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Ben Hogan launches Equalizer Black wedges featuring Diamond Black Metal finish, added loft options

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One year after launching the Equalizer wedge line,  Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company has unveiled a full-line of Equalizer black wedges.

The equaliser black wedges feature a Diamond Black Metal finish which aims to reduce glare and provide for greater contrast with the golf ball. According to the company, the Diamond Black Metal finish is seven times more durable than nickel chrome.

Speaking on the addition of the Equalizer black wedges,  Scott White, President and CEO, Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company said

“Quite honestly, we were taken aback by the demand for the limited-edition Equalizer BLACK wedges we offered in 3-club sets last year. Serious, accomplished golfers were frustrated that we were only offering them in 52, 56 and 60-degree lofts. 

“Given our factory-direct business model, we were able to receive and react to this feedback quickly. Now, golfers can choose from three different gap wedges, three different sand wedges, and two lob wedges with either our traditional nickel chrome or Diamond Black Metal finish.”

The loft options for the Equalizer black gap wedge are 48, 50 and 52 degrees, sand wedge 54, 56 and 58 degrees and Lob Wedge 60 and 62 degrees.

The new additions from Ben Hogan start at $105, and speaking on the price point, White stated

“To be able to offer a wedge of this quality at or around $100, thanks to our direct-to-consumer business model, allows us to provide golfers with the very best performing product at an extremely attractive price point.”

The Equalizer wedges are available for demo or purchase at www.BenHoganGolf.com exclusively.

 

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Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected].

14 Comments

14 Comments

  1. Steve Buchanan

    Mar 6, 2019 at 2:19 pm

    I played, in retro order, Mizuno, Taylor Made Blades, Callaway and Ping. These are all fine clubs. In fact, it is HARD to buy bad clubs today if you are buying one of the premium brands. My first set of matched irons as a teen was Hogan, 1958 model, which I bought used many years after they were made.

    Last summer, I bought a set of PTX irons and the Equalizer wedges to complement the set. They are beautiful, and have the performance of any of my previous sets, from Eye 2 to Mizuno.

    Hogan is for the player who has some knowledge of what he/she needs in a club, and one who knows their basic information such as swing speed, and what type of ball flight is preferred and can choose their own shaft.

    But outside of that, quality is not an issue. They just cut out all the ancillary costs of retail, so they offer a premium brand at a reduced cost. If you fit the criteria above, then you can save at least a third of the cost that is offered at your superstore or club fitting.

  2. Mike Cleland

    Mar 6, 2019 at 12:11 pm

    They look great!

  3. Ray K

    Mar 6, 2019 at 10:22 am

    Doesn’t Callaway own Ben Hogan Golf Clubs and aren’t they the ones manufacturing and selling the current line of Ben Hogan golf clubs?

    • Jeff Martin

      Mar 6, 2019 at 1:51 pm

      Callaway bough Ben Hogan brand back in the early 2000’s. They continued making BH clubs until around 2006 (?) and then shelved the brand. They did continue to use the model names such as the APEX. Today’s Ben Hogan Golf bought the rights to the name from Callaway and now make BH branded clubs. (Note: This is just the quick and dirty on the BH story).

  4. Tom

    Mar 5, 2019 at 7:12 pm

    Gianni is a brute!!!

  5. Chris Walton

    Mar 5, 2019 at 12:39 pm

    Both the wedges and Ft. Worth irons are fantastic.
    Great look and feel with exceptional quality.
    I’ve played Mizuno and Ping primarily for the past 20 + years and the Hogan’s are equal or better in every aspect.
    Some of the comments above are idiotic at best…however, they are entitled to their opinion.

  6. Matt

    Mar 5, 2019 at 11:54 am

    I admit that the odd diamond pattern on the back makes them look cheaper, I’d rather have a clean finish on them. However, the Hogan products are premier products and DLC is one of the better black finishes.

    I’ve tested out the original FTW 15 31° and 43° irons and they feel and fly great.

    Disclosure – I’m an old Hogan fan and own, ’72, ’79, ’88 Apex models and ’81 Directors.

    • Fr

      Mar 5, 2019 at 9:42 pm

      You’re too fricking old to be here, haven’t you grown up yet sheesh man

  7. FM

    Mar 5, 2019 at 11:40 am

    Gawd, their ugly.

    • Craigie73

      Mar 5, 2019 at 3:30 pm

      If all that stamping was taken off and all that was left was the Hogan signature they would look 100 times better. They’re just far too busy looking

  8. Pf

    Mar 5, 2019 at 9:23 am

    $50 for the pair at your local Kmart

  9. Travis

    Mar 5, 2019 at 8:57 am

    I know this is not their intent, but this company has made the Ben Hogan name synonymous with “cheap”. The Hogan name should be on premier products, not direct-to-consumer garbage. It’s a shame.

    • Justin

      Mar 5, 2019 at 9:38 am

      I don’t understand how direct to consumer makes a product cheap. The Ft Worth irons are some of the highest quality irons I have ever hit and I have played Mizuno blades for years. I am not sure you have any idea what you are talking about.

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Equipment

Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made

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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.

From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.

Specs/ Additional Details

-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)

-Original Anser Design

-PING PP58 Grip

-Putter is built to standard specs.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made

This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules

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Inside Collin Morikawa’s recent golf ball, driver, 3-wood, and “Proto” iron changes

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As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.

The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.

On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.

Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.

At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.

“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.

Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.

“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.

“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.” 

In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.

Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.

On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.

According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.

“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.” 

See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here. 

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Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage

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Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.

It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.

When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”

“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”

 

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According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.

Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:

“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.

“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.

“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.

“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.

“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”

So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.

His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.

See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here

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