Equipment
Ben Hogan releases new VKTR hybrids
Ben Hogan was known for his deadly accuracy with long irons — surely you’ve seen this photo of his famous 1-iron shot in the 1950 U.S. Open at Merion. Golf has changed since then, however. Instead of long irons, many professional golfers now opt for at least one hybrid to replace a hard-to-hit long iron. As such, the Ben Hogan Golf Company has developed a VKTR hybrid, catering to the needs of the modern golfer.
According to the company, the VKTR hybrids are for golfers seeking a higher launch than they can get from the company’s long irons, but still want the performance benefits of workability and distance control from various lies. For that reason, the hybrids are designed to create more spin than many hybrid options on the market, which can help golfers more easily hold greens on approach shots.
“The VKTR design … creates the proper launch angle and spin rates needed to generate the ideal ball flight to hold greens from long range,” said Terry Koehler, President and CEO of Ben Hogan Golf. “Our independent robot testing shows that the VKTR hybrid results in an increase in spin rates and angle of descents with consistent distance control.”
The design of the hybrids include interchangeable weights on the bottom of the sole and along its perimeter, which allow golfers to adjust draw, fade and neutral biases.
Hogan’s VKTR hybrids ($249) will be available in April available in 11 lofts, ranging from 17 to 27 degrees. They use a progressive design; the lower-lofted models have larger heads for a higher launch, while the higher-lofted models have a smaller profile for a more penetrating flight. Through HoganFit online, golfers can properly fill in the yardage gaps in your bag.
Stock Shafts and Grips
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Whats in the Bag
Daniel Berger WITB 2024 (April)
- Daniel Berger what’s in the bag accurate as of the Farmers Insurance Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
6-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC 2011 (4-PW)
Shafts: Project X Denali Blue 105 TX (3), Project X 6.5 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (50-12F), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-14F), Callaway Jaws Raw (60-08C)
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (50), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (56, 60)
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Mini DB
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy PistolLock 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Wrap
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Check out more in-hand photos of Daniel Berger’s clubs in the forums.
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Equipment
Heavy Artillery: A look at drivers in play at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans
What are the driver and shaft combinations of the best golfers in the world? For gearheads, it’s an endlessly interesting question — even if we can only ever aspire to play LS heads and 7 TX shafts.
At this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, GolfWRX got in-hand looks at the driver setups of a wealth of players.
Check out some of the most interesting combos below, then head to the GolfWRX forums for the rest, as well as the rest of our galleries from New Orleans.
Rory McIlroy
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @8.25)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
Alex Fitzpatrick
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
Daniel Berger
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees @9)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Wrap
Rasmus Hojgaard
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60 TX
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
Alejandro Tosti
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
Grip: Golf Pride MCC Plus4
James Nicholas
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (8 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Kevin Streelman
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Sang-moon Bae
Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (9+ @8)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Russ Cochran
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke (9 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD TP 6 X
Grip: Golf pride MCC Align
MJ Daffue
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (10.5 degrees @9.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green RDX 65 TX
Grip: Golf Pride ZGrip Cord Align
Check our more photos from the Zurich Classic here.
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Whats in the Bag
Rasmus Højgaard WITB 2024 (April)
- Rasmus Højgaard what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Prototype (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX
Utility: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw White 85 TX
Irons: Callaway Apex Pro (3), Callaway X Forged (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 130
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (52-10S, 56-10S, 60-06C)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130 X
Putter: Odyssey Ai One Milled Eight T DB
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Hojgaard in the forums.
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Kourtney Knowles
Jan 25, 2016 at 7:43 pm
I ordered one of their tk wedges last summer although I had never demoed their clubs. I wanted a project x 6.5 shaft and so they had to order it in. The shaft got back ordered and so they called me two weeks later and I ended up cancelling my order. About a week after than I got a call from one of their customer reps telling me he told the owner about what happened in my particular order and that I had cancelled. The owner told the rep to call me back and offer me any of their clubs at wholesale price. I ended up purchasing an entire set for nearly 40% off with KBS shafts. I figured if i didn’t like them I could always sell them and maybe make a few bucks. I’ve gamed these clubs for 3 months now and absolutely love them. I am a scratch golfer and wouldn’t probably recommend them for those who struggle making solid contact, but the wedges are the best I’ve ever gamed and I would say the other irons are more forgiving than a traditional mb iron.
The company is by far the best customer experience I have ever experienced and I can’t wait for these new hybrids to come out.
J White
Jan 25, 2016 at 5:01 pm
I was at the company last week, they look awesome in person and I’m sorry 10yr old technology in a hybrid means absolutely NOTHING. Their irons feel amazing and many of the companies employees worked for the original Hogan before callaway dismantled them so this “new junk” is very good imo. They also have a cavity back iron as well as a driving iron that also looks great. I’m a huge supporter of these smaller companies like hogan and Adams before taylormade destroyed them. So either try them before bashing and get off your big box brand or don’t say anything.
Don't ask me, I just work here
Jan 25, 2016 at 12:38 pm
These look like the old Idea Pro Gold hybrid IMO………
8thehardway
Jan 21, 2016 at 5:30 pm
This company continues to impress me; everything seems so well thought out, nothing rushed to market. If these hybrids give me more spin and a steeper angle of descent, I’m in.
Curt
Jan 21, 2016 at 3:09 pm
Lots of negative comments here from people that haven’t even tried the new Hogan clubs. I just had a recent dealing with the company and it was a great one. Good guys that stand behind their product and do right by the customer. I have a couple of new Hogan products that I will be testing and providing review of on GolfWRX. I am excited to test them and provide my unbiased results, opinions, etc here. I am one of those guys that has ZERO brand loyalty! I’m only loyal to the betterment of my game so I use the best of each club (results only) with no regard to the name on the clubs. Stay tuned!!
BaBaBoey
Jan 21, 2016 at 3:28 pm
I can’t hardly wait. Can you tell me when so I can mark it on my calendar?
Fahgdat
Jan 22, 2016 at 12:26 pm
I can hardly understand what language you’re speaking and why you would even crack a poor joke about it
Matt
Jan 21, 2016 at 3:49 pm
Agreed. Have to say, the new irons are great. Great feel and would love to try out the new hybrids…
Fahgdat
Jan 21, 2016 at 3:07 am
Nobody wants this new fake Ben Hogan company stuff. Everybody wants the PXG
Teaj
Jan 20, 2016 at 9:24 pm
they look sexy though
BaBaBoey
Jan 20, 2016 at 6:34 pm
PS Adams called and they want their 10 year old design back.
BaBaBoey
Jan 20, 2016 at 6:33 pm
We used to grind ski onto the soles of hybrids and fairway woods for the guys on tour all the time. They looked a lot like what the Hogan sole is going for.
WILSON!!
Jan 20, 2016 at 6:13 pm
You said “They use a progressive design; the higher-lofted models have larger heads for a higher launch, while the lower lofts have a smaller profile for a more penetrating flight.” Yet the picture directly below it says the exact opposite. I’m losing my faith in this site more every time I visit.
Zak Kozuchowski
Jan 20, 2016 at 8:21 pm
Wilson,
Thank you for pointing that out. We got it wrong, and it has been amended.
Jafar
Jan 20, 2016 at 2:48 pm
I like it and have been looking for a hybrid that can offer weighting in the heel for more draw bias.
The VSole on a hybrid is interesting.