Equipment
Ben Hogan releases new VKTR hybrids
Ben Hogan was known for his deadly accuracy with long irons — surely you’ve seen this photo of his famous 1-iron shot in the 1950 U.S. Open at Merion. Golf has changed since then, however. Instead of long irons, many professional golfers now opt for at least one hybrid to replace a hard-to-hit long iron. As such, the Ben Hogan Golf Company has developed a VKTR hybrid, catering to the needs of the modern golfer.
According to the company, the VKTR hybrids are for golfers seeking a higher launch than they can get from the company’s long irons, but still want the performance benefits of workability and distance control from various lies. For that reason, the hybrids are designed to create more spin than many hybrid options on the market, which can help golfers more easily hold greens on approach shots.
The VKTR hybrids use the same 360-degree, V-Sole design as the company’s irons and wedges.
“The VKTR design … creates the proper launch angle and spin rates needed to generate the ideal ball flight to hold greens from long range,” said Terry Koehler, President and CEO of Ben Hogan Golf. “Our independent robot testing shows that the VKTR hybrid results in an increase in spin rates and angle of descents with consistent distance control.”
The design of the hybrids include interchangeable weights on the bottom of the sole and along its perimeter, which allow golfers to adjust draw, fade and neutral biases.
Hogan’s VKTR hybrids ($249) will be available in April available in 11 lofts, ranging from 17 to 27 degrees. They use a progressive design; the lower-lofted models have larger heads for a higher launch, while the higher-lofted models have a smaller profile for a more penetrating flight. Through HoganFit online, golfers can properly fill in the yardage gaps in your bag.
Stock Shafts and Grips
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX
Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.
@Lamosteve began:
Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine
Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
- JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
- jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”
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Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
Asterisk Talley WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
Brianna Do WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 3-wood: Callaway Elyte Titanium (15 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 5-wood:...
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Kourtney Knowles
Jan 25, 2016 at 7:43 pm
I ordered one of their tk wedges last summer although I had never demoed their clubs. I wanted a project x 6.5 shaft and so they had to order it in. The shaft got back ordered and so they called me two weeks later and I ended up cancelling my order. About a week after than I got a call from one of their customer reps telling me he told the owner about what happened in my particular order and that I had cancelled. The owner told the rep to call me back and offer me any of their clubs at wholesale price. I ended up purchasing an entire set for nearly 40% off with KBS shafts. I figured if i didn’t like them I could always sell them and maybe make a few bucks. I’ve gamed these clubs for 3 months now and absolutely love them. I am a scratch golfer and wouldn’t probably recommend them for those who struggle making solid contact, but the wedges are the best I’ve ever gamed and I would say the other irons are more forgiving than a traditional mb iron.
The company is by far the best customer experience I have ever experienced and I can’t wait for these new hybrids to come out.
J White
Jan 25, 2016 at 5:01 pm
I was at the company last week, they look awesome in person and I’m sorry 10yr old technology in a hybrid means absolutely NOTHING. Their irons feel amazing and many of the companies employees worked for the original Hogan before callaway dismantled them so this “new junk” is very good imo. They also have a cavity back iron as well as a driving iron that also looks great. I’m a huge supporter of these smaller companies like hogan and Adams before taylormade destroyed them. So either try them before bashing and get off your big box brand or don’t say anything.
Don't ask me, I just work here
Jan 25, 2016 at 12:38 pm
These look like the old Idea Pro Gold hybrid IMO………
8thehardway
Jan 21, 2016 at 5:30 pm
This company continues to impress me; everything seems so well thought out, nothing rushed to market. If these hybrids give me more spin and a steeper angle of descent, I’m in.
Curt
Jan 21, 2016 at 3:09 pm
Lots of negative comments here from people that haven’t even tried the new Hogan clubs. I just had a recent dealing with the company and it was a great one. Good guys that stand behind their product and do right by the customer. I have a couple of new Hogan products that I will be testing and providing review of on GolfWRX. I am excited to test them and provide my unbiased results, opinions, etc here. I am one of those guys that has ZERO brand loyalty! I’m only loyal to the betterment of my game so I use the best of each club (results only) with no regard to the name on the clubs. Stay tuned!!
BaBaBoey
Jan 21, 2016 at 3:28 pm
I can’t hardly wait. Can you tell me when so I can mark it on my calendar?
Fahgdat
Jan 22, 2016 at 12:26 pm
I can hardly understand what language you’re speaking and why you would even crack a poor joke about it
Matt
Jan 21, 2016 at 3:49 pm
Agreed. Have to say, the new irons are great. Great feel and would love to try out the new hybrids…
Fahgdat
Jan 21, 2016 at 3:07 am
Nobody wants this new fake Ben Hogan company stuff. Everybody wants the PXG
Teaj
Jan 20, 2016 at 9:24 pm
they look sexy though
BaBaBoey
Jan 20, 2016 at 6:34 pm
PS Adams called and they want their 10 year old design back.
BaBaBoey
Jan 20, 2016 at 6:33 pm
We used to grind ski onto the soles of hybrids and fairway woods for the guys on tour all the time. They looked a lot like what the Hogan sole is going for.
WILSON!!
Jan 20, 2016 at 6:13 pm
You said “They use a progressive design; the higher-lofted models have larger heads for a higher launch, while the lower lofts have a smaller profile for a more penetrating flight.” Yet the picture directly below it says the exact opposite. I’m losing my faith in this site more every time I visit.
Zak Kozuchowski
Jan 20, 2016 at 8:21 pm
Wilson,
Thank you for pointing that out. We got it wrong, and it has been amended.
Jafar
Jan 20, 2016 at 2:48 pm
I like it and have been looking for a hybrid that can offer weighting in the heel for more draw bias.
The VSole on a hybrid is interesting.