Hogan Apex into i210? 620CB? iblade?

[MagnoliaGolfer]

Hello all -

 

Longtime lurker looking for some advice.  Some back story: I was away from the game for 15 years but have returned to it this summer.  At my best (15 years ago) I was a 7.  I'm now a 12.  Goal is to get single digit so as to qualify for the state mid-amateur, and then, get lower to qualify for the state amateur.  I'm 37. 

 

I currently play a set of Hogan Apex blades from 1999.  I hit the 7 iron 155.  Shots are really high.  I'm guessing because of the traditional loft.  I stop the ball quickly on the green -- ball mark within a few feet of the pin.  So, from this I assume I generate a lot of spin (hence the height and the stop).  

 

I'd like to get into a set of irons with a bit more forgiveness and some more distance, perhaps hit the ball a bit lower too.  I've been looking at Ping's i210 and iblade.  I'm smitten with the looks of Titleist's 620 CB, but, I assume those won't play that differently than the Hogans I've got now.  

 

Any recommendations? 

 

Thanks so much! 

[Bubbtubbs]

What condition are the heads in? Asking for a friend.

[MagnoliaGolfer]

You can tell your friend the heads are in pretty good shape -- some of the paint on the sole is worn away on the E and 7 irons, but overall pretty good.

[Joe S]

I would hang on to those Hogans.  Just in case...

[MagnoliaGolfer]

Oh, I will!  

[Sea-Hawks]

What shafts are in the hogans? I found their Hogan Apex shaft to hit the ball pretty high with quite a bit of spin.

 

Out of the sets you mention I would go iblade or 620cb. Neither are really difficult to hit, look great at address and feel great. Get the shaft that feels the best and gives you the flight you want though. 🙂

 

I'm partial to the Ping irons...reliable, consistent and bulletproof.

[jomatty]

I210’s should be very forgiving coming from Hogan’s.  When I hit them I still had no issue with workability (at least none that were equipment related).  The sole is a little thicker than I would like, but felt good.  I would think that shaft will be a much easier way to attack the high ball flight.  In my experience modern clubs with stronger lofts still hit the ball as high or nearly as high as traditional lost due to low cg or whatever wizardry they do to them.  What shafts are in your current irons?  Lots of good options that should lower your ball flight.

[MagnoliaGolfer]

Thanks for the insight on the shafts, Sea-Hawks and jomatty.  Really useful.   The shafts are stock There's a sticker on them that says "Spalding Hogan Apex 4 frequency matched" which I believe is a stiff shaft. 

 

 

[James the Hogan Fan]

I was playing the 2003 apex blades with Apex 4 shafts and switched to a combo set of Wilson FG62 blades 7-P and FG Tour V2's as the 5-6 irons with Project X 6.5's (a jump from stiff to extra stiff as well). 

 

Results? Well the Wilsons are 1° stronger and a ½" longer, so there was a bit of an adjustment period, but after that a lot changed in my iron game, namely the shafts had me make an adjustment that has just about killed the hook I'd been fighting. On the performance side I got a few extra yards and the 5-6 iron are not nearly as intimidating as they used to be. 

 

Definitely put Wilson on your trial list!

[setter02]

Why not look into the new Hogan PTX/Icon combo?  I have no issues with the I210s and they are in the bag currently as I only got my set a couple of weeks ago.  I also have a split set of the Hogan's (UiHi might turn you off, I don't find it appealing to look at from address) and they look very nice and feel good.  Just trying to figure out what to re-shaft them with.

[KC13]

620 CBs are pretty nice.  I found them to be great with regards to turf interaction and feel.  Hard iron to get right now as I have been waiting almost 2 1/2 months for my CBs to come in (Titleist is backordered).  Best of luck on your journey to the state am!  

 

- KC 

[MagnoliaGolfer]

Thanks everyone for your responses.  I'll check out the Wilsons, and I'll look into the Hogan combo set. Ping, too, is very backordered (I've heard 10 weeks)--so, right in line with Titleist I guess! 

[Old Tom Morris]

I don't think you'll find a better feeling set of irons than the 99 Hogan Apex.  Hang on to them.  Look at a Titleist T100 or AP2 for for a players cavity type iron.  Bag setup is a little different than it was in the early 2000s.

[deejaid]

I’ve had my 620cb’s for about a month now.   I was fitted back first week in August and I got them first week of October so yeah, they are a bit backed up on custom orders, but it seems everyone is right now.
 

 I play a lot of vintage clubs so it has taken a little bit longer to get used to the 620cb’s but now I’m really digging them.  The looks are fantastic, modern but a not too “techie”.  Sole width and grind is wonderful.   The head size is compact but not intimidating.    I have the Project X 6.0 in mine, not the Project X LZ they normally come with.   The performance of the clubs are great.  They are long and high.  Even the 3 and 4 irons fly high but I wouldn’t say they are automatic, they take a good swing.

 

To me, a traditionalist, they are the perfect modern players cavity back iron.

[wam78]

Always find myself enamored with Titleist cb’s.  Especially the 620.  They look fantastic!

[MagnoliaGolfer]

Yes, those CBs are a beaut.  

 

How are they for forgiveness? Maltby has the MOI at 12.58, which is considerably lower than the iblades' 14.16

[deejaid]

4 hours ago, MagnoliaGolfer said:

Yes, those CBs are a beaut.  

 

How are they for forgiveness? Maltby has the MOI at 12.58, which is considerably lower than the iblades' 14.16

I’d say not very forgiving at all,  maybe a bit more than the 620 muscle backs, but not much.

[MagnoliaGolfer]

Well, after all my deliberations, I got fit today, thinking I'd to the iblade --- and walked out with Titleist T100s, S300 shaft.  Ha ha!! 

 

They just felt so much better to me!