Equipment Review:
Adams Golf Idea a3 Irons
by Jeffrey Reed, Editor, LondonOntarioGolf.com

If you’re in the loop, then you know that Adams Golf has deservedly earned a solid reputation for its top-notch hybrid offerings. They’re winning on all Tours, and concurrently, Adams Golf now counts a solid lineup of Tour advisory staff members, including: Aaron Baddeley and Rory Sabbatini on the PGA Tour; Tom Watson, Scott Hoch, Bernhard Langer, Brad Bryant and Dana Quigley on the Champions Tour; and Brittany Lincicome and Brittany Lang on the LPGA Tour – just to name a few.

There’s no secret why Adams Golf’s clout has grown stronger in recent years. Quite simply, Adams makes some of the top-performing and prettiest clubs in golf. Aesthetically pleasing, and more importantly, technologically advanced, Adams Golf gear is manufactured to improve anyone’s game at any level.

Adams Idea a3 Hybrid Irons

Golf Digest gave Adams Golf’s Idea a3 Hybrid Iron set the gold medal in 2008 for top game-improvement irons. We agree, these sticks are truly big on performance.

The Idea a3 Hybrid Iron set includes a 3-, 4- and 5-Boxer Hybrid. Lofted at 19°, 22° and 25°, these revolutionary hybrids are some of the easiest hybrids to use in the game. They boast an incredible MOI of 3350, meaning maximum forgiveness, straighter shots and longer distance – an MOI 30% to 70% higher than other leading hybrids. A low and deep CG means getting the ball in the air from a variety of lies is a cinch. The maraging steel, pull-face clubface promotes a high trajectory. We certainly found this to be true in our testing, but it’s not difficult to work the ball, either, after you get used to these beauties.

Boasting a COR for increased ball speed, milled face grooves for consistent performance, and a cambered sole to cut through even the nastiest of rough, the Idea a3 Boxer Hybrids are the perfect start for this terrific iron set.

The 6- and 7-iron in the Idea a3 Hybrid Iron set feature a hollow back design with progressive offset for consistent, even gapping. The 8- and 9-iron plus PW are cavity-back irons, reshaped for maximum forgiveness and playability still appealing to better players. 

We tested the Idea a3 Hybrid Iron set with stiff steel shafts – True Temper Players Lite. There’s a Grafalloy ProLaunch Red graphite option, too – the same shaft built into the three Boxer Hybrids in this set. Custom options include a 2- and 6-Hybrid, a 4- and 5-iron, GW, SW and LW.

On a scale of 1 to 10, this set ranks a 9 in our books. No one is perfect, not even Tiger, right? The shafts and clubhead weight are perfect matches, and the mid-size head is ultra-forgiving yet comfortable in the hand of a play-uh. It’s true, you’ll have no problem getting the ball airborne and straight with these babies, but you can work the ball, too – something not always true in a game-improvement club.

Kudos to Adams Golf for the Idea a3 Hybrid Iron set, which commonly retails in the range of $600 Cdn. steel/$700 Cdn. Graphite – a real steal in our books.

Adams Apparel – Performance Collection

Adams Golf’s new Performance Collection has produced some of the best looking and high-performance men’s golf shirts in the biz. Available in red, white, lemon – and my favourite, this sharp-looking charcoal – the Performance Collection is designed with Dry-Point System Technology. The result? You’ll keep dry and cool even during the dog days of August on the links. 

The absorbent underlayer of the Performance Collection wicks moisture away from the skin. The shirts are manufactured with solid mapping and side vents to increase air flow. Heck, these shirts work better than the air conditioning in my vehicle, and they’re prettier, too. A knit collar and tag-free label adds to the comfort level of the Performance Collection.

For information on all of Adams Golf’s 2008 offerings, visit www.adamsgolf.com.