Cobra has been on the forefront of 3D printed golf tools since 2018. Now, its latest 3D printed golf membership, a 60 diploma lob wedge, was not too long ago noticed in Rickie Fowler’s bag on the 2024 American Categorical match. This exhibits Cobra’s continued exploration into the manufacturing course of and deepens the corporate’s ties with the method, however can also point out a wider trade push in direction of additive, as nicely.
Again in 2018, Cobra partnered with HP and Paramatech to assist assemble its first metallic 3D printed golf membership. The membership was lastly launched in 2021 as a putter that featured a 3D printed physique and a SIK Golf putter face. 3D printing the physique allowed the engineers to redistribute the load additional across the perimeter, which in flip, added “extra forgiveness” to a participant’s stroke. It’s no miracle employee, so folks nonetheless need to observe, however within the seemingly probability you probably did miss hit your putt, leading to a much less extreme error. Since then, Cobra has launched some 24 totally different golf equipment with 3D printed heads and options.
Now, on the 2024 American Categorical match, Cobra confirmed off its newest 3D printed golf membership which was seen in Rickie Fowler’s bag. The membership was printed utilizing HP’s MetalJet Expertise and options Rickie’s “RF” brand etched into its floor. This isn’t the primary time the younger golf legend has used one among Cobra’s 3D printed golf equipment. In 2022, he sported a putter made with a metallic 3D printed head, as nicely.
Rickie Fowler’s 3D Printed “RF” 60 diploma Lob Wedge. (Picture courtesy of GolfWRX)
The challenge to make this wedge began roughly six months again when Cobra was tweaking the membership to suit Rickie’s explicit preferences. Ben Schomin, Cobra Golf”s Tour Operations Supervisor, touted the advantages of 3D printing and its assist all through the manufacturing and design course of for this wedge to GolfWRX at The American Categorical Match:
“The onerous grind strains he used to make use of have been softened a lot, they usually stored getting softer and softer. You probably have onerous strains, you may see them and measure them extra simply. Now, (utilizing the 3D printing course of), it’s simpler to duplicate and duplicate. His wedge grind stored getting rounder as a result of he wished extra camber, so lastly it’s like, let’s simply 3D scan it, and print it, so it’s good.”
The face of Rickie Fowler’s 3D printed “RF” 60 diploma lob wedge. (Picture courtesy of GolfWRX)
Schomin additionally acknowledged the flexibility 3D printed supplies and the way it has helped them shortly change the membership based mostly on the course Rickie performs in the identical interview to GolfWRX.
“We’ve at all times labored on having sufficient bounce on a sq. shot, so if he’s hitting a square-faced shot from 50 yards, having the ability to have sufficient bounce so he’s not burying the vanguard within the turf, and in addition when he opens up the face across the greens, not having the vanguard elevate up off the turf an excessive amount of,” Schomin mentioned. “However you continue to need to have some efficient bounce, so it was nearly making the correct tweaks for him.”
Cobra now can tailor Rickie’s membership to his precise preferences and make it the identical manner every time. It’s unclear if different Cobra athletes like Lexi Thompson, Gary Woodland, and Jason Dufner are experimenting with 3D printed golf equipment themselves, but when it can provide them a bonus heading in the right direction, I wouldn’t be stunned to see them start popping up of their luggage too. The CEO of 3DPrint.com’s dad or mum firm, 3DR Holdings, received an opportunity to check out a Cobra 3D printed membership and appeared to be a giant fan.
The golf trade appears to be transferring nearer in direction of AM every year. It was not too long ago delivered to our consideration that Japanese golf model “Designer” can be exploring 3D printed golf tools with the assistance of Farsoon’s metallic 3D printing. This might result in less expensive golf equipment sooner or later that additionally give the efficiency advantages of 3D printing. With how a lot golfers love to cut back the variables they see heading in the right direction, if they’ll try this with their golf equipment too, this could possibly be a development that solely positive aspects momentum transferring ahead.
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