Hogan Apex & Classic Blades Question...

[Senoj]

Hello,

 

Not posted for a long while. I'm hoping someone can help me out...

 

bit of background first -

 

I picked up a set of McGregor DX2's from ebay, wanting to try some old school blades, just to mess with over winter. Oooh they are nice. They look fantastic.

 

Normally I'm playing Taylor Made Burners, but the McGregor's feel much more consistent off the face - distance wise. Lofts are totally different, I think there's about a 1.5 to 2 club difference, i.e. Taylor Made 7 iron goes on average same distance as the McGregor 5 iron.

 

So I think started thinking, maybe I'll trade the McGregors in and look for a set of blades from the 70's, then 80's and then 90's and so on. Then one of my golfing mates started eulogising about the best set he ever played with....HOGAN APEX, BH Grind (early 90's).

 

And I thought, b*gger it, I'll go straight for those...

 

In searching I can see Apex Grind and BH Grind, is there a difference? And if so, how could I ( can I ) tell from photo's of the club?

 

If anyone wants to suggest great blades over the decades, I'd be interested in that too!

 

Cheers

Bob

[XYB34A]

Just go with a set of 1988 Hogan Redlines. You wont go wrong. Apex 4 shaft is great shaft. The wedge looks slightly off. But either you love the Hogan E wedge or hate it. I play a vokey for my PW.

You can find a set pretty easy. And they are bendable. But get someone that has bent clubs for years. Not some guy that works in a golf shop and learned how to last week.

[HoganApexBlades]

Bob,

 

There is only 1 club. It's called an APEX BH GRIND and it was from 1990-92.

[rex235]

Bob,

 

There is only 1 club. It's called an APEX BH GRIND and it was from 1990-92.

 

HAB-

 

 

Hopefully this link will show the Ben Hogan Irons Poster...

 

 

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=3908332

[Senoj]

Bob,

 

There is only 1 club. It's called an APEX BH GRIND and it was from 1990-92.

 

HAB-

 

 

Hopefully this link will show the Ben Hogan Irons Poster...

 

 

http://www.golfwrx.c...tach_id=3908332

 

Magic, thanks.

 

Wanted to make sure I look for the right one. Redlines look nice, but if I can get the actual make as my mate used to play with, he'll get a bit of nostalgia fix while I continue exploring blades...I think it's going to be the way forward.

 

Suprised myself with how much enjoyed the McGregors. Thought it would be way harder to get around the course, as I'm an official 19 handicapper (15 of the yellows / bounce games). From the spiel you read, I assumed forged blades are for the single figure men...not so. Hopefully.

[HoganApexBlades]

Senoj,

 

Here is a nice picture of the 1990-92 Apex BH Grinds.

 

 

[DM70]

A set of Apex BH Grinds just popped up on my local classified board, 3-E Apex 4 shaft, but he wants ~120€ for them... A bit too steep for the condition they are in, without a 2I or SI. I'll play it cool and perhaps message him a couple of weeks if the ad is still there.

[BIG STU]

Bob,

 

There is only 1 club. It's called an APEX BH GRIND and it was from 1990-92.

Teehee hee and yes I have a set of those too!! the set will be complete because Tim is graciously sending me the missing 7&8 irons. I did play them one time and subbed my VIP 7&8 irons.

[Guia]

To me, the best Hogan Irons ever were the 1999 Apex. Forged in Japan.

[Nard_S]

'99 Hogan Apex is a fine, fine club.Pays homage to several models, Endo forged.

[BIG STU]

To me, the best Hogan Irons ever were the 1999 Apex. Forged in Japan.

Shhhhh! I am working on getting a set of them too--- I do have a 2 iron sent to me by a gracious WRXer and that thing is buttah!!!!

NOTE--- HAB I am slowly slipping to the dark side--- You know the "conversion" I told you about and the set of grinds and working on some 99 Apex

[super20dan]

well stu-looks like our work is done here

[super20dan]

grinds and channel backs are the only 2 sets I am missing. the ones that I really lust after anyway.

[BIG STU]

grinds and channel backs are the only 2 sets I am missing. the ones that I really lust after anyway.

Grinds must be hard to find because I looked On ironfinder for the 7&8 irons and they did not have ANY Grinds at all. They must have made limited numbers of them or everyone holds on to them. Thank the Lord for Teevons he is helping me out

[augustgolf]

Well...I'm kinda partial to the '73 satin back Apex myself, but...I guess when you've found perfection, you stop looking.....

 

 

wait...this is WRX......sorry

[HoganApexBlades]

Bob,

 

There is only 1 club. It's called an APEX BH GRIND and it was from 1990-92.

Teehee hee and yes I have a set of those too!! the set will be complete because Tim is graciously sending me the missing 7&8 irons. I did play them one time and subbed my VIP 7&8 irons.

 

Stu,

 

Welcome to the "D A R K S I D E"!!!

[HoganApexBlades]

grinds and channel backs are the only 2 sets I am missing. the ones that I really lust after anyway.

Grinds must be hard to find because I looked On ironfinder for the 7&8 irons and they did not have ANY Grinds at all. They must have made limited numbers of them or everyone holds on to them. Thank the Lord for Teevons he is helping me out

 

I bought my 3-E Grinds from CC last year...I found the matching 2 iron AND a '73 Apex 1 IRON @ the same GW on the same visit!!!

 

Yep, that horseshoe is FIRMLY embedded!!!

[HoganApexBlades]

Well...I'm kinda partial to the '73 satin back Apex myself, but...I guess when you've found perfection, you stop looking.....

 

 

wait...this is WRX......sorry

 

Augie,

 

They were my FIRST SET and I WILL NEVER LET THEM GO!!!

 

 

[BIG STU]

grinds and channel backs are the only 2 sets I am missing. the ones that I really lust after anyway.

Grinds must be hard to find because I looked On ironfinder for the 7&8 irons and they did not have ANY Grinds at all. They must have made limited numbers of them or everyone holds on to them. Thank the Lord for Teevons he is helping me out

 

I bought my 3-E Grinds from CC last year...I found the matching 2 iron AND a '73 Apex 1 IRON @ the same GW on the same visit!!!

 

Yep, that horseshoe is FIRMLY embedded!!!

You can probably guess where my Grinds came from or I might have told you from my favorite store --- the junk pile at work!! Mine came out of one of the county dumpsters

[Fellaheen51]

What? Nobody has any love for the Apex II's? Find the Cameos uniquely appealing visually. Once I changed out the hodgepodge of shafts as found and installed FCM Rifle 5.5's, they became decent players. For an "old hack" having fun with blades sorta way.

 

My "better to look good, then play good" bag of Hogans.

 

 

[GolfNutRiblick]

Great Hogan set up Fellaheen51! I have the White Cameos. Beautiful but challenging, certainly for me. “Better to look than play good” in my case. Thanks for sharing the pic of an exquisite kit!

[XYB34A]

BH Grinds are just Hogan Redlines with the toe ground different. Only difference. Also, they were made by Top Flite, or the company before Top Flite. Cant remember the name. Hogan Redlines were made by the Hogan Company that had been bought by AMF. in 1960 straight from Mr. Hogan. I have a set of 2006 Apex but I dont consider it a true Hogan club unless its a pre 1990 club. They even did away with the truly great Apex shaft and made it the same as TT Dynalite Hogan No 5 shaft by AMF frequency matched made by Brunswick are the bee's knees. Beats any modern shaft hands down.

[fluffy265]

Stu,

 

You know your Mac's will stop talking to you soon...

 

I've been doing a test build with PC's and Apex 5's... There is something strangely "Mac like" about the PC's that tells me this build will work nicely. After that I'll build up my BH Grinds for winter play here with another set of #5's that I've been hoarding... ;)

I get along much better with the Apex 5's. I cannot control Apex 4's for the life of me.

 

At the moment my Mac's are still talking to me.

 

J

[BIG STU]

What? Nobody has any love for the Apex II's? Find the Cameos uniquely appealing visually. Once I changed out the hodgepodge of shafts as found and installed FCM Rifle 5.5's, they became decent players. For an "old hack" having fun with blades sorta way.

 

My "better to look good, then play good" bag of Hogans.

 

 

My running partner Bear found a beautiful set like yours the other day in a local pawn shop 2 thru E---- get this $55 cash out the door--- A week later I found a partial set when I found the Grinds and they were also missing the 7&8 irons. I gave that partial set to Bear in case he needed any spare shafts or something

[BIG STU]

Great Hogan set up Fellaheen51! I have the White Cameos. Beautiful but challenging, certainly for me. "Better to look than play good" in my case. Thanks for sharing the pic of an exquisite kit!

Someone educate me--- What is the difference between White Cameos and Black Cameos? Remember I am a Mac man and Hogan rookie

[Fellaheen51]

White paint fill v. black paint fill. The black cameos were the latter rendition IIRC.

[BIG STU]

Stu,

 

You know your Mac's will stop talking to you soon...

 

I've been doing a test build with PC's and Apex 5's... There is something strangely "Mac like" about the PC's that tells me this build will work nicely. After that I'll build up my BH Grinds for winter play here with another set of #5's that I've been hoarding... ;)

I get along much better with the Apex 5's. I cannot control Apex 4's for the life of me.

 

At the moment my Mac's are still talking to me.

 

J

Well my Macs are pissed right now--- I did a Frankenstein thing last week and screwed up-- I had found a set of Directors ( 80-82 funky looking ones) and they had #2 shafts. Yep I put them in the VIPs Mitchell sent me a year ago. I played them last week and could not get any distance out of them period. Hogan Apex Blades just informed me that #2 shafts were Senior shafts. May pull them back out or save them for when I get older. Besides I have the Grinds and they are #4 shafts and I hit them pretty decent. Tim is sending me the missing 7&8 irons. When I get that into place I will need someone to provide me the stock loft and lie specs and I will go from there. That is what I get for jumping into that with out asking first

 

White paint fill v. black paint fill. The black cameos were the latter rendition IIRC.

Thanks Fella so no difference spec wise and they are the same forging then

[Fellaheen51]

Stu, picked up a black 6 iron as a fill for my set. The rest were white. During the rebuild, the weight slotted in progression wise correctly. Couldn't not detect one iota of difference between the two. Had a weird weight difference between the 7 and 8 and those were both white cameos. Forging inconsistencies?

[super20dan]

Well...I'm kinda partial to the '73 satin back Apex myself, but...I guess when you've found perfection, you stop looking.....

 

 

wait...this is WRX......sorry

 

Augie,

 

They were my FIRST SET and I WILL NEVER LET THEM GO!!!

my first hogans also 73 apex

[HoganApexBlades]

White paint fill v. black paint fill. The black cameos were the latter rendition IIRC.

 

Doug,

 

You are correct.

 

Black cameos = 1983 model.

 

White cameos = 1979 - 1982 models.