Ben hogan apex golden anniversary

[fcatelli]

Anyone here game these? Should I?  Should I sell them? If I do I'll be putting on mid size grips and bending 2 degrees upright. I got them for only 570 on eBay. I thought it might be a scam at first but sure enough it came! 

[rwl]

Magnificent!! Thanks for sharing the pics.

Edited November 6, 2020 by rwl

[bvanlieu]

Lovely. To me they look like a fun day set of clubs: use them when you are just swinging for the purity of the game be it once a week or once a month. I would roll the ball over away from rocks and roots so you don't scar them from a shot under the trees: this is non-comp fun day. 

 

They deserve to be gamed 🙂

 

- b

[cgasucks]

WOW!  $570 (US I assume) for a brand new set in these pandemic times is a hell of a deal!  I game a set of the 99 Blades myself and if the feel is remotely similar I'd take them out for a spin.  I just hope you're skilled enough for them.

[fcatelli]

So I have a question for you all. I've been doing a lot of research on the Hogan Apex 4 shaft. There seems to be a consensus that the older Apex 4 shafts were lighter and more similar to a dynalite s300, but most of the forums I have found are referring to older Apex 4 shafts pre 1988. I know these golden anniversary irons the maker is Royal precision. To me this specific years apex 4 seems like x100 level stiffness. I have looked all over the Internet and there's been a couple people who have also said that the Apex 4 shaft seems heavier and stiffer but they don't allude to what year they are talking about. I have a set of 1973 Apex with the #4 shaft and it doesn't even compare to the 2003 Apex #4. Am I crazy or do did spalding do something different with the 2003 golden anniversary irons shafts? I also can't find much on if these commemorative irons we're even meant to be played. I have read these limited irons we're Endo forged which leaves me to believe they are fine to use but I'm deciding on whether or not I want to reshaft them. I did find this pdf that states the shafts weigh 115 g which makes me believe that these 2003 shafts do indeed feel heavier and stiffer. The shaft code is also 4b3h, the equivalent is stated to be a dynalight gold sl s300(only weigh 105g). Any exciting new info would be greatly appreciated!

hogan shaft weight.pdf shaft codes.pdf

Edited November 12, 2020 by fcatelli

[Skipperation]

I played the 99 Apex blades for quite a while and loved them. They are very similar to the 2003 Anniversary set and they also had the Apex 4 shafts in which I assume they were the same as the ones in the set you've bought, also made by Royal Precision as far as I'm aware. I have also been told they are equivalent to the DG Dynalite SL S300 which does make some sense.

 

The Apex 4's as with the Dynalites do initially feel abit stiffer than a standard S300 in my opinion as they seem to have 'tightened' them up to account for the lighter weight shaft so the flex's are comparable to the standard DG shafts. So if you haven't hit them and just have a quick 'waggle' they may feel abit sitff but when you hit them, they are very playable and feel abit better than the Dynalite's to me. The really are great shafts and clubs in general so definitely worth playing them if you are a blade fan.

[Bo Hogan]

What other irons do you play?

I'd play these in a Heartbeat just the way they are.

I will say it's not a bad idea to have a set more forgiving to fall back to from time to time.

I think these will make you a better player.

But that's just my opinion.

[fcatelli]

4 hours ago, Bo Hogan said:

What other irons do you play?

I'd play these in a Heartbeat just the way they are.

I will say it's not a bad idea to have a set more forgiving to fall back to from time to time.

I think these will make you a better player.

But that's just my opinion.

I started seriously playing about 4 years ago when I found a set of hogan apex blades(1973) at a bargain discount store. Had no idea what they were but they were shiney. I sucked, real bad. But after 7 or 8 months I learned to hit em, and dropped my handicap all the way down to a 3 after two years of grinding (frustrating though because all my rounds would be 15 pars and a couple bogeys). They were 1/2 short of standard (I'm 6'4") and really taught me how to hit the center of the club face and I'm forever grateful that I learned to play on that set.

 

Then I got fitted and started scoring (handicap actually went up to a ~5 but I would have 4-5 birdies in a round and was so much more enjoyable). Probably not the new clubs, probably just putting better but idk. I have never kept track of strokes gained

 

Now I play the ben hogan ft worth 15's. Kbs tour v x stiff 1/2" long and 2° upright. My handicap is .6 right now. I am a huge believer that a good swing is way better than a well fit club. With that being said I just ordered some mid size grips, gunna slap them on, adjust the lie and play these for a couple years!

[DaveGoodrich]

I bought a set of those Apex 50's from a pawn shop several years ago for roughly 1/10 that price.   They are indeed beautiful clubs.  You paid a significant premium to get them "new," so be aware, they are very soft, so if you play them and don't use iron covers, they will show a lot of bag chatter pretty quickly. 

 

I'd say, if you want to play these irons, find yourself a used set (at used prices).  

[fcatelli]

17 minutes ago, DaveGoodrich said:

I bought a set of those Apex 50's from a pawn shop several years ago for roughly 1/10 that price.   They are indeed beautiful clubs.  You paid a significant premium to get them "new," so be aware, they are very soft, so if you play them and don't use iron covers, they will show a lot of bag chatter pretty quickly. 

 

I'd say, if you want to play these irons, find yourself a used set (at used prices).  

The way I figure is I was gunna pay 900+ for some new irons. These style have been a dream of mine to own for awhile. I'm kinda a gear head and didn't mind paying for some new ones. I see that they go for over 1200 new on eBay. I found a couple in used condition on eBay but they still want like 400-500 bucks 🤨

[Christen_The_Sloop]

I picked up the 2-iron brand new in the summer. I considered leaving the plastic on for a half a second. Hits really nice. It's the only iron I have, and I have a lot, that sits under a head cover. It's a beauty alright.

[DaveGoodrich]

21 hours ago, fcatelli said:

The way I figure is I was gunna pay 900+ for some new irons. These style have been a dream of mine to own for awhile. I'm kinda a gear head and didn't mind paying for some new ones. I see that they go for over 1200 new on eBay. I found a couple in used condition on eBay but they still want like 400-500 bucks 🤨

Yeah, after looking at ebay, I'm surprised at the prices the used sets are going for now.   It might be time for me to actually sell something on ebay, rather than just buying.

 

Play what you like, and enjoy!

[James the Hogan Fan]

If you do re-grip them, please! save the grips, if for no other reason I will buy them from you.

 

In my opinion, those are a collector's item and would look good arranged something like this:

 

 

No those aren't mine, they are on the clubhouse wall. You'd be just as well served to by the 2003 Hogan Apex (which are identical except for the 50th stampings), (which I DO own) and just playing those instead.

 

At the end of the day though, it is your call. If you want to put them into play, put them into play. I think most of the people who tell you not to are just jealous that you have them (I am 😉 )

Representative EBAY ad with which I am not affiliated.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ben-Hogan-Apex-Forged-Iron-Set-Flex-Apex-Steel-3-Ew-0860386-Vgood/353266417410?hash=item524051bf02:g:jXgAAOSwS4dfpaWv

 

 

Edited November 13, 2020 by James the Hogan Fan

[johny719]

If you’re ever looking for a buyer for these clubs, let me know. I’d like to play them! Thanks!

[4evaunderpar]

I've have a set of these too. Beautiful clubs! Still don't know what to do with them 😞