The Cobra DS-Adapt LS Driver Is SO GOOD! (and how about the DS-A LS Fairway Woods?!)

[J-Walker]

I had the chance to take out the 10.5° Cobra DS-Adapt LS driver these past two weeks and it has quickly overtaken my gamer. In January, I moved from the original 10.5° Stealth to a 10.5° QI35 LS with a Ventus Black VC+ 6X (heavy weight forward in the toe) after a driver fitting. They also tried me in the Darkspeed LS, DS-Adapt X, and Ping G440 LST, but none of those were as good as the QI35 LS for me. It was very stable, but after a couple months, it felt little boardy for me unless I wanted to go after it 100%. I revisited that fitting and tried a Tour AD-IZ 6S tipped an inch and turned down in loft to 8.5°. It has been an improvement, except when I really go after it. Then it is a too left-biased for me. Ventus Red in this same configuration is pretty good, but IZ is better for me on this head. 

Enter the DS-Adapt LS 10.5°. Paired with a Ventus Red VC+ 6S tipped 3/4”… it is the longest and straightest driver I’ve ever hit. A1 setting with neutral factory weights. Swinging all out or backing off for those fairway finders, the forgiveness has been very high for a smaller head and low spin model, and my centered hits are going really long with very tight disbursement. I can’t recommend this driver enough. If you are a player that needs spin control, it is definitely worth checking this one out!

Edited June 3 by J-Walker

[NardDog]

What are the chances you've hit the Aerojet LS before? That's my current gamer as I need all the spin control I can get. It's a great driver, but yano, upgrading is fun.

[J-Walker]

14 hours ago, NardDog said:

What are the chances you've hit the Aerojet LS before? That's my current gamer as I need all the spin control I can get. It's a great driver, but yano, upgrading is fun.

I have hit the AJ LS, but not with a Ventus Red. For me the DS-Adapt LS is more forgiving and so hot off the middle of the face and long. The sidespin control off of it is excellent as well. 

Edited April 24 by J-Walker

[jjthomp2]

I could not get the LS to work. The X was too odd of a shape to stare at. I was disappointed because had high hopes of going the cobra driver route this season. 

[J-Walker]

46 minutes ago, jjthomp2 said:

I could not get the LS to work. The X was too odd of a shape to stare at. I was disappointed because had high hopes of going the cobra driver route this season. 

I don’t like the shape or feel of the X either. Did you try the 9° or 10.5° in the LS?
 

They are different beasts, especially with spin. The power bridge in the 9° plays significantly different than the 10.5° even when dialed into the same loft and lie settings. The 10.5 without the power bridge and the added weight in the heel gets my spin numbers in a great place. 

[mrmikeac]

Hit the LS yesterday as well. Longest driver I’ve ever hit. First time I’ve ever hit 164 mph ball speed. Love the look of it too, I know quite a few people don’t like the slightly triangular shape but personally I love it. Think I’m going to go with a GT3 though, had a few bad misses with the LS and the ball went 3 cities east on me. The GT3 seemed slightly more stable for me. Will go back on Friday to for both again with a few different shaft selections. Side note: the Denali 6.5 felt great in the cobra, really impressive for a stock shaft imo 

[J-Walker]

3 hours ago, mrmikeac said:

Hit the LS yesterday as well. Longest driver I’ve ever hit. First time I’ve ever hit 164 mph ball speed. Love the look of it too, I know quite a few people don’t like the slightly triangular shape but personally I love it. Think I’m going to go with a GT3 though, had a few bad misses with the LS and the ball went 3 cities east on me. The GT3 seemed slightly more stable for me. Will go back on Friday to for both again with a few different shaft selections. Side note: the Denali 6.5 felt great in the cobra, really impressive for a stock shaft imo 

It is really long. That’s for sure. I had a similar experience to yours, except my big misses were worse on the GT3. The shaft choice and loft/lie settings definitely play into all of that for sure. Denali wasn’t my favorite, but a lot of peeps love it. 
 

Please report back after you hit some more on Friday!

Edited April 24 by J-Walker

[jjthomp2]

4 hours ago, mrmikeac said:

Hit the LS yesterday as well. Longest driver I’ve ever hit. First time I’ve ever hit 164 mph ball speed. Love the look of it too, I know quite a few people don’t like the slightly triangular shape but personally I love it. Think I’m going to go with a GT3 though, had a few bad misses with the LS and the ball went 3 cities east on me. The GT3 seemed slightly more stable for me. Will go back on Friday to for both again with a few different shaft selections. Side note: the Denali 6.5 felt great in the cobra, really impressive for a stock shaft imo 

GT3 won out for me as well. It was honestly never even close the GT3 was that good

[mrmikeac]

1 hour ago, jjthomp2 said:

GT3 won out for me as well. It was honestly never even close the GT3 was that good

I’ve never been a huge Titleist guy but the GT3 is by far the best driver I’ve ever hit, it’s almost perfect. The DS Adapt LS definitely kept up with it though, especially on centered strikes! 

[juzz88]

Not surprised.

 

I just switched from the LTDx Max to the LTDx LS and I find the LS more forgiving than the Max. WAY less spin, and effortlessly long.

 

I'm sure the DS-Adapt is a lot better again.

[mrmikeac]

So a little update: 

 

Went back and put the DSA LS against the GT3 again. My fitter was present this time so we put both on quad instead of TrackMan as he believes it will give more accurate numbers across the board. The LS is ridiculous when it comes to ball speed, strikes off the toe performed surprisingly well too and the adjustable hosel is VERY effective, not confusing at all once you scan the QR code and take a look at the map. The GT3 just edged it in terms of overall forgiveness, lately my miss has been slightly heel side and the GT3 takes heel strikes like no other driver I’ve ever tested. The LS was around 1-2 mph faster in terms of ball speed and I was swinging it about 1-2 mph faster than the GT3, spin on the LS was LOWWWWW, at times too low for me (1600-1800 rpm).
 

The reason my fitter recommended the GT3 is mainly because of the adjustability, he knows me very well and understands that I may be missing heel side now but later this year I could be missing toe side so the GT3 just offers a little more insurance when it comes to that. If I were buying off of pure distance I would go LS and never look back but I’m looking at how I play throughout the year and I just don’t see the LS working out for me in the long run. I may regret this but I trust my fitter as he’s never steered me wrong before. 
 

With that being said, I HIGHLY recommend testing the DS Adapt LS!! Thing is an absolute MONSTER off the tee and I don’t think any other driver out on the market can match its speed. Well done again, Cobra 👏 

[J-Walker]

One month in and the DS-A LS is still just so long and forgiving. I’m just smitten.  I’m absolutely a Cobra convert. 

[Malc]

I prefer the LTDX LS to Adapt LS. Could'nt get along with Darkspeed and the new one is not doing it for me either. Much prefer the way the LTDX and Aerojet sit and look, even with 33 adjustments.

[mrmikeac]

47 minutes ago, Malc said:

I prefer the LTDX LS to Adapt LS. Could'nt get along with Darkspeed and the new one is not doing it for me either. Much prefer the way the LTDX and Aerojet sit and look, even with 33 adjustments.

The LTDX LS was a monster. 

[J-Walker]

This driver has been so good that I added the DS-ADAPT LS 3W to my bag. Same shaft but in a 7X (Ventus Red Velocore+ untipped). This 3W is right in line with the driver. Smooth, long and straight as anything I’ve hit. Very easy to launch, and I love the deeper face. Been a Ping fairway wood guy for many years, but no longer. Like with the DS-A LS driver, the fairway woods in this lineup check all the boxes. No low knucklers off this club for me at all and it is very forgiving. The DS-A LS 5W is up next for sure!

Edited June 3 by J-Walker

[J-Walker]

I spent a day A/B’ing the DS-A LS against the DS-A Max K today. Both on the course and the range. Both models with 10.5° heads with my gamer shaft. The LS still seems to suit me better so far, but the Max K dialed down to 8.5° was real close. I’m still really surprised at how forgiving this LS head is. 

[T.B.]

I’ve got the max K and just tested the LS.  I’m going with the LS. Forgiveness is imo about the same as the max k and love the smaller head.  It’s a very long driver. Just my opinion but the LS is the best of the 3 cobra drivers this year 

[Phabs]

Just built a LS adapt 3 wood for a guy with a Kiyoshi.  Played with him last weekend and it felt really good. 
 

I’m a little biased but Cobras woods are easily top 3 right now.  

[3puttking14]

How does it compare to the previous model, dark speed LS? I was not a fan of the look at address of that model. I do like how the new DS adapt has that framing on the crown. Last cobra model I used was LTDx LS and that was a great driver.

[Malc]

5 hours ago, 3puttking14 said:

How does it compare to the previous model, dark speed LS? I was not a fan of the look at address of that model. I do like how the new DS adapt has that framing on the crown. Last cobra model I used was LTDx LS and that was a great driver.

Similar thoughts all round. To me LTDX ls is the best looking head along with the Aerojet. Darkspeed, i just could'nt get it to look good in any setting. I like the framing on the crown and the new Adapt models go back in this direction. I've got the ltdx ls and the Adapt Ls in the bag at the moment but the older model is still edging things.

[stratgolf]

So impressed by the adapt series. Just ordered a Max-K and can't wait to put it in the bag.

[J-Walker]

8 hours ago, 3puttking14 said:

How does it compare to the previous model, dark speed LS? I was not a fan of the look at address of that model. I do like how the new DS adapt has that framing on the crown. Last cobra model I used was LTDx LS and that was a great driver.

The DS-A LS looks more pear shaped and less triangular than the DS-LS. I also find it more forgiving and longer. 

[3puttking14]

On 7/12/2025 at 7:33 AM, J-Walker said:

The DS-A LS looks more pear shaped and less triangular than the DS-LS. I also find it more forgiving and longer. 

That’s good to hear. I switched to the Elyte driver but would have done the DS-A LS since I wouldn’t have had to get my adapters replaced.

[VA_Astra]

I gamed the Adapt Ls driver this year. Some days were amazing others I couldn't keep on the course.

Just switched to the QI35 LS, so far much more controllable and just as long.

 

Just put the Adapt Ls 4w in the bag....it is an amazing beast!!

[Dannyyy]

Have any of you compared it to the DS-Adapt Max K ?

MGS 2025 driver ranking has the Max K longer and the LS more forgiving which I find very surprising.

Have any of you experienced the same thing when going head to head ?

[BigBlue7]

18 minutes ago, Dannyyy said:

Have any of you compared it to the DS-Adapt Max K ?

MGS 2025 driver ranking has the Max K longer and the LS more forgiving which I find very surprising.

Have any of you experienced the same thing when going head to head ?

I’ve been looking for a good deal on a 9* MAx K so I can compare it to the LS. I think the LS is a bit too low spin for me

[DTorres]

1 hour ago, Dannyyy said:

Have any of you compared it to the DS-Adapt Max K ?

MGS 2025 driver ranking has the Max K longer and the LS more forgiving which I find very surprising.

Have any of you experienced the same thing when going head to head ?

I didn’t get along with the Max-K at all. I read all the same things and went to give it a try locally. It did well at retaining ball speed and it’s definitely more forgiving but I’m in the 115-120 club head speed range and it spun just a bit to much for me, I ended up getting the most consistent lower spin numbers and trajectory out of the LS and bought one of those instead. I think a lot of people would jive really well with the DS-Adapt LS with the 10G weight in the back. 
 

 

Edited July 31 by DTorres

[Dannyyy]

11 minutes ago, DTorres said:

I didn’t get along with the Max-K at all. I read all the same things and went to give it a try locally. It did well at retaining ball speed and it’s definitely more forgiving but I’m in the 115-120 club head speed range and it spun just a bit to much for me, I ended up getting the most consistent lower spin numbers and trajectory out of the LS and bought one of those instead. I think a lot of people would jive really well with the DS-Adapt LS with the 10G weight in the back. 
 

 

Did you find the forgiveness difference significant ?

I’m between 109-112 SS with an AoA of +8° so I tend to spin it a lot, however I need forgiveness, courses are tight where I play.

I thought DS-Adapt Max K would be the unicorn I’m looking for but I was underwhelmed by the forgiveness on toe strikes compared to Ping, even the LST.

[J-Walker]

1 hour ago, Dannyyy said:

Have any of you compared it to the DS-Adapt Max K ?

MGS 2025 driver ranking has the Max K longer and the LS more forgiving which I find very surprising.

Have any of you experienced the same thing when going head to head ?

I have both at 10.5* and have been hitting them head to head on course and the range for the past month.  At 105-112 clubhead speed, the Max K spins too much for me. Even lofted down to 8.5* On the other hand, the LS at 10.5* keeps spin in a great range for me.  I've messed with shafts as well.  Ventus Red Velocore+ on the LS at 10.5 is magic for me, but too spinny on the Max K. The Max K lofted all the way down to 8.5 with a Tour AD-VF is close to getting my spin and launch numbers maximized, but I'm still favoring the LS w/Ventus Red. I am pretty impressed with the forgiveness of both heads.

[DTorres]

29 minutes ago, Dannyyy said:

Did you find the forgiveness difference significant ?

I’m between 109-112 SS with an AoA of +8° so I tend to spin it a lot, however I need forgiveness, courses are tight where I play.

I thought DS-Adapt Max K would be the unicorn I’m looking for but I was underwhelmed by the forgiveness on toe strikes compared to Ping, even the LST.

Both heads are surprisingly forgiving. I was coming from an Aerojet LS and looking for more forgiveness on my own toe strikes which led me down the Max-K path. I went and tested ALL of the Cobra DS-Adapt heads and ended up finding that the LS was the best at controlling spin and keeping them respectable across the entire face which led to more consistency and “forgiveness” for my swing type. 
 

 I used to dial up this Nasty power slice/Fade for doglegs with the Aerojet by simply opening up my stance and swinging as hard out to in as possible but when I do that with the DS-Adapt LS is just murders it straight. I can still control ball flight with it but it’s more baby fades and draws no matter how hard I go at it. With the Max-K it felt less workable but was very straight no matter how you hit it. I do fully believe a lot of people would really enjoy the LS over the rest. Putting the weight in the back makes it similar to a regular X but a lower spin version.

This was the first round with the DS Adapt LS and the first hole I tried to purposefully slice the crap out of it

 

Edited July 31 by DTorres