2020 Official Member Review: Ben Hogan Icon & PTX Pro/Icon Combo Irons

[sirchunksalot]

On 6/6/2020 at 7:25 PM, downlowkey said:

I’m neither a social media maven nor a video editor, but I’m trying to grind them both out of the dirt. Because it’s what MyGolfSpy and Mr. Hogan deserve.

ICON Black review coming soon...

*note: I have yet to take possession of this gorgeous forged goodness 

I just thought the regular Icons looked good (and they do), but these are another level. 

[bens197]

4 hours ago, Erik-M said:

So I'm thinking with the red on the kbs sticker that I'll go with these bad boys if I don't like the stock option!

Good choice. I’m loving these right now. 
 

 

[downlowkey]

2 hours ago, sirchunksalot said:

I just thought the regular Icons looked good (and they do), but these are another level. 

We were generously offered the option between the traditional nickel chrome and Diamond Black Metal (DBM) finishes.

It’s been a very long time since I’ve bagged any chrome and the DBM is supposed to be extra durable (read: stay-fresh grooves). I still almost went with the nickel because they look so darn classy. But if for some reason the DBM ends up being a turnoff (very doubtful), a simple extended soak in vinegar will actually leave a raw finish.

I‘m not planning anything crazy... but don’t try to tell me this raw finish ICON doesn’t look downright dangerous. And I’ve also really enjoyed the patina on my last 2 sets of raw finish gamers.

[GolfSpy BOS]

We were generously offered the option between the traditional nickel chrome and Diamond Black Metal (DBM) finishes.
It’s been a very long time since I’ve bagged any chrome and the DBM is supposed to be extra durable (read: stay-fresh grooves). I still almost went with the nickel because they look so darn classy. But if for some reason the DBM ends up being a turnoff (very doubtful), a simple extended soak in vinegar will actually leave a raw finish.

I‘m not planning anything crazy... but don’t try to tell me this raw finish ICON doesn’t look downright dangerous. And I’ve also really enjoyed the patina on my last 2 sets of raw finish gamers.

those look mighty fine like that.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[PMookie]

So I'm thinking with the red on the kbs sticker that I'll go with these bad boys if I don't like the stock option!

Hopefully their grips have improved from 2018. The Ft Worth irons had Z5 grips, but they got swapped-out right away. I’m a big fan of the UTX! I LOVE Lamkin grips.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

14 hours ago, Erik-M said:

So I'm thinking with the red on the kbs sticker that I'll go with these bad boys if I don't like the stock option!

I love a good red grip, downside staining gloves

[bens197]

8 hours ago, PMookie said:

Hopefully their grips have improved from 2018. The Ft Worth irons had Z5 grips, but they got swapped-out right away. I’m a big fan of the UTX! I LOVE Lamkin grips.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

The Z5 on my Ft. Worth’s lasted a day. I like how they buck the trend of putting Tour Velvets on everything like ever other golf company and they end up feeling undersized as if they use a .600 grip. The issue I had was the Z5 seemed short and stout and there wasn’t much room to choke up. 

Anyways, between the new UTX and these Calibrate grips, there is plenty of awesome to choose from.  

[edingc]

9 hours ago, downlowkey said:

We were generously offered the option between the traditional nickel chrome and Diamond Black Metal (DBM) finishes.

It’s been a very long time since I’ve bagged any chrome and the DBM is supposed to be extra durable (read: stay-fresh grooves). I still almost went with the nickel because they look so darn classy. But if for some reason the DBM ends up being a turnoff (very doubtful), a simple extended soak in vinegar will actually leave a raw finish.

I‘m not planning anything crazy... but don’t try to tell me this raw finish ICON doesn’t look downright dangerous. And I’ve also really enjoyed the patina on my last 2 sets of raw finish gamers.

If it's the same DBM finish that Cobra and Maltby uses, I'm not sure the vinegar will even touch it. That stuff is bulletproof!

[bens197]

1 hour ago, edingc said:

If it's the same DBM finish that Cobra and Maltby uses, I'm not sure the vinegar will even touch it. That stuff is bulletproof!

I hate being "actually" but I would check out Kevin Paule on Instagram @kp_golf86.  He is a Hogan staffer and treated his Icon black set with white vinegar.  48 hour bath and then some steel wool and they now look raw.  He made a post on May 16th about the process.  

[edingc]

3 minutes ago, bens197 said:

I hate being "actually" but I would check out Kevin Paule on Instagram @kp_golf86.  He is a Hogan staffer and treated his Icon black set with white vinegar.  48 hour bath and then some steel wool and they now look raw.  He made a post on May 16th about the process.  

Dude, that's sweet! I don't mind being wrong at all. I might have to give that a go on my M-Series+ wedges. The finish definitely wears down to a steel-ish color, I just figured with the way the DBM was "implanted" into the metal it wouldn't come off at all. 

[bens197]

13 minutes ago, edingc said:

Dude, that's sweet! I don't mind being wrong at all. I might have to give that a go on my M-Series+ wedges. The finish definitely wears down to a steel-ish color, I just figured with the way the DBM was "implanted" into the metal it wouldn't come off at all. 

I don't either and frankly, it blew my mind to think that it would work.  I thought the exact same as you so when I saw him produce these raw looking irons I thought wow, that's a really good look.  

[Sluggo42]

 

these are the stock grips on my Ptx Pro’s, and Equalizer wedges... I don’t even know what brand they are, but I like them. 

[downlowkey]

4 hours ago, bens197 said:

I don't either and frankly, it blew my mind to think that it would work.  I thought the exact same as you so when I saw him produce these raw looking irons I thought wow, that's a really good look.  

Yessir - the power of chemistry. I’ve known about the white vinegar trick for a few years but I actually lifted the raw pic in my prior post from KP’s Instagram feed. He put his DBM Equalizer wedges through the same process and they also turned out really nice IMO.

[Sluggo42]

man Im getting ansy for the testing to begin! I hit some 5 and 6 iron shots yesterday with the PtxPro's that were flat out sweet. I cannot wait for the Icons and the UiHi to get into the mix

[Sluggo42]

2 minutes ago, downlowkey said:

Yessir - the power of chemistry. I’ve known about the white vinegar trick for a few years but I actually lifted the raw pic in my prior post from KP’s Instagram feed. He put his DBM Equalizer wedges through the same process and they also turned out really nice IMO.

I don't know why, but I would have a hard time dunking my irons into vinegar... My sub70's were raw which I liked, but they were supposed to be like that from the factory... I guess Ive always been a bit of a chicken to do something like that, especially when its irreversible!

[bens197]

20 minutes ago, Sluggo42 said:

man Im getting ansy for the testing to begin! I hit some 5 and 6 iron shots yesterday with the PtxPro's that were flat out sweet. I cannot wait for the Icons and the UiHi to get into the mix

UiHi is the one I am most excited for

 

[deejaid]

I’m still trying to wrap my head around the PTx Pro 7-iron to Icon 8-iron transition. I just feel that with a 4* gap and standard 1/2” length progression we are going to see a much bigger distance gap than the standard 10-12 yards normally between clubs due to the tech in the PTx Pro’s and lack there of in the Icon.

The more I look at the pics on their site I just am not seeing a smooth transition between the two different models. It almost seems like a forced combo set.

We shall see.....


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Sluggo42]

1 hour ago, deejaid said:

I’m still trying to wrap my head around the PTx Pro 7-iron to Icon 8-iron transition. I just feel that with a 4* gap and standard 1/2” length progression we are going to see a much bigger distance gap than the standard 10-12 yards normally between clubs due to the tech in the PTx Pro’s and lack there of in the Icon.

The more I look at the pics on their site I just am not seeing a smooth transition between the two different models. It almost seems like a forced combo set.

We shall see.....


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I would throw a theory out there that the PtxPro's are NOT distance clubs, but rather easier to hit clubs that get up into the air.

But thats a theory based on NO factual evidence. I say this as when I got mine, I didn't really gain any distance over the Mizzy blades...

but we shall see soon

 

[PMookie]

2 hours ago, Sluggo42 said:

 

these are the stock grips on my Ptx Pro’s, and Equalizer wedges... I don’t even know what brand they are, but I like them. 

Lamkin Z5

[sirchunksalot]

3 hours ago, Sluggo42 said:

 

these are the stock grips on my Ptx Pro’s, and Equalizer wedges... I don’t even know what brand they are, but I like them. 

Those are sharp and definitely classy looking. I especially love the black, grey, and red combo. 

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

3 hours ago, Sluggo42 said:

 

these are the stock grips on my Ptx Pro’s, and Equalizer wedges... I don’t even know what brand they are, but I like them. 

Dang those are sleek 

[bens197]

3 hours ago, deejaid said:

I’m still trying to wrap my head around the PTx Pro 7-iron to Icon 8-iron transition. I just feel that with a 4* gap and standard 1/2” length progression we are going to see a much bigger distance gap than the standard 10-12 yards normally between clubs due to the tech in the PTx Pro’s and lack there of in the Icon.

The more I look at the pics on their site I just am not seeing a smooth transition between the two different models. It almost seems like a forced combo set.

We shall see.....


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

1 hour ago, Sluggo42 said:

I would throw a theory out there that the PtxPro's are NOT distance clubs, but rather easier to hit clubs that get up into the air.

But thats a theory based on NO factual evidence. I say this as when I got mine, I didn't really gain any distance over the Mizzy blades...

but we shall see soon

 

If anything, and this is just theory, a bad iron day could mean our distances In the 5-7 will be closer to the mean than the 8-p. 
 

Or, with the 8-p being easier to hit it all becomes a wash. 
 

It won’t be much longer!

[Erik-M]

Anyone else keep hoping to see those personal messages come through? Just hoping that it's saying I got a shipping confirmation?

[Popeye64]

I’m still trying to wrap my head around the PTx Pro 7-iron to Icon 8-iron transition. I just feel that with a 4* gap and standard 1/2” length progression we are going to see a much bigger distance gap than the standard 10-12 yards normally between clubs due to the tech in the PTx Pro’s and lack there of in the Icon.

The more I look at the pics on their site I just am not seeing a smooth transition between the two different models. It almost seems like a forced combo set.

We shall see.....


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

On a well struck shot the ICON 8 iron vs the PTX 8 iron should go the same distance. They may do it at different launch angles due to COG differences but distamce will be negligible. Now a poorly struck ICON might not go as far as a PTX given the more forgiving nature of the PTX.
I've seen on a lainch monitor a tour style player get better efficiency out of a Miura blade vs his own set with identical lofts on pure shots... But hit that Miura a little thin or on the toe and the penalty was harsh.
I would expect the same out of the Hogan's.

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

[sirchunksalot]

7 hours ago, Erik-M said:

Anyone else keep hoping to see those personal messages come through? Just hoping that it's saying I got a shipping confirmation?

Waiting on clubs to arrive is kind of like being a kid at Christmas. Hopefully you all will receive shipping notices soon, I can't wait to see how these clubs perform for all of you. 

[Erik-M]

3 hours ago, sirchunksalot said:

Waiting on clubs to arrive is kind of like being a kid at Christmas. Hopefully you all will receive shipping notices soon, I can't wait to see how these clubs perform for all of you. 

I was the one always trying to find the presents, so I'm bad at it lol

[sirchunksalot]

15 minutes ago, Erik-M said:

I was the one always trying to find the presents, so I'm bad at it lol

You get that shipping notification, then it'll be time to start starting out the window. I'm bad about it, too. I'll check FedEx or ups constantly. 

[GolfSpy BOS]

You get that shipping notification, then it'll be time to start starting out the window. I'm bad about it, too. I'll check FedEx or ups constantly. 

It’s a blessing in disguise to not get that initial shipping notification.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[PMookie]

It appears that most of you don’t have your clubs yet. True?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[deejaid]

It appears that most of you don’t have your clubs yet. True?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I don’t think any of us have had them ship yet. I have a Fed Ex and UPS account and have had no alert that a package is on the way.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk