New Hogan iron

[3_Jack_Par]

I'm not sure why I'm even getting involved, as I'm not in the market, but I always get annoyed at business decisions that don't make a lot of sense. Modus3 120 is my shaft of choice, as well. I can definitely play X100, and have in the past but the Modus gives me a little more consistency and I prefer the feel.

[rtraudt]

Yeah, but they still charge you as if you bought the full clubs from the OEM. At least that's how it was when I last went for a fitting. Driver was full rack OEM price, plus price of new shaft upgrade, plus install cost. Hence why people constantly start those stupid sticker shock Club Champion threads...

[rtraudt]

True, but I don't think they'd like if I started pulling the shafts they sent in the demo heads and installing my own...Hence why the CC and other fitter exposure is fantastic.

[Joe S]

I don't know how the price works out, but they do have a club fitter program where they sell heads directly to qualified fitters. I don't know if anyone other than Club Champion is in the program.http://www.golfwrx.com/588170/ben-hogan-golf-introduces-new-club-fitter-and-builder-program/

[QuigleyDU]

Right, club champion is full price. plus plus plus. Even if you walk out with a stock set you are not going to pay stock price. I am simply saying someone can get components. They are not buying clubs then taking them apart.

[bigdane]

If only I could get a 3-iron for a set of Icons, I'd order to-day.

I really do not understand, why Hogan refuses to include 3-irons for their sets? Considering the handicap level of those playing Hogan clubs, it should be self evident to include the possibility at least.

 

[bigdane]

99 Apex will not be expendable until they are so worn that you cannot see the grooves

[dmeeksDC]

I believe they’d be a lot more successful if they did not effectively double charge customers for the shafts they want. What they do is really no different from me ordering clubs from an OEM with stock shafts, then buying another set of shafts and paying someone to change them. I don’t even know if CC also gives you the extra set of stock shafts you paid for under their approach. They do a good job on fittings but are not price competitive on the equipment.

[RobotDoctor]

I have two sets of 1999 Apex blades. My gamer set is not going anywhere, anytime soon. This is the 9 iron of by backup 1999 Apex blade set.

 

[Nard_S]

Wow. Righteous. As close to a classic Hogan as any would dare these days. Agree the dearth of shaft options is a turn off. They are in perfect position to do that even with a slight up charge.

[RobotDoctor]

I agree with an option for heads only. That would be my preference as well but with the price for 4-PW at $770 that is far below retail pricing for other forged blades which leads to the option of purchasing new shafts and reshafting myself and still being a bit lower in cost than retail forged blades. As many of us do, shaft pulls will reduce the cost a bit more. I also love to work on clubs so this option adds a bit of therapy for me.

[James the Hogan Fan]

It's funny how spoiled we are for shaft options nowadays. As far as I am aware the 1999 Apex blades could be had with Apex steel, Apex graphite, precision rifles, aaaand that was it.

20 years later 3 steel and one graphite option is a deal breaking disappointment. Times change I guess.

Under their 4° loft system that 3 iron would be 18°, which is a pretty stiff loft. The '99's were 17°-19°-22° for 1-2-3, so your 4i is the same loft as the old 3-irons. I wish the PW was 48° and went down from there which would make a 3-iron a more manageable 20°. Their loft progression being 4° is kind of restricting here...

[jblough99]

When ordering from the website they give an option for lie angle adjustment but no loft adjustment? Bending the entire set 2* weak wouldn’t be a problem and would still maintain the 4* gapping. Curious as to why they don’t offer loft adjustments?

[RobotDoctor]

I picked up a used 1999 Apex blade 2 iron to bridge the "3" iron for the new set. I had bent my 3 iron to 21 degrees on my gamer set and can hit it easily off the tee and generally pretty well off the fairway with little effort. Having an iron 2 degrees stronger (2 iron) hopefully gets similar results off the tee and a wind cheater/stinger iron when needed.

[rtraudt]

Easy to understand, and the same reason that they don't have lefty sets. The cost to create the additional loft far outweighs the potential income from people buying a 3 iron in this set which, at 18 degrees, would be astoundingly few. I would be curious what set of irons you currently play, because most that do offer a 3 iron in a true MB are not close to 18* (for instance, the MP-20 3 iron is 21*, which is ONE DEGREE STRONGER than the Hogans...just bend them!).

[RobotDoctor]

I still have the MacGregor Murifield 20th 1 iron I used to have in my bag from the late 80s into the early 90s. That was a wicked great iron. I could really hit that thing with a balata golf ball and could get the ball airborn due to the high spin that was produced. I can't think of using a 16 degree iron today. The 1999 Apex 2 iron is pushing it.

[travwhite]

This set does not need a 3 iron. The Hogans have a 4-degree loft progression through the entire set, so the 4-iron is 22 degrees. My Titleist AP-2 3-iron is 21 degrees. For Hogan to have a 3-iron, it would be 18 degrees. This would be the same as my old Ping Eye-2 iron. Hogan also makes a Ft. Worth Hi iron (20 degree) which is a hollow long iron designed to blend with the Ft. Worth Irons. I would imagine their next move would be to update the aesthetics to blend with the new Icons.

[chip75]

I think the Fort Worth irons only started at 20°, it's rare to see blade much lower these days.

[RobotDoctor]

That is definitely true. However, there may be some who want a long iron. My irons from my 1999 Apex set are all bent a bit stronger - 3 iron is 21 degrees (1 degree strong) then I follow a 3 degree progression for the 4-6 irons. The 7-PW follow a 4 degree progression. I am losing a degree of loft from the 3 iron of the 1999 Apex set to the 4 iron of the Icon set. I could add a 2 iron from the 1999 Apex set which is 19 degrees or I could redo my wedge configuration from 3 to 4. That would be a 46/50/54/58 or 46/50/55/60. Again, options, options, options. Of course I could just forego the 2 iron thought and keep my wedge configuration of 46/52/58 and only carry 13 clubs.

[QuigleyDU]

Plus a 2 degree bend would all be remove any offset.

[jwadds19]

They look awesome. Always wanted to try Hogan's but not sure I can justify these now with the MP20s in the bag at the moment.

It would be awesome if they started to offer more shaft options.

[numberonecoog]

UST sells it retail as a .370 but they taper the shafts for Hogan and other OEMs

[NRJyzr]

 

99 Apex 2 iron is 19*

[RichieHunt]

I'm not sure Club Champion gets the components. They do ala carte pricing. Essentially, they charge for what the irons cost and then the shafts you want put on them and then the grips.

 

For example, if the irons with shafts cost $700 for 4-PW and you're getting KBS $ Taper shafts going at $50/shaft and then $8/grip...the charge for the clubs alone will be $1,100+. Then they charge you for installation fees.

 

I was always under the interpretation that places like Club Champion get the club as is and then remove the shafts and grips and install the shafts and grips you were fitted for.

 

If I'm wrong, it just makes those places a bit sleazier than I thought.

 

 

RH

[QuigleyDU]

Correct, but the build everything on site. So everything is in component form. They do not have boxes of sets sitting in a store room in back waiting to be purchased. They build them after the fitting.

Thats because they really want to upgrade you on everything so the can make margin on every part of the build. All in the name of being "fit".

whether they get them component or break them apart I guess does not really matter. They are all sold by them as components.

i would assume they are getting everything separate, otherwise it would seem there is a lot of waste. Grips, shafts, etc. that are all going to go to waste.

[xm23]

Anyone have these in hand yet?

[RobotDoctor]

Right, I meant that. Typo. Being that the 4 iron for the Icon is 22 degrees, the 2 iron from the '99 set would be the 3 degree progression. That said, do I really want to carry such a long iron again? I bought one on eBay but the seller hasn't shipped it or responded to my communication so the sale just might fall through. If it does I will take that as a sign to think about 4 wedges.

[RobotDoctor]

I received an email today that the Ft. Worth facility has been shut down due to Coronavirus. They anticipate starting back up on April 6th. I was told my set will be one of the very first assembled and sent out afterwards. I would be more than happy if they just sent me the heads, lol. I should have them between 2 and 3 weeks.

[chazpet]

Do you plan on bending them to match the lofts of your current '99s? I am going to try the new Icon's regardless but have debated switching to a more traditional lofts to allow myself to keep a 3 iron and add a 5 wood. How do you think bending them week will affect the v-sole?

[RobotDoctor]

I am going to leave them exactly the way they are. I may tweak the lie angle but I will make sure the lofts are adjusted exactly to spec.