Earlier this week a new driver appeared on the USGA Conforming List. The Ben Hogan GS53 Max Driver is now here and will be available as early as today from their website.
Before getting into the new GS53 Max, we want to say it is not necessarily replacing the current model from Ben Hogan. The current GS53 is a titanium driver with a forged face that got some rave reviews in our testing. The lineup that has been out will stay in line and available directly from their website.
The Ben Hogan GS53 Max driver offers a stark difference from the current model, which makes a lot of sense as a differentiator. Nearly 25% larger and 11% taller face than the original model, but the changes are more dramatic than just an increase in size.
The multi-material design is four separate pieces. Light weight and strong titanium is countered on the crown with a composite carbon fiber to add a large amount of flexibility with weight placement. This is where the Max in GS53 Max starts coming into place.
Ben Hogan R&D was able to work with dense Tungsten and position it low and deep in the club head. Weight has also been positioned internally along the edges of the driver to increase stability. The increase in moment of inertia (MOI) is quite staggering, as well as a higher initial launch, while still maintaining low spin.
“This is a special driver that is born off Mr. Hogan’s principles of club design,” said Scott White, CEO, Ben Hogan Golf Company. “Our R&D mission for the GS53 MAX was to keep the Center of Mass as low and as far rearward as possible, which is very different when compared to the original GS53 driver which is much higher and more forward. As a result, the combination of the lightweight composite crown and tungsten sole weight allow us to position the Center of Mass so that we maximize launch while decreasing the amount of ball spin. This provides a higher ball flight … especially for players who don’t have Tour-caliber clubhead speeds … for increased carry and roll out. “
The adjustable hosel is still in place and is what Ben Hogan calls Flight Control. The adapter has not changed, so golfers that were GS53 users can swap shafts in and out. Loft changing ability is 1 degree either way from the standard loft, as well as open or close the face angle to better fit your needs. Hogan got the hosel right in that shaft graphics and grip position does not need to be altered when making adjustments.
We know shaft choices are always a big thing and we can say that Ben Hogan has brought three different options to their GS53 Max driver. We can also tell you that none of these are made for altered from original specs. Each one is premium aftermarket shaft, the same you would find ordering directly.
Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black: Low Trajectory
Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue: Mid Trajectory
UST Mamiya Helium: High Trajectory
The Details
Available: Today on their website
Cost: $355
Lofts: 9 and 10.5 degrees available
The Mavrik SZ is a 10.5° set to -1/D
The GS53 Max is a 9° set at its neutral setting
I’ll see if I can borrow the launch monitor at take the testing outdoors at some point.
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
I read it wrong then hahaha! mirrored finish on the logo is very cool.
This is really nice looking, thanks for sharing, interested in hearing feedback on it also.
Wow I really like the looks of that.
Very similar to what I saw. Low spin (which everybody saw down at the THP Experience) and overall decent club head. I will say lots light years ahead of their other model in my opinion.
They sell them on their website.
So they do… Thanks. Ponder mode engaged.
Do you think it would benefit someone who hits the regular model well, to try this out as well? I don’t have many complaints about the GS53 but if I could be leaving something on the table, I’d like to give it a try.
Not sure, but they are really different drivers.
The Max is more forgiving, especially laterally, but also lower spin. So it will depend on the golfer. I much preferred the max.
The fact that @BHGtylerb put the GS53Max in his bag is very telling to me!
Haha. He is a company guy, of course he is going to the new one.
With that said, its a better driver.
Quick and dirty thoughts before I dive in more post kiddo bedtime….
1) Damn fine looking driver at address. Larger front to back than my EXS Pro, but it‘s a clean shape. No angular here.
2) Forgiving. Much more so than the GS53 I reviewed, I can tel that already.
3) It’s….boisterous, truly. On the metallic end as well sound wise.
4) The LOW spin is real, based on my carry numbers with the 10.5 and some of the heights I saw, the distance was DEEP. I hit the GS53 in the 2200 range, I bet this is lower for me by a chunk.
5) I drove a green with it today. And I mean DROVE it.
More soon. Promise.
I’m shocked by the low spin talk. Same goes from the guys at the event.
I don’t have your swing speed, it was not boisterous in my hands compared to my Epic Flash…maybe I never found the center. ????
I hit it about 24 times today (hit extras off tees for testing purposes and two off the deck for S&G’s), and it’s not a muted driver by any stretch, I’ll definitely stand by that.
Nah, that one is on the obnoxious side of sounds. This one has got some resonance to it and definitely not a sound I’d expect out of so much carbon in the crown.
But it’s going to come in lower spin for sure when I get data. I think it’s going to push breaking that 2k barrier for me.
It is definitely loud but not obnoxious.
The sound on the standard model was so good, I guess more forgiveness comes with more noise.
I agree, it was, and it’s something I really complimented in my homepage review on that one.
This definitely isn’t that sound. But it’s also definitely not that head as in just one days work it showed to be MUCH MUCH MUCH more forgiving, and extremely neutral.
View attachment 8977975
Looks:
Looks great behind the ball with the composite crown , alignment aid and just looks very forgiving . Shape is nice.
Sound: This driver is on the loud side, but not too bad with ProV1’s. It is not a high pitched annoying sound, just kind of clank like. Doesn’t bother me and I hate loud drivers.
Feel:
Honestly , it feels the same where ever you hit it. It is just an ok feel, not mushy but not hard like the SIM. My strike was up and down but in the center, I couldn’t tell when I missed it.
Performance:
I have the 9 set to neutral. It is a mid flight to high flight with low spin. I was getting more roll than I am used too. Distance wise it can hang with any of the top drivers. It is very forgiving , I was hitting the same distance all day. I didn’t get this on the monitor so I am not sure about spin and launch. However when I hit Tyler’s in Florida, I was right around 2200.
That said, some really solid feedback there! @MSEASU !
I got 3 in yesterday before being called off for Lotte bday duty. It’s long, but man, it is loud to me coming from the SIM for sure with its muted sound but also from the EXS Pro which isn’t a quiet driver either. I think it’s something that people are going to notice the more that hit it, but, the forgiveness and ball flight combined with the low spin and low price might make it easy to overcome.
Performance is WAY better than the GS53, but the OG gets the nod on feel/sound.
I’ll be honest, the sound surprised me too. That said, the performance is honest to goodness MUCH better, and even as one of the biggest sound is feel guys here this one so far the performance has made it easier to deal with the sound.
It’s not Cleveland loud, it’s just got a little hollow metallic pitch to it at impact, and for me the tone does change some across the face.
Will also try to get some sound clips.
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts. This is a real contender for my next driver, but there’s just not enough info out there for me to pull the trigger yet.
“Your order has been shipped”
GS53Max and 3W both with Helium Stiff. Woohoo!
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View attachment 8978499
It’s here….
GS53 MAX // Tensei X
Update plllzzzz
Sound clips didn’t turn out because of the sirens in the background the whole freaking 9.
Have some data I will share tonight, but it was taken in 37 degrees.
Hogan GS53 Max Sound
soundcloud.app.goo.gl
it’s definitely not at all quiet. My HS kids were taken aback yesterday at practice.
Im going out to try and get a clean data set one more time today, I’ll have an update then but review is scheduled to hit the homepage on Tuesday I believe!
It’s low spin, and it retains lower spin on some bad misses. I’ve had some swipey ones stay in the low 3,000’s that the standard GS53 would have been pushing 4,000. I’m seeing a touch more spin on the monitor than I expected, but, part of that is I’m playing it a flex down. I’ve been in the 2300 realm most of the time.
That said, even with my broken swing and the moment in terms of making speed, I’m getting super impressive carry distances thanks to the launch and spin profile. It’s a DEEP driver,
Thats all you had to say, now take my money i hope my fitter gets the head soon and my backs starts working again, still have my combo set to finish testing.
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+1 , That doesn’t sound too bad at all. Would still love to hear it in person.
Had a few other decent pops, then 18 happened. Slight tailwind 5mph. Fairways are
A bit shaggy because they’ve been over seeded with rye. But I took a nice controlled backswing, timed my weight shift perfectly and nutted one right down the middle and through the fairway. First time in a couple of years, and the others were with dry fast fairways.
Sound is a bit sharp but jot objectionable. Looks GREAT behind the ball. I think I need to adjust a bit to the Helium counter balanced design but I think it’s going to be a real keeper.
Didn’t hit the three wood as much but had a couple of very nice drives, and a good one off the deck too. Again Helium shaft needs some adjustment but both clubs rock!
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Excellent!
I played a round today with @mseasu’s. It was fabulous. The wind we played o. Was not but a big fan of this driver.
https://www.thehackersparadise.com/forum/index.php?threads/ben-hogan-gs53-max-driver-review.8925805/
So far, I love this thing. Easy to swing, lines up well. The adjustments to get it dialed in were fairly easy. I recommend to anyone looking for a new long stick to take advantage of the test drive Ben Hogan golf offers. For under $400, I think you’ll be hard pressed to find a better one.
Awesome subtle looks and huge with the mass moved back to promote low spin high launch.