Think back, if you would, to 1974. Patricia Hearst is kidnapped, Richard Nixon resigns and The Sting is a huge hit at the box office. It was also the last year that a golfer had to choose between a long iron or fairway wood for a long approach. The following year Cobra introduced the first utility wood, the Baffler, and a revolution was born.

Today hybrids are as common as cell phones, but the Baffler remains the most popular. Fittingly for the anniversary, the latest edition draws inspiration from the original with a four-way rail sole that was lacking in more recent versions. The rails really help the club glide through a variety of lies by reducing the area that comes in contact with the turf. A thin, maraging-steel face insert improves ball speed across the entire face for more forgiveness and distance, while also allowing engineers to reposition 10 percent more weight deeper and lower in the clubhead for higher, softer landing shots. The company also improved the cosmetics, taking away the thick silver topline in favor of an entire dark finish.

“It’s practically impossible to hit this club poorly,” says a 15. “Doesn’t matter the lie either—rough, sand, hardpan. It just works. Plus, it’s a great club to hit from the fairway on the long par 4s at my club, high and straight.”

$150 (five lofts, 17-28 degrees), cobragolf.com

TESTING GROUNDS: Cobra Baffler Rail H (19 degrees, S flex)
BALL SPEED: 128.3 MPH
LAUNCH ANGLE: 14.6 degrees
BACKSPIN: 3951 RPM
CARRY DISTANCE: 204.7 yards