WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Cobra’s latest iteration of its Snakebite wedges comes in three models: Snakebite, Snakebite One Length and SnakebiteX. The grooves are produced using a CNC milling process and feature a new face blast to help improve performance in wet conditions. Also new is a progressive notch design based off the old Phil Rodgers notch design of Cobra wedges in the past that were well-received by players.
PRICE/AVAILABILITY: Stay tuned for Australian pricing and availability.
WHAT IT DOES: This wedge maintains its groove philosophy of having narrow, deep grooves for the 48 to 54-degree wedges and grooves that stretch across the entire face on the higher lofts. What’s new, however, is a face-mill blast that is applied after the chrome finish has been added to the head. Doing this helps mitigate the loss of spin in wet conditions. For those with the company’s One Length irons, there are wedges to match.
WHY WE LIKE IT: Wedge aficionados might recall the Phil Rodgers heelward notch grinds in the high-lofted wedges named for him. Cobra has brought them back. When opening the blade on the 58 and 60-degree models, contact will be in the heel area, and the notch allows the heel to glide through the grass with greater ease.
THE DEEP DIVE: We’ll get to the three versions in a bit, but wedges are nothing without spin and versatility. To address the former, Cobra is employing a groove design that produces sharper edges to allow for more grab on short shots.
The wedges also feature narrow, deeper grooves for the 48 to 54-degree wedges while providing full-face grooves that stretch across the entire face on the higher lofts and are narrower and deeper. What’s new, however, is a face-mill blast that is applied after the chrome finish has been added to the head. Doing so helps mitigate the loss of spin in wet conditions.
For versatility, Cobra went back in time and updated the popular “notch” grinds in the high-lofted wedges based off the old designs produced by short-game guru Phil Rodgers. The progressive notch design allows the contact area in the heel to glide through faster when opening the blade on the 58 and 60-degree models.
The Snakebite model is available in two finishes (satin and black) and three grinds: Versatile featuring toe, heel and trailing edge relief; Classic with a progressive sole width from heel-to-toe, with trailing edge relief, for neutral to steeper swings, and Widelow boasting a low bounce sole that works well out of soft bunkers and lush turf conditions while preventing the leading edge from digging.
The Snakebite wedges again offer a single-length option to go with the company’s single-length iron sets. The new Snakebite One Length wedges (37.5 inches) feature the same grooves and notch technologies are the standard version, but with a flatter lie angle. The One Length is offered in 48, 52, 54, 56 and 60-degree lofts with the Versatile grind.
For those needing a little more game-improvement in their short game, the SnakebiteX features a hollow cavity-back design with a thermoplastic urethane insert. The X version has an oversize shape with teardrop grind and offers the full-face groove design on all lofts (48, 52, 56 and 60 degrees) and boasts a satin chrome finish.
All Snakebite wedges come with a black Lamkin Crossline grip. The standard Snakebite and One Length models come with an aftermarket KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 (125 grams) steel shaft. The SnakebiteX has a KBS Max 85 (102 grams) steel shaft.
