Equipment

Greatest Adams hybrids of all time

Published

6 years ago

Apr 1, 2020

It’s almost impossible that, over the past decade, you or someone you played golf with didn’t own an Adams hybrid. The fact that they can still be found in the bags of players on the PGA Tour demonstrates the kind of cult-like dedication some players have to those clubs.

They were in everyone’s bags—from low handicaps to golfers just trying to break 100. Simply, Adams was hybrids in the early-to-mid 2000s. In an age when many would still call them “cheater” or “old man” clubs, Adams pushed the envelope of design and ushered in a new era of small, workable-yet-forgiving, anti-left clubs.

Adams was also one of the first companies to do exclusive combo sets off the rack for better players with the initial Idea Pros and then later with the Idea Pro Golds. It’s a common practice now, but at the time it was revolutionary.

Here is a list of some of Adams’ all-time great hybrid designs.

Original Idea Pro – 2008

This is the one that started it all. After going through a number of tour issue prototypes leading up to the retail release, the Idea Pro had a lot of buzz, and it delivered. It wasn’t that other companies weren’t producing hybrids at the time, but the sheer popularity of the Adams outweighed what others had in the market thanks to it working its way to become the number one hybrid on the PGA Tour. It also came stock with an 80g Aldila VS Proto Hybrid shaft that was directly aimed at better players, and considering the aftermarket price of the shaft on its own, it made the Idea Pro a no brainer for those looking to replace harder-to-hit longer irons.

XTD – 2014

This was the final hybrid ever made by Adams and was packed with technology: all-titanium construction, crown, and sole slots for greater face deflection and ball speed—along with an adjustable hosel. TaylorMade had taken over ownership at this point and engineers at Adams took advantage by using the proprietary TaylorMade adjustable sleeve—this allowed for more shaft options for many golfers that had used TaylorMade hybrids in the past.

The entire XTD line from Adams was premium by design and from the driver to the hybrid, offered real-deal shafts and tight quality control. This is still a hard club to beat.

Idea XTD Super Hybrid Ti – 2012

You could argue the 2012 Super Hybrid XTD was the original bomber hybrid. Thanks to the multi-material titanium construction, it produced a higher-than-expected launch, along with exceptionally low spin. For faster players, this was a perfect control club off the tee and easily replaced a 5-wood (in the 19 degree). Don’t believe it? Check out this historic review from the GolfWRX Archives: GolfWRX.com – Adams Super Hybrid Review (2012)

Super 9031 – 2013

The Super 9031 was released the year after the original Idea Pro Blacks and featured an updated white paint job along with a technology upgrade that included both sole and crown slots for faster ball speeds compared to the original (hence the “Super” designation). It has a high toe, flatter lie angle, and open appearance from address—something better players love! Although I should attempt to be unbiased, I will admit that not only did I love these hybrids, but I still hold a place in one of my travel bags.

It’s not just me that has a sweet spot for the Super 9031, you can still find these in the bag of PGA Tour player Brian Gay.

Boxer A3 Idea – 2007

You might be wondering that after all of the others on the list, how the A3 earned its spot. Well, it’s quite simple. Just before the launch of the Idea Pro, the A3 and A3OS (oversized) were massive sellers at the retail level. The sets offered classicly shaped irons alongside easy-to-hit hybrid clubs into the longer clubs. Although never marketed towards better players, it did have a bit of a cult following to the point that even Vijay Singh was using one during the 2008 season in replacement of a 5-wood. They came stock with Grafalloy ProLaunch Red hybrid shafts and in both right and left-handed to outfit almost any player.

GolfWRXers, did you have any of these clubs? Check out the Cult Classic Clubs Discussion in the GolfWRX.com forums.

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Ryan Barath

Ryan Barath is a club-fitter & master club builder with more than 17 years of experience working with golfers of all skill levels, including PGA Tour players. He is the former Build Shop Manager & Social Media Coordinator for Modern Golf. He now works independently from his home shop and is a member of advisory panels to a select number of golf equipment manufacturers. You can find Ryan on Twitter and Instagram where he's always willing to chat golf, and share his passion for club building, course architecture and wedge grinding.

26 Comments

BillyG

Apr 19, 2020 at 12:46 am

What hybrid did Tom Watson play?

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John D Gleason

Apr 13, 2020 at 7:58 pm

I still use the 2012 XTD ti in 18 & 20 degree lofts. I bought the 2014 versions but never felt as good. Incredibly easy to hit and long long long!

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Wreiman

Apr 13, 2020 at 9:34 am

I still Bag the Gold Pro and Boxter to this day….lol Nothing has really replaced them in my bag,

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- Risky Plan
  
  Dec 10, 2020 at 8:10 pm
  
  I have the A3 Boxer 2, 3 and 4 and don’t carry a fairway wood (4 wedges) I’ve tried others, but nothing has come close. The rectangular shape is what drew me to them when new and the performance and consistency has kept them in my bag.
  
  Reply Report comment
Kevin

Apr 11, 2020 at 9:36 pm

Not on the list here, but I still have a 21* Idea Super Black in the bag. Every time I think about taking it out I just start nailing it again…

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RJ

Apr 11, 2020 at 9:28 pm

Hey Ryan,
I can not disagree with your list at all but I did find one small error. The Idea Pro Hybrid actually launched in January 2006, not in 2008. I was the South Florida sales rep from 2004-2008 covering Vero Beach to the Florida Keys. But nonetheless, great article.

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ssspence

Apr 4, 2020 at 9:27 am

After the Idea Pro — you could argue for a dozen or more “Top 5” Adams hybrids, including the obvious PNT mentioned numerous times above.

I think a more interesting topic would be Most Underrated hybrids from Adams. Examples:

Both the A12 / VST (Silver) and the A12 Pro were outstanding. The former is a low spin bomber (I still game one as a 5 wood replacement), the latter a super accurate take on the original Idea Pro.

The Idea Pro Gold boxer is also excellent — a point and shoot club that saw plenty of tour play.

And what about the V3? It’s a super solid club, that was considered the best of its generation. It’s hallmark was that crisp feel.

I also agree the DhY should be considered. I still game the 21 degree — a perfect 3 / 4 iron replacement that bridges the gap between iron control and playability with hybrid power. It’s now been imitated repeatedly by other OEMs.

And lastly, the Super LS is the longest hybrid ever created. It’s certainly not the most accurate, but man is it a cannon. I found that matching it with a very stable, tipped shaft tamed it. It’s still a legit 3 wood killer with a nice small head by comparison. Seriously — who doesn’t need a club you can smoke out of the rough 230 to get back into a hole every once in a while?

So I just raised 7 that deserve mention. Honestly, none of these takes a back seat to the A3 or the XTD ti.

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Sharky

Apr 3, 2020 at 11:51 am

I still bag a tour issued *24 idea pro, it’s my most reliable club in the bag, I see Bernhard Langer stil has the same club in his bag . Just recently put down my Adams Idea Pro Gold 18* and mb2 raw for some new irons, will miss them…

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JP

Apr 3, 2020 at 11:45 am

A12 Pro Proto was my ATF.

And how come no PNT mention? Seriously?

Reply Report comment
Chris

Apr 3, 2020 at 7:40 am

Any Adams club list (whether hybrids or not) starts with the PNT (Peanut). Any exclusion of this club renders your list obsolete and pointless as it is the best club Adams ever produced.

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JungleJimbo

Apr 2, 2020 at 6:51 pm

Hi Ryan: There’s enough interest/ other cult-fave Adams hybrids not listed in your article…for a “Part 2++” article pls? ????

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y2zar

Apr 2, 2020 at 4:11 pm

The best hybrids ever existed along with the easiest f-wds to hit with, I can just simply command my golf balls with those things. Playing with Pro Black 20′ & 23′, latest Tight Lies 25′ and XTD 26′. So far I’ve yet to find anything closer to Adams, so these clubs ain’t gonna be sold or let off from my bag

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HKO

Apr 2, 2020 at 1:40 pm

how come no PNT (aka Peanut) is mentioned here?

Reply Report comment
- Jack
  
  Apr 2, 2020 at 10:16 pm
  
  It is. Tour issue/prototype Idea Pro. First hybrid on the list 🙂
  
  Reply Report comment
Nicklaus#1

Apr 2, 2020 at 10:32 am

The Adams idea A3 is a beast. I still use the 3 iron hybrid and would be lost without it!

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DC2000

Apr 2, 2020 at 3:33 am

Adams 2014 Pro Hybrid was the club to own..still play it. Surprised you missed this gem…

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SoHigh247

Apr 2, 2020 at 2:02 am

Still got the super 9031 in the bag, great iron replacement hybrid (not overly hot, dank trajectory). Adams irons and hybrids are still relevant and cheap!

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Howard Hayden

Apr 1, 2020 at 10:05 pm

Somebody needs to buy the name and whatever intellectual property they can and restart the company Tragedy what TaylorMade did to it. Obviously still plenty of well-deserved goodwill. Maybe more than TaylorMade.

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Thebigdad

Apr 1, 2020 at 4:48 pm

A12 Pro, 18° and 20° are still in my bag

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Cdub

Apr 1, 2020 at 3:15 pm

No pro black?!

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Project X

Apr 1, 2020 at 12:25 pm

The A7 PNT that McDowell used to win the 2010 US Open has to be on this list.

Reply Report comment
- JB
  
  Apr 3, 2020 at 9:26 am
  
  Yep, exclusion of a7 PNT makes this list questionable at best.
  
  Reply Report comment
Cm

Apr 1, 2020 at 12:22 pm

???? no Peanut? They also made the RED hybrid after the XTD.

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Brandon

Apr 1, 2020 at 12:04 pm

DhY was my favorite. Finally got knocked out of the bag for a Tour Edge Exotics CBX Ironwood.

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- Andrew Thompson
  
  Apr 3, 2020 at 11:04 am
  
  DHY! How was it not included? Club is still the best players hybrid out there, sadly underrated.
  
  Reply Report comment
Adams Fan

Apr 1, 2020 at 11:53 am

The silver Adams Super Hybrid was my personal favorite. Definitely one of the best Hybrids ever.

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Equipment

Putters that never made it: Check out some of the best tour builds that didn’t make the cut

Published

2 weeks ago

May 18, 2026

Alistair Cameron

Arguably, the best perk of being a professional golfer on the PGA Tour is the ability to request or even just be handed pretty much any club you could think of. It happens more often than you think, usually with putters around the practice green from one event to the next. Come Wednesday, the Tour bags lining the edge of the putting surface become resting places for fallen flatsticks that never made the cut.

So let’s take a look at some of the best we’ve seen out on Tour this year that never made it to the competition. (You may notice none of Hideki Matsuyama’s custom Scotty Cameron putters made this list. There are too many.)

Let’s start with this custom Damascus Milled Odyssey Rossie made for Ryo Hisatsune. Featuring a single line and the short-slant hossel, we’ve seen plenty of Number 7 and jailbird heads featuring the Damascus Milled insert, but this is the first and only one we’ve spotted in a Rossie. Hisatsune primarily putts with an Odyssey Black Series iX #9, but we have seen him recently with a TaylorMade TP Collection SOTO, so there could be potential that the Damascus Milled Rossie could end up in the bag.

Everyone wants to be Cameron Young right now. We’ve had Justin Thomas and Tom Hoge both game the Scotty Cameron 9.5R prototype. Well, for the PGA Championship, Brooks Koepka nearly joined that list after requesting the same style of putter, with the full-length alignment line. But the Scotty Cameron reps took the request a step further and made one specially for Koepka with a Teryllium insert, similar to one in his previous Newport 2 gamers. The reason why this one didn’t go into play, though? Because it was too heavy.

Harry Hall was the third-best putter on Tour last year, so when Bettinardi made him a custom proto, you know it was going to be good. The custom BB28 blade features VDF face milling, a custom-welded single-bend shaft, and the owner’s initials – HH – on the sole of the putter. Hall, who usually games an Odyssey O-Works #7 W, has dabbled with a TaylorMade Spider Tour X already this year. Maybe there’s a chance this Bettinardi might make his bag.

Honestly, this one doesn’t need a description. It’s Kieth Mitchell’s custom Scotty Cameron Napa. One Scotty Cameron face stamp, two Scotty Dogs, two Scotty Cameron 7-Point Crowns and one Circle T. That is all. Oh, except for the Cashmere Cameron headcover.

Finally, and just for fun, how about we pour one out for this TaylorMade Spider Tour X made for Scottie Scheffler in its new torched finish. It’s unlikely we’ll see a putter change anytime soon from the best golfer in the world. In fact, he hit just two putts with it on the Harbour Town practice before going back to his trusty gamer.

Whats in the Bag

Patrick Reed WITB 2026 (May)

Published

2 weeks ago

May 18, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

Driver: Titleist GT3 (9 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 130 M.S.I. 70 TX

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X

7-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X

Irons: Grindworks PR-202 (4), Grindworks PR-101A (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 Tour Rack (52-10 Mid), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-08M), SM11 (60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Scotty Cameron Tour Rat 1.5 Tour Prototype

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride MCC

See more photos of Patrick Reed’s clubs here.

Equipment

Which of Tiger’s major winning irons are your favorite? – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

2 weeks ago

May 18, 2026

Gianni Magliocco

In our forums, our members have been discussing their favorite major winning irons used by Tiger Woods. WRXer ‘golferdude54’ kicks off the thread saying:

“Mizuno MP 14/29. Titleist 681T. Nike Forged Blades. TaylorMade P7TW.

Among these irons that helped Tiger win 15 majors, which is your favorite in terms of looks?”

And our members have been naming their favorites and why in response.

Here are a couple of posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

SwingBlade: “I prefer the early blades he played and the more recent TM TW’s especially because after Tiger had his major behavioral setbacks, part of Nikes support payback was making Tiger play a Nike putter and cease using his beloved uniquely customized Scotty putter.”
ProjectX: “This (Nike Forged Blades) and there’s not even a close second.”

Entire Thread: “Which of Tiger’s major winning irons are your favorite? – GolfWRXers discuss”