Irons · Facts checked Sep 2026
Is the Callaway Quantum Max worth replacing your DARKSPEED?
Cobra DARKSPEED Callaway Quantum Max
Upgrade only if…
You want a club at a loft your set doesn't cover.
The Callaway Quantum Max is sold at 29° (its 7), 55° (its SW). The closest your set gets is 27, 31.5°. ↗
Otherwise, keep your DARKSPEED.
Loft by loft, at a glance Fact
same loft (±0.5°) within 2° nothing within 2° in the other set · stronger lofts to the left
What actually changes Fact
- 7-iron loft
- 27° vs 29° The Quantum Max is 2° weaker.
- Clubs available
- 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, PW, GW vs 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, PW, AW, SW
- Construction
- Multi-material (forged face on a cast body) vs Not published Not published for the Quantum Max.
Club-by-club loft table Fact
8 clubs
Each club in your set next to the Quantum Max club with the closest published loft.
| Your club | Your loft | Closest Quantum Max club | Quantum Max loft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-iron | 18.5° | 4-iron | 19° |
| 5-iron | 21° | 5-iron | 22° |
| 6-iron | 24° | 6-iron | 25° |
| 7-iron | 27° | No club at that loft | — |
| 8-iron | 31.5° | 8-iron | 33° |
| 9-iron | 36.5° | 9-iron | 37° |
| PW | 42° | PW | 42° |
| GW | 47.5° | AW (not the GW) | 47° |
The Callaway Quantum Max 7-iron is 2° weaker than yours (29° against 27°), so expect it to fly shorter with that club, by design.
within 0.5° more than 2° apart no club at that loft
All specifications Fact
15 specs
| Spec | Cobra DARKSPEED (yours) | Callaway Quantum Max |
|---|---|---|
| Launch priceLaunch price of the brand's stock set, not today's price. | Not available | Not available |
| 7-iron loft | 27° ↗ | 29° ↗ |
| 7-iron length | 37.25" ↗ | 37.25" ↗ |
| Pitching wedge loft | 42° ↗ | 42° ↗ |
| Clubs available | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, PW, GW ↗ | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, PW, AW, SW ↗ |
| Spec | Cobra DARKSPEED | Callaway Quantum Max |
|---|---|---|
| Model year | 2024 | 2026 |
| Sold as the brand's current set | No | Yes |
| Clubs in the stock set | 7 ↗ | 7 ↗ |
| Hands | Right-handed and Left-handed ↗ | Right-handed and Left-handed ↗ |
| Construction | Multi-material (forged face on a cast body) ↗ | Not available |
| Hollow body | Yes ↗ | No ↗ |
| Tungsten weighting | Not available | Not available |
| 7-iron offset | 3.2 mm ↗ | 3.71 mm ↗ |
| Stock steel shaft | KBS Tour Lite ↗ | KBS MAX 90 Steel ↗ |
| Stock graphite shaft | KBS PGI 85 / PGI 75 / PGI 65 ↗ | Not available |
Checked Sep 20, 2026 (DARKSPEED) and Sep 20, 2026 (Quantum Max) on each brand's own pages. ↗ opens the official source. A newer model year is never a reason on its own.
What the brands claim Manufacturer claim
5 claims
Cobra DARKSPEED
- Cobra says the hollow construction leaves the face freer to maximize ball speed. ↗
- The hollow cavity is filled with a softer 920D foam to damp vibration. ↗
Callaway Quantum Max
- Callaway credits the extra ball speed to a next-generation Ai-optimized face. ↗
- A 360° undercut cavity is meant to add forgiveness across the face through perimeter weighting. ↗
- The progressive tri-sole changes shape from the long irons to the wedges for cleaner contact. ↗
The brands' words, summarised. Not tested by us, and they never change a verdict.
Our take Our assessment (based on published specs)
2 min read
Neither brand publishes a price for these sets, and Callaway doesn't publish the Quantum Max's construction, so this comes down to lofts and shape.
The Quantum Max 7-iron is 2° weaker than yours (29° against 27°), so expect it to fly shorter with that club, by design. The sets are spaced differently: the Quantum Max is half a degree to a degree and a half weaker from the 4-iron to the 8-iron, then meets yours at the 9-iron (37° against 36.5°) and the 42° pitching wedge. Its 29° 7-iron falls between your 27° 7-iron and 31.5° 8-iron, and it adds a 55° sand wedge your DARKSPEED line-up doesn't have.
The heads differ too. Your DARKSPEED is hollow; Callaway lists the Quantum Max as not hollow and says its 360° undercut cavity adds forgiveness. Offset is a little larger on the Quantum Max, 3.71 mm against 3.2 mm at the 7-iron.
Changing brands is mostly a question of fit and feel, which specs can't settle, so hit both on a launch monitor at a fitting.
Our read: keep the DARKSPEED unless you want a 29° iron between your 7 and 8, or a 55° sand wedge.
Quick answers
4 questions
Should I replace my Cobra DARKSPEED with the Callaway Quantum Max?
Only if one of these applies: you want a club at a loft your set doesn't cover: the Callaway Quantum Max is sold at 29° (its 7), 55° (its SW). The closest your set gets is 27, 31.5°. Otherwise, keep the Cobra DARKSPEED.
Is the Callaway Quantum Max 7-iron stronger than the Cobra DARKSPEED 7-iron?
Cobra DARKSPEED: 27°. Callaway Quantum Max: 29°.
What about the pitching wedges?
Cobra DARKSPEED PW: 42°. Callaway Quantum Max PW: 42°. A stronger pitching wedge usually means you need another wedge to fill the gap below it.
What did each set cost new?
The brand doesn't publish a launch price for the Cobra DARKSPEED. The brand doesn't publish a launch price for the Callaway Quantum Max. These are launch prices for the brand's stock set, not what either sells for today.
Last updated 2026-09-21. The rules behind this verdict: How we rate. A verdict is not a fitting.