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

[fixyurdivot 7,575]

3 hours ago, joen said:

And just to be clear, this was not a cosmetic failure after playing. The club arrived with the paint fill missing.

Oh, I did not catch that... odd they would leave the factory looking like that.

[fixyurdivot 7,575]

3 hours ago, joen said:

Also, is this indestructotanium alloy the same thing Ironmans suit is made out of???   

After 30+ years of pounding the hell out of my PE2's, I would have to say yes.  Also, while still early in their service life, the G410's seem to be made from a very similar chemistry.

[Popeye64 515]

I picked up a set of PTx Pros blacks, heads only to be put into the new Rapid Tapers.
I chose black because the finish is so durable and the clubs will not show bag chatter.
In comparison to my PTM blacks they are quite a bit shorter in blade length and a touch shorter. Also the hosel is longer with the Hogans.
I built these with three different weighted shafts. 95g 85g and 75g. 95 in the pw, 9... 85 in the 6 7, 8 and 75 in the 4 and 5. All S flex.
The 4 iron is an absolute missile. I was playing it at 225 out and actually making the green. With the 75g shaft they get up very quickly but flaten out and Go. Hitting the 5 iron too far was an issue a few times. A smooth easy swing is all that's needed with the 75g shafts.
The 85g don't quite fly as high but they were also giving me distance that matched the PTM irons which are 2° stronger. Spin is really something with these. The ball just dances on the green. I was seeing the ball bounce pretty high on yhe greens and i assumed it was going over.. Even with the 6 iron i was still backing up the ball. Every ball that hit the green was just a few feet from its mark. Almost all backed up. Stopping power is strong!!
The 95s are control freaks. They are low flying and have spin thats one hop and stop. Hitting little checker pitches is a blast with these.
When I first built the set I installed them straight in with no added weight. They all swing weighted to C 9.5 to D0. But i wasn't super crazy with how some of them felt. So I pulled them apart and made them all D2. The hosel has a nice empty 'weight pocket' below where the shaft bottoms out. I filled that with lead powder and a small bit of lead for a tip weight to get them to where I wanted.
Thats when these clubs really came to life. Never felt a club respond so well to swing weight.
These Rapid Tapers really make a huge difference in feel and flight. The 75g shafts go so damn far.
I could go with all one weight but that would be boring. With all three weights its like the set has three distinct personalities, yet blend in very well.
These are certainly a players club with not that much forgiveness. But struck well and they shine. Im just getting used to them but its a very quick learn. I love my Maltby gear but these may stay around for a while.

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

[Erik-M 651]

well my review is up and it added an extra picture at the end that i can't get rid of even if i re-edit it.  so sorry about that

[Erik-M 651]

If igured out how to spin it!

[Sluggo42 5,939]

Well, that’s 3 reviews in the 90’s now, as well as Popeye’s very cool addition. I’m enjoying reading that I’m not the only one who is really digging the Hogan irons.

[downlowkey 3,838]

Official Ben Hogan Icon Review bumparoo

I could talk about these clubs all day so please fire away with any questions that were not covered in the official review.

[Erik-M 651]

34 minutes ago, Sluggo42 said:

Well, that’s 3 reviews in the 90’s now, as well as Popeye’s very cool addition. I’m enjoying reading that I’m not the only one who is really digging the Hogan irons.

Yeah I will be getting the equalizer wedges once I sell my ap2s!!!

[bens197 5,603]

Nice & Fresh & Ready to go...please enjoy

 

 

 

[Sluggo42 5,939]

6 hours ago, downlowkey said:

Official Ben Hogan Icon Review bumparoo

I could talk about these clubs all day so please fire away with any questions that were not covered in the official review.

terrific review mate, you have a knack with the english language. well done!

[Erik-M 651]

On 8/22/2020 at 8:05 PM, Popeye64 said:

I picked up a set of PTx Pros blacks, heads only to be put into the new Rapid Tapers.
I chose black because the finish is so durable and the clubs will not show bag chatter.
In comparison to my PTM blacks they are quite a bit shorter in blade length and a touch shorter. Also the hosel is longer with the Hogans.
I built these with three different weighted shafts. 95g 85g and 75g. 95 in the pw, 9... 85 in the 6 7, 8 and 75 in the 4 and 5. All S flex.
The 4 iron is an absolute missile. I was playing it at 225 out and actually making the green. With the 75g shaft they get up very quickly but flaten out and Go. Hitting the 5 iron too far was an issue a few times. A smooth easy swing is all that's needed with the 75g shafts.
The 85g don't quite fly as high but they were also giving me distance that matched the PTM irons which are 2° stronger. Spin is really something with these. The ball just dances on the green. I was seeing the ball bounce pretty high on yhe greens and i assumed it was going over.. Even with the 6 iron i was still backing up the ball. Every ball that hit the green was just a few feet from its mark. Almost all backed up. Stopping power is strong!!
The 95s are control freaks. They are low flying and have spin thats one hop and stop. Hitting little checker pitches is a blast with these.
When I first built the set I installed them straight in with no added weight. They all swing weighted to C 9.5 to D0. But i wasn't super crazy with how some of them felt. So I pulled them apart and made them all D2. The hosel has a nice empty 'weight pocket' below where the shaft bottoms out. I filled that with lead powder and a small bit of lead for a tip weight to get them to where I wanted.
Thats when these clubs really came to life. Never felt a club respond so well to swing weight.
These Rapid Tapers really make a huge difference in feel and flight. The 75g shafts go so damn far.
I could go with all one weight but that would be boring. With all three weights its like the set has three distinct personalities, yet blend in very well.
These are certainly a players club with not that much forgiveness. But struck well and they shine. Im just getting used to them but its a very quick learn. I love my Maltby gear but these may stay around for a while.

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk
 

What are your thoughts on those ptm forged?I am looking for a set of game improvement clubs for my dad and looking for something that can be built to specs online. 

[Erik-M 651]

14 hours ago, downlowkey said:

Official Ben Hogan Icon Review bumparoo

I could talk about these clubs all day so please fire away with any questions that were not covered in the official review.

Yeah I had to cut a lot out as well, fire away

[Popeye64 515]

What are your thoughts on those ptm forged?I am looking for a set of game improvement clubs for my dad and looking for something that can be built to specs online. 

The PTM have been my gamer irons this year and they check off a lot of boxes.
Thinner top line that hides the fact that its a player GI iron.
Wide sole with relieved leading edge that is a turf friendly as any club could be.
Great feel, that didn't hit anything feel that we all love.
Plenty of weight down low that gets the ball up quickly.
Surprisingly forgiving.
Money wise one of the best deals on a forged head anywhere!!!
Tough to go wrong with the PTM.

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

[Erik-M 651]

25 minutes ago, Popeye64 said:

The PTM have been my gamer irons this year and they check off a lot of boxes.
Thinner top line that hides the fact that its a player GI iron.
Wide sole with relieved leading edge that is a turf friendly as any club could be.
Great feel, that didn't hit anything feel that we all love.
Plenty of weight down low that gets the ball up quickly.
Surprisingly forgiving.
Money wise one of the best deals on a forged head anywhere!!!
Tough to go wrong with the PTM.

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk
 

Thanks!

[J.B. TexasEx 303]

On 8/22/2020 at 8:05 PM, Popeye64 said:

I picked up a set of PTx Pros blacks, heads only to be put into the new Rapid Tapers.

How did you get a set of heads only from Hogan? I've asked, and they declined to sell only the heads.

[Popeye64 515]

How did you get a set of heads only from Hogan? I've asked, and they declined to sell only the heads.

I sent them sample shafts to be tested. So I had an in with Xcaliber. So they gave me the price they sell them to Club Chamo and such... which wasn't actually cheap.
I really wanted the split set but due to inventory they are not splitting the blacks at this time.

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

[J.B. TexasEx 303]

1 minute ago, Popeye64 said:

I sent them sample shafts to be tested. So I had an in with Xcaliber. So they gave me the price they sell them to Club Chamo and such... which wasn't actually cheap.
I really wanted the split set but due to inventory they are not splitting the blacks at this time.

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk
 

Ah...so you work in the golf industry? Nice fringe benefits.

I just think BH's reluctance to sell heads only direct-to-consumer is foolish, since they're already doing so with Club Champion as a middle man. Oh, well. 

[Popeye64 515]

Ah...so you work in the golf industry? Nice fringe benefits.
I just think BH's reluctance to sell heads only direct-to-consumer is foolish, since they're already doing so with Club Champion as a middle man. Oh, well. 

I'm the head of testing for Xcaliber shafts. It went from a hobby to a side deal. Really not making any money with it but I get all the free shafts I want.
The new Rapid Taper shafts are a game changer in a lot of ways. 6 months from now they are gonna be making big waves.

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

[bens197 5,603]

28 minutes ago, J.B. TexasEx said:

I just think BH's reluctance to sell heads only direct-to-consumer is foolish, since they're already doing so with Club Champion as a middle man. Oh, well. 

They’re not a component company. All manufacturers sell heads to CC and TXG. 

[Sluggo42 5,939]

shot a -1 70 today, and the star of the day was the 7 iron. I was zoned into the 150-155 yds shots for whatever reason, and the 7 iron kept jumping out of the bag. Needless to say, it was money all day, as I had 5 birdies. Thats a dang good day for me, and If I hadn't made a stupid double on 5 the day would obviously have been terrific . But any day the - sign is in front of my final score is a great day.

The Hogans are a very large part of this trend of good scores I've been on...