Having become the most trusted hybrid on the European and PGA Tour in 2013, Adams' goal for 2014 is to "own the second shot". One of the key weapons in that goal is their new Pro hybrid range.
In addition to the traditional hybrid shape of the Pro, Adams has also created the Pro Mini for low-handicap players with higher swing speeds and the low-launching Pro DHy driving-hybrid.
We were one of the first people to get our hands on the new Pro hybrids at this year's PGA Show in Orlando. But before we put them to the test we spoke with Adams Golf designer Alex Berger to get more details on exactly what the new range offers.
So Alex, we've heard a lot about the new range, but tell us more?
"Well we are really excited to launch the new Pro hybrid family of products. There’s three products and we’re categorizing them based on the launch conditions, so high launch, mid launch and low launch."
"First there is the Pro Hybrid, based on the tried and tested shape of the Pro a12, which is one of the most popular hybrids Adams has ever launched. The main difference for this year is the velocity slot. We didn’t have that technology when we created the a12, so the CT (Characteristic Time) is much higher now than it was before."
"The Pro hybrid has all the benefits of the Cut-Thru Slot technology and the weight port along with some new cosmetics and colours for 2014. The design is really going to help players get the ball up in the air as quickly as possible. A lot of that performance has to do with the shaft. The Pro hybrid features the Aldila Tour Red shaft. That is the high-launching shaft in the range we’ve added it to Pro Hybrid to further increase the launch."
You said that the shape of the hybrid has made it so successful, what is it about the shape that is different?
"That's a great question. One of the things that makes Adams hybrids what they are is the upside-down face shape. It’s super intuitive but easy to explain. Basically when you start going down the face, where the majority of players strike the ball, the impact tends to lose distance and increase spin. The great thing about the upside-down face is it actually gets larger as the face nears the ground."
"If you look at most other hybrids on the market, they have a lot of camber on the sole and the face actually decreases in size towards the bottom of the face. Adams hybrids have a larger hittable area in the lower portion of the face, which helps deliver the ball speed and get the ball up in the air."
Sounds good. What about the other products in the range?
"Well next in the range is the Pro Mini which comes in the same lofts as the Pro of 16°, 18°, 20° and 23°. It is basically a remake of our 9031 hybrid from last year, which was really popular with players on Tour. It’s a little squarer than the Pro hybrid and a little bit more compact front-to-back, as well as heel-to-toe at address."
"It features the same Cut-Thru Sole technology. As you can see the slot is actually covered with a TPU badge that is attached on the sole. If you were to remove that badge, you would see there is a cut-thru that goes behind the face. What that means is the key area of the face is completely unsupported; it is not attached to the back of the club at all. That allows the face to deflect freely, store up energy at impact and impart that energy into the golf ball to deliver a really hot, penetrating ball flight."
"As for shafts, the Pro Mini features the Aldila Tour Green shaft, which is the middle of the ball-flight range for Aldila. It helps deliver a mid-launch for more of that bullet-shooter flight than the standard Pro Hybrid."
Ok, what about players that prefer driving-iron style hybrids?
"They will be looking to the final product in the range, the Pro DHy, or 'driving hybrid'. It's predecessor, the Adams Super DHy, was the number one hybrid on Tour when it debuted last year. Therefore the Pro DHy is really for all those players who are holding out on going from long irons to hybrids as it offers a seamless transition."
"The blade length and sole width is kept very similar to what you would find in a long iron equivalent but it’s going to be hotter and easier to get in the air. It will look very like your long iron, yet it has all the Cut-Thru Slot technology and weight port benefits. Due to the different performance characteristics of the DHy there is a different range of lofts of 18°, 21° and 24°."
