When the Ben Hogan brand was reborn and introduced its new products to the world in 2015, it garnered quite a bit of attention. After all, the Hogan brand was one that resonated with golf fans. When the Ft. Worth irons were unveiled, they brought back many fond memories; however, they did not exactly look like your father’s Ben Hogan irons. The brand has expanded their irons to multiple lines and finishes, but yet there still wasn’t that full-on classic Ben Hogan blade iron. That all changes today with the announcement of the new ICON irons.
These are your father’s Ben Hogan irons. I can hear my father now when he hears about this release; it will go something like this, “I have a set of those in the basement.” Honestly, he’s not wrong, and he probably has two sets of them. The styling of the ICON irons will likely strike that nostalgic chord with many. Even if you are not a golfer who only dates back to the ’90s, you only need to look at the 1999 Hogan Apex irons to see the resemblance.
Don’t think for one second that these are just a classic remake because Ben Hogan did incorporate some of their modern technology to make these blades a bit friendlier than the ones Mr. Hogan enjoyed playing so much. By looking at the back of the ICON irons, there is some visible movement of mass and center of gravity manipulation taking place. This redistribution is known to the brand as a “Progressive Center of Mass,” and is put in place to help players achieve a consistent and optimal ball flight in both length and trajectory. Similar to what we have seen lately in wedge designs, the scoring clubs have weight higher in the clubhead to help produce a lower ball flight and increased control. In contrast, the mid and long irons have weight positioned lower in the head to accomplish a higher trajectory and more spin.
Featured underneath is the V-Sole, which has become a staple of the Ben Hogan line. For those that are unfamiliar with this design, we see a high-bounce leading edge with a lower-bounce trailing edge to promote forgiveness and prevent digging. Having played clubs with a V-Sole in the past, I can tell you it certainly does help. Not only does contact feel great from the fairway, but it also helps the club cut through the rough, which helps on days when your driver is not cooperating. According to Scott White, Ben Hogan’s CEO, “Serious players can take comfort in knowing that ICON gives them the opportunity to hit their mark on every shot while feeling the satisfying pureness of flush contact.”
If you have gotten to this point, you might have already concluded that the ICON irons are created for the upper echelon of players out there. Blade irons aren’t geared towards golfers looking for a jump in distance or forgiveness. They are there for those who are looking for complete control and consistency. You won’t find a 30? 7-iron here. Instead, Ben Hogan’s loft structure sticks to their tradition, which is a consistent four-degree loft separation with the 4-iron coming in at 22? and the PW sitting at 46?. These more traditional lofts should come as no surprise to anyone considering the mold of these irons.
These ICON irons from Ben Hogan are going to be available in two different finish options, chrome, and back DBM. Chrome will maintain that classic look to them, while the DMB finish has shown to wear well on the Ft. Worth irons, but be aware that after some time, there will be some lightening up on the face and sole. Both finishes are likely to draw some double takes by your playing partners.
As has been the case with the new Ben Hogan brand, their pricing is more wallet-friendly due to their direct to consumer model. Traditionally speaking, when we see a company introduce a new set of blade irons, we are looking at price tags that jump over that $1,000 mark. With Ben Hogan, that is not the case as these come in at a price tag of $770(chrome) and $800(black) for a set of 7 irons. While the direct to consumer model could make it hard to gather some in-hand experiences, Ben Hogan does offer a risk-free demo program. Keep in mind that Ben Hogan entered into a partnership with Club Champion this year, which provides golfers another avenue when it comes to demo and fitting opportunities.
The Details
Price: $770 – Chrome
$800 – Black DBM
Pre-order: Chrome available for pre-order now and Black DBM pre-order TBD
Shafts: No-Upcharge Steel and Graphite Options
More information is available at www.benhogangolf.com
I need to get some swings with these at some point.
I go back to when I was waiting for mine to get shipped and how I kept thinking I was going to be in over my head with a blade but these have proven me completely wrong. They are just 100% fun and enjoyable.
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Any thoughts on adding an UiHi?
I’ve pondered it really hard but there are two things holding me back. 1. I’m hitting my GAPR ridiculously well in that spot and 2. My wife is starting a business so club spending has really been cut down.
I still anticipate picking one up at some point though. It’s bound to happen.
Do you think something like the PTx Pros in the long irons would be better, or is this more of a general long iron vs. hybrid debate?
I’ve been thinking about going PTX Pro in the long irons for some time. ALthough they don’t allow you to just order a few heads in the black, so I’d have to order an entire set of the chrome. That part is a bummer.
How deep are you thinking with the hybrids? 4 and 5 iron? The 5 iron is almost becoming one of my favorite clubs in the set surprisingly.
I’m looking forward to your thoughts when they show up, particularly with the KBS shaft. I know you’re looking at the PTx model but that shaft really seems to work well with these heads, at least for me.
I have a good history with KBS and that was as close to my current weight profile as I could find. The Recoil one is really more about my curiosity than anything.
I actually don’t know TBH.
For me, they have brought the enjoyment back to the game in a way I’ve not experienced in probably 10+ years.
The V sole looks great. Love that feature on the Srixons. A good sole or lead edge grind can make even what one would think to be a "tough" style of clubhead to hit much easier than you might anticipate if you wanted to try something like this out. With this sole, I’d be more comfortable in the direct to consumer try without buy world. I’d expect it to be pretty forgiving, relatively speaking.
You’re absolutely correct on the V Sole, I really can’t say enough good things about. Ben Hogan’s version seems a little more playable to me than what Srixon has in the little comparison I have. This sole is really versatile and useable. It was one of my favorite parts of the original PTx also.
These are probably above my skill set but I feel the exact same way. They are easilysome of the most fun irons I’ve ever played. You just feel good picking them up.
they are definitely above my skill level. But man they are so much fun. I don’t think they are making me a better ball striker, but yet I feel like I learn way more from them than I do my Apex set.
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Just a friendly reminder!?
I don’t get it.
I love my combos, I’ve def been vocal about it. I also believe I have the game to play all ICON’s though, hence where my post comes from. Plus I could get a black set and strip them raw with vinegar, which is something else I’ve been pretty vocal about wanting lately (raw irons).
I don’t think you can.
Now you’re forced to prove me wrong ?.
Hahaha, nah. My lust for rust is just getting me.
I will say, I hope they offer the combos in Black soon, I’d love to stay this way. But if we get into winter and I’m sitting around, I could see me grabbing a different set of irons and sending them off to be stripped of the chrome, and I don’t know then if they’d be Hogan’s or not.
The feedback is just killer. It’s quick, full, and addicting.
yeah, I mean good, bad, whatever.
Yup. That feedback in the 8-P for me has kept me hooked more than anything, that ans I can actually shape these
I have no problem admitting that I could use the PTx Pro in the longer irons. But man, I want them to be the black version because I love the finish.
And I want the black version of both so I can strip the finish and make them RUSTTTTTT
As much as I gush over the full set of the ICON’S I was pondering the combo set again just because I haven’t been able to play much and could probably use the help in those long irons. I really wish I could get individual irons because I can’t justify spending the money right now with my wife’s business starting up.
I’m playing in a two day tournament with my brother this weekend so these will be getting a big workout on courses I’m not super familiar with. I also haven’t played much lately so this should be interesting ?. I’ll be giving a report on how they perform throughout the weekend I’m sure.
Its killing me that the weather is near perfect and I’m working on thr boat.
All I can think about is hitting these again. I cant remember a set of irons that haunted me so much when I’m not playing.
The feel and feedback has my full attention. The v sole has been working really well and I’m leaving these tidy baby divots in the turf.
Such a fun set of clubs.
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I asked Ben Hogan Co about the finish. I couldn’t get a definitive answer. They told me they "think" the black was "infused". I don’t believe them. I have experience in removing oxide from fairway metals and hybrids faces using toilet bowl cleaner, vinegar, or Bartenders’ Friend. I did it on Titleist, Tour Edge, and Bobby Jones.
Maltby was the first to bring this finish to market. If you go on to their website and look at their club making articles you will see the DBM finished explained.
Its definitely not a paint but a process that gets into the metal. It also without a doubt makes the metal harder.
I have owned 3 different sets with this finish and after years of being in play the heads, other than a grey patina show no signs of wear or bag chatter. If you want to know more about the finish call Golfworks.
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Going Hogan
Probably going to make a couple of more changes to the bag and update the Sig soon
There you go, then. Not Black Oxide per sei.
Yup. And Bryan (BryanGolf) showed how to do it on a set of DBM Cobras, it’s vinegar, and TIME.
Great purchase!!
Its a chemical process that definitely impregnates the metal as it changes the metals hardness to quite a degree more.
The firmness difference between two Maltby irons with and without the finish as in TE vs DBM is easily discernable though they are built with the same exact forging process. The chrome is on the metal. The DBM adds no thickness to the metal what so ever. It is why the face grooves will stay sharper longer as the chrome edges can wear easily.
It doesn’t mean that a chemical process can’t be reversed somehow. If you watch the YouTube video on stripping the Cobra heads im not sure how much of the process is removed. Its obvious a lot was removed with all the black left over in the solution, but to what degree I don’t know. I may have to experiment with a GW I have.
Over time the DBM finish will Grey on the sole and where you strike the ball. But you can’t scratch it off per say.
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It’s the same DBM finish that Cobra uses.
Enough is removed that they will rust up, so a hell of a lot
I will definitely do the GW Wednesday night. Should be a fun experiment.
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He lets them sit for 24 hours+
I look forward to pictures!
Was it just vinegar?
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Yep, just white vinegar
The rest of the round was a pretty solid striking day but I can tell I haven’t played as much. When I’m playing 2 times a week like I had been for awhile I can handle the ICON’S throughout the whole bag. When I’m playing more sporadic is when I start seeing some struggle with the forgiveness in the long irons. It has me thinking hard on a combo set at some point in the future. But man do I love these clubs still.
Here is my question and sorry if it has been done. But what will that do to the ball? Because i an intrigued….