The 3D-Printed Iron Is No Longer a Concept Car
COBRA’s expanding lineup suggests additive manufacturing might finally have a place in everyday golf bags.
In golf, 3D printing has long felt more like vanity R&D than true consumer-facing technology. Sure, Bryson DeChambeau became a notable evangelist when he put a 3D-printed iron set in play in 2024. But that was hardly a convincing use case for the average golfer—especially given DeChambeau’s famously close relationship with experimental tech over the years. This is, after all, the same player who turned Epsom salt baths and single-length irons into recurring talking points.
So despite the on-course success, there weren’t exactly droves of golfers clamoring for 3D-printed gear.
The biggest barrier was price. Until recently, no major OEM offered a 3D-printed iron set that was readily available at retail. Anything resembling it required full customization (translation: prohibitively expensive). That began to shift in June 2024, when COBRA unveiled its LIMIT3D irons. The prototype set was priced at $3,000 USD and capped at just 500 units worldwide, reinforcing the idea that 3D printing in golf was still more concept car than daily driver.
Later iterations, however, told a different story. COBRA refined its production process, dropped the “LIMIT3D” designation, and released the 3D PRINTED TOUR irons at a more attainable (though still premium) price point of around $2,500 USD. The irons quickly found validation on Tour, with staff player Max Homa putting them in play.
Now, COBRA is expanding its 3D-printed lineup further with the introduction of two new models: the 3D PRINTED MB and 3D PRINTED X irons. While the TOUR model was designed squarely for elite players and low handicaps, the MB and X aim at a broader audience, targeting golfers in the 10-to-20 handicap range.
The key shift here is accessibility. While still far from inexpensive, the new 3DP MB and X irons come in roughly $1,000 USD less than COBRA’s initial consumer-facing 3D-printed offering. Just as importantly, they’re no longer positioned as limited-run curiosities. COBRA has intentionally dropped that framing to signal that 3D printing shouldn’t be viewed as golf’s version of a moonshot prototype.
“Cobra Golf has always been driven by innovation,” said Dan Ladd, President of Cobra Puma Golf. “The fact that we are the first OEM to offer a full range of 3D-printed irons that exceed the performance of comparable, traditionally made irons clearly shows our dedication to making the very best performing gear in golf.”
Someday, it may be commonplace for serious golfers to have their own 3D printer in the garage. 7-iron coming out a degree flat? No need to bend the lie, just print a new one. Until then, COBRA is staking an early claim as the brand most willing to turn next-generation metalwork into something golfers can actually use.
