Cobra ZL ~ Long term owners opinions?

[MG 1977]

I'm considering getting a Cobra ZL driver. I've seen a couple of 8.5 degree heads, one with a Matrix Xcon7 and the other with a Diamana Blueboard on ebay at a fair price. I know the 8.5 head can be setup 2 degree's open or 0.5 degree's open which is good because my bad shot goes left. However, the position of the weight is putting me off a little. As I said my bad shot goes left so the 2* open setting appeals to me but that weight being towards the heel is putting me off pulling the trigger. I can't demo this head as no shops near me have a 8.5 degree head in stock.

 

So for those who have had this driver for a while what is your opinion? Is it draw weighted? Comments on sound, feel, distance, forgivness and workability are appreciated,

 

Thanks.

[TundraToad]

I'm a 10 handi and driving has always been the worse part of my game. I have had 5 drivers over the last 2 years, 909d2 with a Rombax, SMT DB+ with a whiteboard, Geek FS3 with a Voodoo to name a few. At the end of June I picked up a ZL 9.5 with the stock shaft and for some reason everything clicked (swing speed about 100). I play it in a netural position. I test drove lots of models but it wasn't even close.

Draw weighted: I think a little but ???
Sound: Excellent can't see it getting any better
Feel: I love the feel, I have hit my buddies FT Tour and G15 and I guess I could say it feels a little softer (feel is hard to discribe)
Distance: Very good, there are probably longer out there but you might have to give something up
Forgiveness: Great and this is something I really need
Workability: No clue, I have problems without worrying about working it

I think if you get a shaft that fits your swing then you can't lose.

There will be no driver change in 2011 for this guy.

[golfmaniac1]

My miss is left also, and I love the ZL. Me missing left is no more pronounced with the zl than it is with my 905r so I don't think the weighting should be an issue. Probably won't be too different from the 9.5 you could potentially try at your local shop.

[orngnblu]

I have had a ZL for almost a year now. I have 2 shafts - Diamana Blueboard 73S and Motore F1 65 for windier days. I bought the club thinking that the shafts would be a lot more prevalent, and they are not. As a result, I am looking into a SuperTri head, but here's my take on your five categories:
Sound - easily the best sounding driver I have ever hit, period.
Feel - feel is also on the higher end of the spectrum, even with harder balls like V1X and some distance balls, the feel is supreme without sacrificing feedback.
Distance - I've seen portions of the course(s) I play that I have never been before.
Forgiveness - forgiveness is good on mishits, again, decent feedback without significant distance loss.
Workability - I find this head (with both shafts) has the ability to be hit both high and low, and left and right. I play to about a 9 and mostly play the fade.

So why am I looking at ditching the head? Probably because I'm an idiot! It's probably a grass is greener situation, but the SuperTri just looks so confidence inspiring at address.

Hope this helps!

[Llortamaisey]

I gamed the 8.5 head for a year and it was great. There's not enough weight in the screw to create a draw bias. I have the lefts really bad and the ZL rarely missed left for me. I had a good shaft in it as well. Pull the trigger, you shouldn't be disappointed.

[rightlefty]

I have had a 9.5 stock stiff voodoo for almost a year as well. For me the ball goes way too high, I hit it like it was a 19.5 instead of a 9.5. Just be ready for a very high ball flight if you are not a low ball hitter with the stock shaft. Other than the extremely high ball flight it gives me, I think it is a very good driver.

[Huntingchris0000]

I got one about 3 months ago and I will not be changing drivers next year, I got mine with a Blueboard shaft and that shaft fits me good so I can't go wrong. It is as long as all the other drivers I have tried but it is in the fairway alot more.

[Swingfly]

Hi! I have had mine since august (8,5 with a mitsubishi javln stiff shaft) and i love it, superb sound, nice feel and it goes long and straight. You dont have to worry about any draw bias.

Marcus, Sweden

[bluemonster]

One thing to remember about adjustable drivers- every degree you change the face angle means a degree of loft change. The rule is: Open face 1 degree= decrease loft 1 degree. Close face 1 degree= increase loft 1 degree.

I do not believe they have been able to avoid this issue with any adjustable drivers. Some manufacturers don't mention this in their diagrams, but it is the truth.

If you want to play an adjustable driver one degree open face angle, 8.5* loft, you should buy the standard 9.5* loft driver. If you buy the 8.5* and open it 2 degrees, you will be playing it at 6.5* loft.

I prefer 1 degree closed drivers. I need to buy the 8.5* head if I want to play it at 9.5* when I make that adjustment. But I am done with adjustable drivers since I know exactly what I want with specs. And there is no shortage of closed face options for me.