Equipment
Ben Hogan GS53: Value and performance in new metal woods
The Ben Hogan Golf Company has made huge strides with its direct-to-consumer model, starting with its irons, moving to wedges, and then putters. The next product coming from Hogan to offer golfers value and performance are the Ben Hogan GS53 metal woods, named after the year 1953 when the man himself won the Masters, U.S. Open, and Open Championship.
Ben Hogan GS53 driver and woods
The new line is lead by the GS53 driver with Flight Control technology. Offered in both 9 and 10.5-degree models, the Flight Control hosel allows golfers to change the loft of the driver a total of two degrees from stated loft (one degree up, one degree down). The hosel also allows golfers to change the lie angle and face angle from square to open or closed. Like with all modern adjustable drivers, these switches can be made quickly and easily using a torque wrench, but what separates the GS53 from many drivers is the shaft (and grip) doesn’t change position, meaning you can tinker with your settings to your hearts content and you never have to worry about your grip changing position.
When it comes to getting into the details of the construction, I’m going to let the engineers at Hogan take it for a minute
“The GS53 utilized a design feature called Face Flex. This allowed them to create an ultra-thin face at different thicknesses … from toe to heel and sole to crown to increase the size of the Effective Hitting Area (EHA) across the entire face. Face Flex ensures maximum distance on shots struck in the center of the club face and minimizes distance loss on off-center hits. Additionally, the score lines are precision milled into the forged face at exact and consistent depths and, combined with bulge and roll that is precisely engineered for the specific geometry of the face, provide exceptional accuracy.”
Speaking to the GS53 fairway woods, they are being offered in three loft options: 3-wood (14 degrees), 4-wood (17 degrees), and 5-wood ( 18 degrees). The head shapes are traditional pear-shaped and all feature a shallow face design to make shots from the fairway as easy as shots from the tee. Like the GS53 driver, the fairway woods utilize two-piece construction — a stainless steel body joined to a C455 maraging steel forged faceplate This multi-material design helps designers precisely position weight to maximize MOI and push ball speed to the limit. The lofts on the fairway woods are specific and there are no adjustable hosels.
Initially being offered in right hand only, the GS53 driver is priced at $300, while the fairway woods are $200 — these are attractive prices thanks to Hogan’s direct-to-consumer model that also include three premium aftermarket shafts, in multiple flexes and weights
- Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black (low trajectory)
- Tensei CK Blue (mid trajectory)
- UST Mamiya Helium (high trajectory)
Recognizing that many golfers want to personally experience equipment before they purchase, the company offers a simple, risk-free demo program. For more information or to purchase the GS53 driver or fairway woods visit www.benhogangolf.com
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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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Ld
May 13, 2019 at 6:22 pm
LOL
it’s steel not titanium is why it’s cheaper
Duh
Rascal
May 14, 2019 at 1:27 am
That keyboard is such a liability for you.
C
May 14, 2019 at 8:49 am
Made in China
GB
May 14, 2019 at 8:40 am
The driver has a titanium body. As far as the fairways go like most on the market the body is made of steel.They have a video on their site that talks about the construction.
golfraven
May 13, 2019 at 4:31 pm
Well done Hogan for those wonderful woods. Played my last Hogan driver a decade ago and enjoyed it. Great looks and price. Hope those will be on Ebay in 1-2 years then I may give it a try.
Eric
May 13, 2019 at 11:40 am
Look the looks of the new Hogan’s. I used to play the last incarnation of Hogan Driver and love the looks of the new one. Hope it sells well.