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.
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 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,...
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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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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.