Adams Idea a2 vs Adams Idea Pro Forged
Side-by-side factory specifications. Differing values are highlighted.
Specification comparison
| Club | Idea a2 loft | Idea Pro Forged loft | Idea a2 lie | Idea Pro Forged lie | Idea a2 length | Idea Pro Forged length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 26 | 26 | 60.75 | 60.5 | 38.5 | 38.25 |
| 6 | 29 | 30 | 61.25 | 61 | 37.875 | 37.5 |
| 7 | 33 | 34 | 62 | 61.5 | 37.25 | 37 |
| 8 | 37 | 38 | 62.75 | 62 | 36.625 | 36.5 |
| 9 | 41 | 42 | 63.25 | 62.5 | 36 | 36 |
| PW | 45 | 46 | 63.5 | 63 | 35.75 | 35.5 |
| GW | 50 | — | 63.5 | — | 35.5 | — |
| SW | 55 | — | 63.5 | — | 35.5 | — |
| LW | 60 | — | 63.5 | — | 35.5 | — |
Highlighted cells differ between the two sets. Lofts and lies are factory standard.
Lofts compared
- Idea a2
- Idea Pro Forged
What the differences mean
At the 7-iron, the Idea a2 is 33° and the Idea Pro Forged is 34°, a 1° gap. Each degree of loft is worth roughly 3 to 4 yards of carry at the same swing speed, so the Idea a2 should carry roughly 3 to 4 yards further with that club, on a slightly lower, shallower flight than the Idea Pro Forged. Across the 6 clubs both sets share, the Idea Pro Forged averages 0.8° weaker, with the largest gap at the 6-iron (29° vs 30°). The pitching wedges are 45° and 46°; the stronger one leaves a 5° jump to a 50° gap wedge, which matters when planning wedge gapping. Beyond loft, the Idea Pro Forged 7-iron sits 0.5° flatter (62° vs 61.5°), which nudges start direction slightly right for a right-hander; the Idea a2 7-iron is 0.25 inches longer (37.25" vs 37").
The sets are built differently: the Idea a2 runs 5-iron to LW (9 clubs), the Idea Pro Forged 5-iron to PW (6 clubs).
The Idea a2 is a game improvement iron and the Idea Pro Forged a players iron, so they sit 2 steps apart on the forgiveness scale. The Idea a2 is the more forgiving design, with a wider sole, more offset and more perimeter weighting for roughly 10 to 25 handicaps. The Idea Pro Forged trades some of that for a more compact head, thinner topline and more control over flight and shape, which suits roughly scratch to 10 handicaps.
The Idea a2 is listed as investment cast and the Idea Pro Forged as forged. Forging, as in the Idea Pro Forged, is generally credited with a softer feel; casting, as in the Idea a2, allows more complex cavity and weighting shapes, which is why it dominates forgiving irons. The Idea a2's hollow body lets the face flex more and moves mass low and outward, usually giving higher launch and more ball speed on off-centre strikes than the Idea Pro Forged, at some cost in feel.
The Idea Pro Forged came out 1 year after the Idea a2, but it is a different line rather than a direct replacement, so the two were designed for different golfers as well as different seasons.
Which should you choose?
The Idea Pro Forged is the weaker-lofted set — up to 1° weaker than the Idea a2. That trades raw distance for a steeper landing angle and more predictable stopping power into greens.
Both charts are reproduced in full on their own pages: Adams Idea a2 specs and Adams Idea Pro Forged specs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Adams Idea a2 stronger lofted than the Idea Pro Forged?
Yes. The Adams Idea a2 7-iron is 33° against 34° for the Idea Pro Forged, 1° stronger, which is worth roughly 3 to 4 yards of extra carry with the same swing.
What is the loft difference between the Adams Idea a2 and Idea Pro Forged?
At the 7-iron the difference is 1° (33° vs 34°). The largest gap on a shared club is 1° at the 6-iron, and 5 of the 6 shared clubs differ.
Which is better for higher handicap golfers, the Adams Idea a2 or the Idea Pro Forged?
The Adams Idea a2. As a game improvement iron it is the more forgiving design, suited to roughly 10 to 25 handicaps. The Idea Pro Forged is a players iron, better suited to roughly scratch to 10 handicaps.
Do the Adams Idea a2 and Idea Pro Forged have the same lie and length?
Not exactly. At the 7-iron the Adams Idea a2 is 62° lie and 37.25 inches, the Idea Pro Forged 61.5° and 37 inches. Both can be bent or built to your own fit.
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