Specification comparison

Highlighted cells differ between the two sets. Lofts and lies are factory standard.

Lofts compared

What the differences mean

At the 7-iron, the Idea a4 is 33° and the Idea Tech V4 is 32°, a 1° gap. Each degree of loft is worth roughly 3 to 4 yards of carry at the same swing speed, so the Idea Tech V4 should carry roughly 3 to 4 yards further with that club, on a slightly lower, shallower flight than the Idea a4. Across the 6 clubs both sets share, the Idea Tech V4 averages 1° stronger, with the largest gap at the 6-iron (29° vs 28°). The pitching wedges are 45° and 44°; the stronger one leaves a 6° jump to a 50° gap wedge, which matters when planning wedge gapping. Beyond loft, the Idea a4 7-iron sits 0.2° flatter (62° vs 62.25°), which nudges start direction slightly right for a right-hander; the Idea Tech V4 7-iron is 0.25 inches longer (37.25" vs 37.5").

The sets are built differently: the Idea a4 runs 5-iron to LW (9 clubs), the Idea Tech V4 6-iron to GW (6 clubs).

The Idea a4 is a players distance iron and the Idea Tech V4 a game improvement iron, so they sit one step apart on the forgiveness scale. The Idea Tech V4 is the more forgiving design, with a wider sole, more offset and more perimeter weighting for roughly 10 to 25 handicaps. The Idea a4 trades some of that for a more compact head, thinner topline and more control over flight and shape, which suits roughly 5 to 15 handicaps who want extra distance from a compact head.

The Idea a4 is listed as forged and the Idea Tech V4 as investment cast hollow body. Forging, as in the Idea a4, is generally credited with a softer feel; casting, as in the Idea Tech V4, allows more complex cavity and weighting shapes, which is why it dominates forgiving irons. The Idea Tech V4'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 a4, at some cost in feel.

The Idea Tech V4 came out 3 years after the Idea a4, 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 Tech V4 is the stronger-lofted set — up to 1° stronger than the Idea a4 on matching clubs. Expect longer carry per numbered iron but a flatter descent angle; gapping at the wedge end is where that shows up.

Both charts are reproduced in full on their own pages: Adams Idea a4 specs and Adams Idea Tech V4 specs.

Frequently asked questions