Cobra LTDx vs. Cobra Air-X Irons: A Thorough Comparison

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, the right set of irons can make a massive difference in your golf game.

Unfortunately, most golfers spend a lot of time and money on their driver and neglect their irons. This makes it hard to have confidence on approach shots and can kill your scores. 

It’s important to find a set of irons that are right for your game so you don’t waste shots after great drives.

Cobra has a few new sets of irons and we think they’re both awesome choices for most golfers. 

Keep reading to compare the Cobra LTDx vs. Cobra Air-X irons to learn how they could transform your game and hopefully shoot lower scores. 

Cobra LTDx Irons Overview

Cobra has been on a roll with their equipment in the past few years, and the Cobra LTDx irons are no exception.

The Cobra LTD line stands for “Longest Total Distance,” and they’ve certainly lived up to the name. The LTDx features an advanced milled face and clubhead design that allows for faster ball speeds to produce longer distances with every club in the set. 

These clubs are also extremely lightweight and very forgiving, making them a great option for beginners and newer players. The secret sauce to these clubs is the PWR-COR system.

As Cobra noted on their website, “The PWR-COR system creates our most flexible iron design for increased speed. The construction features a steel core bar that positions the CG behind the hitting zone to transfer more power to the ball.” 

There is a core bar that is fully suspended in a soft polymer that allows the face and sole to flex providing an exceptional feel. 

Pros 

• Solid feel.
• Extreme forgiveness.
• Relatively lightweight.
• Available in a combo set. 
• Steel or graphite shaft options. 
• Developed with high MOI design.
• High levels of control and accuracy.
• Promotes a higher launch and faster ball speed.
• Mishits are drastically improved thanks to the 23% larger thin area to increase speed on the outer edges of the club. 

Cons 

• Might not be as forgiving if you’re a true beginner.
• No hybrid available in the normal sets to replace longer irons. 

Cobra Air-X Irons Overview

The Cobra Air-X irons are another great option when it comes to forgiving irons. This iron set is bigger than the LTDx making them a better option if you’re just getting started with the game. 

Like the LTDx, this set is available in 4-PW and 5-GW. This is a great perk, as most beginners (and even intermediate golfers) should skip long irons entirely. Plus, a gap wedge can help with all types of shots inside 100 yards and around the greens. 

The biggest thing to note with these irons is that they’re super lightweight. A lighter design allows you to add club and ball speed for longer distances, even if you have an average to slower swing speed. 

Another big advantage to these irons is the heel weight and offset hosel. These features will help you keep shots straighter and avoid big misses to the right. Which should lead to more greens in regulation, more birdie putts, and lower scores. 

Pros

• Incredibly lightweight. 
• Extremely forgiving even on mishits. 
• Available in lightweight steel or graphite shafts. 
• Offset hosel and heel weighting for slice forgiveness.
• A.I. designed H.O.T face makes them longer than most sets. 
• The lightweight shaft should help improve tempo for more consistency. 

Cons

• Might be too lightweight for some golfers. 
• Doesn’t come with a hybrid or combo set, which is surprising based on the golfer these clubs are designed for. 

Cobra LTDx vs. Cobra Air-X Irons: Key Differences

Overall, both sets are great for players who are beginner to intermediate level and want an affordable set of irons. They’re both under $700 which is a bargain in today’s world of golf equipment.

But how do you choose the right one for your swing? Here are five key differences when comparing the Cobra iron sets. 

1. Clubhead

Let’s start with the easiest difference – the clubhead itself. 

Simply put, the Cobra Air-X irons are larger and more forgiving, which is good if you’re a beginner. But if you’re a more advanced golfer, it might actually hurt the playability of these clubs. However, both have a ton of innovative technology to improve your mishits and launch it longer than other sets. 

The LTDx iron clubface is milled using Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) machining. This is the method of creating putters directly from a block of steel. CNC milling is a go-to choice for any golfer who values consistency, optimized spin, and high levels of accuracy.

The LTDx model also incorporates Cobra’s PWRSHELL technology. As Cobra noted on their website, “Our largest PWRSHELL Face increases the zone of maximum ball speed. The new face cup design features a 23% larger thin area to increase speed away from center, and wraps further onto the sole to promote a higher ball flight.”

This feature improves launch above all else, which most newer golfers need. After using them with a launch monitor, we were able to confirm that these irons promote high launches, which is great for slower swing speed players.

The Air-X irons club heads are much simpler in design than the LTDx, but they’re still a pretty  great looking and high-performing club. These irons have an A.I. designed face that delivers more power on mishits, which most golfers can benefit from greatly.

Overall, both are solid options, but the Air-X is bigger and more forgiving. While the LTDx irons are smaller, have a bit more technology, and designed for a slightly more skilled golfer. 

2. Offset

The next thing to compare with these two sets of Cobra irons is the offset. Offset clubs make it easier to square the face at impact and designed for golfers who suffer from a frustrating slice. 

The LTDx irons have a slightly less offset than the Air-X irons.

If you struggle from the dread slice that plagues so many golfers, the Air-X irons are probably a better fit for you. 

They have more offset than the LTDx irons and make it easier to hit it straighter and hopefully have more birdie putts. Not to mention, the heel weighting is also beneficial in squaring the clubface at impact as well. 

If you’re a beginner or struggle with a slice even in your irons, the Air-X irons are likely the best option. But if you’re a lower handicap golfer with a more consistent swing, you won’t need as much offset and can actually hinder performance. 

3. Speed and Distance

Ball speed and distance are directly related in golf; the more speed, the greater the total distance. It’s been found that for every 1mph of ball speed equals approximately two yards of distance covered with an iron (it’s closer to three yards with a driver).

Of course, your swing technique and fundamentals have a significant impact on the total speed as well. Also, did you know that you can use smart insoles to analyze your swing to improve your ball striking? 

Regardless of your form, the clubs themselves have a big role in getting more speed and distance too. 

In this Cobra iron comparison, the Air-X irons produce fast shots even for slower swinging golfers. However, the LTDx’s innovative features result in a more powerful hit that maximizes the ball’s speed and distance traveled.

Even though the Air-X can increase ball speed even when it’s off-center, it lacks the PWRSHELL face mentioned earlier in the LTDx. This advanced face cup is considered Cobra’s largest, with a 23% larger surface area. This extra space is dedicated to boosting ball speed, even when you miss the sweet spot. 

Not to mention, the Air-X irons are lighter, which allows you to swing it faster. If you need distance above all else, the Air-X is likely the better choice. 

4. Forgiveness

Both the LTDx and the Air-X irons are generous with their forgiveness and can help turn a bad shot in one that is quite playable. 

As Ben Hogan said, “Golf is a game of misses and the winners are those who have the best misses.” There’s no doubt these irons can help, as they’re designed for beginner to intermediate players who aren’t quite as consistent. 

When comparing the two sets, we couldn’t help but notice that the LTDx improved mishits a little more. This is likely due to the PWR-COR technology.

The basic idea behind this system is to place a steel core bar inside a polymer-injected casing to position the CG behind the hitting zone. This assists in transferring more power to the ball from various angles to increase speed on off center strikes. 

The second distinguishing feature of the LTDx is its high MOI design. This design essentially relies on adding extra mass in the heel and toe parts to give the iron and thus your swing more stability.

5. Price

Finally, don’t forget about the price too, as a new set of irons aren’t cheap (some are up to $2,000)! 

Luckily, Cobra is one of the most affordable brands in golf and both are priced the same at $699. This is a great deal for a set of irons that comes with so much technology in a mid-sized, cavity back design. 

Cobra LTDx vs. Cobra Air-X Irons: Key Similarities

After going over all the differences between LTDx and Air-X irons, let’s compare two things they have in common. 

1. Sound and Feel

The sound and feel of the LTDx and Air-X irons are almost identical. When hitting the ball, both produce a satisfying, mid-pitched sound that some golfers may describe as muted.  

In terms of feel, both of these irons provide a smooth and responsive feel at impact. You can tell the materials used were carefully chosen to provide you with superior comfort and control with every swing. 

2. Weight

Both clubs are lightweight and easy to hit longer and higher than a lot of similar iron sets. Don’t forget, the heavier the iron, the more difficult it’ll be to hit the ball far without enough natural swing speed.  

The LTDx and Air-X irons are made of high-quality, lightweight materials that allow you to hit long shots with ease. It’s important to note that the Air-X model is slightly lighter than the LTDx making it better for higher handicap players with less swing speed. 

3. Set Makeup

Additionally, each of these Cobra iron sets are available in 4-PW or 5-GW. We think most golfers should opt for the 5-GW as longer irons are tough to hit even for more skilled golfers.

The other thing that both iron sets offer are graphite or steel shaft options in a variety of flexes. Faster swinging golfers should opt for steel, while newer golfers or ones with slower swings should go for the graphite to help increase speed and distance. 

Closing Thoughts 

After reading our Cobra LTDx vs. Cobra Air-X irons comparison, we hope you have a better idea of which set is right for your swing. 

If you’re a low to mid-handicapper looking for professional-quality irons, the LTDx is your best bet.

But if you’re just starting out in golf or want some extra distance and slice help without breaking the bank, we recommend sticking with the Air-X for more forgiveness. 

Overall, we think you’ll love either one and will help your approach shot game to shoot lower scores.