Equipment
Adams Golf’s new XTD “Cross Cavity” Irons
The give-and-take of golf club’s design is one of the biggest challenges engineers face when tuning its distance, forgiveness and feel.
Take, for example, golf equipment’s hottest trend of “distance irons.” Such clubs have extremely thin, unsupported faces that drive their fast ball speeds. But the thinness of their faces also tends to change their sound in a negative way, creating a loud, high-pitch noise at impact that golfers equate with bad feel.
Adams’ newest distance irons, the XTD “Cross Cavity” irons, are designed to fix that feel problem, while at the same time adding ball speed and forgiveness. To do so, however, the company needed an out-of-the-box solution that came by way of the Cross Cavity design.
The Cross Cavity design in the rear of the iron heads serves to move the center of gravity farther back, allowing the irons to be more forgiving than their size indicates. That’s the genesis of Adams’ claim that the irons have forgiveness that’s “more like a hybrid,” because the deeper CG generates a gear effect (draw spin on toe hits, fade spin on heel hits, etc.) that is similar to a hybrid.
But what makes the XTD irons truly unique is what Adams calls a “Pressure Piston,” a structure that’s mechanically lodged between the Cross Cavity and the club face to quiet sound and vibration (see the diagram below).
Justin Honea, senior director of research and development for Adams, said that Pressure Piston’s acoustic benefits allowed for a thinner, harder face material (450 stainless steel) to be used in the XTD irons. The thinner faces, combined with a 25 percent longer Cut-Thru slot on the irons’ soles, makes them significantly longer and forgiving than their predecessors, Adams’ Super S irons.
Sole shape (left) and topline (right). Click to enlarge
Just how much longer are they? According to Honea, they’re about 10 yards longer than the Super S irons while maintaining the same modest lofts (the 6 iron measures 28 degrees, 1.5 degrees weaker than TaylorMade’s SpeedBlade irons and 2 degrees weaker than Callaway’s X2 Hot irons).
The XTD irons sell for $599 for a seven-club set and come stock with KBS C-Taper 90 steel shafts. Golfers can also add one of Adams’ new Pro hybrids to the set for $100 each. Click to enlarge the spec sheet below.
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.
From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.
Specs/ Additional Details
-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)
-Original Anser Design
-PING PP58 Grip
-Putter is built to standard specs.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.
The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.
On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.
Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.
At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.
“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.
Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.
“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.
“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.”
In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.
On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.
According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.
“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.”
See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here.
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Equipment
Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage
Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.
It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.
When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”
“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”
View this post on Instagram
According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.
Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:
“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.
“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.
“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.
“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.
“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”
So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.
His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.
See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here
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Joe
May 29, 2015 at 6:48 pm
I just bought the xtd irons and two months later the 4 iron backing plate broke off, then three months after that the 3 iron broke in the same place, looks like a bad design,anyone else have such problems?
Joey
Aug 3, 2015 at 11:43 am
Bought my clubs about a year ago and the exact same thing happened to my 4 iron. Hasn’t happened to any other clubs yet though.
Pingback: Adams Golf 2014 Xtd Irons | Bi Golf Psychology
gray
Oct 21, 2014 at 7:44 pm
I just played these irons….they are really good. I think they set up nice behind the ball and they just have a beautiful flight. yes they are long but very, very forgiving….I ma purchasing them… I am a low handicap player by the way…
luis d
Sep 9, 2014 at 5:48 pm
I just bought these this past weekend. I went in with the mindset of buying the JPX or Apex, then the golf pro came over and handed me the 7 iron of the XTD and man i was hitting the ball straighter and at least 14 yds longer. A great product and cant eait to hit the links this weekend.
marty
Jul 14, 2014 at 10:17 am
Love these clubs.
Vaun Stoots
Jun 27, 2014 at 11:15 pm
These irons are incredible! They are 1 to 1 1/2 clubs longer than my Taylormade irons. The ball flight is high and just seems to carry & carry. Awesome feel! My last 2 rounds have been -1 and -2 & I’m an 8 handicap. They have been a huge difference in my game.
Birdman
Jun 25, 2014 at 12:07 pm
Hit these at a Demo Day a few weeks back … best feeling club I’ve hit in a long time. Not crazy about the ‘gimmicky’ back – but who cares if it works?! Tried it both with the stock steel shaft & also the graphite Matrix Q shaft. Loved the feel, the ball flight, and the distance so much – that I bought a set. Oh, and I went to this demo thinking that I would buy one of the following sets: Taylormade Speedblade, Titliest AP2, or Ping G25’s — sorry guys – Adam’s performed and felt better than all 3 of those, hands down!
marty
Jul 14, 2014 at 10:18 am
Not a gimmicky back. The cross brace allows a thinner club face. Beast.
leftymoose
Feb 13, 2014 at 10:21 pm
When’s the release date on these? And what are the specs on C-taper 90’s? KBS doesn’t even show them on their website.
Duncan Castles
Feb 13, 2014 at 8:20 am
‘Modest lofts’? A 28-degree six iron is at least 3 degrees stronger than standard. Essentially, Adams’ ‘modest’ six iron is a five iron…
leftymoose
Feb 13, 2014 at 10:09 pm
Have these irons been released yet or soon to be? Also, what are the specs on the KBC c-taper 90 shafts? Can’t find any info on them
Kenneth Petersen
Aug 31, 2014 at 8:28 am
Then speedblade 6 iron is essentially a 4 iron compare lofts to dif clubs of same nature, they are not as strong
Joe Golfer
Feb 13, 2014 at 1:57 am
Since Ernie Els is putting something like this in his bag now, I wonder what his lofts will be on his Adams XTD’s?
M
Feb 11, 2014 at 12:41 pm
Not only are the lofts jacked up now, the lengths of the shafts have gotten longer than what they used to be too, so the number of club doesn’t really matter any more than to just to help us count how many clubs there are in the bag.
Kyle
Feb 10, 2014 at 8:15 pm
Hit these the other day. Great clubs! Who cares what the back looks like, because it is all hidden at address.
Fuck Off
Feb 9, 2014 at 11:24 am
They look tight to me
markb
Feb 8, 2014 at 10:31 pm
Yes they are ugly, but I wonder how they perform.
Is that “piston” that connects to the face made out of a polymer or some speedslot goop? If so, it probably doesn’t impact the trampoline effect much.
Double Mocha Man
Feb 8, 2014 at 1:39 pm
“What’d you hit there?” Just bought some Titleist irons with close-to-old school lofts. 3-4 degrees weaker. So now when I’m asked that question (because I’ve got them all memorized) I just respond with the degrees of loft.
Ryan
Feb 8, 2014 at 1:29 pm
I don’t get it. First they tout how thin faced irons will have a trampoline effect for MAXIMUM DISTANCE. Then they add a bar to the face so it can’t flex?
Joe Golfer
Feb 13, 2014 at 1:45 am
If you are referring to the “Pressure Piston”, I suppose it acts like a normal piston in that it moves up and down, or in this case, back and forth. The metal support in the back is all off of the face, so that the face is unsupported.
It doesn’t even say what this “Pressure Piston” (see diagram they posted) is made up of, so it could be rubber material or elastomer.
The word “piston” would indicate that the object moves when the face is struck, so it isn’t a rigid support.
Kenneth Petersen
Aug 31, 2014 at 8:34 am
That “piston” is just for a sound dampener so club doesn’t sound so pingy and vibration isolator all I can say is go hit one then you’ll know what your talking about
Dave
Feb 8, 2014 at 12:38 pm
In a few years our 5i will have 21 degrees and we’ll be playing six wedges. No different than what we play now, just different labeling. Will we have a sub set name for wedges weaker than 53* ?
Bradley Lawrence
Feb 8, 2014 at 12:05 am
These are not like the speedbladez. I was able to hit these yesterday, they feel and perform incredible. The feel is much more solid than the speedbladez, much more like an AP1 feel. These are also crazy long! I hit a steel shafted 5 iron with the Stock KBS Tour C-Taper lite in them, and a 7 iron with the matrix program 85. They were both 15-20 yards longer than my current irons, Titleist 714’s.
I also had one of my members hit them, and he gained 15 yards, and was straighter than his Mizuno’s.
Are these for everyone? No are they for the average golfer who wants to hit the ball longer, straighter and higher. Not the Golfwrx member who wants a 52* PW, and wants to curve shots on command.
Ron H
Feb 13, 2014 at 12:34 am
Why does it matter in ANY way that your irons go further than any one else’s? Irons that fire the ball farther serve no purpose other than “bragging rights”. If your 6-iron is really like my 4-iron, will that lower your scores? Nope. But it will shrink your wallet because you’ll have to buy annother wedge or two to make up the gap at the scoring end of your set. It’s worse than pointless; it’s a waste.
Aaron miller
Aug 13, 2015 at 1:34 pm
I bought a set of these because I loved the way they looked at set up address. I played them for the first time last weekend and they launch the ball very high and mishits are very forgiving. I was really surprised at how easy they launch the ball out of deep rough on a buried lie but they are great feeling irons. I’ve always been a ping guy and play a set of titleist blades also. Guys these clubs are nice. Only down fall is you will have to add another wedge to your bag most likely. The pitching wedge is deep long. I hit it 135-150 pending wind here in Colorado. So a 50-52 degree gap wedge will mist likely be needed. A scratch golfer may not like these but if your a 8-10 handicapper you will love them.
prairiegolfer
Feb 7, 2014 at 11:29 pm
I thought these things were butt ugly and I still think they are. However, looking deeper at the technology they might have sick performance. I got to try them to find out. If they perform really well, a purchase may have to be made.
kev
Feb 7, 2014 at 11:02 pm
Just about everything Adams makes looks ugly…..including the name.
marty
Jul 14, 2014 at 10:20 am
Not a gimmicky back. The cross brace allows a thinner club face. Beast.
Amir
Feb 7, 2014 at 9:59 pm
Look at those jacked up lofts! PW at 44*..
Justin
Feb 7, 2014 at 10:05 pm
I’m not sure why everyone complains about the lower lofts. Does everyone’s pitching wedge have 52 degrees? No? Well, if not, then you’re technically playing irons with jacked up lofts. According to Mr. Wishon, in the 60’s and 70’s that was the standard pitching wedge. A 6 iron was 36 degrees, and even traditional players with “standard” lofts are a maximum of 31 degrees usually.
RumtumTim
Feb 7, 2014 at 8:37 pm
Ugly, maybe, but I have a hunch that these perform.
Adams is still playing catch up to my Wishon’s though.
Because
Feb 9, 2014 at 11:10 am
yea, because your Wishons are probably properly fit to you.
Joe Golfer
Feb 13, 2014 at 1:55 am
I like those Wishon 771 irons, with the High COR unsupported thin face.
Maybe that’s what you play, since you are comparing Wishon to these particular Adams clubs.
Don’t know how those Wishon heads sound though, as this article states that Adams made these so that they’d have the benefit of the unsupported thin face as well as good acoustics.
With Wishon’s prior model, the 870Ti irons, I have heard that they sounded sort of “clicky” to some golfers.
Wishon has a lot of great products, but I think they’d do themselves a good service if they provided all the aftermarket shafts of other companies in addition to their own in-house shaft models, just like companies such as Golfworks and Golfsmith and Hireko do.
Mike
Feb 7, 2014 at 8:19 pm
Look very much like Adams version of Speedbladez. Sure they are great but do we really need two versions of Speedbladez?