Over the years I have owned several sets of the original Ben Hogan Edge irons. More recently 2 sets of the Hogan Apex Edge. Ultimately in both models I owned the 2-9,E,F,S,L in the Hogan Apex #4 shaft. The Apex Edge is much more forgiving due to the mid sized head and addition of the muscle back cavity instead of the standard cavity of the "Edge" model. The ball launches high on all irons and the grooves allow for extreme back spin on all irons including the 2,3,4. I was able to back the ball up with the 9,E,F,S,L with greater frequency than with the Edge model. Grips varied on the sets I used but ultimately I settle on the Winn Medium grip. If you have played with forged irons and enjoy them but are looking for a more forgiving club and a standard blade design. Then look no further unless you ready to layout more money for a set of Callaway X-Tour Irons. Which are quite a forgiving and have the standard size head. Again the ball jumps off the club face with all to familiar sling shot feel that only a quality forged iron can deliver.Read full review
I took a used set of Apex Edge about 3 months ago. It is a mint condition 2001-2002 model with regular flex steel shafts (Apex#3). Though it shares Hogan name, Apex Edge is different from my first Hogan which is Apex Plus. With deep cavity, it is easier to hit with more tolerance than Apex Plus. Once again, I decided to check my swing with Apex Edge and went back to the book shelf to read again the 5 Lessons and Pwer Golf written by Ben Hogan. I changed my grip first and swing one by one. After spending a month focusing on the swing pattern, I managed to hit the balls with desired trajectory. Only with steel shafted forged irons, I believe, golfers may check their swing patterns. The feedback from good hits and mis-hits are more than obvious. I used play so-called "game improvement" graphite irons. They served me good to a certain level, but put a certain limit of improving ball striking and workability of draws, fades. It is tough to detect any imperfect swing pattern using "game improvements" since they do not give a real feedback of hitting. I tried many forged irons at the range; Mizuno, Admas Forged, KZG, Titleist. I came across a demo 6 iron of Apex Plus, and it was starting point of my hunt for Hogans. My first set was Apex Plus, and I added Apex Edge from Ebay. Apex Plus is a kind of player's grade and Apex Edge is a good transition from the game improvements to forged irons or blade irons. They give me a feel of forged irons at the same time a little of comfort level of mi-hits. Hooked to Hogan irons, I bought a collectible 40th Anniversary Legend. Apex plus is a kind of muscle back and Legend is a blade. For the time being, I will mix the two sets into my go-to set; 3 to 7 of Apex Edge and 8 to E of Apex Plus. Now I can hit 3 and 4 irons again with much improved directions compared to hybrids. My own set will last at least a couple of seasons before I may move up to Legend blade. I don't understand why Callaway is killing the Ben Hogan brand. I strongly believe Ben Hogan itself has its own niche market. I tried Diablo Edge forged at Golf Galaxy, but it is not Ben Hogan at all. It is shame to see an American Legendary brand is disappearing. I will use my 3 Ben Hogan sets as long as I can.Read full review
I played a lot of golf growing up and regularly broke 80, but over the past few years I have been playing less and less. I was playing Mizuno MP-29s which are blades but felt my game wasn't were it needed to be to benefit from playing that type of club. My plan was to buy a set at a time on ebay until I found what I liked. The first clubs I bought were graphite shafted Apex Edges. They have thus far performed exactly as I would have liked. They are very forgiving clubs and have a lot of pop with a smooth feel. The only adjustment I'm considering is whether to keep my blade pitching wedge because the half wedge shot with the Apex is difficult to control the distance because the ball seems to jump off the club. I have hit some awefull shots with these club and still hit the green when I had no right to expect to do so. I would recomend these clubs to any weekend golfer who wants to shoot a good round but doesn't have the time to practice or anybody trying to get those five or ten yards back that you've lot over time.Read full review
"Hogans are only for scratch players" Heard that one before? Well, these irons will show you just how wrong that statement is. I've been steadily improving my golf game over the past 2-3 seasons. I've been playing a set of game improvers through the past 2 seasons that I was pretty happy with. Then one rainy summer day in 2005 I walked into a retailer and saw these pretty Ben Hogans sitting on the clearance rack: - Those are nice looking clubs, I said to the clerk, but aren't they hard to hit? - You'd be surprised, he said and handed me the 6 iron. 20 minutes later they had to drag me out of the shop's hitting area so other customers could use the launch monitor. A little haggling about the clearance price, and I was stuffing the clubs into the trunk of my car. They are, as the clerk said, surprisingly easy to hit. They look somewhat intimidating at address to a guy that only sees numbers in the 80ies during mid season on a good day, but that cavity back really helps get the ball up in the air, and you never loose track of where the head is throughout the swing. They are not like the game improvement irons I was playing previously, (I have reviewed those elsewhere on eBay), they don't launch the ball into the stratosphere, nor do they have a sweet spot the size of Texas, but they are forgiving and they won't penalize you too much on your mishits. They are easy to shape shots with, and they let you dial in your distance pretty quick. The only negative that I can really point a finger to is that they have a litte too much offset. A little less offset and I am pretty sure you would have a club producing a mid-high trajectory flight path, with plenty of assistance in the consistency department. Scores in the 80ies are now the norm, and I feel comfortable attacking pins that I would not have gone for with my previous irons. Game assistance aside, the real reason for getting these are that when you hit close to the center of the club more times then you miss, you are rewarded with phenomenal feedback and extreme control. When you hit the sweet spot dead on and get that totally creamy contact and buttery feedback there is no need to look up to see where the ball is going to land, because you know it is going to end up exactly where you planned it's touchdown. You just can't beat the feeling of a well-struck forged iron. Obviously, these are the irons in my bag. Latest news is that Callaway are bringing the Apex Edge name back in a slightly different 2006 disguise. More cavity back and a wider sole is the rumor, maybe more offset as well? I guess I should grab another set of the pre 2006 version and put them aside for future use..........Read full review
A true work of craftsmanship as one would expect from a vintage set of Hogan irons. Very unforgiving compared to modern clubs but cannot beat the feel and playability when hit flush. These are the Cadillac of clubs, beautiful and timeless design.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned