Ben Hogan PTx Tour Combo Irons Life-Tested Review

There’s a new set of Ben Hogan irons on the block, and low-to-mid-handicap players who love feel, style, and even some forgiveness, should give this combo set a serious look. After weeks with the new Ben Hogan PTx Tour irons in the bag, here’s our life-tested review.

Pros:

• Gorgeous looks and design, harkening back Hogan golf equipment's roots
• Lots of customization options, including shaft type, flex, and length, lie, and grips
• Combo concept provides forgiveness in long irons, precision in short irons
• Super solid, soft feel throughout the set, especially with short and mid-irons
• Option to purchase heads only
• Demo program provides opportunity to try before you buy

Cons:

• Only available online for now, though company plans to employ network of club fitters in the future
• If you need a true game-improvement club, the Hogan PTx pros probably aren't for you
• Right-handed only

As first impressions go, the new Ben Hogan PTx Tour irons make a great one. Simply put, they are beautiful, just like the classic Hogan blades from a few decades ago.

I can appreciate that since I played Hogan Apex blades back in the late 1990s, and more recently have owned sets of the Hogan Icon and PTx Pro irons from Hogan’s previous owners. But this version, the PTx Tour, is about as eye-catching as any set the company has ever produced.

After putting these in the bag for the last couple of weeks or so, they've been noticed. Other players have asked me about them, wondering if the Ben Hogan Co., is still in, or back in business, or if these are just older irons in incredibly great shape.

My answer, of course, was that Hogan is back. Ben Hogan is now owned by Golf Brands Inc., a private company with U.S. headquarters in Henderson, Nev., just outside of Las Vegas. The company also claimed some other iconic brands of the past, such as MacGregor, RAM, and Zebra Golf.

Hogan is sold online only – direct to consumer – though the company is looking to set up a network of clubfitters. In the meantime, if you've been fitted before and generally know your specs, you can probably put together a pretty good set.

That's what I did, and I was fairly pleased with the way the clubs seem to fit my profile and tendencies. Plus, there's also a demo program where you can try before you buy for a small fee.

As for distance, the PTx Tour’s lofts aren’t as strong as the modern lofts of many other manufacturers, so if you’re comparing 7-iron to 7-iron, these might come up a touch shorter in a head-to-head comparison. 

For example, I found that my 7-iron distance, which ranges from about 160-165 yards with the Gen 4 Players irons from PXG at 32 degrees of loft, was around 157-162 yards with the Hogan PTx Tour (33.5 degrees).

I found spin rates to be comparable to most other major manufacturers' irons (7-iron average was 159 yards of carry, 18-degree launch angle, and a spin rate of around 3,700 rpm). Of course, it's not robot testing, just a launch monitor on my own flawed swing. 

More importantly, however, was how they performed on the golf course.

What I can report is any approach I hit with these clubs, especially 6-irons or shorter, held the greens easily. Short irons even backed up a little, which matches the performance I would expect from most of the clubs I've played and tested over the years. The biggest difference is how these felt, which was comparable to forged blades I've played in the past, except a lot more forgiving.

Put a good swing on these irons and you're going to like the results, all the way through the set. I found that they have a buttery feel, not only in the short irons, but the mid- and long irons as well.