Modern Classics (Ep. 2): Adams Idea Pro “Tour Prototype” hybrid from 2006
Last week, GolfWRX.com officially launched its new club testing video series called “Modern Classics,” in partnership with 2nd Swing Golf.
In the eight-episode series, we take a look at eight of the most popular older/used clubs that are still being played on the PGA Tour and are currently available at 2nd Swing for a fraction of the cost of new equipment.
Under the watchful eye of expert 2nd Swing club fitter Cliff Walzak, GolfWRX’s Head of Tour Content Andrew Tursky tested each of the eight clubs against his modern gamers.
For the first episode that launched last week, we highlighted the classic TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC 2011 irons that are played on the PGA Tour by Daniel Berger.
This week, Tursky tests out the Adams Idea Pro Tour Prototype hybrids, which were first released in 2006 and are currently available at 2nd Swing for $59.99 each. The hybrids have certainly withstood the test of time since they’re still being used by the legendary Bernhard Langer on the Champions Tour. For proof, check out Langer’s 2022 WITB from the recent Charles Schwab Championship.
In the video above, Tursky tests out the Adams Idea Pro Tour Prototype against a current, modern hybrid. Walzak and Tursky then break down the numbers, and assign a value rating.
Enjoy the video!
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Equipment
A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic
Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.
Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.
We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.
Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).
See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here
Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge
Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.
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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.
See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here
Turning Back the clock
Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.
But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.
For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.
Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.
The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.
The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.
Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter
Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.
Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.
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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.
If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.
Brilliant.
See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here
Stricker’s unrecognizable putter
Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.
Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.
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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates
Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.
Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.
It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.
Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines
Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.
Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.
FitzMagic teams back up
Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.
See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here
And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.
We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!
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- Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 80 TX
Hybrid: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue (22 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 6.5 100
Irons: Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore Tour Rack (50-10 MID, 54-10 MID, 58-10 MID, 60-06 LOW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100, S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Plus4
Check out more in-hand photos of Alejandro Tosti’s WITB in the forums.
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Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper (13.5 degrees)
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (19 degrees)
Irons: TaylorMade P790 (4-8, PW), TaylorMade P760 (9)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09, 56-10, 60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2 Prototype
Check out more in-hand photos of Drew Brees’ clubs here.
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Members Bounce
Jan 24, 2023 at 4:16 pm
They don’t make ‘em like they used to. This club survived a tomahawk heave down 18 last weekend after a rope hook OB. I hit it better than ever the next day.
Mo
Jan 24, 2023 at 1:42 pm
I still have my 24* og Peanut with Alta X flex shaft straight from the Tour Van. Best hybrids ever made imo. I recall some of the Peanut heads selling for as high as $500 a piece back in the good ole days of “Tour Issue” equipment.
Eric
Jan 24, 2023 at 8:54 am
Love this series
Moe Greene
Jan 24, 2023 at 1:30 am
You got the retail top. The best was the PNT which has a grey matte top. I have one. It’s awesome and clean.
JungleJimbo
Jan 24, 2023 at 12:45 am
Tursky: Nice job on the video w.r.t. Adams Idea Pro “Tour Prototype” hybrid. But please ask your video/audio editor to have a 2nd look (2nd-listen?) to the audio — the equalization is creating extremely-loud peaks i.e. it’s distracting from the actual video, to have to keep the hand on the volume knob, to tone-down the sudden volume peaks!
Jefferson
Jan 24, 2023 at 12:18 am
Still got mine! Best ever. May have to get them out and bang then about!
CrashTestDummy
Jan 23, 2023 at 9:08 pm
Definitely still a legit club. I still have the Adams A7 with UST Mamiya Axivcore 85 shaft. The shaft is really the standout for me. It is a lower torque counterbalanced hybrid shaft that really holds up well to aggressive swings. Definitely not a noodle shaft.
Max
Jan 23, 2023 at 6:05 pm
Still Playing my Adams Boxer Pro Gold 20* hybrid. Ive tried to replace it a number of times over the years, but Im not chasing distance with a 20* hybrid, I want it to fit into a slot between my longest iron and a fair way wood. The club is the most reliable in my bag, and the one I can hit straight most consistently. Tight lies, tee box, rough – doesnt matter. I even find on many par 5’s I know I cant reach in 2, Ill just go ahead and hit it off the tee and then for my second – easy recipe for birdie attempts and stress free pars.
Chris Hartman
Jan 23, 2023 at 4:59 pm
I just built up a 16* and 20* version of this club. One was $20 off ebay for a head only, the other was $25 with a generic regular flex shaft. absolutely love hitting these.