Equipment
Ben Hogan launches Ft. Worth 15 Hi Irons, 2016 Staff Bag
The people at the Ben Hogan Golf Company think more golfers would play forged irons if the long irons weren’t so challenging to hit consistently. So as the company builds on its core business of Ft. Worth 15 irons and TK wedges, it makes sense that Hogan would expand its line with more forgiving forged iron options.
At the 2016 PGA Merchandise Show, the company launched a cavity-back set of irons called PTx that are an alternative to the blade-like Ft. Worth 15 irons. It also debuted a hybrid with adjustable weights called VKTR, which could replace a golfer’s troublesome long irons (we identified both as a “Show Stopper”).
Hogan’s new Ft. Worth Hi irons are something in between.
Like the Ft. Worth 15 irons, the Ft. Worth Hi irons are forged from 1025 carbon steel. They’re 15 percent larger, however, and use a two-piece, hollow-body construction that redistributes mass lower and deeper in the iron head. The hollow-body construction also brings added ball speed for more distance, as well as more forgiveness when golfers miss the sweet spot. And its more rearward center of gravity (CG) encourages a higher ball flight to help golfers stop their long approach shots quicker on the green.
Consistent with the importance Hogan places on distance gapping, the Ft. Worth Hi irons are available in 11 different lofts (20-31 degrees). The company recommends as many as three of them chosen from the following loft ranges: 20-23, 24-27, 28-31. Think of them as 3, 4 and 5 iron replacements.
“When you get under 30-32 degrees of loft, spin is your friend, particularly in off-center performance,” says Terry Koehler, President/CEO of the Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company. “Most long-iron misses are low on the club face and result in low-launch, low-spin shots that have shorter carry distances and a shallower angle of descent. The Fort Worth Hi irons’ hollow construction and precision engineering deliver the right balance of perimeter weighting, looks, ball flight and distance control, creating the new standard in long iron design and playability.”
The Ft. Worth Hi irons are currently available for $169 per club with KBS’ Tour V or Tour 90 shafts. The standard graphite shaft is UST Mamiya’s Recoil, which boost the price to $184 per club. Several custom shaft and grip options are also available through www.benhogangolf.com.
True Ben Hogan fans will also be excited to know that the company has also released a new 2016 Tour Bag ($450) that can be customized for an extra $15.
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who 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, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
David Labbe
Apr 24, 2016 at 7:18 am
Interesting that PXG started out testing with hollow irons, but the face would not hold form after hitting the ball over a short amount of time. That’s why they then added the polymer type filling so that the iron would hold its shape.
Jim
Aug 15, 2016 at 4:20 pm
….Peter Belmont invented the hollow body iron – I believe. He held patents on it as well as a few adjustable weighting systems and patents that Titleist & TM used at one time or another…Rarely has something “new” in golf equipment not been tried before…. Nike Covert Driver (see BULLET GOLF Hollow Point Driver)….most of the deigns were ahead of their time and limited by materials and tech at the time.
Hope they’re as good as they look. Wish em well… just as long as they don’t end up in Walmart with the BH clothing line…
Belmont’s hollow core iron was years ahead of it’s time as maybe the biggest head anyone’d seen or was willing to try was the original Ping…He kept it as ‘small’ as possible and the weight was on a screw that ran from toe to heel and as it was turned the weight would ‘walk’ out to toe or back towards the heel….other designs for weighted screws in sole plates for woods, as well as heel / toe weight ports for coin style weights
Mark
Apr 24, 2016 at 3:40 am
They look superb. Wonder when they will restart UK sales?
Chuck D
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:35 pm
Hogan’s ghost probably wants nothing to do with a broom handler that STILL appears to be putting illegally with his thumb knuckle AND left forearm STILL ATTACHED to his body…………I don’t care what anyone says! A part of his left arm and hand are connected to his body. Anchoring, simple and plain. The rule is a disaster! The governing numb skulls should have limited the length of the putter to “let’s say 40,” so there would be no question. You should have seen the patrons at the Mahztaz standing at every conceivable angle to see how Lang’a was getting away with his stroke!
Rod C
Aug 9, 2016 at 4:25 pm
I agree 100% with you. It is anchored. If the golf administrators wanted to get rid of the long putter all they need to do is say the hands must be below the elbows when holding the club. That would force a traditional stroke with the putter like 99% of the golfing population.
Jade
Apr 22, 2016 at 4:59 pm
They would of suited DeChambeau!
rex235
Apr 21, 2016 at 9:42 pm
Three words-
RIGHT HAND ONLY.
TCJ
Apr 22, 2016 at 2:28 am
It’s devastating, not a single LH option, with no intentions to pursue it either.
Andy
Apr 21, 2016 at 3:18 pm
Will the company sponsor any pros on the PGA or Champions tour?
Chuck
Apr 21, 2016 at 9:31 pm
I was just thinking about how cool it would be if Langer became a Ben Hogan Golf staffer. Probably the last guy on any tour playing with original Hogans. I’ll bet Langer would love it, if they could afford him. He’s only wearing about eight other logos right now.
Andy
Apr 22, 2016 at 8:54 am
I agree. Maybe he will since it looks like he no longer plays for Adam’s….
I could picture certain tour players who prefer very traditional and classic looking clubs.