The Green Fee If you follow technology even a little you know we are headed to a world where 3D printing is going to be the norm. Companies have been using 3D printing for prototyping for years. When I worked at a shaft company I saw one used for making parts for another part of the company. We have seen another company make 3d printed putters but Cobra is the first of the major companies to bring one to the market.
Why 3D Printing
One of the big benefits of 3D printing is the lack of limits that 3D printing provides. An engineer can hollow out the body, add some support structures and use that extra weight elsewhere in the head. They can use metal on the outside plastic on the inside to save weight and make a super forgiving high MOI club. The most logical place to start when it comes to 3D printing in the golf industry is the putter. With Cobra being the first large company to do it they are obviously stepping out onto an island and being the test dummies. It will be interesting to see how they move forward with this technology.
Not just 3D Printing
It would have been really easy for Cobra to produce a putter that is 3D printed and just release it but they worked with SIK putters to introduce the SIK descending loft technology. This is actually something Bryson has been using for years and its cool to see a smaller putter company get their tech into a big time project. You often find innovation at the edges of the market.
What is the benefit of the descending loft? It allows the putter to work for a bunch of different golfers. If you hit up on the ball the lower loft on the bottom of the face will work better for you. If you hit down on your putts, the higher lofted top section will work for you. Its an interesting idea and one I am excited to see on an OEM club!
Final Thoughts
I cant say much about the performance of the putter. I wont be able to get one since they are limited release and WELL outside my budget. I also dont think its the prettiest thing in the world but with this technology the looks arent the most important thing. I am excited to see how the reaction from the public the putter gets. I want it to be successful so we see companies take more risks and invest in new technologies!
