Ben Hogan VKTR Hybrid

[Slim1]

I received my Ben Hogan VKTR 18 degree hybrid today. Here are a few pics. There is a strange whistle when I swing it. I taped all the weight ports and it makes a tiny whistle noise if the weight on the heel is exposed, a little louder whistle from the middle weight port and the bulk of the whistle is from the weight port on the toe. No noise at all from the weight port on the bottom of the club. I'll give them a call on Monday to see if its an easy fix or not. I also have all my PTx irons now and I really like them. Anyone else get their hybrid yet? Any whistle noise?

[StarFleetGolfer]

That's a great looking hybrid.

[PureDivots]

Id love to hear how you think the hybrid and your PTX irons play. Maybe a comparison to something you've used before also.

[Muirfield Willie]

Thats not a whistle, thats the awesomeness of the club forcing its will upon the ball

[WVP]

That's a great looking hybrid.

 

No surprise really since their R&D director came from Adams.

[Turfman]

I hit them at the demo, but chose the PTx long irons instead. The VKTR was really good though. Did not hear what you are talking about in any of the demos.

[ats200]

Aside from the whistling, give us some details on the club. I've been really considering ordering one or doing their demo program if they have it on the VKTR

[Slim1]

Id love to hear how you think the hybrid and your PTX irons play. Maybe a comparison to something you've used before also.

 

I used to play a set of Ping S-58 irons and most recently a set of Mizuno JPX-850. The S-58 irons were a great set and for what I sold them for on Ebay, I wish I still had them in my closet! I went to the Mizuno JPX-850's because I figured a larger club would help me with more forgiveness, etc. I didn't really find that to be the case at all. I also found the thick sole in the irons to be difficult to get through the rough. So I began a search for a smaller more compact set of irons that still offered a measure of forgiveness. I tried the Hogan Ft. Worth demo set late last year after reading about the program on this forum. I liked them but felt it was a little too demanding for my game. I then heard they were coming out with a new cavity back iron this Spring so I waited until I could see some advanced pictures of what they looked like. The Hogan PTX and TK15 wedges are a beautiful iron IMO. I love the craftsmanship. I don't find the mishits are penalized that bad. The V-Sole has tremendous interaction through the grass and sand. I got my set with the Nippon 950GH shaft in a stiff flex hard stepped once. I love the flight of the ball height wise and haven't experience any ballooning.

 

I just received my hybrid yesterday and with the whistle noise, I am not going to hit it until I speak with a Hogan Rep tomorrow. It also is a great looking club that sits well behind the ball. I haven't found a hybrid I have liked yet ( I still prefer the long irons!) Hoping that theHogan VKTR will change that :)

[RainShadow]

Nice looking stick. Too shiney for me. Need's a matte finish. But then it would be like nearly every other recent release.

Apparently all the Adams guys now work for either Wilson Staff, Callaway or Hogan.........

[Slim1]

I called Hogan and they are emailing me a return shipping label to return the club.

 

I was told that "high swing speeds" can cause the wind whistle noise coming from the weight ports. I think my driver speed is around 105-107mph, so I am not sure it fits into that category. They are going to refund my money. Kinda bummed that I never got to hit it.

 

Maybe a slight design flaw they need to work on? I haven't read of anyone else having this problem, but they offered the refund instead of a club repair or replacement.

[Off the toe]

I received my Hogan hybrids ( 23 and 19 ) this past weekend, haven't been able to hit them yet ( arrg...work ). Saw this post and decided to take a few swings in the backyard....noticed a whistle like sound. Compared that sound to another "comparable club"...Macgregor eye-o-matic SSW2 4 wood! No whistle there. Not too concerned, think I'll take them to the range later this week.

[Slim1]

In my case it was too loud for me. Let us know how you liked the feel when you hit them!

[JayGates22]

Interested to see the comparison between ball flights.. hybrids vs long irons of PTx irons

[carn9698]

That is1 good looking club.

[db2]

I've hit the VKTR, PTx, and Fort Worth Hi in 20 degree clubheads. I hit the FW Hi the highest, the PTx a smidge lower, and the VKTR much lower. I've always preferred to hit irons instead of woods, and I had never hit a hybrid before. But if you're someone who hits hybrids well, or is more comfortable hitting hybrids than long irons, you'll probably have a different experience. There is a 16-18 gram weight that you can move from a port in the sole to the rear port that can help raise the launch a bit. But I wasn't able to do that.

 

As for the whistle, I didn't hear it. But I was hitting balls--not making air swings.

[ats200]

I've hit the VKTR, PTx, and Fort Worth Hi in 20 degree clubheads. I hit the FW Hi the highest, the PTx a smidge lower, and the VKTR much lower. I've always preferred to hit irons instead of woods, and I had never hit a hybrid before. But if you're someone who hits hybrids well, or is more comfortable hitting hybrids than long irons, you'll probably have a different experience. There is a 16-18 gram weight that you can move from a port in the sole to the rear port that can help raise the launch a bit. But I wasn't able to do that.

 

As for the whistle, I didn't hear it. But I was hitting balls--not making air swings.

 

Do you notice any difference in length between them being that they're all 20 degrees? I have read where others say a driving-style iron plays longer than a normal one. Curious if that's true in your case and also how the VKTR fits into that mix.

[db2]

I was definitely hitting the PTx and FW Hi farther because I was getting the ball up higher--I was hitting them twice as high as the VKTR. I would not draw a conclusion from my experience other than I can't hit a hybrid. I don't hit fairway woods well, either. I should add that I didn't hit the 20 degree irons high enough to consider them worth purchasing. But that is a reflection of the shortcomings of my swing, not the clubs.

 

Perhaps I shouldn't have answered JayGates22's question. I might've caused more confusion as opposed to helping shed some light.

 

 

[BWTgolfer]

I received my 19* VKTR hybrid the other day and really haven't had a chance to play with the weights yet, but taking it out of the box and o to the course yesterday, all I can say is WOW. Hit maybe about a half dozen shots and most were slightly right of center (toe), but even after the crappy hits, the club went dead straight. I'll get the off-center hits figured out, and by then I'll also have the weights figured out as well. I am coming from a Ping G25 and there is no comparison, especially the forgiveness.

[Lobber]

I received my 19* VKTR hybrid the other day and really haven't had a chance to play with the weights yet, but taking it out of the box and o to the course yesterday, all I can say is WOW. Hit maybe about a half dozen shots and most were slightly right of center (toe), but even after the crappy hits, the club went dead straight. I'll get the off-center hits figured out, and by then I'll also have the weights figured out as well. I am coming from a Ping G25 and there is no comparison, especially the forgiveness.

 

My 18 came today along with PTX irons. Wow! So easy to hit off thin grass at range with excellent feel, forgiveness and distance. First round pick n the morning.

[BWTgolfer]

I received my 19* VKTR hybrid the other day and really haven't had a chance to play with the weights yet, but taking it out of the box and o to the course yesterday, all I can say is WOW. Hit maybe about a half dozen shots and most were slightly right of center (toe), but even after the crappy hits, the club went dead straight. I'll get the off-center hits figured out, and by then I'll also have the weights figured out as well. I am coming from a Ping G25 and there is no comparison, especially the forgiveness.

 

My 18 came today along with PTX irons. Wow! So easy to hit off thin grass at range with excellent feel, forgiveness and distance. First round pick n the morning.

 

I am on the fence with the PTx and the CF16. Having a hard time deciding between distance/forgiveness of the Callaway CF16 vs the forgiveness/feel of the Hogan PTx.

[Lobber]

I received my 19* VKTR hybrid the other day and really haven't had a chance to play with the weights yet, but taking it out of the box and o to the course yesterday, all I can say is WOW. Hit maybe about a half dozen shots and most were slightly right of center (toe), but even after the crappy hits, the club went dead straight. I'll get the off-center hits figured out, and by then I'll also have the weights figured out as well. I am coming from a Ping G25 and there is no comparison, especially the forgiveness.

 

My 18 came today along with PTX irons. Wow! So easy to hit off thin grass at range with excellent feel, forgiveness and distance. First round pick n the morning.

 

I am on the fence with the PTx and the CF16. Having a hard time deciding between distance/forgiveness of the Callaway CF16 vs the forgiveness/feel of the Hogan PTx.

 

I don't profess to know what is best for anyone but me(sometimes I don't even know that) but for me the Hogans were superior to the Apex 16. Feel was better, distance control exceptional and consistent and looks better to my eye. I tried to love the Apex 16 but preferred Hogans. Demo both and decide for yourself! Good luck

[Quasimoto]

I received my Ben Hogan VKTR 18 degree hybrid today. Here are a few pics. There is a strange whistle when I swing it. I taped all the weight ports and it makes a tiny whistle noise if the weight on the heel is exposed, a little louder whistle from the middle weight port and the bulk of the whistle is from the weight port on the toe. No noise at all from the weight port on the bottom of the club. I'll give them a call on Monday to see if its an easy fix or not. I also have all my PTx irons now and I really like them. Anyone else get their hybrid yet? Any whistle noise?

 

Not wanting to disparage anyone's choices , but don't you think the paint fills on the sole are sloppy?

I would have expected perfection to put the name Hogan on a club.

[BWTgolfer]

I received my 19* VKTR hybrid the other day and really haven't had a chance to play with the weights yet, but taking it out of the box and o to the course yesterday, all I can say is WOW. Hit maybe about a half dozen shots and most were slightly right of center (toe), but even after the crappy hits, the club went dead straight. I'll get the off-center hits figured out, and by then I'll also have the weights figured out as well. I am coming from a Ping G25 and there is no comparison, especially the forgiveness.

 

My 18 came today along with PTX irons. Wow! So easy to hit off thin grass at range with excellent feel, forgiveness and distance. First round pick n the morning.

 

I am on the fence with the PTx and the CF16. Having a hard time deciding between distance/forgiveness of the Callaway CF16 vs the forgiveness/feel of the Hogan PTx.

 

I don't profess to know what is best for anyone but me(sometimes I don't even know that) but for me the Hogans were superior to the Apex 16. Feel was better, distance control exceptional and consistent and looks better to my eye. I tried to love the Apex 16 but preferred Hogans. Demo both and decide for yourself! Good luck

 

I'm going to demo the CF16 but one thing that kind of has me concerned about the CF's is the strong lofts and the relatively light swing weight (D0) graphite. I guess that why you demo them!!

 

Didn't mean to hijack a thread, but the VKTR 19* is nothing but money. I had the 18 gram weight in the sole of the club and got a good hit and roll, but felt I was missing something. So I put the weight in the back port and WOW, nice mid-high flight with roll. This club has displaced my Ping hybrid. One more thing, the feel is virtually pure, nothing but a click of the ball and it's gone. Love it!!

[Redpro]

Played my $79 22* VKTR hybrid today. Nice high ball flight and I could hit a nice cut with it or straight. Did not try to draw it because that is my big problem with all my hybrids. Did not change the weights. My Apex hybrids are in big trouble. My 26* arrives Monday, paid $89 for it. Wow, amazing reductions from MSRP. And both were OBO from eBay. Both have the Recoil 660 F3 shafts and swingweight was D3-D4ish. It really helped in slowing my 88 mph swing down. ;)

 

And, I don't hear any "whistling" sound previously mentioned.

[Martini122]

I just received my Hogan VIKTR 21 degree hybrid yesterday and had the chance to take it to the range this evening. It does have a whistle about it, and I noticed that right away when I took some practice swings in my living room (as we all do with new toys). The sound doesn't bother me at all. Comparing the club to my MP-20 MMC four iron (22 degree) the distance and carry appear to be about the same or similar. I will say that the shots I hit with this club included some fades and draws, whereas previous hybrids I've owned were absolutely hook machines. I haven't had the chance to adjust the weights in the clubhead, but I imagine they will work as described. I really want to get back on the range and test this guy further. If anybody would like more information regarding my feelings or impressions about this club, please respond here. I see that this is an old conversation, and people may have moved on since 2017. Peace Out.

[SubaruWRX]

I have a 21 with the KBS Prototype Hybrid shaft in S+. I’ve gamed it twice and it’s very good. No whistling at all. But I prefer a driving iron over hybrids.