Cobra · Driver · 2024 · Previous model
Cobra DARKSPEED MAX driver
Maximum forgiveness, 4.0 of 5
Cobra's most forgiving driver of 2024, with a weight you can move to the back for stability or to the heel for a draw, in 9°, 10.5° or 12°. Cobra no longer sells the DARKSPEED MAX new; the DS-ADAPT MAX-K followed it, and the OPTM MAX-K is the newest model in its line.
4.0 of 5 forgiveness score
$299.98 at PGA TOUR Superstore
Used from $161.99 at 2nd Swing Golf
In average condition or better: from $269.99
New instead: Cobra OPTM MAX-K, $399 at Cobra, checked 2 Nov
Choose it if
- Your misses come off all over the face.
- You slice: the head has a draw bias built in.
- You need a left-handed club or a senior flex: both were stock builds.
- You want to spend less: $299.98 is in the cheapest third of the 28 we price.
- Class
- Maximum forgiveness
- Stock lofts
- 9.0° · 10.5° · 12.0°
- Slice help
- Draw bias built into the head
- Stock flexes
- Senior to stiff
- Hands
- Left or right
- Price
- $299.98 at PGA TOUR Superstore, checked 11 Oct
What changed in the OPTM MAX-K
The OPTM MAX-K keeps the 9°, 10.5° and 12° lofts and the 45.5-inch length. Cobra fixes its weight low and back instead of letting it move to the heel, and gives the draw to a separate head, the OPTM MAX-D. Its hosel has 33 loft and lie settings, up to 2° either way, against eight on the DARKSPEED MAX, and Cobra calls it its highest MOI ever.
Cobra no longer sells the DARKSPEED MAX, but PGA TOUR Superstore still has it new for well under the OPTM MAX-K's price, and used ones cost less again. Between the two came the DS-ADAPT MAX-K of 2025. Choose the DARKSPEED MAX for the heel weight setting the MAX-K does not have; choose the OPTM MAX-K for the newest head, or the OPTM MAX-D for a draw.
| Detail | DARKSPEED MAX (previous) | OPTM MAX-K (current) |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Maximum forgiveness | Maximum forgiveness |
| Forgiveness score | 4.0 of 5 | 4.0 of 5 |
| Stock lofts | 9° · 10.5° · 12° | 9° · 10.5° · 12° |
| Slice help | Draw bias built into the head | None stated |
| Stock flexes | Senior to stiff | Senior to extra stiff |
| Hands | Left or right | Left or right |
| Price new | $299.98 at PGA TOUR Superstore, checked 11 Oct | $399 at Cobra, checked 2 Nov |
| Price used | From $161.99 at 2nd Swing Golf (9°, stiff flex, poor condition), checked 31 Oct | From $339.99 at 2nd Swing Golf (10.5°, stiff flex, average condition), checked 31 Oct |
Head to head: PING G430 MAX 10K vs Cobra DARKSPEED MAX driver · Cobra DARKSPEED X vs DARKSPEED MAX driver
Build a whole bag around it, or check the lofts in the bag you carry.
The Cobra DARKSPEED MAX came in a senior (A) flex as well as regular (R): what the senior flex changes, and who it suits.
DARKSPEED MAX: the questions buyers ask
- Is the Cobra DARKSPEED MAX forgiving?
- Yes. It is Cobra's maximum forgiveness driver, with lofts up to 12°. It scores 4.0 of 5 on our reading of what Cobra publishes about it, the top score among the drivers we cover.
- Who is the DARKSPEED MAX for?
- It suits a miss that goes anywhere on the face, with a draw bias built in for a slice.
- Does the DARKSPEED MAX come in senior or ladies flex?
- Senior, yes; ladies, no. Cobra listed senior (A), regular (R) and stiff (S).
- Is the DARKSPEED MAX sold left-handed?
- Yes: Cobra made it left- and right-handed.
- How much does the DARKSPEED MAX cost?
- $299.98 at PGA TOUR Superstore, checked 11 Oct. Used from $161.99 at 2nd Swing Golf, checked 31 Oct. In average condition or better, from $269.99. Prices change; the seller's page has today's.
How the 4.0 adds up
The forgiveness score is our reading of what Cobra publishes about the head, from 1 to 5. It is not a test result. How every score works.
| Part | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Head | 4 | A maximum-forgiveness driver head, the most forgiving kind Cobra made. |
| Forgiveness score | 4.0 | of 5 |
Draw help, lofts, flex and hand don't change the score. They decide which version fits you, and the picks for a slice or a slow swing use them.
Specification sheet
| Maker | Cobra |
|---|---|
| Model | DARKSPEED MAX |
| Model year | 2024 |
| Type | Driver |
| Class | Maximum forgiveness |
| Handicap range the maker states | – |
| Offset | – |
| Sole | – |
| Moment of inertia (MOI) | – |
| Face technology | 10% larger PWRSHELL L-cup face with an updated H.O.T. Face design |
| Construction | A larger forged face cup, a weight bar suspended low in the head, and back and heel weight positions; the hosel sleeve has eight loft and lie settings, three of them for a draw. |
| Stock steel shafts | – |
| Stock graphite shafts | Project X HZRDUS Red CB 50, UST LIN-Q M40X Red 5 |
| Stock flexes | A (senior), R (regular), S (stiff) |
| Stock lofts | 9.0° · 10.5° · 12.0° |
| Hands | RH, LH |
| Men's or women's | Men's |
| List price when new | $549 (2024 model); not a price today |
| Price at PGA TOUR Superstore | $299.98 · checked 11 Oct |
| What the price buys | Project X HZRDUS Red CB 50 or UST LIN-Q M40X Red 5 shaft, Right or left hand, 9°, 10.5° or 12°, A, R or S flex |
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| Lofts | Slice help | Hand | Where to buy | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | Maximum forgiveness | 10.5° · 12° · 15° | Draw-biased head, built to reduce a slice | A · R · S | RH · LH | $299.99 at Tour Edge checked 2 Nov | See it at Tour Edge Check price on Amazon Amazon's price may differ | |
Cobra OPTM MAX-D (2026) | 4.0 | Maximum forgiveness | 10.5° · 12.0° | Draw-biased head, built to reduce a slice | A · R · S · X | RH · LH | $399 at Cobra checked 2 Nov | Buy at Cobra Check price on Amazon Amazon's price may differ |
Cobra OPTM MAX-K (2026) | 4.0 | Maximum forgiveness | 9.0° · 10.5° · 12.0° | – | A · R · S · X | RH · LH | $399 at Cobra checked 2 Nov | Buy at Cobra Check price on Amazon Amazon's price may differ |
| 4.0 | Maximum forgiveness | 9.0° · 10.5° · 12.0° | Slight draw bias built into the head | A · R · S | RH · LH | $399.99 at Srixon checked 2 Nov | See it at Srixon Check price on Amazon Amazon's price may differ | |
| 4.0 | Maximum forgiveness | 9° · 10.5° · 12° | Draw setting on the adjustable weight | A · R · S · X | RH · LH | $447 at Golf Discount checked 2 Nov | Check price at Golf Discount Check price on Amazon Amazon's price may differ See it at PING | |
| 4.0 | Maximum forgiveness | 9° · 10.5° | Draw-biased head, built to reduce a slice | A · R · S · X | RH · LH | $447 at Golf Discount checked 2 Nov | Check price at Golf Discount Check price on Amazon Amazon's price may differ See it at PING | |
Wilson DYNAPWR Max+ (2026) | 4.0 | Maximum forgiveness | 9° · 10.5° · 12° | – | A · R · S | RH · LH | $499.99 at Wilson checked 2 Nov | |
| 4.0 | Maximum forgiveness | 9° · 10.5° · 12° | Draw setting on the adjustable weight | A · R · S · X | RH · LH | $647 at Golf Discount checked 2 Nov | Check price at Golf Discount Check price on Amazon Amazon's price may differ See it at PING | |
| 4.0 | Maximum forgiveness | 9° · 10.5° · 12° | – | A · R · S · X | RH · LH | $649.99 at TaylorMade checked 2 Nov | See it at TaylorMade Check price on Amazon Amazon's price may differ |
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Order: Most forgiving in this class first, then price. Use the arrows to sort. A dash means the maker does not publish it.
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Sources
The specification comes from these pages; open the maker's page before buying, because prices and shaft options change. Check the exact shaft and hand at the shop before ordering.
- Cobra's specifications, archived copy of 28 Apr 2025
- Cobra's specifications, archived copy of 17 Sep 2024
- Cobra's page on availability (checked 11 Oct)
- PGA TOUR Superstore's listing (checked 11 Oct)
- 2nd Swing Golf's used listings (checked 31 Oct)
- Pre-owned: seen at 2nd Swing Golf from $161.99 (checked 31 Oct)