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
- LIKE172
- LEGIT16
- WOW9
- LOL2
- IDHT1
- FLOP3
- OB2
- SHANK16
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.
- LIKE15
- LEGIT2
- WOW1
- LOL1
- IDHT0
- FLOP1
- OB0
- SHANK3
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.
- LIKE5
- LEGIT1
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
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.
- LIKE1
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Justin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
LET pro gives detailed financial breakdown of first week on tour…and the net result may shock you
-
19th Hole2 days ago
Report: LIV star turns down PGA Championship invite due to ‘personal commitments’
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Gary Player claims this is what ‘completely ruined’ Tiger Woods’ career
-
Whats in the Bag1 week ago
Team McIlowry (Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry) winning WITBs: 2024 Zurich Classic
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
TaylorMade signs 15-year-old AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year to an NIL contract
-
Equipment1 week ago
Golf fans left surprised by LIV’s choice of course for its 2024 individual championship event
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.