Miura Passing Point 9003 Irons, Adams Idea Pro a12 Hybrids, Irons

We’ve got a good mix of stuff to cover this week, one being Miura’s new Passing Point 9003 irons which were actually released right around a month ago, and the other being more new stuff from Adams in the form of their latest in the Idea Pro line, the a12 hybrids and forged irons.

While Miura marches along at their own schedule, taking their time painstakingly crafting their forged irons, Adams on the other hand, who we actually just visited a couple of weeks back, rolls along with their yearly release of game enhancement hybrids and irons. Lets dive right in and have a look at both.

Miura Passing Point 9003 Irons
While we may have missed these when they first came out, simply overlooking them completely would have been a crime. Though it’s been a little while since we covered anything from Miura, this new release is worth the wait. Most all previous Miura clubs were aimed directly at low-handicappers, but the newest to the prestigious Muira family – the Passing Point 9003 irons – give a little wider range of players an opportunity to get in on the fun.

This forged cavity back iron incorporates a number of qualities commonly found in the game improvement category, yet maintains a very refined appearance that has become synonymous with pretty much everything stamped with the Miura name. The sole of the PP 9003 is wider than their players irons in order to promote efficient turf interaction, yet it doesn’t appear as oversized as a lot of game improvement irons. A bit of extra offset is built in as well though it has been designed to flow naturally into the clubhead.

The PP-9003 irons are not only aesthetically pleasing, but the incredible technology will help golfers of all handicap levels get the most out of their games. We are confident golfers will fall in love with the PP-9003 irons, especially after they see their games improve.

Adam Barr, president of Miura Golf

Weighting is strategically positioned within the cavity in order to provide a lower center of gravity for a high, soft-landing ball flight without excessive ballooning. Extremely constant, reliable performance can be expected as weighting and balance are obsessively consistent throughout the set. There is zero variance in shape, weight or balance between each club in the set as well.

Mr. Miura, Yoshitaka and Shinei have created another superb addition to the Miura club line with the Passing Point 9003 irons. The PP-9003 irons feature timeless Miura styling and peerless Miura performance, and if you think the visual impact is strong, wait until you hit it.

Bill Holowaty, Executive VP – Product Strategies for Miura Golf in North America/div>

The material of choice for these irons is a low-carbon, premium steel and they’re finished in the same satin nickel chrome found on Miura’s other popular offerings. A simple appearance is maintained with the Miura name and logo in the center of the cavity along with the word “Forged” on the trailing edge of the sole.

Options and Availability
The Miura Passing Point 9003 irons launched roughly a month ago (on 4/1/11) and they’re available in 4 iron up through PW with an optional gap wedge available. These are RH only, and the shaft/grip combo is up to you. The Miura PP-9003 will cost around $225 per iron and you can find them at authorized Miura dealers (full list here).

Adams Idea Pro a12 Hybrids and Forged Irons
Following a long line of successful iron and hybrid sets, such as the Idea Pro Black, Idea Pro Gold, and Idea A7 lines is the new Idea Pro a12 hybrids and forged irons. Created with the better player in mind, the Idea Pro a12 hybrids and irons both have a number of characteristics to enhance that better players game.

The hybrids in this line feature a compact head (which progressively gets smaller as loft increases) with a dark finish in order to reduce glare. The ultra-thin maraging steel face produces higher ball speeds and a the preferred, penetrating ball flight desired by many. On the flip side, the sole is improved over previous models via the use of a steel skid place. Within that skid plate is a flush mounted weight screw. Together, they increase the efficiency in which the sole moves through the turf, ensuring you’re finishing your backswing instead of digging into the dirt. Each of the five available lofts (16°, 18°, 20°, 23°, and 26°) is available separately as well as part of a larger set.

The Idea Pro a12 irons continue where the hybrids leave off in terms of shape, ball flight, and CG location. Forged of 8620 carbon steel, these irons were designed to deliver the utmost in control, performance and feedback.

A thin top line is usually one of the first things better players look for, and that’s exactly what you’ll see when looking down at the a12 irons at address. On the bottom side, sole camber has been improved to improve turf interaction. On the face, grooves, and cavity are evidence of a new triple milling process that produces more exacting performance from club to club.

Adams’ engineers were very specific in their placement of the center of gravity, locating it on the lower side in order to produce a penetrating ball flight. Stability in the long irons is provided by a progressive heel to toe weighting contributes to an increase in stability in long irons, though that same weighting also allows for more workability and increased shot making with the short irons and wedges. The bit of offset that is present progressively decreases throughout the set, helping the player square the club where needed in the long irons where needed.

Both the Pro a12 hybrids and irons are off to a wonderful start on tour. The Pro a12 hybrid has been our most successful hybrid since the original Idea Pro and the irons are already in Tom Watson’s bag-and he’s been talking them up to his peers. We are excited to finally have the Pro a12 series available to our worldwide audience and brand advocates at large.

Chip Brewer, Adams Golf president and CEO

Options and Availability
The Adams Idea Pro a12 hybrids come stock with a number of options sure to please a lot of players. For starters, the stock shaft is actually stock shafts – by that I mean there two options to choose from: the 80 gram Aldila RIP VS Proto or the 90 gram Matrix Ozik Altus, both of which come in either R-, S-, or X-flex. Adams also stepped it up for the stock grip, making the Golf Pride New Decade MultiCompound (in black/white colorway) their grip of choice for these new hybrids. The Adams Idea Pro a12 hybrids come in both right hand and left hand models and will start shipping on May 5th at a suggested retail price of $299.99