Cobra King F7 Tour Issue 3-4 wood

[VinnyG41]

My 3 wood of 6 years finally bit the dust last week:

 

 

 

Instead of trying to learn a new club, I decide to purchase the same model and try to match the head. Proclubs had a huge stock of "Tour Issue" King F7 3-4 wood heads so I purchased one of those. Surprisingly, the club is quite a bit different. It has an overall smaller profile, full grooves across the face, and a bit deeper of a face.

 

 

 

I've taken it to the range and the feeling is way different and the trajectory is much flatter. Not terribly upset with it, but I'm just really surprised with how different it is. 

 

I emailed Proclubs to see if I could get some context on these "Tour Issue" Clubs, and they just said: "We received these in from Cobra's Tour Department. They might have produced the Tour Issued head slightly different from the standard retail heads." 

 

 I was curious if anyone out there might know more about these tour issue clubs? I think I'll keep using it, but my curiosity has me wanting to know more about this club.

[MattM97]

If you use a 3W that much and don't like this one find one you like. The F7 had a cult following but it has long been surpassed performance wise. 

[VinnyG41]

1 minute ago, MattM97 said:

If you use a 3W that much and don't like this one find one you like. The F7 had a cult following but it has long been surpassed performance wise. 

 

Yeah, I got got fitted for a new driver earlier this year, and we looked briefly at fairway woods. All the new models went nearly as far as my driver and I really like my 3 wood to be a club I know will go ~30 yards shorter than my driver. The jury is still out on this club, but I figured for ~$200 less than a new model, I can give this one a longer test period and find out if I can make it work. 

[MattM97]

17 minutes ago, VinnyG41 said:

 

Yeah, I got got fitted for a new driver earlier this year, and we looked briefly at fairway woods. All the new models went nearly as far as my driver and I really like my 3 wood to be a club I know will go ~30 yards shorter than my driver. The jury is still out on this club, but I figured for ~$200 less than a new model, I can give this one a longer test period and find out if I can make it work. 

 

Opt for a 4W or 5W then to get tha5 gap or a shorter shaft on the 3W possible. Lots of options to look at. 

 

Still try this out but if it's not going to work don't force it. 

[VinnyG41]

1 hour ago, MattM97 said:

Opt for a 4W or 5W then to get tha5 gap or a shorter shaft on the 3W possible. Lots of options to look at. 

 

I hear ya, man. I appreciate the feedback and won't force it if I end up not liking it. 

 

Would still like to know more about the "unique-ness" of this supposed tour issue head though.

[LoopySwing13]

Is that you Rick shiels? Lol only kidding.. the tour head looks beautiful! Cobra made some awesome fairways and I miss my F9 tours.

 

In general, my experience with tour fairways were smaller profile, less spinny and often different face angles or COG. It’s always a dice roll on what you get since we don’t know who it was intended for. That has long been a discussion point of tour vs retail and at least knowing what you get with a retail fit. 
 

If you are a decent fairway player I don’t think the older Gen will kill you necessarily but there may be some disadvantages like ball speed, forgiveness, etc. as well as not being fit for it (or the unknown specs). 

Edited July 26, 2023 by LoopySwing13

[VinnyG41]

I emailed Cobra Customer Service on this and just heard back from them. This was their reply: 

 

Yes, these heads are "Tour Issue" which means they were not sold to the general public and made specifically for our Tour Staff players based on their needs/requests. These heads were made for Ricky when he was playing the F7 models and once he moved on to the next generation, we sold these heads off to wholesale accounts such as the one you found yours at. 

 

Typically, a tour head will be smaller with lower launch and spin characteristics, as you can see on the link you sent me it has the stickers on the head with handwritten numbers which would be the specs of that specific head as they go through a more vigorous inspection for that player based on the specs they want. 

 

This is pretty much what a lot of people say about Tour Issue heads, but I guess it's kinda cool hearing it directly from Cobra.

 

Also, LOL at the Cobra rep misspelling "Rickie".

Edited July 26, 2023 by VinnyG41

[cz13X4]

I use one of these tour heads in 4-5. I love it personally. Too small for me in a 3 wood spot, but as a near 7 wood loft (chose the highest lofted one they had) it is perfect.

[VinnyG41]

I have an F7 5 wood that is still going strong, but if I like how this 3 wood turns out, I might just have to get the tour issue 5-7 wood too. 

[taki27]

15 hours ago, cz13X4 said:

I use one of these tour heads in 4-5. I love it personally. Too small for me in a 3 wood spot, but as a near 7 wood loft (chose the highest lofted one they had) it is perfect.

I have a 4-5 also and like it.  I’m  not overly particular about my equipment.  If I like the way it looks I can usually play it.  I did get it so I could change the weights (and because it had the old school Cobra symbol on the crown) but every weight I found on eBay or through various sites is a touch too wide.

[cz13X4]

17 hours ago, VinnyG41 said:

I have an F7 5 wood that is still going strong, but if I like how this 3 wood turns out, I might just have to get the tour issue 5-7 wood too. 

I haven’t seen a tour 5-7

[wam78]

F7 heads were fantastic.  Something that can help that I started doing is playing my woods short.  Helps dial back distance and feels very controllable.

[jarediogolf]

It looks like the heavy weight is in the front. Definitive move that weight to the back if its launching too low. I’d be curious to know what weights it came with. 
 

I’d also be curious if the lie angle is flatter on the tour head.
I have 3 F7 woods: 3/4, 5/6, 7/8. I play them all really short with as the lie angles (as per cobra) are 59, 60, 61 respectively (VERY UPRIGHT).

Right now I have the 5 and 7 wood in the bag. 20g weight rear 15g weight front on both. VERY easy to launch. 
 

Since you have the extra 20g piece you can play around with the weights. 

[Bobb3rdown]

Just picked one of these 4/5 heads up. 18.5 loft and 2.1 open. 

 

Hoping to replace my f6 baffler. I want to loft it up a bit, but the closed face angle kills me.

 

The f6 baffler is a little close to my 3wd. I can get 220-225 out of the baffler. Looking for more 210 max for 5wd.

 

Now, do I put the tour blue 85 in it or an og kai'li 80 in it. 

Edited October 16, 2023 by Bobb3rdown

[VinnyG41]

I picked up a 4-5 head as well. Love it! The smaller head makes it feel like something between a wood and hybrid (A hybrid hybrid if you will) and it launches fantastic and is very anti-left. Still can't get the 3-4 wood figured out. Might just have to go with something else there next year. 

[Bobb3rdown]

4-5 head showed up today. This thing is basically a newer f6 baffler. Same head shape and size, and face height. Along with the matching full face grooves.

 

My head weighed 224g with adapter. My f6 baffler weights 232g with adapter.