Martin Hopley
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The Tight Lies name has been synonymous with Adams for as long as I can remember. Since they turned a head upside down and realised that the high point that was now the low point, it made it very easy to lift the ball from closely mown fairways.

The Tight Lies franchise has survived the purchase of Adams by TaylorMade and in the 2013 Tight Lies fairway, Adams complemented the slot on the sole with a second one on top of the head. Whilst this created a very visible technology, it did not go down well with everyone, so in the two 2015 Tight Lies fairways, Adams has decided to mind the gap with their Ghost Slot.

Adams Tight Lies 2 Fairway Wood Review

The Adams Tight Lies 2 looks a very similar shape to the previous model, except that at address it looks like the slot on the crown and the sole has been spirited away.

Adams Tight Lies Fairway Wood

Of course it hasn't actually gone, but it has been covered up by Adams for "out of sight technology for out of sight performance". If you look closely on the crown you can just about make out the barbell outline of where the Ghost Slot in the crown is located.

Adams Tight Lies Fairway Wood

It is all the same technology, but I think Adams has maybe gone too far the other way and highlighting the top slot in some way as a feature or alignment aid would appeal to those who like visible technology.

Turn the club over and you will see the sole slot as a blue bar bell line that extends the full width of the sole.

Adams Tight Lies Fairway Wood

Whichever way they are dressed up does not really matter as what is important is that it enables the face to effectively float away from the body so that it can flex more at impact and deliver more ball speed.

Adams Tight Lies Fairway Wood

Certainly the face felt very good and the closed slots improved the sound by giving a more solid smack than the previous model, which sounded a bit more hollow and high pitched.

Slots aside, the stand out feature of any Tight Lies club is the cambered Tri-Sole design that makes it very versatile for every type of lie. Whether I was hitting this from the tee, the fairway or some pretty poor lies elsewhere, the low centre of gravity and wide area across the bottom of the face gave a level of forgiveness that seemed beyond such a compact head.

Adams Tight Lies Fairway Wood

The shallow head should appeal to all levels of players, but it is on the compact side and the D-shaped head looks quite large around the toe area and takes a bit of getting used to.

Adams Tight Lies Fairway Wood

The Adams Tight Lies 2 comes with a good black and blue Mitsubishi Rayon KuroKage shaft at 60 grams that is light and stable and should suit most players.

Adams Tight Lies Ti Fairway KuroKage Shaft

Under your hands is the Adams Full Choice Standard grip again that features textured areas for your fingers, so you had better work on getting that grip neutral and in the right place as it does the job well.

Adams Full Choice Standard Grip

Overall I think the Tight Lies 2 is a visual improvement on Tight Lies 1, although I think they could have been a little more creative with the visual depiction of the Ghost Slot as having two slots is one of the key selling points.

The other selling point is the classic Tight Lies head design with the unique cambered sole that is one of the best in the market from variable lies. It would be nice to see this in a slightly larger head as there are many of these types of forgiving fairways out there that look a bit more inviting at address.

Adams Tight Lies Fairway Wood

The Tight Lies 2 is still a forgiving club and good value for money, but something bigger would widen its appeal beyond category 1 and 2 players.

Adams Tight Lies Ti Fairway Wood Review

What may help mid handicap golfers is the Tight Lies Ti fairway, which features a titanium face and crown in the same style of head.

You have to pay another £50 or so for the privilege, but for that you get a higher launching club. This is because titanium is lighter than steel so when you replace the crown with it, more of the weight of the club is now in the sole and hence the centre of gravity (CG) is lower.

Adams Tight Lies Ti Fairway Wood

A lower CG results in a higher ball flight than the standard version. Combining the titanium elements with a 75 gram steel sole plate creates the lowest CG on any fairway that Adams has done to date. I also felt the titanium face gave it a better feel at impact and a pleasing sound that was a little higher pitched.

Technically there is not much difference to the Tight Lies 2 as the head shape and dimensions are the same.

Adams Tight Lies Fairway Wood

For your extra hard earned cash you get a cool looking Mitsubishi Rayon Bassara shaft that is silver on the front and blue on the back. I am a sucker for silver graphite shafts in woods that look like steel from a distance, so this ticked my box.

Adams Tight Lies Ti Fairway Bassara Shaft

What was noticeable was that it was half an inch longer as standard and the 3+ Ti fairway at 13.5° could be a great driving 3-wood for some extra distance.

Adams Tight Lies Ti Fairway Iomic Grip

It comes with an Iomic Black Armor Stick Evolution 2.3 grip that is not only one of the longest grip names around, but also one of the stickiest to hold. If it is like most other Iomic grips, it should be pretty good in the wet too.

Adams Tight Lies Ti Fairway Wood

On balance whilst I like the look and feel of the Ti version, the standard Tight Lies 2 is probably the one to go for as the sound is a little better and it is 25% cheaper.

If you are feeling flush or have a slower swing speed, then the Ti is just as competent and gives a higher ball flight with all the playability options from that wonderful Tight Lies sole.

Golfalot Rating: 4 stars
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Adams Tight Lies 2 Fairway Wood - Product Details

UK Launch01 October 2014
UK Launch RRP£149
Handicap Range
Low
High
GolferMens
Hand AvailabilityLeft, Right
Left Handed Lofts14°, 16°, 19°
Right Handed Lofts14°, 16°, 19°, 22°
MaterialSteel
Swing WeightD1
Shaft NameMitsubishi Rayon KuroKage
Shaft TypesGraphite
Shaft FlexRegular, Stiff
Shaft Weight60 grams
GripFull Choice Adams Standard
Number/Loft3+/14°, 3/16°, 5/19°, 7/22°
Manufacturer's WebsiteAdams Website

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User Reviews

April 2017

Got the TL 16 degree fairway wood loved it so much I also got the 5 wood and the 3, 4, and 5 hybrids. Super easy to hit and when you hit them flush they go and go and go. Hefted these clubs two years ago when they were $170 to $200 each. Too expensive. Now that they're down to the area of $50 you can't go wrong. Love these clubs.

April 2017

Bought the 3 wood 16 degree through Amazon and Rock Bottom Golf. I remembered it as being a $200 club in '15 and was surprised to find it for $50...so I tried it. Love it. Played 18 yesterday and was so impressed I came home and got the 5 wood and two hybrids. At the current bottom prices it's crazy not to get these...they are amazing. Smashing the ball with a soft, rhythmic swing. Adams was (I think) closed down by Taylor Made who bought them...so these clubs are not coming back in this form...don't miss out.

February 2017

Fantastic fairway wood. Let go of the RBZ stage 2 for the Ti 3 wood, no regrets.

February 2017

Got the Ti version for cheap on eBay and it has not disappointed, so much so that I sold my TM RBZ stage 2 3 wood and kept the Adam's. Just feels right in hand and no longer hesitant about hitting fairway woods. Cheers the the review, as I purchased after reading.

September 2016

Just bought one very cheap from Direct Golf. Looks great. Takes a bit of getting used to with the small head and shallow face. Once you build up your confidence and get it in your head you can hit it, watch it go. Like a rocket off the deck. Be careful when teeing it up. Cant fault. I'm a 6 handicap over 50 with a 90 mph swing.

November 2015

Ti Version. Exactly the same as the previous poster. This is the first 3 wood I've been able to hit properly. It's ridiculously easy.

August 2015

I have never had a 3 wood I could hit. You name the club and I had it. I decided to give the titanium version a try...it is hands down the best 3 wood I have ever hit and I am no longer afraid to hit a 3 wood. This club is an absolute must get.

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