Rackmageddon -- a Hogan iron story

[guisician]

[quote name='Ripvanwinkle' timestamp='1362637943' post='6562457']
....what's your favorite set to play?
[/quote]

Smart-a** (but sort of true) answer; whatever's in the bag at the moment! Been taking the 6-iron from each set starting with the Personal reissues to the range the last few weeks; as of yesterday, I'm through the '72 Apex (their first year) and IMHO there really hasn't been a less-than-great one in the bunch. If I really had to pick, in no particular order:

'82 Personal reissues
'54-'55 Precision experimentals
'62 Power Thrust (name on toe)
'68 Bounce Sole Plus 1

Though I know they're post-'93, I also like the Jeff Sheets-designed Apex 99s very much!

[teevons]

Though I know they're post-'93, I also like the Jeff Sheets-designed Apex 99s very much!



so does Langer!!

[freddiec]

Anybody know an easy way to distinguish (while shopping on the bay) which model Hogan PC is the model that had the leading edge that had more of a roll to it. I once owned a set in the late 80s that had a great leading edge (it had a slight bevel to it like most good blades). Hogan later (I guess) one of the years got rid of that model and it seemed they went to a very very sharp leading edge and less beveled. Anybody have knowledge of why they did this. I've asked this question many times and never got an answer.

[teevons]

my favorite PT is 1960,60 was basically a Precision with a rounder toe, has a rounder sole & leading edge than all the other pt's
as far as explanation when you look at their advertising, like all companies they say new is better,
pictures of 60 and 61

[guisician]

T,

Great ads for these beautiful sticks (and added incentive to get pics of the '61s & '62s up)!

[freddiec]

Teevons, I was inquiring about the Mid 80s Hogan PC model. Great material you posted!

[teevons]

woops

[Blade Junkie]

Thanks for that Teevons - I have a set of those and found it interesting to see the original marketing material.

[guisician]

6. 1961 Power Thrust (name on back / center), ser # F2240, TT Ben Hogan, original rubber grips (2 - 9, no 6-iron)

These are pretty beat-up & minus a 6-iron. Slightly less "toe relief" than the 60s, maybe a bit sharper leading edge.

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Grip, shaft and ferrule detail:

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7-iron, various:

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Gotta hit some more rust off the face!

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Finally found some time today, so more to come...

[guisician]

7. 1962 Power Thrust (name on back / toe), ser # M7268, TT Ben Hogan R-flex, original wrap grips (3 - E)

Unlike the '61s upthread, these are in magnificent shape; AFAIK, I am the second owner and they were played but lovingly cared for by the first. Since blue is my favorite color, I really enjoy all the blue detail (grips, ferrules and lots of paint fill including the awesome scalloped row). Though I usually prefer less head back detail, these are my favorites in this regard, Hogan or otherwise.

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Grip detail:

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Shaft detail:

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Ferrule detail:

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9-iron:

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6-iron:

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[Arafel]

Nice! This thread has the potential to be the definitive Hogan irons thread.

Great clubs. Awesome thread guisician.

[guisician]

Teevons mentioned upthread that he preferred the '60 Power Thrusts to the '61 and '62s partly due to its larger toe relief compared to the later models. Of course, I hadn't noticed it before, but the pics don't lie ('60, '61 and '62 7-irons from left to right or top to bottom). IMO, you can clearly see the cutaway area on the back of the toe extending a bit further toward the heel on the '60 than on the other two:

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He also mentioned the '60s having a less-sharp leading edge than the '61s or '62s. It's pretty subtle, but maybe so (sorry the pics aren't clearer):

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[russad]

Keep them coming please, this is a great thread to visit, thanks again for the effort you are putting into this.

[guisician]

8. 1963 IPT (Improved Power Thrust), ser # N67973, TT Ben Hogan R-flex, original wrap-style grips (3 - E)

All-original and in pretty good shape; here's where the "road to the Apex" begins.

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Detail:

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6-iron:

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'63 IPT 9-iron and '62 Power Thrust w/ '63 IPT Equalizers (note the way different / smaller toe relief):

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[Corsair]

Those are some great pictures, appreciate seeing them.

[russad]

as above, great photography and another very nice set of clubs

[Puddin]

[quote name='fluffy265' timestamp='1360750778' post='6419131']
[quote name='guisician' timestamp='1360739558' post='6418947']
[quote name='MrParr1Noid' timestamp='1360737405' post='6418857']
PLEASE!! Break those motor scooters out face first...I think we'd all like to see pictures of the sole / face / top view all.. I know that I would. Wood Eye!!
[/quote]

Will do, with pleasure; there's so much detail in each set to highlight.
[/quote]

Now you just need to start on the Slazenger versions.....
[/quote]
I've got a pristine set of Slazenger Precisions. I've been trying to get some history on them. Any intel would be greatly appreciated.
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[Blade Junkie]

[quote name='Puddin' timestamp='1365181110' post='6768403']
[quote name='fluffy265' timestamp='1360750778' post='6419131']
[quote name='guisician' timestamp='1360739558' post='6418947']
[quote name='MrParr1Noid' timestamp='1360737405' post='6418857']
PLEASE!! Break those motor scooters out face first...I think we'd all like to see pictures of the sole / face / top view all.. I know that I would. Wood Eye!!
[/quote]

Will do, with pleasure; there's so much detail in each set to highlight.
[/quote]

Now you just need to start on the Slazenger versions.....
[/quote]
I've got a pristine set of Slazenger Precisions. I've been trying to get some history on them. Any intel would be greatly appreciated.
[/quote]

Very nice

What is the compostion of your set ?

I have some, a little more beaten up than yours but still good+ - I have 2,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and a non-matching SW . Was wondering if there was a matching Equaliser in production for the Slazenger Precisions

[guisician]

09. 1964 PT [Power Thrust] III, ser # U23681, TT Ben Hogan R-flex, original grips (2 - E, no 8)

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[russad]

These ones have a different look, almost like a rear version of a split sole, do you call these a blade or a muscle back or somethine else?

[guisician]

russad,

I've heard it called "blade-on-blade", which seems apropos. Not allowed to imbed a direct link to it here, but google "sheets hogan apex". The top result is a fantastic article by Jeff Sheets (the designer of the Apex 99s) in which he discusses and illustrates this and other Hogan iron design elements.

[russad]

[quote name='guisician' timestamp='1365944463' post='6837789']
russad,

I've heard it called "blade-on-blade", which seems apropos. Not allowed to imbed a direct link to it here, but google "sheets hogan apex". The top result is a fantastic article by Jeff Sheets (the designer of the Apex 99s) in which he discusses and illustrates this and other Hogan iron design elements.
[/quote]Cheers, will do.

Well, I checked out this reference and what an interesting article it is, especially seeing the history of that Hogan models poster which is often seen posted on this site. Thanks again for this thread.

[birly-shirly]

[quote name='Puddin' timestamp='1365181110' post='6768403'] I've got a pristine set of Slazenger Precisions. I've been trying to get some history on them. Any intel would be greatly appreciated. [/quote]

Slazenger clearly had some sort of licensing deal to sell Hogan clubs outside of the US. I've seen a fair few Slazenger versions of Hogan designs, from the original Precisions through to the first or second edition Apex - but from Apex II onwards, I think the relationship must have ended.

I don't know whether Slazenger was assembling and distributing Hogan forged heads, or making their own to Hogan designs - but I think the latter. I have some Slazenger PC5s which I think are unplated stainless steel rather than chromed carbon steel.

If Slazenger was doing its own forging, that's not necessarily a bad thing. They made some great blades under their own name, and in the '60s and '70s were part of the same group as Dunlop, which produced the various Maxfli and Aussie blades.

[Satang]

Great pictures. Just started buying Hogan irons, got a set of never been played in the box Personal Limited 2-P irons on its way can wait to see them. Currently playing a set of 88 Red line and 82 Black cameo.

[tembolo1284]

Guisician...you absolutely are skyrocketing in points in my eyes with your hogan fanaticism! Love it!

[guisician]

Hey Tembolo,

Good thing there's no MHR (Minimum Handicap Requirement) to appreciate Mr. Hogan's fine work. These posts have been a lot of fun; so much to learn, and there's much more to come!

[freddiec]

Figured you guys would like this quick story, had to share it with a group I know could appreciate it. I was playing yesterday at a very fine upscale public course, beautiful spring day, 70 degrees, just perfect. Playing with a good friend and 2 of his friends. 1 of the guys a very small guy ( 5 foot 2 about 125lbs , age 30). Actually dressed and looks (and idolizes) Ricky Fowler, wouldn't you know... Anyway, he's only been playing the game for 1 year he tells me, doesn't have a lot of strenght or clubhead speed, but got a very good natural golf swing and in addicted to the game. Spent 2 weeks in Orlando Fl. this winter (at Grand Cypress), took lessons, played and got fitted for clubs. They sold him horrible looking Callaway shovels with graphite shafts, woods, ect. He wasn't really hitting shots I thought were real quality. We get to about the 12th hole a super looking par 3 about 165 yds. He hits his 5 iron way right of the green. I hit my 6 iron just off the green to the right. He looks at my Mizuno MP60 and says "wow , are those blades".. Me - Yes, pretty much. I hand it to him and I say, you want to try it? He- Oh. no way, I could never hit a blade. You know where this is going.... He- the sweet spot is so small on these clubs. He grips it and waggles it and says "wow, looks so different. I convince him to tee one up and make a good swing. As he addresses it, I can see the concentration building up.. He pures it with a tiny draw, low but pretty solid right at the flag, absolutely stiff about a foot short of the green, but right on the flag. Me - Dude, you know what happend right there, you disciplined up and you can hit a real iron afterall... It was a cool moment, I think he shocked himself.

[oldschoolrocker]

I can't help but think that somewhere in the universe the spirit of The Hawk has circled in on this thread, Perhaps even with a slight smile.

[gettingworse]

Fantastic thread, great pictures!

I've never been a sentimentalist or nostalgic and have never been a collector of anything in my 40 years. However i have owned 12 sets of Hogan irons (small fry compared to OP and others I know) and still own 3 sets of FTX, 1x apex plus, apex PC, channelbacks, 99 blades and a set of radials (radials on ebay as I just don't play them.). ALL 7 sets get played regularly and I feel that I am losing nothing at all v the modern irons.

I have owned a couple of the older "slazenger" hogans that were released here in the uk but sold them on to a collector.

To me, nothing feels as good as these hogans and I expect to play them until I hang up my spikes.

[Blade Junkie]

@gettingworse ... where in UK do you play ?

@freddiec - nice anecdote! Did you sell him those MP60s, and one of your surplus Texans ?