Though the 2009 golf season has been in full swing for a few months now, it doesn’t mean that there is no new gear to check out. From Adams Golf, an industry leader in Hybrid technology, come the Idea A7 Hybrids and A7 Hybrid Iron set, labeled by Adams as “the Future of Iron sets.” Continuing the Adams tradition of innovation, these new clubs are loaded with new technology that comes packaged in the familiar styling of the Idea line.
The iron sets and Hybrids will begin shipping on August 1, 2009. The set (SRP $599 for steel and $699 for graphite) begins with a three- and four-hybrid, followed by a patented hollow-back design 5-iron that should more efficiently bridge the gap between hybrids and irons. The short irons are stabilized cavity-back irons, designed to improve forgiveness and maximize scoring potential. Each individual club has been tuned and optimized to fit in seamlessly with the other clubs in the set, making for smooth transitions between each club, as well as from hybrid to iron. Let’s take a look at the new sticks, starting from the top.
The Hybrids
The three- and four-hybrids, which can also be purchased individually (SRP $199.99), combine some of the best features of their predecessors in the Idea line. The A7s are designed to optimize distance as well as forgiveness.
Improved sole camber makes the new Idea hybrids easier to hit from a variety of lies, while the 41-gram rear weighing improves launch and carry distance. The hybrids come with UST Mamiya ProForce AXIVCore Black 85 gram shafts, which are available in four flex options (A, R, S, X). Adams Golf Tour Traction grips are standard on all clubs in the set.
The Irons
Just as the hybrids are optimized to be forgiving and long, the short irons are optimized to maximize scoring potential. They start out with a transition 5-iron. Intended to smooth the transition between Hybrids and Irons, the 5-iron has a patented hollow-back design that allows it to play much like a hybrid, while offering many of the characteristics of the set’s short irons. A 13% thinner face also helps improve distance with the 5-iron.
The rest of the irons feature a dual-cavity design with a stabilizer bar that helps give the player feedback as well as forgiveness. Thinner top lines and soles give these clubs a touch of workability and allows the player to continue to use the clubs as he or she improve their game. The irons are available in the same graphite shafts as the hybrids, or True Temper Performance Lite Steel 95 gram shafts. Again, these all come with the standard Adams Golf Tour Traction grips installed.
The Next Generation
From the Adams press release:
By advancing the theories in club design through individual engineering and integration of each club into the next, we are proud to be offering what we believe to be the future of irons sets and a better alternative to anything currently on the market,” said Chip Brewer, President and CEO of Adams Golf. “This new approach to designing iron sets should further strengthen our leadership positions in the hybrid iron category.”
“With Idea hybrids ranking as the most-played on the 2008 and 2009 PGA, Champions and Nationwide Tours, the Idea a7 hybrids continue a tradition of our tour-tested designs being brought to all golfers,” said Tim Reed, Vice President of Research and Development at Adams Golf. “When we heard the tremendous positive feedback and saw the great results from Tour players on the prototype Idea ‘Peanut’ hybrid, we knew we had to use the best attributes of that design in the new Idea a7 hybrids.
The Idea A7 hybrids and irons are the most recent in the Idea line. Their predecessors, the Idea Tech A4 and Idea Tech A4OS hybrids and irons were very highly praised, winning a few awards and Gold ratings from Golf Digest on their 2009 Hot List. The A4 and A4OS were named top hybrids, the A4 irons won best game improvement irons, and the A4OS Irons took home a gold rating in the Super Game Improvement category. The Speedline Driver also took home gold, it was rated as the best driver priced under $350.
Final Thoughts
Adams Golf continues to lead the way when it comes to product development for the average golfer. Mid to high handicappers will benefit greatly from the work that Adams has put into its hybrid and game improvement club development. It seems like many companies are busy focusing on products that are intended to be used by low handicappers and us average folks sometimes feel a tad left out.
What Adams does goes beyond just making easy-to-use clubs. It gives players tools that they can use to improve their game and develop into better players, which in turn helps grow the sport and turn many more new players on to golf.
Adams also continues to get their name out there. The Golf Channel‘s Big Break series is sponsored by Adams Golf and has made many, myself included, take a harder loot at what Adams has to offer. Adams had the number one Hybrids on The PGA Tour, Champions Tour, and Nationwide Tour in 2008 and 2009. Hybrids, largely thanks to Adams, are becoming more and more popular on tour. This leaves the masses feeling more like they are playing exactly what their favorite pros play, giving them both the desire to get out and play, and confidence in themselves and their equipment. Keep up the good work, Adams.
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Sweet…I like the colour scheme vs the red in the a4s. Is there a 5H that can replace the 5i? With the 3H starting at 19-degree, the 5i is really a 4i and I prefer a “real 4H”…
There is a 25* 5H available, but it does not come with the set. The 5-iron and 5-hybrid are both 25* loft and have the same loft/lie (60.5*/38.5″). The 5-iron is designed to smooth the transition from hybrids to irons.
Many thanks Adam. I suppose going with the 5H (despite it having the same loft of 25-deg) would create a gap between the 5H and 6i? But if the 5H also has the same length (38.5″?) would it not be the same (distance-wise) as the 5i? Guess the only way to find out is to try it. Thanks again.
Excellent article, very informative. I’m very excited to try out these clubs!
Previous Idea hybrid/iron sets in the line were ‘forged’ irons. Do you know if the A7’s are a forged iron?
OK, so what happened to A5 and A6?
Stupid question I suppose but…..do they offer a 4 iron for the set? Like the A4’s, a 3 and 4 iron were optional so I hope they offer an option with the new A7’s…anybody know?
hit these at the golf store for 2 hours…couldn’t produce a mis-hit with the hybrids…even when I swung as hard as I could and the ball was going +15-25 yds. longer…irons were silky smooth and added +10-15 yds….buying new clubs and Adam’s wasn’t on the radar, but salesman said “these just came in and they are AMAZING!”…hit-’em -n- loved-’em…gonna be hard not to buy them @ sale price of 500.00…my Sunday 4-some is gonna hate me for takin’ their $$$
has anyone swung these with senior graphite?
anyone know why they did not continue as the a4os with graduated hybrids?
heard some say the a4os did not give a lot of feedback
is that improved in the a7?
I tried these clubs at an Adams equiptment demo day. Loved the feel especially the hybrids that hit lazer like shots in both high and low trajectory. Be advised, you should hit before buying, I had the irons tested on a frequency machine and the regular flex 5 iron frequency for the standard 5 iron in the standard true temper performance lite steel shaft which is similar to the dynalite gold with a low bend point creating a high trajectory was 311 at 38.5 inches. That calabrates a full flex stiffer than the regular flex that should calibrate at 290 which makes the shaft a full flex stiffer than labeled.
The A7’s are a cast club.
Just got the A7s and they are SWEET! Very forgiving and I hit them a mile and straighter. I got the hybrids with RT Technologies Midas shaft. BOOM to the power of BOOM!!!!!
@ G. Collins; Actually the A7 is a forged club. Forged from 8620 carbon steel.
Can you tell me the loft of the Adams a7 pitching wedge and 9 iron? I hit them a lot further than my old irons and I’m looking to buy a couple of wedges.
Thanks
I demo’d the A70sMax 4 and 9 hybrids and found they were easy to hit but went about 1/2 club shorter. I also demo’d the Cleveland HB3 4 and 9 iron and also found them easy to hit and they went about one club FARTHER. I will probably test the A7OS (no max) before I decide.
I like the sound of the Adams clubs, especially the hybrid irons, all we seem to here about in England is the Taylormade hybrids, we don’t really here much of Adams, but every time i read an article about Adams golf clubs, it really make me fell stronger about puchasing some, keep up the good work.
Thanks
The irons and hybrids are both excellent clubs. The hybrids are actually so long that the 5 iron in the set is hollow and is designed to bridge the gap between the hybrids and the irons.
Also, the A7’s are definitely CAST irons. I play the Adams A4 irons, and those forged.
Either way, the A7 irons and hybrids are amazing. The best way to find out is to go to your nearest golf shop and try them out in person and see how it works for you. You will not be disappointed.
I just bought the A7 and love them. I have been a Cleveland Hybrid guy since the Halo’s. I think the HiBore and Launcher were not as good as the Halo’s but I can tell you these Adams are hot. The irons are great they are cast but have a thin top line to them. You can tell where the ball is on the face. Overall I would highly recommend them. I always thought that Adams were ole fart clubs. I was wrong!
I played the Adams A7s originally with stiff graphite steel. I didn’t have problems with the A7 hybrids and A7 5 iron, but the distance wasn’t quite there with the 6 iron to pw. Part of the issue was my clubhead speed is borderline regular stiff, so had I replaced the steel shafts with regular in the 6 iron to pitching wedge the difference would have been there. I now have the A7 irons in regular steel and will be playing them this year. One thing to note…no A5 and A6 irons means a significant upgrade to the A7s. And I am sure while I start off with a 6 hybrid in the A12 OS and could start with the 7 transitional iron I will benefit greatly even as a higher handicapper and will see my scores drop no doubt! Thanks Adams Golf for an awesome set of clubs! Even playing them with the Super S hybrids will help me to get the distance in the irons I always knew I had! And yes they are not just for old farts…they are tried and true and I am definitely glad I got the right shafts in them!
I have now replaced my A12 OS irons with the A7s in stiff steel. Hard to believe that a while back I had trouble playing these irons in stiff steel. I have tested them out at GolfTec and they are definitely going in my bag this season! The shot shaping and distance I can get from these clubs is off the chart! I also have the Redlines – the upgrade to the A7 game improvement irons and I would have to say third time a charm! Now with my ability to play various shots…I would have to say these clubs will be with me for years to come! Thanks Adams Golf…these clubs rock! And although I am playing them with my Super S hybrids…that doesn’t take away anything from the versatility and quality of these irons! Looking forward to going low this year!