Tag: Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Co.

Dude Perfect, Rickie Fowler take Ben Hogan’s circa 1950’s clubs for a spin around Colonial’s Horrible Horseshoe

Fowler estimated that Hogan’s persimmon driver flew 20 yards shorter than his Cobra gamer.

Technology has come a long way since the days of Ben Hogan.

On Tuesday, ahead of this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, Rickie Fowler and three members of the crew from Dude Perfect, the sports and comedy group, played Colonial Country Club’s famed “Horrible Horseshoe,” the nickname for hole Nos. 3-5, with Hogan’s clubs from the 1950s.

Fowler estimated that Hogan’s persimmon driver flew 20 yards shorter than his Cobra gamer.

“With the current ball, it isn’t as much as you would think if you hit it out of the middle,” he said. “Irons are still irons but it’s the mishits where the difference is most noticeable.”

He noted, “The amount of precision it took with the old ball and old equipment is very different compared to today.”

Throwback equipment has developed a niche following in recent years and Fowler is a fan of teeing it up with equipment from another era.

“I still love going back and playing with some old stuff I have,” Fowler said. “It makes hitting current stuff especially driver feel a lot more inviting.”

As for Tyler Toney, Garrett Hilbert and Coby Cotton of Dude Perfect – whose YouTube channel has more than 60 million subscribers – Fowler said they held their own.

“They did not embarrass themselves,” Fowler said. “Ty is the best of the group but Garrett and Colby hit some solid shots considering their handicaps.”

Fowler noted a couple shots were not so great but he cut them some slack as they weren’t given a chance to warm-up with the Hogan relics. Dude Perfect also played in the Wednesday pro-am with Keegan Bradley and K.H. Lee.

The Hogan clubs also made their way to the range at Colonial, where Rafa Campos and Justin Rose put them through their paces.

“They look small, no doubt. No room for error, and yeah, very sharp. Everything is very straight-edged,” Rose said of the irons.

“Why can’t we go back to this?” Campos said after hitting a driver.

Rose took one look at Hogan’s short stick and said, “I mean, no wonder he didn’t enjoy putting.”

Ben Hogan releases UiHi utility irons and VKTR+ hybrids

Whether you prefer the look of an iron or a hybrid, the Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company has a forgiving long-iron alternative for you.

One of the most famous golf photos ever taken shows Ben Hogan hitting a 1-iron to the 18th green at Merion Golf Club during the 1950 U.S. Open. Hy Peskin took the shot, and Hogan’s pose as the ball rocketed toward the green was iconic.

But chances are that you not only don’t carry a 1-iron, you also have not hit too many long-iron shots as well as Hogan did. For that reason, the Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company has just released two new long-iron alternatives, the UiHi utility irons and VKTR+ hybrids.

For golfers who prefer the look of irons, the UiHi utility irons are available as 3-, 4- and 5-irons (18, 22 and 26 degrees) for $110 each. They have a slightly thicker topline, a longer blade length and more offset than many Hogan irons for a reassuring look and more forgiveness. They also are slightly oversized to make them appear to have more loft, but it is what you don’t see that really delivers the punch.

Ben Hogan UiHi utility iron
Ben Hogan UiHi utility iron (Ben Hogan)

The UiHi irons are hollow, which gave designers more room to lower the center of gravity and pull it away from the face, resulting in a higher launch. The hollow-bodied construction also allows the face to flex more easily at impact for increased ball speed and distance.

For golfers who prefer hybrids, Ben Hogan now offers the VKTR+. They are available in 18-, 22- and 26-degree versions for $140 each.

Ben Hogan VKTR+ hybrid club
Ben Hogan VKTR+ hybrid (Ben Hogan)

The face of the VKTR+ hybrid is forged from 455 maraging steel, an extremely hard material. Using this material allowed engineers to make the face thinner and lighter without sacrificing durability. The VKTR+ has a weight plug in the back of the sole that pulls the center of gravity down and back to make it easier for golfers to hit higher-flying shots.

Ben Hogan Players Combo set
A Ben Hogan Players Combo set (Ben Hogan)

With the release of the UiHi utility irons and VKTR+ hybrids, the Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company is making it easier for golfers to blend different models of clubs to create personalized hybrid sets.

The company is offering a few, such as the Player’s Combo Set with a UiHi 4-iron matched alongside PTx Pro irons (5-7) and Icon blades (8-PW) for $785. There is also a Player’s Combo Set with a VKTR+ 22-degree hybrid, PTx Pro irons (5-7) and Icon blades (8-PW) for $815.

Golfers also can create their own hybrid sets, ensuring they get the ideal amount of forgiveness and control to match their game.

Ben Hogan Icon irons

The new Icon irons have a classic look at address and a progressive center of gravity to enhance control and feel.

Gear: Ben Hogan Icon irons
Price: $770 (chrome) for seven clubs (4-PW), $800 (black)
Specs: Forged irons with a progressive center of gravity and V-sole design
Available: Pre-orders for chrome clubs are being taken now. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, orders for Black clubs will be available soon.

The new Hogan Icon irons are for accomplished golfers who want to curve and turn the ball in different directions and control its flight, not for golfers who struggle to repeat their swing or who need extra forgiveness. Instead, Hogan makes Edge irons for mid- and higher-handicap players.

Ben Hogan Icon irons
The Icon irons have a thin topline, minimal offset and a narrow, V-shaped sole. (Ben Hogan)

In the Icon’s address position, golfers will see virtually no offset, a short blade length and a thin topline. The lofts are very traditional, with the 5-iron being 26 degrees and the pitching wedge at 46 degrees.

What golfers won’t see is a weight pad on the back of the heads that the company calls a Progressive Center of Mass system. The long irons have more mass positioned low in the heads, which pulls the center of gravity down and encourages higher-launching shots. The center of gravity rises progressively through the mid-irons and peaks in the short irons. The benefit is good players should be able to flight their approach shots down with their scoring clubs for enhanced distance and trajectory control.

Ben Hogan Icon irons
The Ben Hogan Icon irons (Ben Hogan)

To help the clubs work through the turf more efficiently, the Icon irons have a V-sole that lifts the leading edge. By designing more bounce into the sole, the Icon irons should be less apt to dig and slow down through the impact zone.