Cobra King Tour, CB and MB Irons (2023) Review
Published: Last updated:
-
At a glance
- TG Rating
- Owner Rating
- RRP £999.00
What we say...
Cobra Golf’s King Tour, CB and MB irons use an industry-leading forging process to deliver consistent clubs with an unmatched soft feel and precision shaping for better players.
The family of players’ irons sees a traditional forged muscleback in the King MB, a compact muscle cavity back in the CB, and a technical cavity back in the King Tour to ensure there’s a club for all types of better golfer – all three feature highly in our guide to the best golf irons.
The three irons were launched alongside Cobra’s King Tec Utility Iron and King Tec Hybrid, ensuring every golfer’s needs are covered.
Cobra King Irons: The 5-Step Forging Process
Made from 1025 carbon steel, Cobra’s irons go through an additional forging step when compared to many other manufacturers, which they say allows them to produce more precise forged golf irons.
The forging process for all three King irons begins by heating carbon steel billets to 1,200ºC, before the billets are rough forged three times. These first three steps see the metal bent and forged to form the rough shaping of an iron head.
Step four sees 1,200 tons of pressure applied at 800ºC to each rough clubhead, refining the shapes and placing detail lines and logos.
The fifth and final step sees each iron head subjected to 2,000 tons of pressure at 700ºC to form a uniform and isotropic internal grain structure. Once cooled, the clubheads are then polished and prepped for the faces and grooves to be precision milled using a CNC (Computer Numerical Controlled) machine.
But what does the five-step process provide that four-step methods don’t? Cobra say it creates more precise shaping, more precise and flatter clubfaces, tighter weight tolerances, improved consistency of loft and lies, improved face thickness consistency, improved aesthetics, and significantly enhanced feel at impact.
According to Cobra’s research, feel is the most important characteristic that better players (Tour to seven handicaps) look for in their irons (28%), followed by distance (21%), forgiveness (18%), control (16%), and ease-to-hit (13%).
The three irons complete an impressive King family that also includes the King Forged Tec and Forged Tec-X irons and the new King Tec Utility Iron and Hybrid.
Cobra King Irons: How the three models differ
All three of the new players’ irons target the more advanced golfer and you’ll see them in bags of Rickie Fowler, Gary Woodland and Ewen Ferguson in 2023.
Cobra King CB Irons / Cobra King MB Irons
RRP £999 / $1,199 (CB 4-6, MB 7-PW)
Availability 3 (21º), 4 (24º), 5 (27º), 6 (30º), 7 (34º), 8 (38º), 9 (42º), PW (46º), GW (50º) | Offset 3 (2.5mm), 4 (2.3mm), 5 (2.0mm), 6 (1.8mm), 7 (1.3mm), 8 (1.3mm), 9 (1.3mm), PW (1.3mm), GW (1.3mm) | Left-handed CB Yes, MB 7-PW only | Stock Shaft KBS $-Taper 120 steel (Stiff) | Stock Grip Lamkin Crossline
The Cobra King CB and MB irons have been designed to work as a ‘flow combo’ set, with the stock set coming with CB 4-6-irons and MB in 7-PW. That set makeup provides more forgiveness in the longer irons and more precision in the shorter irons.
They feature the most compact shapes in the King family and have all the attributes a better player seeks – thinner toplines, minimal offset, thinner soles, and shorter blade lengths. The forging process ensures the CB and MB feature perfectly centered CG locations without the need for additional Tungsten.
See why the Cobra King MB is one of the best blade golf clubs in our huge head-to-head test.
Cobra say the CB iron, with its more forgiving cavity back shape with slightly more offset, and the traditional MB muscle back, offer players a variety of customizable set configurations to fit their gapping and aesthetic preferences.
Both the CB and MB are available as full sets in 3i-GW through custom fitting.
Cobra King Tour Iron
RRP £1,099 / $1,299 (4-PW)
Availability 3 (19º), 4 (22º), 5 (25º), 6 (28º), 7 (32º), 8 (36º), 9 (40º), PW (44º), GW (48º) | Offset 3 (3.8mm), 4 (3.4mm), 5 (3.1mm), 6 (2.8mm), 7 (2.5mm), 8 (2.3mm), 9 (2.1mm), PW (1.9mm), GW (1.9mm) | Left-handed Yes, custom fit only | Stock Shaft KBS $-Taper 120 steel (Stiff) | Stock Grip Lamkin Crossline
The King Tour blends soft feel and playability with enhanced distance and forgiveness. Unlike the CB and MB irons which are one-piece forgings, the Tour irons feature an aluminum medallion, and a TPU insert in the back cavity but still have a solid feel.
CNC undercuts in the back cavity of each iron allow weight to be repositioned from high center to lower center and heel and toe areas of the clubhead, creating improved launch conditions and more forgiveness on off-center hits.
These cavities progress from deeper in the long irons for enhanced stability, to shallower in the short irons for enhanced control. To improve feel, each CNC undercut is filled with a soft TPU material and topped with an aluminum co-molded medallion, which both damp vibration for a more pleasing sound and feel at impact.
The shaping of the Tour irons is progressively more compact than the King Forged TEC model, featuring a thinner topline, and reduced offset. The updated Tour shape also features a slightly shortened blade length than the previous King Tour MIM irons to inspire improved control and workability.
The Tour irons, which have a satin nickel chrome finish, have two-degree stronger lofts than the CB and MB irons for more distance. The stock set includes seven irons (4-PW), but a 3-iron and Gap Wedge are also available.
The Cobra King Tour’s looks, feel and performance make it a strong choice among our pick of the best players’ irons in golf.
Verdict: Cobra King Tour iron (2023)
It was a seriously long time before the King Tour that a Cobra iron last bagged top honors in a TG players’ iron test. But the simple, elegant Tour is so good I feel it’s now worthy of featuring among our top 10 players’ iron for the second year in a row. The King Tour has helped nurse Rickie Fowler’s game back into shape and it’s the sort of model the brand hasn’t really offered for a few years.
The five-times forged heads feel super soft. There’s a tiny bit of tech built-in with variable depth milled pockets in the shallow cavity backs, which add a fraction more playability on the long irons and increased flight control on the scoring clubs. Like any good players’ iron, the head shape is really attractive, there are no awkward areas that unduly draw the eye, making this an understated model for decent players who are happy to let their golf do the talking.
Data tends to be less important within the players’ category, as decisions are more often made on subjectives like sound, feel, and looks. The Tour did itself no harm though by producing an above-average carry distance for the category, while other metrics stuck stubbornly around the average mark.
As the King Tour enters its second year I feel it’s still got a lot to offer as Cobra is now a proper player within the forged iron market. The Tour sits alongside the King MB blade and tour-level King CB plus there’s a hollow body Forged Tec and Forged Tec X, all of which can be dialed in individually to create your own perfect combo set.
If you’re considering forged irons in 2024 Cobra’s cracking line-up deserves to be checked out.
Data comparison: How does the Cobra King Tour compare to leading competitor players’ irons in 2024?
| Iron | 7-Iron Loft | Ball Speed | Launch Angle | Backspin | Height | Descent Angle | Carry Distance | Carry Distance Drop Off | Shot Area |
| PXG 0317 T | 32° | 125 MPH (1) | 15.6° | 5343 RPM | 32 YDS | 45.1° | 182 YDS (1) | 6 YDS | 118.2 SQ YDS |
| PXG 0317 CB | 33° | 122.8 MPH | 16.6° | 5568 RPM | 32 YDS | 45.7° | 179 YDS (T2) | 7 YDS | 142.1 SQ YDS |
| Vega VDC | 31° | 124.4 MPH (2) | 14.8° | 5703 RPM | 30 YDS | 44.4° | 179 YDS (T2) | 8 YDS | 236.8 SQ YDS |
| Srixon ZX7 MK II | 32° | 122.9 MPH (3) | 16.7° | 5757 RPM | 32 YDS | 46.1° | 178 YDS | 7 YDS | 57.4 SQ YDS |
| Sub 70 659 CB | 32° | 122.8 MPH | 15.3° | 5683 RPM | 30 YDS | 44.2° | 178 YDS | 8 YDS | 70.4 SQ YDS |
| More MOD 1 | 32° | 121.5 MPH | 15.9° | 5370 RPM | 30 YDS | 44.1° | 178 YDS | 2 YDS (1) | 48.4 SQ YDS (2) |
| Ping Blueprint S | 33° | 121.3 MPH | 16.7° | 5498 RPM | 31 YDS | 45.1° | 177 YDS | 9 YDS | 188.1 SQ YDS |
| Titleist T150 | 32° | 122.6 MPH | 17.5° | 5686 RPM | 34 YDS | 46.8° | 177 YDS | 4 YDS (2) | 53.6 SQ YDS (3) |
| Takomo 201 | 32° | 122.6 MPH | 15.7° | 6070 RPM | 31 YDS | 45° | 176 YDS | 9 YDS | 119.7 SQ YDS |
| Cobra King Tour | 32° | 120.9 MPH | 15.4° | 5534 RPM | 29 YDS | 43.1° | 176 YDS | 9 YDS | 253.8 SQ YDS |
| TaylorMade P770 | 33° | 122.3 MPH | 17.8° | 6143 RPM | 34 YDS | 47.5° | 175 YDS | 9 YDS | 200.7 SQ YDS |
| Mizuno JPX923 Tour | 34° | 121 MPH | 16.2° | 5704 RPM | 30 YDS | 44.6° | 175 YDS | 9 YDS | 171 SQ YDS |
| Vega VSC | 31° | 121.7 MPH | 15.2° | 5943 RPM | 29 YDS | 43.8° | 175 YDS | 14 YDS | 387.8 SQ YDS |
| Callaway Apex 24 Pro | 33° | 122.4 MPH | 16.2° | 6026 RPM | 27 YDS | 43.3° | 174 YDS | 7 YDS | 128.1 SQ YDS |
| Callaway Apex TCB | 34° | 121.9 MPH | 16.6° | 5189 RPM | 32 YDS | 46.1° | 174 YDS | 5 YDS (3) | 46 SQ YDS (1) |
| Mizuno Pro 243 | 32° | 122.2 MPH | 16.6° | 6035 RPM | 32 YDS | 46.3° | 174 YDS | 18 YDS | 387 SQ YDS |
| Ping i230 | 33° | 121.3 MPH | 16.4° | 5821 RPM | 31 YDS | 45.7° | 173 YDS | 19 YDS | 248.9 SQ YDS |
| Sub 70 639 CB | 32° | 122.3 MPH | 15.4° | 6584 RPM | 30 YDS | 45.4° | 173 YDS | 13 YDS | 266.5 SQ YDS |
| Callaway Apex 24 CB | 34° | 120.6 MPH | 16.7° | 6235 RPM | 31 YDS | 46.2° | 170 YDS | 9 YDS | 151.2 SQ YDS |
| Takomo 301 CB | 34° | 120 MPH | 17.3° | 6410 RPM | 32 YDS | 46.4° | 170 YDS | 7 YDS | 152.6 SQ YDS |
| TaylorMade P7MC | 34° | 119.5 MPH | 18° | 6226 RPM | 33 YDS | 47.2° | 169 YDS | 11 YDS | 135.3 SQ YDS |
| Wilson Staff Model CB | 34° | 118.6 MPH | 16.3° | 6221 RPM | 29 YDS | 44.8° | 169 YDS | 6 YDS | 76.8 SQ YDS |
| Titleist T100 | 34° | 118.1 MPH | 17.3° | 5677 RPM | 31 YDS | 45.4° | 169 YDS | 8 YDS | 107.2 SQ YDS |
| Ben Hogan PTX Tour | 33.5° | 117.9 MPH | 16° | 5767 RPM | 28 YDS | 43.5° | 169 YDS | 11 YDS | 335.5 SQ YDS |
| Titleist 620 CB | 34° | 117.9 MPH | 17.9° | 6127 RPM | 32 YDS | 46.5° | 167 YDS | 13 YDS | 274.3 SQ YDS |
| Average | 121.4 MPH | 16.4° | 5853 RPM | 30.9 YDS | 45.3° | 174.2 YDS | 9.1 YDS | 174.3 SQ YDS |
Which Cobra King iron is right for me?
With five irons in the Cobra King family, there are models to suit everyone from Tour stars like Rickie Fowler to 20-handicappers.
The King MB and CB are for better players playing off three and below, while the King Tour will suit everyone from seven-handicappers to Tour players.
The King Forged Tec is more suited single-figure players (0-10), with the Forged Tec-X for the mid-handicap player (10-20).
Beyond that, and outside of the King family, Cobra’s new AeroJet iron targets the 10-25-handicap market.
Have a look at our guide to the best Cobra drivers for your game for more analysis.
What Cobra say about the new King irons
“The five-step forging process is critical to both the feel produced at impact by each of our new King irons as well the consistency of performance,” said Tom Olsavsky, Vice President of R&D for Cobra Golf.
“Players who desire the feel of forged want a soft sensation at impact rather than one that’s overly crisp, and our process delivers the desired sensation. But forgings can also be lacking in consistency due to the challenges involved in the forging process, all of which we’ve improved on by creating forged irons with superior precision from clubhead to clubhead.
“Players who favor forged irons now have the option to enjoy all the benefits of a forging with the consistency normally associated with cast products.”
READ NEXT
– What’s the best Cobra iron for your game?
– Cobra AeroJet driver tested
BECOME A TODAY’S GOLFER MEMBER: Unlimited access to premium content and exclusive rewards!
Product Information
Cobra King CB Irons / Cobra King MB Irons
RRP £999 / $1,199 (CB 4-6, MB 7-PW)
Availability 3 (21º), 4 (24º), 5 (27º), 6 (30º), 7 (34º), 8 (38º), 9 (42º), PW (46º), GW (50º)
Offset3 (2.5mm), 4 (2.3mm), 5 (2.0mm), 6 (1.8mm), 7 (1.3mm), 8 (1.3mm), 9 (1.3mm), PW (1.3mm), GW (1.3mm)
Left-handed CB Yes, MB 7-PW only
Stock Shaft KBS $-Taper 120 steel (Stiff)
Stock Grip Lamkin Crossline
Cobra King Tour Iron
RRP £1,099 / $1,299 (4-PW) | VIEW UK OFFER | VIEW US OFFER
Availability 3 (19º), 4 (22º), 5 (25º), 6 (28º), 7 (32º), 8 (36º), 9 (40º), PW (44º), GW (48º)
Offset 3 (3.8mm), 4 (3.4mm), 5 (3.1mm), 6 (2.8mm), 7 (2.5mm), 8 (2.3mm), 9 (2.1mm), PW (1.9mm), GW (1.9mm)
Left-handed Yes, custom fit only
Stock Shaft KBS $-Taper 120 steel (Stiff)
Stock Grip Lamkin Crossline
