Club tested: Thomas Golf AT725 Square Men’s 3-Hybrid
Club specs: Hand – Right; Loft – 21°; Lie – 59°; Length – 39.5”; Shaft – Graphite, “S” (stiff) flex
Price as tested: $89 (regularly $178)
About Thomas Golf products: All equipment made by Thomas Golf features the company’s patented Shot Accuracy Technology, an alignment indicator on the top of the club which helps assure precise aim. The company offers free custom fitting of all clubs on its website and sells its products exclusively online.
Club notes: Think it’s no longer hip to be square? Think again. Clearly unconcerned that square clubheads have basically disappeared from the lineups of big brands, Thomas Golf continues to offer its AT725 Square Hybrid set, available in 15 different lofts from Driver (10.5°) to Lob Wedge (60°)..
That’s right – you can put together an entire set of clubs with nothing but hybrids (except the putter). The AT725 Square model capitalizes on the same technology that brought the category to life in the first place, namely, a shape that creates an exceptionally high moment of inertia (MOI) for maximum clubhead stability and accuracy.
At address: If you’re a traditionalist who prefers a pear-like shape to your woods and hybrids, Thomas Golf’s AT705 might be a better choice. The AT725 Square Hybrid appeals to golfers who don’t mind a club that looks a little… different.
That said, the corners of the AT725 are actually rounded off, so it’s neither precisely square nor jarring to the eye. And the shape works beautifully in concert with the alignment indicator on the crown. Indeed, you’d be hard-pressed to find a club that sets up more squarely behind the ball – literally.
Swinging it: It was all systems go with our AT725 3-Hybrid. Unlike some block-headed square drivers of a few years back, there was no discernible “drag” on the backswing or downswing. That’s probably due to the more aerodynamic shape and thinner profile of this club vs. its predecessors. Also, the sole and leading edge are curved, so they sweep across turf and through thicker grass without snagging.
At impact: Again, nothing out of the ordinary here. Solid hits feel and sound the way they should, while misses are recognizable but not overly harsh. The high-MOI clubhead does, indeed, feel quite stable even on shots struck out on the toe.
Ball in flight: There’s plenty of power packed into the AT725 Square Hybrid. We got excellent carry distance – certainly better than with a 3-iron, which has a similar loft – and good height without “ballooning” or excess spin.
AT 725 Hybrid Golf Clubs Specifications Chart
Playability & forgiveness: Where some hybrids seem to induce hooks, we didn’t have that problem with the AT725. In fact, we were able to hit a few fades off the tee. The club accommodates a sweeping action on fairway shots but doesn’t protest if you take a small divot. Our poor swings (and there were a few) weren’t severely punished with huge curveballs or a big loss of distance.
Bottom line: True, square clubheads aren’t for everyone. Otherwise, the top name brands would still be cranking them out. But for golfers who enjoyed success with square models and would like to expand their set, Thomas Golf’s AT725 Hybrids are an option worth exploring. Ditto if you’ve never tried square clubheads but simply want something that looks solid at address, improves your alignment and provides plenty of forgiveness.
