Review: Adams Idea Pro Gold Hybrids
Not too long ago we had an up close and personal look at the Idea Pro Gold Irons, and today we will be checking out the Idea Pro Gold hybrids that can be purchased individually or along with the irons as a set. Adams Golf has quickly made a name for themselves over the past few years by engineering rock solid hybrids that always seem to dominate the various professional tours. The original Idea Pro hybrid was especially well regarded and has evolved into the Idea Pro Gold.
Background
With our Idea hybrids ranking as the most-played on the 2008 PGA, Champions and Nationwide Tours, our engineers were able to canvass the tours with hybrid prototypes in an effort to gain feedback from the world’s best golfers. The result is the Idea Pro Gold Hybrid that utilizes advanced geometric shaping (known as Boxer Technology), an improved maraging steel face, and an enhanced weighting system.
Key points:
Idea Hybrids — #1 on 2008 PGA, Champions and Nationwide Tours.
Improved maraging steel face for a 10% hotter ball flight compared to the Idea Pro.
Boxer Technology delivers advanced geometric shaping for higher MOI resulting in 5% more forgiveness on off–center hits.
Look and Feel
The first thing that will jump out at owners of the original Idea Pro hybrid is the squared-off shape of the Idea Pro Gold. Adams Golf has integrated their Boxer technology from the earlier generation A3 hybrids into the Idea Pro Gold line.
I was absolutely in love with the sound and feel of the original Idea Pro hybrid. The solid thud you were rewarded with on a hit off the screws was extremely satisfying. I feel like I have lost a little of that with the Idea Pro Gold. The sound is a little more 'metal tingy', though the feel is still quite solid at impact.
Performance
The performance, especially on slight mishits is absolutely phenomenal. The Pro Gold just flat out put the ball where I wanted. I would lose noticeable distance with the Idea Pro on those shots, whereas the Pro Gold really seems to hold its line and still carry an acceptable distance.
The addition of a little forgiveness has not dramatically impacted one's ability to work the ball with this club either. I can still get the ball to bend left or right pretty easily and unlike a lot of hybrids on the market you can also keep the ball low.
The 20 degree Idea Pro Gold really has become my go-to club on those shorter par 4s and I can count on a good swing landing in nearly the same exact spot every time I walk up to those tees. It really is very confidence inspiring.
At first, I was reluctant to drop the 4 iron from my game and replace it with a 4 hybrid, but again...take the two clubs to the range and hit balls with them side by side, and you will be selling that 4 iron in no time. The performance gains are just too great.