Equipment
Ben Hogan launches Equalizer Black wedges featuring Diamond Black Metal finish, added loft options
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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Equipment
Rickie Fowler’s new putter: Standard-length Odyssey Jailbird 380 in custom orange
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
…The Jailbird craze hasn’t really slowed down in 2024, either. According to Odyssey rep Joe Toulon, there are about 18-20 Jailbird putter users on the PGA TOUR.
Most recently, Akshay Bhatia won the 2024 Valero Texas Open using a broomstick-style Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter and Webb Simpson is switching into a replica of that putter at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Now, Fowler, who essentially started the whole Jailbird craze, is making a significant change to his putter setup.
Fowler, who has had a couple weeks off since the 2024 RBC Heritage, started experimenting with a new, custom-orange Jailbird 380 head that’s equipped with a standard 35-inch putter build, rather than his previous 38-inch counter-balanced setup.
According to Fowler, while he still likes the look and forgiveness of his Jailbird putter head, he’s looking to re-incorporate more feel into his hands during the putting stroke.
He told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Championship that the 38-inch counterbalanced setup “served its purpose” by helping him to neutralize his hands during the stroke, but now it’s time to try the standard-length putter with a standard-size SuperStroke Pistol Tour grip to help with his feel and speed control.
Although Fowler was also spotted testing standard-length mallets from L.A.B. Golf and Axis1 on Tuesday, he confirmed that the custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 is the putter he’ll use this week at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Head over to PGATour.com for the full article.
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Whats in the Bag
Akshay Bhatia WITB 2024 (May)
- Akshay Bhatia what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. Bhatia is deciding between drivers. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Max LS (9 degrees @7.2, 2 grams lead tape heel, 4 grams toe)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X (44 7/8 inches, tipped 1 inch)
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (15 degrees @13.9)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X (43 inches, tipped 1.5)
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW Prototype (19 degrees @17.8)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X
Irons: Callaway X Forged UT (21 degrees) Buy here, Callaway Apex TCB Raw (5-PW)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 125 S+
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S @49, 54-10S, 60-08C @61)
Shafts: KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 135 X
Putter: Odyssey Versa Jailbird 380
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Split
Grips: Iomic
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour
More photos of Akshay Bhatia’s WITB in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Emiliano Grillo WITB 2024 (May)
- Emiliano Grillo what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 TX
5-wood: Cobra LTDx Prototype (18.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 TX
Irons: Callaway Apex TCB (4-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Callaway MD3 Milled (46-08S), Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S, 54-10S, 60-08T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Flatso 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Emiliano Grillo’s clubs here.
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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.
Mike Cleland
Mar 6, 2019 at 12:11 pm
They look great!
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).
Tom
Mar 5, 2019 at 7:12 pm
Gianni is a brute!!!
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.
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
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
Pf
Mar 5, 2019 at 9:23 am
$50 for the pair at your local Kmart
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.
dr. bloor
Mar 5, 2019 at 5:06 pm
NARRATOR: He didn’t.