If aesthetics were the sole criterion for choosing golf clubs, the Ben Hogan Golf Company would need to brace for skyrocketing demand for their newly unveiled Legend player’s distance irons.
"We’ve strived to uphold Mr. Hogan’s belief that golf clubs should be akin to exquisite jewelry," explains Simon Millington, the visionary who has revived the Hogan brand not once, but twice, as of late 2023. "We like to think these new clubs embody that philosophy."
As someone immersed in the world of journalism, maintaining neutrality and objectivity is vital. However, after a hands-on experience with the Ben Hogan Legend irons, I can confidently, and with just a pinch of enthusiasm, say:
Goodness gracious, these clubs are stunningly crafted.
But do they perform as beautifully as they appear? We’ll delve into that shortly. Let’s first explore the origin story of these impressive creations.
Ben Hogan Legend: The Backstory
Introducing the Ben Hogan Legend irons, alongside the new Fort Worth MB and CB sets, marking the inaugural original releases from the reestablished Ben Hogan Company. Simon Millington, through his Golf Brands, Inc., is an expert at reviving storied golf companies, having previously brought back MacGregor, Ram, Teardrop, and Zebra. Now, teaming up with Hogan brand owner Perry Ellis, they are rejuvenating the Ben Hogan name.
"In embarking on the Ben Hogan project, we were conscious of Mr. Hogan’s legacy for meticulous detail," Millington shared with MyGolfSpy. "We enlisted top club designers to work with elite manufacturing partners worldwide, ensuring every detail was perfect for release."
This Legend series breaks new ground, offering a truly innovative, hollow-body, gel-filled player’s distance iron. While typical skepticism surrounds direct-to-consumer brands—often seen as mere copies or open molds with a badge—such is not the case with the Legend irons. Crafted by Gavin Wallin, formerly with Adams Golf, these clubs stem from authentic design excellence.
"The Legend’s body is a singular piece of 1025 carbon steel forging," Wallin told MyGolfSpy. "The face itself is forged and welded, with score lines precision-milled via CNC."
Unveiling the Hollow Narrative
Hollow-body irons, like the Hogan Legend, stand out in the player’s distance category. The hollow structure enables a more flexible face, enhancing ball speed compared to single-piece forging. Interestingly, while many manufacturers mix materials for lightweight yet strong faces, Hogan sticks to 1025 carbon steel, potentially sacrificing some speed for feel.
Forging both the body and face has its challenges, historically resulting in harsh feelings without injected dampening materials. Getting the right "filling" ensures the sound is pleasant, suppressing unwanted vibrations while enhancing positive ones.
The Legend’s loft specification aligns with established player’s distance norms, starting from a 30.5-degree seven iron. Despite attempts to adhere to Ben Hogan’s original four-degree loft increment tradition from 1953, modern design demands won over.
"We had to slightly strengthen the lofts to stay competitive with industry standards," Millington admits.
Combining Blade Elegance with Functional V-Sole
Player’s distance irons ideally combine forgiving features with the precision of player’s cavity-back models. The Legend’s design caters to golfers reclaiming lost yardage while offering a user-friendly larger footprint that’s still sleek.
"When you set it down, it looks every bit a classic golf club," Millington remarks. "It stretches from minimal offset to fit mid- to low-handicap players. I personally favor these for their forgiving toe, even allowing the occasional show-off twirl after a good swing."
The Hogan tradition shines through with this blend of classic appearances and modern performance tweaks. The top line showcases a subtle blade appearance, while the low center of gravity whispers performance.
Despite deceptive offset appearances, during trials, these irons didn’t exhibit a tendency to draw excessive hooks.
Since its 2015 relaunch, Hogan has consistently incorporated the V-Sole®, which enhances turf interaction. This feature dates back to Terry Koehler’s design work and remains a staple for reducing the penal effects of slight mishits.
Evaluating Hogan Legend’s Performance
New England’s February chill kept these irons indoors, competing against my PING i530s at Golftec in Danvers, Mass. With a 7-iron bent to match PING’s lofts, the results were enticing.
- 185 yards total
- 166 yards carry
- 4760 RPM spin
- 115 mph ball speed
- 41-degree descent angle
The PING irons offered comparable outcomes:
- 185 yards total
- 164 yards carry
- 4536 RPM spin
- 113 mph ball speed
- 41-degree descent angle
In player’s distance terms, both maintained low CG and strong loft for impressive speed and moderate spin. With marginal performance differences, cost savings with the Hogan Legends, priced $266 less than the PING counterparts, offer substantial appeal without compromising quality.
While resale value concerns might arise, focusing solely on future sell-back potential is akin to preparing for divorce at the altar. If that concerns you, perhaps it’s wise to cherish what you currently have and explore personal commitment strategies.
Introducing the Single-Piece Companion
For purists favoring a simpler build, the Hogan M50-01 offers a standout alternative within the player’s distance category. While retaining core attributes, such as loft and CG, its single-piece 1020 forge structure promises superior feel over speed.
Slightly weaker loft than the Legend, the M50-01s retain the signature V-Sole. Although it lacks some multi-part innovation, it potentially excels in feedback and precision, ideal for those with the skills to utilize its nuanced traits. These irons retail at $799.99 for a six-piece and $899.99 for a seven-piece set.
Final Thoughts on Ben Hogan Legend
Embracing modern direct-to-consumer trends, Ben Hogan and Sub 70 have emerged as leading figures, combining premium designs with competitive pricing. Whether through Golf Brands, Inc.’s projects or independent collaborations involving talents like Larry Tang, Ben Hogan remains an innovator.
MacGregor and Ram complement Ben Hogan and Sub 70 with more budget-friendly, customizable options, filling a different niche. Other DTC offerings, such as Takomo and Caley, cater to entry-level budgets.
Fitting queries naturally accompany DTC purchases. While in-person services are in development, consumers can test and customize via home-trial options.
Professional fittings generally document specs transferable among brands within similar categories, enabling Hogan iron customization to align with tailored fittings from other top manufacturers, like the TaylorMade P-790.
Ben Hogan Legend Irons: Specs, Price, and Availability
For customization enthusiasts, Hogan provides extensive in-stock shaft options like True Temper Dynamic Golf and KBS Tour with no extra charge. Additional varieties come with small markups. Unique grip or shaft choices are also available through the Hogan website’s customization tools.
The Ben Hogan Legend six-piece set starts at $849.99, while the seven-piece set is priced at $949.99, with heads-only sales also an option. Check them out now at benhogangolf.com.
The post "Can This New Ben Hogan Iron Compete With The Big Brands?" first appeared on MyGolfSpy.
