The second of Adams early 2013 driver releases, the Speedline Super S is a continuation of a line that brought us the F11, Fast 12, and Speedline Tech drivers. While the Super LS is built for Tour inspired performance, this line focuses on speed and aerodynamics for maximum distance.
Product Features from Adams
Velocity Slot Technology in a Driver
Adams Golf has pioneered Velocity Slot Technology, and engineers have now brought it to the SUPER S driver. The slot design in the sole of the club increases the size of the sweet spot making it incredibly easy to hit straighter and with more distance.
FastFit Adjustability
The Speedline SUPER S driver features a revolutionary new design in adjustability. Finding the perfect loft for your game has never been easier. The SUPER S driver can be adjusted to 9.5, 10.5 or 11.5 degrees of loft. This two-degree range allows the driver to adapt to the changes of your game over time making it extremely easy to fit.
Aerodynamic Refinements
Continued refinements in aerodynamic shaping, similar to advancements and streamlining of cycling headgear, allows the SUPER S driver to be the most aerodynamic driver ever developed by Adams Golf making it even easier to swing faster.
White Crown Design
The matte white crown with a contrasting PVD face increases the apparent clubhead size and improves the way you can align the club head with the ball at address for increased confidence at address. Just by looking down at this driver, you’ll feel like you can really crush it.
Description and Aesthetics
The Super S is certainly less subtle in its styling compared to the LS, though the same basic color scheme (white head/gray shaft/black face) is still there. The addition of red accents on the crown and sole give it a less ominous look, while the wing that we are familiar with from the Speedline Fast 12 and Speedline Tech suggests a futuristic appearance. The shape itself really does remind me of Adams’s last two drivers in every way but one – at address. It’s a little more triangular and less rounded than its two predecessors, or at least the graphics make it appear that way. While I suspect some Adams fans will be disappointed to see so much TaylorMade influence on the design of these two drivers, I do think there are some improvements. Most notably, the three curved indentions from the Fast 12 are long gone.
Like the Super LS, Adams is introducing its Velocity Slot Technology into the Super S driver. As Adams puts it, “The slot design in the sole of the club increases the size of the sweet spot making it incredibly easy to hit straighter and with more distance.” As you may know, COR is basically maxed out in modern drivers, so this feature will apply more to retaining ball speed on off-center strikes.
The Super S comes with the Matrix Radix S shaft, weighing in around 50 grams and 46 inches in length. It’s plainly adorned in gray with the subtle graphics that Matrix is known for. The shaft is fairly light and long and should offer a mid to high launch due to a lower bend point.
As I mentioned in the Super LS review, Adams has a new take on head covers this year. Here’s what I said about them there:
It has a wide opening at the bottom and appears to be made of very sturdy leather with substantial padding inside. It certainly reminds me of the Cleveland Classic driver’s head cover, though it’s much more substantial in build. I love the way the head cover looks, though I felt it was a little more difficult to get on and off than I expected.
Much like the Super LS, I wasn’t a fan of the sound the Super S produced at impact. In fact, it was very similar the Super LS in that it was rather high pitched, hollow, and loud. I really do hope that Adams takes a look at this in coming years, because it detracts from a pretty good overall package.
Adjustability
The Speedline Super S presents an interesting take on Adams’s Fast Fit Adjustability. Rather than offer a number of different loft options, this driver comes in one stock configuration – 10.5°. Then, depending on the user’s needs, the loft can be adjusted as much as 1° higher or lower by opening or closing the face. While I do like the simple solution that Adams is offering here, I wonder if the lack of some sort of feature that at least gives the appearance of a neutral face will take away from its attractiveness. I can see people that need a 9.5° driver, but don’t want to look at an open face shying away from the Super S, whether their fears are founded or not.
One neat feature is the way Adams is choosing to display the various loft adjustments. They’ve carved out a bit of the hosel and inscribed the loft on the tip of the adapter rather than the C, N, or O that we normally see. I thought this was a pretty cool idea.
Performance
I tested the Speedline Super S in multiple lofts with the Matrix Radix S in stiff flex. The review process consisted of on-course play and indoor testing with a Vector launch monitor.
Adams acknowledges that the Super S is the higher spinning and launching driver of their 2013 lineup and my experience on course and indoors tends to back that up. The option of increasing loft to 11.5° was particularly attractive to me and it offered me the best combination of spin and loft among the two 2013 Adams drivers. In addition, my ball speed and swing speed numbers were slightly higher with this club. While I can’t think of anything that I loved about the Matrix Radix S, it did seem to help me get the ball higher in the air, and I appreciated that.
Off center shots saw minimal distance loss in both testing venues, especially shots out towards the toe. One shot in particular is still entrenched in my memory – a pushed toe strike that retained much of its distance and produced enough hook spin to bring the ball back into the fairway. That’s a common miss for me and a result that I like to see.
While I found forgiveness on off-center strikes to be ample, I never really felt like I had consistent control over the Super S. At times I was very good with it and other times I struggled mightily to keep it in the fairway. I don’t have an answer to why that was the case, but I do wonder how much more accurate I would have been with a 45 inch shaft like the Super LS has. Then again, it’s entirely possible that it could have been a coincidence or the guy swinging the club. Either way, I’d encourage you to give it some swings and make that determination on your own.
Final Thoughts
My feelings for the Speedline Super S are somewhat divided. I think that it’s a big improvement in the looks department when compared to the Speedline Fast 12, but I still prefer the less futuristic looks of the Super LS. While my distance, forgiveness and ball height were quite good, I felt like I lacked some control with it in my hands. The Fast Fit Adjustability has some novelty value and I liked that I was able to raise the loft to the 11.5° range, but I do wonder if it’s too simplistic when compared to the many other options available in the market today. I’d certainly recommend taking it for a test drive based on the positive features I’ve noted above. It might be just the right fit for you. For more information, you can check out Adams’s website at www.adamsgolf.com.
Nice review. You can definitely see the TaylorMade influence in this club.
Excellent review Hawk, I think it sounds like a definite must try for people in the market for a driver. Everything sounds great up to the part where you say you felt like you lacked control with the Super S in your hand, that can be a killer if you can’t trust the club. I do look forward to demoing this though, I really liked the fw.
Great review Hawk, this sounds like a good choice for me in a driver other than the control issue. I do wonder if this would continue to be an issue for you if you were to continue to game it. The mid high launch and enhanced forgiveness sound like a good fit for me.
Excellent and thorough job Hawk. Full of good information. I love when THP reviews a product (regardless of the staffer) because they always give honest feedback. We are not always going to love every club. I think it is good and important for companies to get criticism also, so in the future they can make necessary changes. Absolutely well done review Hawk.
Another great review, Hawk. This is one that has intrigued me for a bit now, and I think it all goes back to my original love/hate relationship with my Superfast 1.0. This seems to give me that similar feeling in terms of shape/design. The control issue is a bit of a warning flag, but who am I kidding, I have that issue with just about every club!
Excellent review!
Another great review, thanks Hawk.
Very informative review Ryan!! Seeing the success of the speed slot in other clubs definitely has me wanting to try this. Loved what I read about off-center hits but like you I may need the LS for the shorter shaft.
Another must hit in May, if not before then!
Nice review. Adams really started getting more of my attention next year and this doesn’t change that. Very very interesting stuff.
I like the head but that shaft isn’t for me. Great review.
I’m currently gaming this club in a regular flex, though not sure if I’ll keep it. The distance it produced for my 92-95 mph swing speed was slightly longer than anything else I demo-ed on the launch monitor. The shaft is quite stable, but when we tested the shaft’s flex on a machine, it was actually closer to a stiff. Don’t like the fact that at 9.5 loft the club head is actually 2 degrees open–a slice machine. So you have to game a higher loft to get to neutral, with a tendency to then hit slightly down on the ball so it doesn’t balloon. In short, this club requires a different swing than anything else in my bag–not a great thing. But when you nail one, this club has a lovely boring trajectory, and it goes far. My first round with it I hit 3 drives between 250 and 265 with roll out, and I’m 64 years old. But I left a half dozen balls right– so had to readjust to a higher loft, less open face. As another reviewer mentioned, a bit less control than I’d like, but once you get used to it, both draws and fades are available. In fact, a power fade seems to be what it wants to do for me–with far less work than a draw demands. They’ve just come down in price, and you really should check it out. Unlike the Taylormade R1 and Stage 2, this club requires some getting used to, but the head and the shaft can generate a lot of power. I’m not ready to give up on it, in fact it’s kind of growing on me.
^^^ I also am using the Super S. With my swing speed range of 94 – 98 I decided on stiff flex. I do agree this driver takes some getting used to after coming from a Burner Superfast. I am still dialing it in & have experienced some positive results.
I also have the Adams Idea Black CB3 Irons and love them.
Thanks Ryan, very informative. Just bought this driver and took it to the range today. It’s similar to the Burner 2.0 and it does have a rather high crack sound. Gets good distance. Grip and shaft feel great. The deep face is pleasing to the eye. I did not see any reason to adjust the loft.
Just want to add that I have the regular flex and I adjusted to 11 degrees based on another range session. I was carrying the furthest green at the range and have not been able to do that before. So the carry was about 200 with good range balls. Nice to see more distance and dispersion was tight.
Adjusted loft back to factory default setting of 10.5. Can hit a tight draw. The driver has pop. I also have a couple of the Idea Super S hybrids.
Great review, Great site.
I’m interested in buying a Adams speedline super s driver. I’m not sure about the flex.
What swingspeed do you have and what flex did you use during testing this driver?
My swingspeed with 6iron is 84 mph.
Thx
Pieter
Great review! If anyone wants to read up a little more than check out http://www.golfreviewguy.com/adams-super-s-driver-review.html.
There is also a link for the lowest price I have seen. Hope this helps!
Just got this driver today… great club I’m easily hitting it 250 in soggy fairways great control my draw has never looked better…. a must by four the aspiring amateur
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