Ben Hogan FTX

For the most demanding player and shot-maker, the club head designs of the FTX forged set differs from club to club, making every club specifically tuned for its task. The club heads of the longest irons feature perimeter weighting of a cavity back blade style with longer blade lengths for improved playability and a muscle back within the cavity to enhance feel and shots. From the 8 iron to the wedges, the cavity back blade style disappears entirely, resulting in a muscle back blade style. For the ultimate feel and appearance, Ben Hogans irons are forged from 1020 carbon steel and adorned with a nickel chrome finish.

These are some great irons! I have mine with rifle shafts and couldn't be happier.

-Christopher

Just picked up a new set pretty cheap and look forward to playing them next season.

Hey golferboy just exactly how cheap are they? I have been looking to add a backup set to my I10's.

Hey golferboy just exactly how cheap are they? I have been looking to add a backup set to my I10's.

Jumping in here...Like New (read new with plastic) condition from Callawaygolfpreowned.com for $271.99.

Jumping in here...Like New (read new with plastic) condition from Callawaygolfpreowned.com for $271.99.

About to pull the trigger on those, just way too cheap to pass up. Hit 6 iron at the range this morning and it felt great.

Question for those familiar with Apex shafts: there's two shaft options listed on callawaygolfpreowned - Apex Steel and Apex Edge Steel. Is there a difference between the two provided the stiffness is the same (4stiff)?

I love mine, for $280 shipped from callaway preowned I couldn't pass them up

the blades aren't that hard to hit at all, and the cavities are plenty forgiving as well

the trajectory is much improved over my old ballooning LT2's

now that I'm back with forged clubs, I have much better control over the trajectory and direction of the ball and I also get more spin to hold greens with,

I'm not going back to cast clubs again, forged is the way to go

I played with these irons for about a year, and I agree, these irons are a great set and offer very good feedback as well as shot shaping ability, while still being pretty forgiving.

However, I've noticed that the ferrules seem to come to separate from the club head after a few months of use. This happened to my friend's set of FTX's as well. Has this happen to anyone?

My ferrules have all seperated but i don't think it has any negetive effect on the clubs preformance; it does make the club look a little less impressive.

Likes: I've been playing with these clubs for a month now and have been very impressed with the performance of these. The 3i thru 7i are Cavity Backs are basically re-branded Apex Pro's while the 8i thru E (PW) are very reminiscent of the 98 - 02 Apex Blades. Both were excellent sets of clubs and this combo set offers the best of both worlds. These clubs are very workable left, right, high, low and the Forging of these are incredibly soft. Softer than my old X-Forged and at impact it feels you you just struck a marshmallow.

The stock Apex shaft (manufactured by Royal Precision) are about the same weight as a Project X 5.5 @ 116g but is a higher launching shaft. Those of us with less than tour caliber swing speeds will appreciate this as they deliver a nice high ball flight that allows you to stop a 3i on the green, no need for a hybrid with these. Also, the lofts are a bit juiced with a 20º 3i and 23º 4i, so these clubs are not lacking in distance either.

Looks: These clubs are like jewelry for your golf bag, they are an absolutely beautiful set of irons. They have a thin topline and frame the ball great at address.

Dislikes: The heads seem a bit light in the cavity backs when compared to my Apex Blades which took some getting used to as I didn't feel like I had any idea where the head was in my swing. The forging is incredible soft and dent very easily (not bag chatter, but dents). Hogan stock grips also seem a bit thinner than standard Tour Velvets so it you have quick wrists you might want to replace these with thicker grips.

The Juiced lofts do add a larger gap between the 46º PW and your other wedges making a gap wedge almost a necessity. Another solution is to just have these adjusted 1º weaker which will add another 1º of bounce.

Originally these were targeted toward higher handicap players as game improvement irons, but that is certainly not the case. Shots hit a tad low will elevate and travel, but these are not forgiving off toe shots. If you are looking at these irons, you need to stay in the center of the face to get these to perform.

Quality: I have owned a few sets of Hogans and have not had any quality issues except for ferrules coming loose after a season. I would expect the same to happen to these.

Cost: These originally were around the $799 mark, but currently can be picked up for $259 brand new from Callaway Golf Pre-Owned

Standard Specs:

Club / Lie / Loft / Length / Offset / Bounce

3 60.5 20º 38.75" 0.155" +2º

4 61.0 23º 38.25" 0.150" +3º

5 61.5 26º 37.75" 0.145" +3º

6 62.0 30º 37.25" 0.140" +4º

7 62.5 34º 36.75" 0.135" +5º

8 63.0 38º 36.25" 0.130" +6º

9 63.5 42º 35.75" 0.125" +7º

E 64.0 46º 35.50" 0.120" +7º

I'm contemplating getting a set of these irons or maybe a set of X-forged. The only problem is that it's hard to find a set of hogans that is longer than standard length. I need them to be +1", but every set I've seen is standard. I guess I could reshaft the set with some kb tours and bend the heads upright, but that would probably cost another $400, and the set will probably only cost $200. It seems like longer x-forged sets are all over the place, and while they cost a little more, I wouldn't need to reshaft. Anyone else have this problem?

I'm contemplating getting a set of these irons or maybe a set of X-forged. The only problem is that it's hard to find a set of hogans that is longer than standard length. I need them to be +1", but every set I've seen is standard. I guess I could reshaft the set with some kb tours and bend the heads upright, but that would probably cost another $400, and the set will probably only cost $200. It seems like longer x-forged sets are all over the place, and while they cost a little more, I wouldn't need to reshaft. Anyone else have this problem?

Great sticks.....I believe Cally PreOwned will adjust for you (when you purchase) them for like 5 or 10 a club. So if 260 + 80 to add length, that's still a steel

WHomever said these we aimed at high handicappers when released must be HIGH for stating that....these were player's cavity backs, one of first progressive sets out there

My other worry with these are the stock shaft stiffness. My 6 iron swing speed is 100 mph, and I don't think the Apex 4 shaft will be stiff enough especially if I add an inch to them. I might just have to bite the bullet and buy new shafts.

I would recommend just bitig the bullet and getting a shaft upgrade.

As stated above the heads on the irons as superb great feel and workability and for the price they can be picked up for now a a real steal.

I just got these off of callaway preowned and they are awesome irons. Nice trajectory and great feel. I do have one question though! With these being a relatively soft forging will face wear be an issue with these clubs? I play around 50-60 rounds a season and practice quite often (benefits of working at a course). Will these wear quicker than other clubs? If thats the case I would almost consider picking up a backup set (at $260 its hard not too)....but I think I'm going to wait a while...see if the love is still there after the honeymoon lol

I have a dilemma. I got fitted with FTX irons about 3 years ago and proceeded to change my shafts from Apex 3 to DG Lite Stiff (w/ copper Winn Classic grips). I too also felt that the head felt a bit light with some irons, so the club maker swing weighted the whole thing at exactly D-2 and even adjusted the lie to +1 from stock. So far so good....

A year after I got these made for me, I had a serious injury to my back and my golf swing is entirely different. Thus, I feel unworthy of playing Ben Hogans. Now, I mainly play with Callaway clubs with much softer shafts because they are easier on my back and go straight no matter how you hit it. From time to time, I look at my beautiful FTX's and daydream that some day I might be able to play them again.

the big question is: Should I just let them go? Or should I keep it as a museum piece?

There is just something about Hogan's that would make me want to keept those clubs. I just got a set of Apex 50s and Im thinking about getting a new set to put in the closet. Either way, when these clubs have reached the end of bag life, they'll still be part of the family.

I got these as a backup set given how cheap they are ($299 brand new) and because I've always been impressed (and somewhat puzzled) how Hogan has managed to continue to keep making one of the best forgings through all the ownership changes and financial problems the line's had. I think they're on the short list of forgings along with Mizunos and Miuras, but for anywhere from 1/3rd to 1/2 half the price. That said I wish they had a different shaft. Apex is just too light and weak for the type of player this club appeals too. I also think these are setup a degree to upright and the grips are a bit larger than standard and of not a high quality either. But even after changing the shaft, lie and grip, the head quality makes these the best deal out there.

jduncanm3,

what shafts did u get and what's ur ss / 6i carry. thanks

Game a set of these right now and for the money they are the best on the market in my opinion. True soft feel and can move the balls both ways. Awesome clubs in my opiion

They're amazing irons, especially regarding workability, but I virtually gave up the game when my son was born, and my scoring has suffered because of it.

Great irons. Love them and looking for the ap2' 712 to compete with them.

Thank you,For sharing us.