50 Words or Less
The 2023 Adams IDEA irons are quality game improvement clubs at a very reasonable price. Good distance and strong forgiveness. Smart sole design.
Introduction
New for 2023, Adams Golf has been reborn as a value-priced, direct-to-consumer brand with a full line of clubs designed to get more people on the golf course. As someone whose website receives loads of comments about the increasing price of clubs, the timing seems perfect. In this review, I’ll take a look at the 2023 Adams IDEA irons, a set that costs less than half of what what many other OEMs are charging.
Find more great value in the Adams IDEA driver HERE
Looks
There are irons that photograph really well and those that look better in person. To my eye, the 2023 Adams Idea irons are in the latter group. I don’t think they look bad in the address shots above and below, but in person the top line looks much thinner, which I prefer. There is a good deal of offset in the long irons, but that progresses to a more modest amount in the short irons and wedges. The blade length and face size are about average for a game improvement iron.
In the cavity, the IDEA irons have a whisper of yellow, which will remind longtime gear heads of the classic Adams IDEA hybrids. Beyond this subtle nod to the past, these irons look like any other hollow body GI iron with modest branding and a blend of chrome and matte finishes.
Sound & Feel
For a hollow body design, the 2023 Adams IDEA irons are fairly quiet. Particularly in the scoring clubs, these irons produce a quiet, dull impact sound and feel soft in the hands.
As you move into the mid and longer irons, the feel and sound change slightly. The feel gets a little firmer and quicker. The sound shift toward a “click” that’s more defined. What I also found in the longer irons is a little extra reward for those perfect strikes. There’s a bonus sensation of speed and connection, and the sound adds a small, snare drum “snap.”
Performance
Ranging in price from $500 to $800, the 2023 Adams IDEA irons are a fraction of the cost of irons from some of the big names. This leads to an obvious question: how much performance are you sacrificing? The answer, pleasingly, is not much.
Every golfer – new or seasoned – wants to hit the ball with or past their friends, and the Adams IDEA irons have that potential. Throughout the set, the ball speed they produce on center is good. There are faster irons, but you’ll be paying a lot more money for fractionally more ball speed.
To complement that strong ball speed, Adams gave the IDEA irons fairly strong launch angles through the set. The lofts are strong but well within modern standards. I found the spin to be fairly high in the scoring clubs, a little low in the mid irons, and slightly above average in the long irons. Your mileage may vary depending on your swing speed and club delivery. For me, the IDEA irons produced sensible distance gaps through most of the set with the mid irons being longer than average.
One recommendation I would make for almost all new golfers is to avoid the 4I. This is not a particularly high launching iron, and with only 20 degrees of loft, it requires a strong strike to create a meaningful distance gap to the 5I.
In addition to being fairly long, the Adams IDEA irons are quite forgiving. The ball speed is robust across the face, and the spin numbers are consistent even when your strike is not. Also, the Tri-Sole Design is very effective at keeping the club out of the dirt. There’s a lot of margin for error with this sole, but it doesn’t feel overly bulky because much of it is slightly recessed.
Finally, these irons are built to help golfers hit a draw. For me, I had to put some effort into hitting a straight ball and significant effort to hit a cut. That said, the draw bias is not extreme, and it does moderate as you move into the short irons. Overall, I think this is a very smart design to help newer players enjoy the game.
Learn to hit the draw on command HERE
Zooming out, the Adams Golf website is focused on being accessible to the new golfer. In addition to individual clubs, they sell three different packages that have everything you need to get on the course. While it’s not a substitute for a real professional fitting, they do offer a fitting tool HERE that can help new golfers get into the right ballpark for their new set.
Find affordable short game forgiveness in the Adams IDEA Wedges HERE
Conclusion
For the new or budget-minded golfer, the 2023 Adams IDEA irons are poised to be a hit. You get very strong performance and a known brand name at a price that leaves some money for green fees. These are available solely through the Adams Golf website, but they come with a 60 days risk-free trial.
Visit Adams Golf HERE
2023 Adams IDEA Irons Price & Specs
Matt Saternus
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Nice review Matt. I think this is a great choice for a beginner who has definite interest in the game & either doesn’t want to buy a set of used irons or doesn’t want to spend twice as much on an OEM brand.
For most folks who buy this set, I’d also recommend not buying the 5 iron. At 23°, most beginners / newer players aren’t hitting that club well either. A hybrid would be a much better choice.
I am trying to find out if these irons are forged?
Glenn,
I don’t believe they are.
-Matt
This review of the 2023 Adams IDEA Irons is informative and helpful, particularly for budget-minded golfers. The author highlights the reasonable price of these game improvement clubs compared to other brands. The design of the irons is visually appealing, with a hint of yellow in the cavity that pays homage to the classic Adams IDEA hybrids.
In terms of performance, the IDEA irons offer good forgiveness and sensible distance gaps throughout the set. The ball speed remains consistent across the face, and the spin numbers are reliable even with off-center strikes. The review also mentions the draw bias, which is beneficial for newer players.
I appreciate the additional recommendation to avoid the 4-iron for new golfers due to its lower loft and the suggestion for readers to explore fitting options on the Adams Golf website. This review caters to both beginners and budget-conscious golfers, providing valuable insights into the performance and appeal of the 2023 Adams IDEA Irons. John Tucker