+TourSpecGolfer Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Absolutely one of the best players Hybrids I have ever laid my hands on, The A-Grind UT PROTO. Currently A-Grind has 2 Hybrid Wood style clubs and 1 driving iron design and personally I think this is the better option of the three if your looking for a more traditional hybrid. For those new to A-Grind: Let's start with the man himself Yusuke Ako-san who was the lead designer for Royal Collection from 2004 to 2013 for all their clubs including woods, irons, wedges, and utilities. He is the man! after years working for someone else he decided to branch off focusing his efforts and years of knowledge on A-Grind Golf. The result has been a brand that creates some of the best players fairway woods and utilities clubs today, not to mention unreal performing wedges, blades, and cavity backs. As you can see in the above photo this thing just sets up like a gem, I've been hitting a demo club Ako-san sent me recently and can suggest it with confidence for any player that prefers a compact, square setup at address. Let's talk about feel while you look at it's perfectly shaped face profile, it's soft with a dense crunch to it, the ball pops off the face well it's got a 455 Stainless Face with a 17-4 stainless body which is what the better player wants for the best combo of feel, spin, and workability. I found it very easy to pick clean off the ground and no problems getting it in the air, its slightly shallow but not too much I would rank this as the most beautiful face profile of any Hybrid I've seen.. ever! It's for sure designed around feel & workability, distance is average, you really shouldn't be focused on distance with a hybrid like this. I consider this a purists club. Forgiveness is very good I would attribute that to its face depth & shape, it being slightly shorter heel to toe and a sole design that just flat out works. I also think the slight cut up or cut away near the rear keeps this as a mid trajectory lower spin more workable format. Now comparing it to other woods I have hit, lets start with my specs, I'm playing the 22* with a Fujikura MCH 70 Stiff Flex and it's fantastic. My main gamer is the Modart MA01H 19* with the old school Crazy Black UT wedge shaft my absolute favorite UT shaft unfortunately no longer available, Due to the shaft I am still more accurate with the Modart so that is what I play but this A-Grind head is so good it has made me on multiple occasions want to tear apart my beloved Modart combo to test the CB UT shaft in it. In feel it wins, forgivness it wins, even distance but what I value most in a UT no matter the loft is how close I can get it to the pin. It's not a good comparison but the best one I have for you right now. Loft vs Loft with the same shaft at the same specs is the only way to truly know which I prefer. The A-Grind UT PROTO is comes in 3 lofts 17/19.5/22* my recommended shafts are Fujikura MCH and TRPX UT although nearly any shaft that fits your swing should work perfectly with this head. If you need a custom build or are interested with questions please contact [email protected] ( this head used in the photo shoot is also available as well ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLL33 Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 (edited) Chris, how would you compare this one to the regular A-Grind hybrid (that I love...<g> ) ? Looks like the head size may be a bit larger? Thx. Edited January 4, 2016 by RLL33 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dickyfowler Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 I have the originals from last year and they are definitely a smaller head - one of the smallest you will come across. Good performance but I found the heads too small for consistently good results. Finding XXIO UT's better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aston55 Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 I have two hybrids to test out: a Romaro Ray 18 and an Exotics CB Pro U17. This may be next on my list Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neova Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 I love the original A-Grind UT with the smaller head, looks like those Adams Pro hybrids but more forgiving a much more beautiful. Have been using bigger hyrids in the past and while it was great off the deck the bigger heads are not as easy to hit out of thick rough, which the original A-Grind UT had no issue with. I think the original A-Grind UT is a great replacement for long irons for all lies, while the A-Grind UT Proto with the bigger head may be better for replacing a FW for use off the tee/deck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TourSpecGolfer Posted January 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Below is the original, yes small head, lower trajectory, straighter for and less distance. This is very much like a driving iron with wood like attributes where as the new PROTO is like a compact players hybrid wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TourSpecGolfer Posted January 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Oh yea here is a sneak peak from the JPGA on what Ako-san is working on next: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLL33 Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Very cool. I can't say enough good things about what this Master is doing with his designs. All are unique and special in their own way. And they perform! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smstef Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Oh yea here is a sneak peak from the JPGA on what Ako-san is working on next: A-Grind-G-CB-Irons.jpg Is this what's gonna replace my 703's for my full A-grind bag or still not SGI clubs ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magpies Posted January 5, 2016 Report Share Posted January 5, 2016 (edited) Oh yea here is a sneak peak from the JPGA on what Ako-san is working on next: A-Grind-G-CB-Irons.jpg they look similar to a titleist 714 cb. However, if it is thick enough, it might be forgiving. Edited January 5, 2016 by magpies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TourSpecGolfer Posted January 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2016 Here is top view of the new irons he is producing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TourSpecGolfer Posted February 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 Update: I love this Hybrid! I just need a new shaft to keep it a bit more tame but everything about it, especially looks and feel has my modart's worried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magpies Posted February 3, 2016 Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 Update: I love this Hybrid! I just need a new shaft to keep it a bit more tame but everything about it, especially looks and feel has my modart's worried. Tame it as in? it launches too high? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TourSpecGolfer Posted February 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2016 Tame it as in? it launches too high? No for me I value accuracy above all, I need this thing closer to the pin on approach shots it's a shaft issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuistot Posted February 7, 2016 Report Share Posted February 7, 2016 (edited) Chris, how would you rate the Your AD MJ series in the Proto and or the Original? I keep thinking of that Mandello yellow R9 tp paint fill! Edited February 7, 2016 by cuistot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magpies Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 (edited) Finally had some free time! Took the plunge and ordered from TSG. Can't wait to shaft it up and hit it! Edited February 27, 2016 by magpies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.