Ben Hogan 1988 Redline vs 1999 Apex Blade

[SteveNZ]

[quote name='Shade Ruff' timestamp='1423255279' post='10901081'][quote name='SteveNZ' timestamp='1423254930' post='10901049']
Just curious, do the 99s have a visible serial number? I have a set that I have no doubt is genuine but there is no serial number on the ferrule.
I suppose they might have been reshafted and the ferrules replaced but the shafts are Apex 4s and the ferrules have the two red bands, which feels like original spec to me.
[/quote]

SteveNZ,

Spalding-era Hogans often carried a registration number on a separate shaft label/sticker just below the factory-installed grip. This label was silver colored.

Shade[/quote]
Ah, gotcha. Thanks!

[jmck]

FWIW, I just pulled my set of 99s out of storage today. Serial # H-00033117. Apex 4 shafts, standard l/l/l. Thought the label was clear at first. Upon closer inspection it does appear to be silvery. It's pretty much the exact same color as the shaft.

Shade, if you have a link to that thread you referenced please post it here. I can't find it through the search function. Thanks!

[Kathy Marie]

I can't find it either and I ran my searches back to July 2007 in all classics forums, the WRX Club Techs, Equipment and finally, all the forums. There was no post with double attachments that were not photographs.

Here is what I found for decoding serial numbers:

Redline Procedure:
[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/931196-hogan-apex-redline-shaft-flex-question/#entry8136274"]http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/931196-hogan-apex-redline-shaft-flex-question/#entry8136274[/url]

Producer Prodecure from ironfinder.com:
[url="http://www.ironfinder.com/Individual-Irons/hogan/producer-75.htm"]http://www.ironfinder.com/Individual-Irons/hogan/producer-75.htm[/url]

Medallion Procedure:
[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/433039-manufacture-date-hogan-medallion-copper-coin/#entry2871965"]http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/433039-manufacture-date-hogan-medallion-copper-coin/#entry2871965[/url]

and a business on Ebay that supposedly has The Knowledge to decode Hogan serial numbers:
[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/327518-check-these-out/#entry2142099"]http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/327518-check-these-out/#entry2142099[/url]

[HoganApexBlades]

[quote name='Kathy Marie' timestamp='1423267070' post='10902367']
I can't find it either and I ran my searches back to July 2007 in all classics forums, the WRX Club Techs, Equipment and finally, all the forums. There was no post with double attachments that were not photographs.

Here is what I found for decoding serial numbers:

Redline Procedure:
[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/931196-hogan-apex-redline-shaft-flex-question/#entry8136274"]http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/931196-hogan-apex-redline-shaft-flex-question/#entry8136274[/url]

Producer Prodecure from ironfinder.com:
[url="http://www.ironfinder.com/Individual-Irons/hogan/producer-75.htm"]http://www.ironfinder.com/Individual-Irons/hogan/producer-75.htm[/url]

Medallion Procedure:
[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/433039-manufacture-date-hogan-medallion-copper-coin/#entry2871965"]http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/433039-manufacture-date-hogan-medallion-copper-coin/#entry2871965[/url]

and a business on Ebay that supposedly has The Knowledge to decode Hogan serial numbers:
[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/327518-check-these-out/#entry2142099"]http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/327518-check-these-out/#entry2142099[/url]
[/quote]

Kathy,

Thank you for taking the time to locate and post your findings. I guess we'll have to wait for Teevons to maybe chime in and give us his opinion. I WAS confident in what I had previously posted about the Hogan "serial number code". I will try and locate my source of info and report back.

[pdgolferman]

..Take a trip to the dark side, you must...

http://www.secretinthedirt.com/index.php/forum/65-collecting-antique-clubs-group-forum/28124-hogan-experts-needed?start=75#40666

Its about as near as you will get. Those in the know play their cards very close to their chests.

Regards.

[Shade Ruff]

[quote name='pdgolferman' timestamp='1423323402' post='10905571']
..Take a trip to the dark side, you must...

[url="http://www.secretinthedirt.com/index.php/forum/65-collecting-antique-clubs-group-forum/28124-hogan-experts-needed?start=75#40666"]http://www.secretint...?start=75#40666[/url]

Its about as near as you will get. Those in the know play their cards very close to their chests.

Regards.
[/quote]

pdgolferman,

Bingo - thanks! That's what I remembered - albeit on the wrong forum.

Note, too, the error/mismatch between the registration number/decode for the Ladies' Radial iron on the top of the second page of the iron codes. They mistakenly have 4 for the Flex and 2 (D2) for the swingweight when it should be 1 and 6 (C6) respectively.

Shade

[pdgolferman]

[quote name='Shade Ruff' timestamp='1423325371' post='10905723']
[quote name='pdgolferman' timestamp='1423323402' post='10905571']
..Take a trip to the dark side, you must...

[url="http://www.secretinthedirt.com/index.php/forum/65-collecting-antique-clubs-group-forum/28124-hogan-experts-needed?start=75#40666"]http://www.secretint...?start=75#40666[/url]

Its about as near as you will get. Those in the know play their cards very close to their chests.

Regards.
[/quote]

pdgolferman,

Bingo - thanks! That's what I remembered - albeit on the wrong forum.

Note, too, the error/mismatch between the registration number/decode for the Ladies' Radial iron on the top of the second page of the iron codes. They mistakenly have 4 for the Flex and 2 (D2) for the swingweight when it should be 1 and 6 (C6) respectively.

Shade
[/quote]

I'm not sure if these are actual repair manual pages or just someone practising with their new typewriter.

[jmck]

[quote name='pdgolferman' timestamp='1423323402' post='10905571']
..Take a trip to the dark side, you must...

[url="http://www.secretinthedirt.com/index.php/forum/65-collecting-antique-clubs-group-forum/28124-hogan-experts-needed?start=75#40666"]http://www.secretint...?start=75#40666[/url]

Its about as near as you will get. Those in the know play their cards very close to their chests.

Regards.
[/quote]

Thanks for that!

I'll just throw this out here in case anyone who knows the answer comes across it. Does anyone know what a ferrule stamped "XX" means. Factory 2nd? Custom order? Sales sample? Demo? My favorite 53* wedge has "XX" as the only ferrule stamping. It's a hair different shape than any other 53* than I've seen.

[Shade Ruff]

[quote name='Shade Ruff' timestamp='1423240676' post='10899065']
[quote name='HoganApexBlades' timestamp='1392150835' post='8646123']
[quote name='freddiec' timestamp='1392124909' post='8643201']
The PCs were a beautiful set and IMO not any harder to hit than any other players club of the time. If you noticed the serial numbers on the hosel of the PC are pretty much all the same, except for the 1st letter. For example some models start with H7xxx, others Fxxx and I believe K. I'm pretty sure the model with the H were made the year Hogan made them with a rounder sole. I had that set in the late 80s for thru the very early 90s when I ditched them for a set of Nicklaus JNP cavity back. I never found the PC hard to hit. The model with the sharper leading edge might be a slighly different story. I have a set of those now and have played with them occassionally. I had apex 4's in my original set and love that shaft.
[/quote]

As far as I know, the serial number on the Apex PC blades indicate the month of manufacture (1st digit) / year of manufacture (2nd digit) / model # (3rd & 4th digits) / Shaft flex (5 digit) / Swingweight (6th digit). My PC's are G72042 which should mean G = JULY / 7 =1987 / 20 = PC / 4 = Apex 4 / 2 = D2.

Of course, I could be wrong...
[/quote]

HoganApexBlades,

G = 1985
72 = PC model number
0 = Type of Shaft - in this case 0 indicates a standard Apex shaft
4 = Shaft Flex - in this case Hogan 4 flex
2 = Swingweight - in this case D2

F code indicates 1984 production year; H code indicates 1986 production year; K code indicates 1987 production year.

Shade
[/quote]

This image of a Hogan Apex PC 9 iron ferrule registration number is a great example of a production model fitted with the Vector shaft. The fourth character - the number 8 - is the Hogan code for the Vector shaft.

Shade

[Shade Ruff]

This image of a Hogan Apex PC 1 iron ferrule registration number is an example of a production model fitted with the Apex Extra shaft. The fourth character - the number 1 - is the Hogan code for the Apex Extra shaft.

Shade

[Woodridge]

Interesting as my Redlines start with two letters. BJ3278

[Shade Ruff]

[quote name='Woodridge' timestamp='1423640703' post='10930045']
Interesting as my Redlines start with two letters. BJ3278
[/quote]

Woodridge,

As it should. The Ben Hogan Company's registration number system was different for the Apex Redlines. See this for more: [url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/931196-hogan-apex-redline-shaft-flex-question/"]http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/931196-hogan-apex-redline-shaft-flex-question/[/url]

Your set was built in 1988 (B code) in the month of September (J code), as the 3,278th set produced.

Shade

[Woodridge]

Thanks Shade!

[Fellaheen51]

For our brethren over the pond, here you go.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BEN-HOGAN-APEX-FORGED-IRONS-2-PW-STIFF-4-STEEL-SHAFTS-10859-/151586406917?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item234b410205

[pdgolferman]

[quote name='Fellaheen51' timestamp='1423735341' post='10937171']
For our brethren over the pond, here you go.

[url="http://www.ebay.com/itm/BEN-HOGAN-APEX-FORGED-IRONS-2-PW-STIFF-4-STEEL-SHAFTS-10859-/151586406917?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item234b410205"]http://www.ebay.com/...=item234b410205[/url]
[/quote]

[b]Did you see this Birly-shirly???[/b]

I meant to tell you about him a while ago....This dude has a warehouse, down in Bilston / Loanhead [ behind Noble's Nissan garage ]......Walk right in ya can......Fatal.
...Can even go to ikea first for some storage racking.

pd

[birly-shirly]

[quote name='pdgolferman' timestamp='1423740508' post='10937225']
[quote name='Fellaheen51' timestamp='1423735341' post='10937171']
For our brethren over the pond, here you go.

[url="http://www.ebay.com/itm/BEN-HOGAN-APEX-FORGED-IRONS-2-PW-STIFF-4-STEEL-SHAFTS-10859-/151586406917?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item234b410205"]http://www.ebay.com/...=item234b410205[/url]
[/quote]

[b]Did you see this Birly-shirly???[/b]

I meant to tell you about him a while ago....This dude has a warehouse, down in Bilston / Loanhead [ behind Noble's Nissan garage ]......Walk right in ya can......Fatal.
...Can even go to ikea first for some storage racking.

pd
[/quote]

Why, thank you for the thought, pd! I have seen that seller on ebay before, and it's one of the ironies of life that the guy selling so much stuff that I'm interested in, and who prices all his stuff to allow for free postage, is right on my doorstep where I could easily collect.

That auction was actually one of 3 selling redlines a few weeks ago, and I snagged a cheaper set. But your post makes me think that it could be worth making him an offer for the 2 iron.

[RobotDoctor]

Reviving this hread.

I currently play the 99 Apex irons and am eyeing a set of 88 Redlines. How difficult is it to remove the pins from the 88 Redlines if I were to reshaft? Thanks in advance.

[HoldenCornfield]

Not hard at all. Just need a nail punch, hammer, and vise grips. Usually the pin is tapered so one end is larger than the other. Put the largest end down, set on a block of soft wood (pine, or even better - spruce) and hammer it out with the punch. Your punch probably won't knock it all the way out, so use the vise grips to snatch it on out.

[birly-shirly]

Holden has you covered, RD - I also got good advice rebuilding my redlines on this thread. http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1144987-hogan-apex-shaft-alternatives/

[RobotDoctor]

I just picked up a set of '88 Apex Redlines. These appear to have been rechromed and reshafted with DGX100s. We'll see how the DGX100s play. They have the same weight as S300s but launch the ball lower. If I can torque these I will play them. If not then I may replace these with Apex 4 shafts in the near future or Nippon Modus 120 stiff shafts. These are meant to be player clubs, not collector clubs (like most clubs for all of us ).

[Guia]

The 99 model is more solid. They are also a softer feeling iron.

[super20dan]

been away a while. but what i have is worth the wait. scored a set of redlines today (missing 4 iron) 2-pw for 20 $ they have the apex 4 shaft so its a good thing i have been eating my Wheaties lately. included inthe bag was a apex sw of some vintage. looks 90,s? 2 beautiful powerbuilt woods and a cleveland sw and a ping eye2 1 iron. not a bad haul! now i finally get to try redlines. report after i get to play them.

[super20dan]

the sw is a 94 channel back justin leonard model. -how cool is that!

[birly-shirly]

[quote name='super20dan' timestamp='1433631588' post='11702598']
been away a while. but what i have is worth the wait. scored a set of redlines today (missing 4 iron) 2-pw for 20 $ they have the apex 4 shaft so its a good thing i have been eating my Wheaties lately. included inthe bag was a apex sw of some vintage. looks 90,s? 2 beautiful powerbuilt woods and a cleveland sw and a ping eye2 1 iron. not a bad haul! now i finally get to try redlines. report after i get to play them.
[/quote]

Great find! But after paying $1.50 per club, what do you think you'll be able to bring yourself to pay to fill that 4 iron gap?

I hope you like them enough for this to become a problem. I love mine, especially the long irons.

[super20dan]

for now i will just use my pc 4 iron. i have the same issue as you with the apex 2 . cant feel the head during the swing.

[birly-shirly]

That's not a bad match at all, IMO. I think you were the first person who I recall commenting on how similar the redlines and pcs look at address, and having since acquired a set of '88s, I can see exactly what you mean.

Apex IIs and PCs (consecutive models) look quite different from each other, but the PCs and Redlines are hard to tell apart from above.

[BMC]

I've played 88s and 99s off and on for years. For me, the 88s perform better. I tend to miss toward the toe, and the 88s have a fairly large muscle down low and out to the toe.

I've shot my best scores with the Redlines, even today.

[rex235]

[quote name='freddiec' timestamp='1392070353' post='8639343']
I was at West Point golf course in the late fall of 1987 (playing Hogan Apex PCs) at the time; playing in a College golf tourney. One of the top players finished 18 and dropped his bag right next to me and I saw these Redlines. He must have had the 1st set that came out, or knew the Rep. My twin brother bought them in 88 and I kept playing my PCs. [b] I loved my PCs.[/b]
[/quote]

Freddie-

Sadly....like most Hogan clubs of the '80s and '90s....RH Only......

[super20dan]

the apex 2 is very different from the other models and you notice they didnt stay with this desighn long. the reason must be that other players didnt like it either. i need to try a set with original shafts before i make final judgement as my st has trutemper dynamgolds instead of apex

[CD17]

I've just picked up a set of 99s & I was shocked at how easy they swing, how nice they feel & how well I hit them, I just re-gripped them all & I'm going to put them into play.

 

The feeling of hitting a quality forged blade is one of the best things about golf. I think this has been lost over the years with cast & cavity backed clubs.

 

I also have a set of Apex FTX with Apex 4 shafts, these irons are almost mint (apart from the ferules have slipped) & picked them up for the cost of a new wedge.

 

Apart from the feel of the Apex, I really like how they swing, I can feel the club head throughout the whole swing which makes me swing smoother.