Cobra DS-Adapt Max Irons Review

Cobra DS-Adapt Max Irons Key Features:

• 360 Speedshell design
• H.O.T.face (Highly Optimised Topology) technology
• PWR-BRIDGE weighting
• internal foam microspheres for improved sound and feel

Building on the back of the success of last year's Darkspeed irons, Cobra has returned for 2025 with two new game improvement irons, the DS-Adapt and DS-Adapt MAX models.

In this review, we are focusing on the DS-Adapt Max irons, which are aimed at high-handicap players who require as much forgiveness and launch as possible.

While the Adapt Max irons share many of the same technical features as the Adapt irons, they also benefit from having a slightly larger head, additional offset and a wider sole, to help improve forgiveness from across the face. 

The irons are also set two degrees weaker, which is intended to help players launch the ball with greater ease. 

To test out how the irons performed, myself and GolfMagic Equipment Editor Alex Lodge took them to Chart Hills for some on-course testing before putting them through their paces at Foresight's HQ with a GC Quad launch monitor.

Let's get into it.

Player Level

These irons are best suited to high handicap players who desire as much forgiveness as possible. With the additional loft, wide sole and oversized head, the Adapt Max irons are geared for ease of launch and plenty of speed, which is exactly what they deliver.

Cobra DS-Adapt Irons Looks and Feel

Let's get one thing straight before we dive into this section of the review. Game improvement irons are never going to be the most beautiful option in the shop. Due to the large head size, thick top line and additional offset, they do tend to look a little clunky.

That is definitely the case when it comes to the DS-Adapt Max irons. These bad boys are built for function over form, and as a result aesthetics have taken a bit pf a back seat. 

While undoubtedly confidence inspiring when sat behind the ball, these irons are certainly on the larger side compared to competitors, and as a result shelf appeal does drop slightly.

In terms of design, the DS-Adapt Max are very similar to the standard DS-Adapt irons, but the addition of some red detailing on the back of the head sets them apart. 

The back is quite busy, and in my opinion there is a little too much going on. The DS-Adapt irons feature a lovely monochromatic colour scheme, that I think looks very smart, however with the addition of the red and all of the other textures involved in the Adapt Max, the overall appearance has been somewhat cheapened.

In terms of feel, these irons are on the firm side, while still offering quite a deep and powerful sensation at impact. 

The hollow body construction does give these irons that decidedly hollow feel at impact, but the addition of the foam microspheres does a good job of balancing the feel to make impact feel that much more premium. 

From poor strikes low on the face or out of the heel or toe there is a drop in feel, but that's something you would likely see in any iron, and the additional feedback is something I did appreciate. 

Cobra DS-Adapt Max Irons Performance and Forgiveness

While I was slightly disappointed with the aesthetics on offer from these irons, I don't have any issue whatsoever with either their performance or forgiveness. 

As you can see from the table above, they pack a good level of punch, and during testing, even when struck from the toe or heel, they did an excellent job of maintaining a good level of ball speed. 

Typically when I've used super game improvement irons in the past, they've tended to be low spinning and as a result low launching, which can make stopping balls on greens quite hard work. 

With the DS-Adapt Max, however, the lofts have been weakened by two degrees compared to DS-Adapt, which as a result mean that the landing angle on my shots allowed me to stick greens even with the longer irons in the set. 

Admittedly spin did stay a quite low, however it was higher than I had expected based on the results we experienced with Darkspeed irons last year. 

The wider sole also makes hitting these irons very easy. Turf interaction was very smooth and thanks to the longer heel to toe length you also have a larger hitting surface, which I believe will prove very beneficial for high handicap golfers who cant rely on always finding the centre of the club face. 

All in all the Adapt Max irons are very strong performers. The forgiveness on offer is top notch, and in terms of easy hitting, there are few options on the market that can beat them. 

Should you buy the Cobra DS-Adapt Max Irons?

If you're looking for an easy to hit iron that can offer bags of forgiveness, easy launch and speed from right across the face, then Cobra's DS-Adapt Max irons are certainly worth hitting next time you wonder into a pro shop. 

While looks are subjective, the feel and performance on offer from these irons can't be questioned.