When we first reviewed Adams Golf’s IDEA a2 OS Iron Set back in February of 2006, hybrid clubs were already well entrenched in the amateur golf industry, with many higher-handicappers ditching most of their long-irons in favor of easier-to-hit hybrid clubs. In the ensuing couple of years, more pros are employing hybrids and utility clubs, owing to the clear benefits to having a long club on the fairway or in the rough that has a much better chance of flying the ball straight.

So like the other major golf equipment manufacturers, Adams has had to update their repertoire of hybrids to a higher, professional, level, meaning that even a pro would feel comfortable picking up one of Adams’ new clubs and feel that they are using a top-notch performer. Case in point is the latest Adams hybrid set, the “Idea Pro.” The new clubs have many qualities that make it appropriate for the tour, and indeed, several tour players, particularly on the Champions Tour, have employed Adams hybrids in winning tournaments.

A hybrid is most definitely a “feel” club and it is the feel of the new “Idea Pro” that makes this set appropriate for pros and even some amateurs alike. The club has no offset, has a very low center-of-gravity, and sports a “pull face” steel face that claims to lower ball spin and thereby increase ball speed. The clubs’ first qualities, the offset, and the CG, are the real “feel” characteristics of the clubs, and thereby the new design clearly do make a difference.

I have personally had difficulty with previous hybrids that I have tested, sometimes finding only marginal improvement in my comfort level hitting a hybrid over a fairway wood, or sometimes, even a good set of long-irons. Such was not the case with the “Idea Pro.” The clubs feel perfectly balanced, offering a comfortable takeaway, and a sense of ease when squaring the club upon impact.

The “Idea Pro” clubs offered up straight shots with some degree of forgiveness over -mishits. And yes, I could definitely hit the 20 degree “Idea Pro” 3-iron longer than my Callaway “X-16” 3-iron, with a much greater likelihood of hitting the ball straight, over a number of practice sessions and several “head-to-head” tests out on the local links. (Note: the “Idea Pro” forged hybrid irons come with a 20 degree hybrid “iWood” and a 23 degree hybrid 4 “iWood,” with the balance of the set, 5-iron to PW, being more traditional forged irons in feel).

Granted ,the “Idea Pro” is inherently a more “advanced” club than the “IDEA a2 OS” clubs that we previously tested, perhaps owing to the slightly smaller club face and the “a2 OS’s” clear dedication to helping senior players and high-handicappers, with respectively dedicated sets designed for those categories of golfers. Given the choice, as a high-handicapper myself, I may consider adding the “a2 OS” hybrids to my bag instead of the “Pros” owing to the greater level of forgiveness that the “a2 OS” offers.

Yet the “Idea Pro” set is an obvious evolution in Adams’ repertoire, and is particularly suitable to “good” golfers. I suspect that even aficionados of TaylorMade, Callaway, Nike, Cleveland, et al, might be tempted to throw one or two (or three) of the new “Idea Pro” long hybrids into their bags, if they do not go so far as to replace their entire set with Adams’ new offering.

It should be noted that Adams is scheduled to release the “a3 OS” hybrids before the end of 2007, making for an interesting choice for those who might be inclined to purchase a new hybrid set or even individual hybrid clubs. We will provide our thoughts as to the “a3 OS” clubs once we have a chance to test them, but I suspect that we will find the “a3 OS” to be a leap upward from the “a2,” and a likely preference for high-handicap golfers over the “Idea Pro.” For now, and especially for good golfers, Adams Golf’s “Idea Pro” are an excellent choice.