2, Bryson is raving about this with the LTDx, so I have to assume it's just a much more forgiving face, not a hotter face.

[CKaneb]

I'm not really a fan of Bryson at all, I think he's a dick and I think he's trying to be way cooler than he is which makes him stand out like a sore thumb on the Tour (I love that he finally stopped wearing the stupid had though). However, I don't think he meant this in the way you all think it means. I highly doubt Cobra already has a physical built version of next year's driver. I know that the second this year's drivers release, R&D is gonna get to work on making next years model, but I don't think they are far enough along yet that they already have a prototype of it.

 

What I think Bryson means is that next year's driver is going to be "even better" than this year's is because I think Cobra is getting better and better each year at taking data from 2 of the longest hitters in the world that they happen to have on staff (Bryson and Kyle Berkshire) and being able to take their data and feedback and make better drivers because of it. Every golf company's products are pretty damn near identical. Every company has PHD's and supercomputers at their disposal, but where I think Cobra is going to gain an edge on other companies is that they have guys who are working on achieving 200+ mph ball speeds in tournament rounds of golf and not just in speed training sessions. As a result of this, I think Cobra is going to have an edge over other OEM's because they are going to be able to make products that will be able to achieve the numbers Bryson and Berkshire are looking for

 

 

*I haven't watched the video yet and I based my response entirely off what the replies to this post were. Someone informed me that in the video Bryson said Cobra has prototypes on the tour truck so that makes my response completely invalid. My b*

Edited January 26, 2022 by CKaneb

[amace04]

17 minutes ago, CKaneb said:

I'm not really a fan of Bryson at all, I think he's a dick and I think he's trying to be way cooler than he is which makes him stand out like a sore thumb on the Tour (I love that he finally stopped wearing the stupid had though). However, I don't think he meant this in the way you all think it means. I highly doubt Cobra already has a physical built version of next year's driver. I know that the second this year's drivers release, R&D is gonna get to work on making next years model, but I don't think they are far enough along yet that they already have a prototype of it.

 

What I think Bryson means is that next year's driver is going to be "even better" than this year's is because I think Cobra is getting better and better each year at taking data from 2 of the longest hitters in the world that they happen to have on staff (Bryson and Kyle Berkshire) and being able to take their data and feedback and make better drivers because of it. Every golf company's products are pretty damn near identical. Every company has PHD's and supercomputers at their disposal, but where I think Cobra is going to gain an edge on other companies is that they have guys who are working on achieving 200+ mph ball speeds in tournament rounds of golf and not just in speed training sessions. As a result of this, I think Cobra is going to have an edge over other OEM's because they are going to be able to make products that will be able to achieve the numbers Bryson and Berkshire are looking for

 

You really think Cobra develops a new driver over the span of less than a year?

The moment most of the R&D is complete on the LTDx, they started on the next one. They may  have even built many prototypes last year, one being next year's head which just isn't quite ready to go.

 

Not sure why Bryson would lie.  He said Cobra has prototypes on the truck.  If they haven't started building the next one, that's just an unnecessary blatant lie.  It makes no sense.  They literally had a conversation about what it's like having this driver that they know exists, that he's not allowed to use.

 

 

[CKaneb]

8 minutes ago, amace04 said:

 

You really think Cobra develops a new driver over the span of less than a year?

The moment most of the R&D is complete on the LTDx, they started on the next one. They may  have even built many prototypes last year, one being next year's head which just isn't quite ready to go.

 

Not sure why Bryson would lie.  He said Cobra has prototypes on the truck.  If they haven't started building the next one, that's just an unnecessary blatant lie.  It makes no sense.  They literally had a conversation about what it's like having this driver that they know exists, that he's not allowed to use.

 

 

oh my bad then, I haven't watched the video and based my response based off what people were saying on here. Definitely don't think Bryson would blatantly lie ab that

[iknowbagu]

Bryson has got to be the biggest tool on tour at this point.  He's spends way too much time sniffing his own farts.  He's becoming almost insufferable.  

[dodint]

I had a similar thought when I heard it in real time. I doubt anyone pondering the LTDx right now is going to put off buying it for a whole product cycle because Cobra is already working on the replacement. I enjoyed the moment because it was actual candor and not just a robot spouting sponsorship script; I won't bust him up about it because I don't want to stifle that kind of openness. 

Also, he hits a 4.5 degree driver. What he likes and needs has no relevance to my game. 

[HarborMike]

5 hours ago, amace04 said:

 

I'm not sure that's necessarily a great comparison.  Rick isn't exactly a long hitter, and his driving seems somewhat inconsistent.  It's very hard to compare drivers through two separate sessions, nevermind 2 sessions a year apart.   (I also didn't realize Rick was only 35 years old, he seems to have been losing club speed over the past few years)

 

Isn't that going to be the case with almost every new release?  You can't really make a driver any hotter anymore.  The gains are now focused on making the entire face a sweet spot, not just the centre.  

Square up an LTDx or an F8 with the same launch conditions they should go pretty much the exact same.  Difference is what happens off the toe?  Heel?  People are seeing this with the Stealth vs SIM2, Bryson is raving about this with the LTDx, so I have to assume it's just a much more forgiving face, not a hotter face.

Rick hits it longer than the average PGA tour player. That would define him as a long hitter IMO and in the overall golf industry (to include amateurs and pros). I’m not saying Rick is the poster child or perfect example of club review comparisons. My point being there’s marginal differences in drivers year to year to include distance, forgiveness, ball speed retention across the face, etc. Just used Rick as a sample set along with many other YouTube influencers and industry expert testing (e.g. MGS Most Wanted) and always reach the same conclusion of marginal differences across the board. Used Cobra LTDx vs. Radspeed as an example since original thread is based on LTDx model. But yes, agree this is true for most OEM companies.

Edited January 26, 2022 by HarborMike

[amace04]

34 minutes ago, HarborMike said:

Rick hits it longer than the average PGA tour player. That would define him as a long hitter IMO and in the overall golf industry (to include amateurs and pros). I’m not saying Rick is the poster child or perfect example of club review comparisons. My point being there’s marginal differences in drivers year to year to include distance, forgiveness, ball speed retention across the face, etc. Just used Rick as a sample set along with many other YouTube influencers and industry expert testing (e.g. MGS Most Wanted) and always reach the same conclusion of marginal differences across the board. Used Cobra LTDx vs. Radspeed as an example since original thread is based on LTDx model. But yes, agree this is true for most OEM companies.

Barely topping 300 isn't a "Long" hitter.   Yes, it's above average, but that doesn't make him long.

 

My point is, his driving is inconsistent video to video, his swing speed (by his own admission) is slowing down.  It's simply not possible to draw fair comparisons using data from two sessions separated by a year.

 

The distance differences should be negligible across the board.  It's been that way for years.  There's a maximum COR clubs must adhere to.  They simply can't make them hotter on centered strikes.  They do however make them substantially hotter on off-centred strikes.  The problem with Pro reviews, is they don't often have the misses your average local golfer does, and they exclude bad shots from averages.  That doesn't paint a proper picture of how the club actually performs.

[MattM97]

The golfing world when buying a new driver year after year. 

 

 

[HarborMike]

10 minutes ago, amace04 said:

Barely topping 300 isn't a "Long" hitter.   Yes, it's above average, but that doesn't make him long.

 

My point is, his driving is inconsistent video to video, his swing speed (by his own admission) is slowing down.  It's simply not possible to draw fair comparisons using data from two sessions separated by a year.

 

The distance differences should be negligible across the board.  It's been that way for years.  There's a maximum COR clubs must adhere to.  They simply can't make them hotter on centered strikes.  They do however make them substantially hotter on off-centred strikes.  The problem with Pro reviews, is they don't often have the misses your average local golfer does, and they exclude bad shots from averages.  That doesn't paint a proper picture of how the club actually performs.

Average amateur length with a driver is 215 yds and you don’t think 300+ is classified as long hitter?….mmmkay 🤔

[amace04]

Just now, HarborMike said:

Average amateur length with a driver is 215 yds and you don’t think 300+ is classified as long hitter?….mmmkay 🤔

Well that sucks for them, but Rick isn't an amateur, he's a PGA Golf Professional.   In the context of golf pros, he's nothing special, and his reviews are not particularly helpful either when comparing equipment.

 

You cite average amateur length.  Amateurs shouldn't be focused on how many yards extra you get when you absolutely flush an LTDx in the centre with proper launch conditions vs the Radspeed.  They should be concerned about what happens when you mishit each, as that's what most of their drives are.  That's something you've failed to mention in your evaluation of the two drivers.

[hammergolf]

6 hours ago, getitdaily said:

I'm a bryson fan. I like guys who do things their own way. 

 

But I hate it when he talks. There was absolutely zero need for that comment when this year's driver JUST GOT RELEASED.  The guy has zero presence for what his words say. Dude is a narcissist...and i don't say that lightly. 

He’s just like some other guys. Really smart but when they begin talking they say really stupid things. His comments about not yelling fore on errant shots are just idiotic…

[getitdaily]

1 minute ago, hammergolf said:

He’s just like some other guys. Really smart but when they begin talking they say really stupid things. His comments about not yelling fore on errant shots are just idiotic…

He just doesn't think outside of himself. That's great for being a phenomenal golfer. But he's just ignorant of how he comes off...or he's been told and he just doesn't care.

[hammergolf]

11 minutes ago, getitdaily said:

He just doesn't think outside of himself. That's great for being a phenomenal golfer. But he's just ignorant of how he comes off...or he's been told and he just doesn't care.

He’s definitely in the I’m right and the rest of the world are the crazy ones belief.

[PEI_Golfer]

I had to run out to the grocery store the other day to buy more salt as I had run out of grains while listening to anything he says...

[scooterhd2]

Just in from Cobra - "Byrson is wrong. This is the best driver. Next year's model will be complete garbage."