Adams Golf Launches Insight Drivers and Fairway Woods

As we wrote in last week’s Bag Drop, MOI appears to be this year’s marketing battleground for drivers with most manufacturers opting to offer two different models.

While some companies have come up with some very odd shapes to increase MOI and thus forgiveness and resistance to twisting on off-center hits, others, like Adams Golf, are introducing high-MOI drivers that actually look like a golf club.

Adams new Insight lineup of drivers and fairway woods keeps to the current trend of multiple model introductions. In fact, there are three versions within the line… BUL (Big, Ugly, and Long), BTY (Beauty), and Belle (for women). Despite the BUL moniker, it doesn’t look anywhere near as odd as some others. Here’s the story…

Insight BUL Driver and Fairway Woods
I don’t know if I’ll like this driver, but I just love how Adams has decided to tell it like it is: “Big, Ugly and Long.” On the other hand, I don’t think the BUL driver is really all that ugly, given some of the square and scooped out heads out there now.

While it may, indeed, be “big, ugly and long,” the extended rear perimeter of the BUL driver still looks to be somewhat conventional in shape.

What Adams designer Tim Reed has done is pull back and reshape the rear perimeter of the 460cc titanium clubhead in order to “maximize the two important MOI measurements of the clubhead: MOIy, the vertical axis, and MOIx, the horizontal axis.”

With every article I write about drivers, I get more confused on MOI. I’m not sure this quote helps. I understand measuring MOI in different axes. But how do these two factors relate to the overall measurement against the USGA limit of 5,900?

Whatever. Bottom line is that we have here a more traditionally shaped high MOI driver (5,000 g/cm²) that Adams says has a center of gravity producing optimal launch conditions. Their catch phrase for this is “thinking inside the box.”

Along with the driver, there is a matching line of fairway woods. Unlike the BUL driver’s all titanium head, the Insight BUL fairway woods are a combination of a one-piece titanium face and crown power-brazed to a stainless steel chassis.

This construction method is an industry first and also is being used in the BTY fairways. Adams claims this gives the BUL clubs the “hottest ball flight” and the highest MOI in its class.

The BUL driver will be available in lofts of 8.5°, 9.5°, 10.5°, 12.5°, and HL (15°). The stock shaft is a graphite Aldila Speedline 65 gram number. The grip is a Tour Velvet. A senior model will be offered in lofts of 10.5°, 12.5°, and 15° with a Winn “senior” grip.

The BUL fairway woods will be available in a strong 3, 4, 5, and 7-wood. Stock shaft is an Aldila Speedline75-gram graphite model

Insight BTY Driver and Fairway Woods
The BTY driver is being positioned as built for better players who want workability and high performance in a classic-shaped 460cc driver.

If the BUL driver is big and ugly, the BTY “beauty” is very classic. On the other hand, can a 460cc driver really be called “classic?”.

It features an ultra-thin rolled titanium crown that lets them position a weight port in the sole to allow for swing weight adjustments. Purposely not as forgiving as the BUL model, it nonetheless sports a respectable MOI of 4,350.

The standard shaft is a graphite Grafalloy 65-gram ProLaunch Red with a stiff tip for a more penetrating ball flight. The BTY driver will be available in lofts of 8.5°, 9.5°, and 10.5°

The BTY fairway woods have a more compact, low profile shape and also feature an adjustable weight port in the sole.

They too will come in a strong 3, 3, 5, and 7-wood. Stock shaft is a Grafallloy 75-gram ProLaunch Red.

Insight Belle Driver and Fairway Woods
Adams is also introducing an Insight line for women called Belle. Rather than a makeover to an existing head, both the driver and fairway woods were designed from the ground up just for women.

The Insight Belle line of woods is not a “man club” makeover, it’s a line specifically designed for women.

The driver looks to be a slightly more compact head with an MOI of 4,300, a bit more offset, and higher lofts (11° and 14°). The stock shaft is a lightweight 45 gram Aldila Speedline G45. The grip is a women’s Winn G8.

The Belle fairway woods also are constructed with the brazed titanium crown and stainless steel chassis and will come in 3, 5, 7, and 9 woods. That shaft is a 45-gram Aldila Speedline.

Availability and Pricing
The entire Insight line began shipping February 1. Our buddies at Edwin Watts say they should have them in stock by February 15.

Edwin Watts will be selling the Insight BUL driver for $299.99 and the BUL fairway woods for $199.99. The Insight BTY driver is 329.99 and the BTY fairway woods $229.99. The Belle driver is $299.99 and the Belle fairway woods are $199.99.

In the End…
Over the past year or so I’ve become increasingly impressed with Adams clubs. The Idea Pro hybrid is the best I’ve ever hit. And while it’s got to be hard for a smaller club maker to compete with the big boys for a voice in the market, that doesn’t mean their products aren’t worth trying out. You can bet I’ll be demoing these drivers at some point this season.