berniez40's Full Review: Adams Idea Irons with New Hybrid Iron Woods
These irons are quite the bargain! There is no question that the forgiveness and distance these clubs offer is well worth the money.The Idea (no pun intended) was not only ahead of it's time, it has actually set a whole new trend that looks as if it's with us to stay.-- Let's face it folks, you can tell Adams was onto something when ultra-traditionalist companies such as Ben Hogan start making sets w/I-Woods in them. Even companies considered cutting edge, such as Nike, have rushed into the game ala the CPR Irons they are tendering. But enough about the basic concept of combo sets, and copy cats---let's discuss Adams in particular.
They are the original, yet still the most reasonably priced. They have, for the most part, become my irons for more than this reason alone. They perform at least as good as advertised, if not better. I have the Aldila Regular Flex Graphite shaft, and they really launch the ball with both distance and loft. (My swing speed clocks out at 104-108 and I usually really have to try a club or set of clubs for a bit as I fall right in between Regular Flex/Stiff Flex which ,unfortunately, varies so widely between the manufacturers. )I have finally been able to match my clubs up for the jobs they are supposed to do, and the performance of the Adam's Clubs helps make this possible.
Now that you have a swing speed to gauge the flex by, let's talk distance performance, and then I'll give you the skinny on how these clubs continue to shave strokes off of my game. As I've said in other reviews, I am not one of the many 300+ yard drivers that seem to write so many of the reviews here. I go for accuracy, and I am happy w/my 225/245 down the middle of the Fairway drives. My three wood is good for 200, and the 5 wood gives me 180. ---Now most people swear by the Adams Idea 3-I-Wood, and talk of the fall off in performance as one progresses up to the 4, and/or 5 regular irons. I did not feel that to be the case at all. The-I-wood itself was the one that came up short for me. 160---and the shaft was a shade short as well.
I feel strongly that the difference between clubs once one transitions to irons from woods should be 10 yards--not 20---and 10 yards between each progressive iron. I also want my I-Wood to feel more like a wood in shaft length. After all, they are meant to replace DRIVING IRONS. The Adams 4 and 5 irons were smooth and powerful. Unfortunately, I felt forced to replace the Adam's I-Wood w/a Nike 18* Knock-Off. It came right in at the 170 I needed for yardage. This forced me to shelve the 4 and 5 which are both very good clubs, and buy the 21* and 24* mates to the 18* Nike Knock-Off Model. These all have the longer shaft, so the transition from 5 wood, up through mid-irons is practically seamless. If you like the feel of the somewhat shorter shafted Adams I-Woods, you could do the same thing without having to mix brands. Many other people are in love w/them, it's simply that my personal preference for yardage and shaft length forced me to take a somewhat different approach.
The 6 iron is an absolute gem. If I need a quick easy 135/140, w/out having to slam the club at full swing speed this is the club that will do it. High, and straight. Yes it will loft it over the trees if you move the ball ever so slightly forward in your stance. This makes it the ultimate transition club from I-Wood to iron.
Many people have complained about the 7-PW in this set. I could not disagree more. Here's where the clubs truly shine. The 6 is the club to help you bring it home if you just cleared the 150 marker, but 7-P-W will bring you home to the green from 130 in w/out any problems. Despite the major offset used on these clubs--they hit straight---very straight. In fact, the clubs are offset enough that you can actually open the face up a little more on certain strokes, thus giving you the option of a straight on square blade, or a long distance pitch. It's fun being able to lob over bunkers and water from 125 yards out, and the 7 iron makes that possible. Thus the 8 becomes a 115 pitch, the 9 a 105 pitch, and the PW a 95. Throw in a sand wedge, and lob wedge, (Maybe even a gap wedge if you've room enough in your bag, and watch your short game start to come together.
Before the Adams set I was using a decent set of irons with step steel shafts. Try as I might, I could not break 100. Adams has made the 90's a reality, and the 70/80's aren't that far away. The one and only drawback to these clubs is the rather lifeless feedback they give. It's hard to complain about feed back when the clubs help you hit it longer and straighter than ever before BUT---- it would be nice for the club to help me know how it wants to be hit.
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