Adams Ideas Tech V3 Hybrid

Before I proceed to the man article, I want you to read till the end as a good "lobang" awaits you. (Lobang is hole in Malay and it means an opening).

Barney Adams was a former Corning Glass engineer who roped in some investors to work on his dream after acquiring a defunct golf business called Dave Pelz. Later he established a custom-fitting operation. Adams Golf was founded in 1987. Their clubs are technologically innovative and n the late 1990s they created and pioneered a low profile, low centre of gravity head design called "Tight Lies" Fairway Wood that became a phenomenon in the golf industry. They have received rave reviews over the many years with their products and even today they have die-hard fans who still caryy their Tight Lies in their bags.

Adams Golf are industrial leader in hybrids and full hybrid golf sets. Adams "Idea Hybrid" has taken pole position in many tourneys like the PGA and others. Adams Golf also created a "Velocity Slot" in their hybrid club heads which is a breakthrough innovation for increased forgiveness and distance.

In 2012, TaylorMade bought Adams Golf for USD70 million in cash. Adams posted USD96.5 million in revenue in 2012 while TaylorMade posted sales of USD1.35 billion while Callaway had USD887 million in 2012. Is this TaylorMade's way of acquiring smaller competitors to eliminate competition or are they looking at Adams' market for seniors and women? Anyway, I am going to introduce to you a beautiful Adams hybrid called the "Idea Tech V3" and it has a prettiest cover of any hybrid you will ever find and more than that the cover is intelligently designed and functional. The coolest head-cover I have seen.

I like the dramatic dark finish straight away. It features strategically placed tungsten weights totalling 70g, an ultra-thin crown and face and increased CG to enhance spin, forgiveness and increased ball speed. It is built with a four-way cambered sole with recessed toe and  heel areas to reduce turf drag. 

Its trajectory is a penetrating flight. Hitting it on the screws means long and straight shots. I'll describe it as "The Dark Knight Rises". PVD black finish is a complete glare reduction but may wear off at the hitting zone.

Swing weight is D0 with a length of 41.25 inches for the 19 degrees. Definitely one of the best feeling hybrids out there. The dark finish makes it look sinister. Like a stealth bomber. Clean with no distraction at address. It is actually sexy!

The Mitsubishi Rayon Bassara shaft is a great shaft for recreational golfers who might find Tour type shaft too tough for them and thus distance and feel may allude them. You will hear and see a lot about Mitsubishi golf shafts as they have bought over one of America's top shaft companies - "Aldila".

As far as golf covers are concerned. Why don't they do it like Adams? The bottome portion is a magnetic flap where you can just flip open or close. Golf is stressful enough to have to pull up your socks not just your shoe socks but the golf cover socks. Ingenius.

I would say most golfers can use this club but the 19 degree is long and harder to hit and it looks open during set up. Slicers may not take to this but I am sure a 22 degrees would be much easier.

Adams has succeeded in producing a solid hybrid that is small and playable, looks so slick and yet can launch a ball high, forgiving with great and satisfying feel. The single white alignment line right at the bottom of the face is a great touch.

I think this is how a hybrid should be like. The shape, the size, the sound, the look, the feel, the price.

Golf as in life, play as it lies.

Alright, now for the "lobang". CIMB Bank are issuing the CIMB credit card which will be issued free when approved. On top of cash rebates and all the other benefits, what got me interested really is that with this card you can play golf for free (which I supposed you only have to pay for the buggy) at golf courses in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. Local courses include Orchid Country Club (OCC), Raffles Country Club (RCC), Sembawang Country Club (SCC) and Warren Country Club (WCC).

If you can play at each club a few times, you will already be a happy man. Join me to do it and invite me for golf. I met one Mr. David Li who will serve you well. Write to him at:

david.li@cimb.com

I am beginning to like Malaysian PM Datuk Najib. Malaysia Boleh!