Equipment

Ben Hogan Golf debuts new PTx PRO irons

Published

5 years ago

Apr 8, 2019

Ben Hogan Golf has released its newest line of irons, the PTx PRO. The iron marks the fourth variety in the Hogan iron lineup and is available to the public via the company’s direct to consumer online ordering system. The newest model is an evolution of sorts from the successful PTx lineup with some important modifications worth noting.

“At Ben Hogan, we are always trying to innovate and improve,” Said Ben Hogan Golf President and CEO, Scott White. “When Ben Hogan started his company in 1953, he said his goal was to design and manufacture the ‘best performing’, ‘best feeling’ and ‘finest golf clubs ever made.’ That is still our mission today.”

“The original PTx irons have been around since 2016; they are still great and have been our most-popular iron model. But as we moved away from the PreciseLoft system (with four separate launch profiles), we looked at that as an opportunity to review the entire design. So, rather than a re-engineered version or the original design, our R&D team developed something completely new … and better.” The PTx PRO model has some similarities with the original PTx irons … mostly each individual head was developed independently. Also, all heads are 3-piece forgings … and created through a process we call ‘Co-Forging’. However, the new irons have a slightly larger face and sole, and optimized offsets to deliver certain performance characteristics we were after.”

The 7-piece PTx PRO iron sets will be offered on BenHoganGolf.com exclusively for $770.00. 6-piece sets (5-iron – PW) and 5-piece sets (6-iron – PW) will also be offered for $690.00 and $600.00 respectively. And while the price point remains low without the in-store markup, the new irons stay true to the Hogan model in that they are designed first and foremost with the serious, discerning golfer in mind.

“Unlike other OEMs, we aren’t trying to ‘be everything to everybody,’ White said. “We make high-performance, premium golf equipment. Period. That said, the PTx PRO are suitable for a wide variety of golfers with varying skill sets. We’ve had some tour players and highly accomplished/competitive amateur players involved throughout the development process … and they LOVE the way the PTx PRO irons look and perform. We’ve also had a number of players with 10, 12 and even 14 handicaps hit the PTx PRO and LOVE them. So, while we developed them with the more accomplished player in mind, the PTx PRO irons are a viable alternative for a wider range of players than we originally anticipated.”

And the company has already received positive feedback from those that have been fortunate enough to hit the irons before the release.

“The word we keep hearing is pure,”said White.

GolfWRX was given access to the clubs for some in-hand photos:

The Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company also released a statement explaining a bit more about the company’s decision to release a new line of irons as well as the design of the club.

Here it is:

“The PTx PRO irons were developed for discerning, serious golfers who demand performance. After consultation and testing with Tour players and many other accomplished golfers, Ben Hogan’s engineering and product design team successfully developed a forged iron that is pure and traditional-looking on the outside yet packed with technology on the inside. The new PTx PRO irons offer the feel and feedback only forged irons can provide, while utilizing some of the today’s most advanced materials and manufacturing processes. PTx PRO irons are truly a unique blend of traditional, elegant styling that Ben Hogan irons are famous for, combined with modern game-enhancing technology.”

“All PTx PRO irons are manufactured using a multi-step forging process that allows Ben Hogan Golf to combine multiple materials into the club head. The long and mid-irons (#4 – #7) are hollow and made using a forged 1025 Carbon Steel frame and forged MS300 steel face for exceptional feel. Heavy Tungsten weights are inserted in precise locations near the toe of each iron to promote a straighter ball flight, higher initial launch angles, and more spin to hold the greens on longer approach shots. The shorter, scoring irons (#8 – PW) feature lightweight Titanium inserts allowing for optimal weight disbursement throughout the club head. This delivers lower, more penetrating ball flight to eliminate ‘ballooning’ shots while enhancing distance control.”

“Additionally, the score lines on all PTx PRO irons are milled (not stamped) into the face to provide more spin. The milled score lines also help to channel away water, dirt and turf for better contact and eliminate ‘flyers’. Plus, PTx PRO irons utilize an enhanced V-SOLE® technology which combines a higher bounce leading edge with a lower bounce trailing edge for optimal turf interaction and allows more accomplished golfers to more easily shape their shots.”

Your Reaction?

LIKE194
LEGIT43
WOW18
LOL0
IDHT0
FLOP2
OB2
SHANK18

Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

19 mins ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

Your Reaction?