Ben Hogan PTx Irons Review
03 May 2016
by Pete Wlodkowski of AmateurGolf.com
see also: Equipment Reviews
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The Ben Hogan PTx irons shown below the Ft. Worth irons
“A well hit golf shot is a feeling that goes up the shaft, right into your hands, and into your heart.” – Ben Hogan
You'll find that quote printed inside the beautiful box that the latest Ben Hogan PTx irons ship in. And if you’re one of the players that strives for feel and feedback from your “precision clubs” then you may want to take the latest Ben Hogan irons (the PTx) out for a test drive.
It didn’t take me long to prefer the PTx over the Ft. Worth irons, which were introduced last year. As beautiful as the Ft. Worth irons are, I haven't played blades in a while and have come to appreciate the "help" I get from game improving irons.
With the PTx, I got better launch and distance, and without sacrificing any feel on the well-hit shots. Your results may vary and I encourage you to hit both side-by-side like I did.
Both versions are beautiful to look at, and I must say but that the subtle flow of the perimeter-weighted Ft. Worth blade is simply gorgeous. The PTx is gorgeous too, and features the Ben Hogan medallion on the back corner of each iron.
With either set, you can you can order them in four loft progressions to dial in your ball flight. This gives you the opportunity to fine tune your scoring clubs and the “gap” between each club to meet your individual preferences. Anyone who has struggled with the jump in distance between various clubs knows what I’m talking about.
If you don’t, I’ll explain briefly. Let’s say you have a 9-iron and wedge that you seem to hit almost the same distance. If you were ordering Hogan clubs, you could simply pick different lofts -- there are no numbers on the bottom, just lofts such as 47 for a middle wedge – and solve the problem without needing to go to a clubfitter for a custom bend.
Whether or not you like the idea of picking custom lofts, you’re sure to appreciate the attention to detail of the Hogan PTx irons, and yes, the feel. They're forged, but with some technical wizardry not found in the Ft. Worth model.
The higher lofts (32-47 degrees) have a titanium core that allows the company to position the center of gravity in line with the golf ball’s center of gravity so the golfer can flight their shots properly.
On the lower lofts, a hollow design with tungsten weighting provides a higher ball flight and the “help” that I felt when testing them vs. the Ft. Worth model. Order them with the lightweight KBS Tour 90 shaft for a steel shaft consistency at a lighter weight, or go with the UST Mamiya Recoil if you're interested in going graphite.
The Ben Hogan Company was always know for their irons. It's no surprise that the "new" Hogan Company is focused on putting out a solid product, that blends tradition with technology. They aren't going to be the biggest in the business, but it's clear that they are interested in expanding beyond the nostalgic buyer that likely jumped on the first products released last year.
The company is located in Ft. Worth, Texas, the original location where Ben Hogan famously discarded an entire run of irons because they didn’t meet his quality control standards. That story is one of dozens told about “The Hawk” – all part of the legend. No player has been as successful at (excuse the pun) forging a name in the equipment business. It's nice to see the brand making a comeback.