“In the transitional iron category the Adams Idea Pro A12 is my personal favorite of the lot. I think it’s safe to say that the A12s hit the sweet spot for those with a handicap index between 8 and 16.“

Adams Idea Pro A12 Irons

(Written By: GolfSpy T) This is our 2nd review of a product from the 2011 A12 series from Adams Golf. As you may recall, the Idea Pro A12 hybrids were very strong performers (which is why I carry 3 of them), so it’s easy to understand why we’d want to take a close look at the irons by the same name. Even though the A12 series is largely a replacement for the A7 series, the Idea Pro A12 irons themselves are not a direct replacement for anything in the Adams lineup.

While we’ve certainly been impressed by what we’ve seen from Adams the last couple of years, there has been some grumblings in our forum about Adams releasing new equipment at what’s been called a TaylorMade-like pace. Even if you toss out the A7 series altogether, the current Adams lineup would still include 6 sets of irons. Let’s not even talk about hybrid and driver offerings. Don’t get me wrong, I applaud ingenuity, and innovation, but there comes a point when simple is better, and quite frankly I believe there is a growing contingent of golfers who believe that when it comes to product lineups, less might actually be more.

The Marketing Angle

According to Adams, the Idea Pro A12 irons were designed with the better player in mind. They cite things like outstanding control, and feedback, a thin top line, and improved sole camber as design elements geared towards more accomplished players. Personally, I see the Idea Pro A12 as a transitional iron; somewhere between game-improvement and a true “players” iron.

Other features include progressive heel/toe weighting for stability, a triple milled face, and your textbook low center of gravity. As Adams likes to do with clubs outside the game-improvement space, they’ve included KBS Tour Shafts and Golf Pride Decade Mutlti-Compound grips as stock offerings on the Idea Pro A12s.

How We Tested

To find out more about how we test our irons: CLICK HERE

Radius-Based Scoring

For more information on our “Radius Based Scoring System”: CLICK HERE

Material Composition: 8620 Carbon Steel (forged)

For testing purposes our sets consisted of 4-GW with stock KBS Tour shafts. Adams also offers Mitsubishi JAVLN shafts as a stock graphite option.

PERFORMANCE SCORING

Accuracy

From an accuracy perspective, it’s fair to say that the Idea Pro A12 performed well for most of our testers. While a couple of testers did miss the target by +40 feet on average (that’s a longer putt than most of us would like), when we factored out the best and worst each tester had to offer (again, we like to look at averages and expected results) we find the average miss to be just shy of 37 feet on average, which places the Idea Pro A12 just behind the Cobra S3 for 2011.

MGS Accuracy Score: 91.03

Consistency

Not surprisingly, the previous reviewed PING K15 remains our gold standard for consistency. Of course, the PING K15 is perhaps the most super of the super-game improvement irons, whereas the Idea Pro A12 fills that transitional space  (more of a traditional players look in feel, with game-improvement-like performance). When you consider the design (thinner top line, moderate offset), the consistency score borders on remarkable. Almost all our testers put up scores in the A range, with 3 of those in the A+ range (topping out at just a hair under 97.5). While those numbers tell us the Idea Pro isn’t the most forgiving iron the market today, it’s not really supposed to be. The numbers do suggest it can keep up with some irons for which forgiveness is actually emphasized.

MGS Consistency Score: 94.15

Overall Performance

We test with a range of handicap levels, so we more or less expect that more player-centric designs may not perform as well in the hands of our testers as some game improvement clubs. Of course, as the results of our performance testing of the Adams Idea Pro A12 suggest, handicap level is only one small factor in determining playability. While our numbers suggest the Idea Pro A12 might not be the ideal iron for everyone, for those who swing it well, the performance numbers place the Idea Pro A12 among the best of 2011.

MGS OVERALL PERFORMANCE SCORE: 91.63

SUBJECTIVE SCORING

Looks

While not quite black, the gray PVD finish (Adams does call it black) was a big hit with our testers. The same holds true for the overall look of the clubhead, which includes a thinner than average top line that manages not to cross over the line to intimidating, a modern but not flash cavity design, and progressive offset that is subtle enough not to give one a fear of the hooks.

One tester (a guy who replaces his irons almost annually) called it the “best looking iron I’ve ever held”, while another called them “sexy at address”. The second guy probably needs to get out more, but nevertheless, the Idea Pro A12s, on looks alone, went over extremely well with our testers.

MGS Looks Score: 96.75

Feel

Where feel is concerned, “good” was thrown around quite a bit more than “great”. While I personally wouldn’t put them in the top tier (Mizuno, Miura, and very few others), I’d suggest to you they belong at the very top of the 2nd tier.

With a range of scores largely between 8 and 9 (with a couple higher, and one lower), I think our testers and I are largely on the same page. Some what say the Idea Pro A12 irons deserve a B+, others and A-. Either way, is good by me as I’d tell you the A12s offer very good, though not quite exceptional feel.

MGS Feel Score: 90.48

Perceived Distance

By modern standards the Adams Idea Pro A12 irons are what I’d call slightly jacked up. At 38″ long the 5-iron is a quarter inch longer than what I still consider standard, and the 46° PW is at least 1° strong. With all of that on the table, our testers didn’t find the A12 to be exceptional long. The majority of our testers selected the club that they would normally use from 150 and were dead on for the distance.

Normally when we test indoors, I end up hitting an 8 iron. With the Idea Pro A12, I actually found the 9 iron to be the better club for the distance. One tester alone is hardly enough to qualify the Idea Pro A12s as long, and I suspect that the stock A12 just happens to be a very good fit for me personally.

Tester Perceived Distance Score: 89.58

Perceived Accuracy

As with the Cobra S3s we tested previously, the non-standard specs (although I guess I should point out that the Adams are certainly less non-standard, and less jacked up than the Cobras) didn’t dramatically impact accuracy. While not quite to the extent they were with our previous tests, our testers were basically satisfied with, though not blown away by the accuracy of the Idea Pro A12 irons.

Tester Perceived Accuracy Score:  86.00

Perceived Forgiveness

Though the results of our consistency tests were actually above average, our testers told us that the Idea Pro A12s offer only average forgiveness. One tester told us that he struggled to hit crisp shots (although when he did, they were among the best he hit all season). Beyond that our testers had very little to say good or bad about the forgiveness.

Tester Perceived Forgiveness Score: 85.10

Likelihood of Purchase

Overall there were a few 9s circled in our surveys, but 8 was far and away the most common response. It’s somewhat curious to me because it’s clear our testers really liked the irons. One tester mentioned that the top line was a bit thicker than what he’s accustomed to (and prefers), but otherwise results were slightly above average for the category.

Tester Likelihood of Purchase: 86.00

My guess is that the Adams Idea Pro A12 irons don’t offer quite enough flash, or enough of that visible technology to appeal to most high handicap golfers. That’s probably just as well, because for most in that range, they’re probably not a good fit anyway. Based on feedback from our testers, however; I think it’s safe to say that the A12s hit the sweet spot for those with an index between 8 and 16 (although I’m guessing even lower handicap golfers might find some appeal here).

TOTAL SUBJECTIVE SCORE: 89.83

CONCLUSION

As we’ve seen a couple of other irons we’ve looked at in the last year, it’s possible that the Adams Idea Pro A12 might get lost in the shuffle. Those looking for more forgiveness have plenty of other options in the Adams lineup, while those looking for more workability are equally as well off. Still, it’s abundantly clear that manufacturers are starting to pay more and more attention to the space in between game-improvement and player’s irons (and why shouldn’t they – it’s where a large % of golfers live), and the Idea Pro A12 is the latest forged offering to enter that space.

Over the last year and a half or so we’ve looked at few irons I would toss in the transitional iron category including the Mizuno JPX-800 Pro, Cobra S2 Forged, and perhaps even the Scratch EZ-1. That’s a very solid bunch, but the Adams Idea Pro A12 is my personal favorite of the lot. I’d suggest you’d get better (certainly softer) feel from the Mizunos, and better distance from Cobra, but on balance, the A12s offer everything you could want with very little compromise.

I’ll stop just short of telling you to buy a set, but if you’re in the market for a forged transitional iron, the Adams Idea Pro A12 should most definitely be on your list.

MGS TOTAL SCORE: 91.44

Want to see additional pictures of the Adams A12 Irons, checkout the Adams A12 Iron – Photo Gallery.

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