Ben Hogan Icon Irons Review

Ben Hogan Icon Irons

Ben Hogan Golf has easily made some of the best forged irons of all time. The early 70s Apex irons might be a top 3 of modern golf. As time passed, the Hogan brand saw itself become more of a niche brand and would eventually disappear leaving decades of loyalists sad to see a pillar of golf club manufacturing become no more. Then, seemingly rising from the ashes like a phoenix, the Ben Hogan Golf brand returned with a new range of clubs including woods, irons, wedges, and putters. Almost immediately, the Ben Hogan Icon irons generated a ton of buzz. So much so that the Black Diamond finish sold out almost immediately! This player’s muscle back blade had all of the hallmarks of classic Hogans with modern design elements to benefit the strong shot maker.

The Looks

I really wish I was better at taking “address” pictures. For whatever reason, I’ve always found that to be a weak spot for me with this website and it does the Ben Hogan Icon irons a true injustice! From address, the Icons have a thin top line and very minimal offset just as a blade iron for a better ball strike prefers. The profile is very traditional with a pretty moderate footprint and blade length from heel to toe.

Aesthetically, Ben Hogan Golf absolutely nailed it with the Icon and their re-entry into the market. The sunburst “BH” and traditional Ben Hogan signature with red numbers on the sole are everything you can ask for in a classic Hogan blade. Speaking of the red numbers, I love how they are offset from center! I find the shape of the weighting to look more modern, but the perimeter cutout is very reminiscent of Hogan irons of the glory years. Just so nice and clean overall.

How Does it Feel?

Classic blade. Nothing more needs to be said about the feeling of the Ben Hogan Icon irons. They’e crisp, tight, and as soft as can be off the center of the face. If you’re expecting a generous sweet spot, that’s not what these are made to do. The Icon is very responsive and precise with its feedback. Players that put a premium on shot shaping and flighting will find this to be ideal. Additionally, there are three shafts to choose from which will greatly influence the feel. The three options are KBS Tour, KBS Tour V, and the staple Dynamic Gold to cover a range of preferences.

Through the turf, the Icon’s V-Sole is definitely more user friendly than my vintage Hogan Apexes. The V-Sole has a high-bounce leading edge to help work through thicker lies such as those of the second and third cut. The trailing edge has a lower bounce for tighter lies. This versatile sole prevents digging and has a really smooth turf interaction.

How Does it Sound?

Unsurprisingly, the Ben Hogan Icon irons have a very classic forged blade sound. It’s a subtle, yet firm “whack” when you find the center of the face. Shots off the “stinging regions” of the face produce a definitive slap letting you know you missed it. In regards to turf interaction, a standard shot off the fairway has a picking “thwiff”. If you get a little heavy on the shot, the V-Sole will produce a light “thump”.

On-Course Performance

These are a true player’s blade. That’s the best way to describe the Ben Hogan Icon irons. Like I said earlier, the Icons aren’t built for forgiveness, but the combination of precision in the feel and the versatility of the V-Sole will enable good shotmakers to get creative on the course. I found flighting and shaping to come naturally. My biggest issue was really just being good enough to handle the longer irons. Let me tell you, the thin profiles and minimal offset were sure noticeable in the four iron!

I do feel like the more “contemporary” blade characteristic of having a lower CG and a little stronger loft made a difference. What I mean by that is that the bulk of the weight is lower in the head which will help get the ball in the air and deliver more carry. A little strengthening in the loft keeps the ball from ballooning. In short, this design allows for a little easier launch and carry so you don’t have to fight the club too much.

Final Thoughts – Ben Hogan Icon Irons

If you follow this site in the slightest bit, you know I have a soft spot for vintage clubs. Soft spot is putting it lightly. I love vintage golf clubs and I think the late 60s/early 70s Hogans are some of the best that the game’s ever seen. In addition to being a really solid forged blade at an extremely affordable price, I appreciate how the Ben Hogan Icon hits all the nostalgic notes. Call me crazy, but I would go so far as to say that the Icon is the best looking Hogan blade in quite some time. The appearance is timeless and the Icon plays like a good classic muscle back blade should. Hats off to Ben Hogan Golf and marking their return with a real statement.