Ping G440 Max Vs Cobra DS Adapt X Drivers Comparison Overview
Two of the hottest releases of 2025 in the Game Improvement driver category today. It’s the Ping G440 Max vs the Cobra DS Adapt X drivers.
Ping G440 Max Driver Overview
Ping usually drops a new driver every two years, but they brokw the mold with the G430 10k Max because they knew they had something special on their hands with its unbeatable forgiveness.
The G440 is the much anticipated sucessor to the G430 10k and Ping claimed to have kept that market leading forgiveness and now with extra distance thrown into the mix as well.
Ping have been looking for areas to upgrade and the new free hosel design saves 10gs in weight which is redistributed for a lower and deeper CG. There is also a 25g weight at the back with 3 positions, draw, fade, and neutral.
We liked to use the weight in the middle to maximize the distance and keep that spin in check. The Carbon Fly Wrap remains as do the love them or hate them turbulators which seek to increase the Aerodynamics.
Ping have done well with this one, we were getting more distance and lower spin with the same levels of forgiveness as the G430 10k. The sound and feel is also improved.
Cobra DS Adapt X Driver Overview
Cobra have tried something new with the DS Adapt X driver in the 2025 launch in terms of the 33 loft and lie configurations on offer with the driver.
The DS Adapt X has plenty of shelf appeal with the grey carbon crown wrapping around the crown and the sole of the driver with a few hints of blue, similar to the G440 Max.
You’ll more than likely need to get a fitting for this one with all those loft and lie options but once you get it dialed in, it should be just as good as almost any other driver on the market.
The club has a big profile and is confidence inspiring at address. There are two interchangeable weights, one at the front and one at the back for optimal performance. The Forged hot face has a ton of sweet spots for a lot of forgiveness, speed off the face and the sound and feel is up there with the best.
The X version is one of 4, for moderate to faster swing speeds with a mid high launch, mid spin and maximum distance with forgiveness. There is the Max K and the Max D which are more forgiving and the LS which is low spin for the faster swing speeds. Ricky Fowler has even been seen with the Cobra DS Adapt X in the bag in 2025.
Ping G440 Max Vs Cobra Ds Adapt X Performance
Both quality drivers that will appeal to different golfers.
The Ping G440 Max had a tighter dispersion and it was more accurate in terms of distance and left to right.
It offers less distance with more spin and a higher launch angle and ball flight.
The CObra Ds Adapt X is more for those who want more distance. While we were generating more club head speed with the Ping, the Cobra was a good 5 to 10 yards longer on average.
When we hit the ball low on the face, we did notice we lost a good bit of distance and there was a few stray shots left and right.
Overall, if you need more distance, consider the Cobra, if you want to find the fairway more often, go with the Ping. Always get a fitting to find the best club for your game.
Cobra DS Adapt X Driver
In 20 Words or Less
“A FutureFit33 Hosel with 33 Settings adds to an impressive, forgiving, long and moderate launching/spinning driver for moderate to slightly fast swing speeds.”
Cobra DS Adapt X – First Impressions
“The Cobra DS Adapt is worthy replacement for the impressive Dark Speed drivers from Cobra.”
It has a long and forgiving head alongside 33 loft and lie options which will be a club fitters dream but may get other eager golfers into trouble on the course by using the wrong settings.
The Carbon wraps around the head and the sole and Cobra say that they have again improved the aerodynamics of the driver for extra club head speed and they have also reduced the weight the optimize the CG placement.
There are two moveable weights, 10g and 3g which are interchangeable and sit at the front and back of the head.
The Forged hot face is also improved, offering increased forgiveness on off center shots. It also gives a premium sound and feel and offers a ton of ball speed off the face.
The X version is one of 4 heads on offer and even Rickie Fowler has this customized to his optimal settings on tour in 2025.
The X is for moderate to slightly faster swing speeds who want a moderate/high launch, plenty of distance and a bunch of forgiveness.
It’s not as long and low spinning as the LS version but it is longer and lower spinning than Max K and the Max D versions.
This is a quality driver that can easily hold its own and compete with the better drivers of 2025.
Ping G440 Max Driver
In 20 Words or Less
The Ping G440 Max has a lower and deeper COG than the G430 10k Max and offers an increase in distance and a reduction in speed despite a stronger loft.
Ping G440 Max Driver – First Impressions
“Ping have swapped out the Green of the G430 with a calm blue coloring in the G440.”
The G440 also comes in three versions, The Max, the SFT which has a draw bias and the LS which is low spin for the better players.
The Max is the focus of today’s review and this is a large driver that will inspire confidence at address.
The Carbon Fly Wrap and the Turbulators look almost identical to the G430 10k Max and the face remains straight at address.
The driver is highly adjustable with a tungsten weight at the back which can go into draw, fade and neutral mode and the free hosel design has 8 positions to choose from.
The free hosel design saves 10gs of weight which is redistributed to the back of the club and low in the head. Despit the loft being 9 degrees, you still plenty of launch angle because of this.
The stronger loft, thinner face and the spinsistency technology make the G440 Max one of the longest, straightest and most forgiving drivers on the planet.
This one improves on the G430 10k Max which was referred to as the “Cheat Stick” by many.
Cobra DS Adapt X Driver Selling Points
- Ultimate Customization with FUTUREFIT33
- Maximum Distance with Forged H.O.T. Face
- Forgiveness Without Sacrificing Control
- Adaptive Weighting for Dialed-In Performance
- Confidence-Boosting Look & Feel
Ping G440 Max Driver Selling Points
- Free Hosel Design Saves 10gs In Weight
- Lower And Deeper COG Allows For Stronger Loft
- The Spinsistency Technology On The Thinner Face Allows Max Forgiveness.
- Longer Than The G430 10k Max and with less spin
- 3 Models Available
- Expect To See It On Tour Soon.
Who is the Cobra DS Adapt X Driver for?
The Cobra DS Adapt X is for golfers with moderate to slightly faster swing speeds who want a ton of distance with forgiveness and moderate to lower spin and launch.
The driver has 33 custom options for Loft and lie and two interchangeable weights for the front and back of the head.
The shelf appeal really adds to the pull of the driver, it definitely competes in terms of performance and shelf appeal.
During our testing, it was right up there with the best drivers of 2025.
Even Rickie Fowler has been using the X on tour in 2025.
Distance: 96/100
Accuracy: 95/100
Forgiveness: 93/100
Feel & Control: 94/100
Overall Score: 95/100
Who is the Ping G440 Max Driver for?
“The Max will suit High and Mid Handicppers looking for distance and forgiveness with their driver.”
The SFT will suit any high and mid handicappers who suffer from slicing the ball although some lessons may work better.
The LS model has more loft and less spin to increase the distance for low handicap players all the way up to tour players.
Overall we are very impressed by the performance of the G440 Max and Ping are really pushing the AI improvements to the next level with their new drivers.
It has the forgivness of the G430 10k Max wiht more distance, less spin an a better sound. An excellent driver overall.
Distance: 97/100
Accuracy: 98/100
Forgiveness: 98/100
Feel & Control: 95/100
Overall Score: 97/100
