Cobra springs new driver, forgiving iron set on players for '09

It was an impressive late-season finish for Camilo Villegas, a member of the Cobra Golf tour staff. The 26-year-old Colombian with the flowing blond locks captured his first two PGA Tour titles in winning The Barclays and the Tour Championship, both as part of the FedEx Cup playoffs.

3 clubs from Cobra Transition-S set

Among the clubs in Villegas' bag this past season was a 9-degree L4V driver, but it's likely he'll switch models for 2009. The reason: Cobra has upgraded its multimaterial, high-performance big weapon with the newly released L5V model.

Along with the new driver, Cobra also has introduced an upgrade of its hybrid/iron set called Transition-S. These are game improvement clubs targeted at mid to high handicap players.

For drivers, Cobra will continue to also offer its Speed LD line in the coming season.

"The King Cobra L5V builds upon our ... tour-proven L4V driver," Brian Zender, Cobra Golf general manager, said in a release announcing the new club. "It's the longest, straightest driver in the 35-year history of the Cobra brand."

In addition to Villegas, Cobra's internationally representative tour staff includes Geoff Ogilvy, Australia; Ian Poulter, England; Kevin Na and Jeong Jang, Korea; and J.B. Holmes and Jason Gore, United States.

Both the new driver and 2009 Transition-S set are shipping now to pro shops and specialty retailers. Here's a closer look.

L5V driver

There are three sub-models in the L5V driver line, called X, F and M. Each has been "speed tuned" to match up with different types of players.

Cobra L5V driver

The X model, with an 8.5-degree launch, is tuned to give players with an extremely high swing and ball speed a high launch, lower spin trajectory with added workability.

The F model, offering a choice of 9.5- or 10.5-degree lofts, is tuned for fast ball-speed players with high launch, low-to-mid spin and slight draw bias characteristics.

The M driver, with an 11.5-degree loft, is tuned for moderate ball speed players with a maximum draw-bias head, lighter shaft, extra-high launch and mid spin features. The design is meant to enhance both distance and forgiveness off the tee.

Common characteristics to the drivers include a titanium body and face insert matched with a carbon composite crown and sole section. The 45.5-inch shaft is Mitsubishi's Diamana Red Board model in various flexes. Shaft weights check in at 60 grams for the X driver, 50 for the F and 45 for the M.