The direct-to-consumer (DTC) phenomenon is building momentum, and I am here for it. Cutting out the ‘middle man’ means one less layer of profit margin being added into the final price tag, which can only be good news for us, the customer, right? Well, only if the clubs are up to scratch. One company looking to show that it can produce high-quality equipment for less is Ben Hogan, and I have been trying out its first hollow-bodied, foam-filled iron, the Legend, to see if it can compete with some of the best irons in the game…
From a technology standpoint, this is Ben Hogan’s first foray into the hollow body foam-filled iron arena. The hollow body has allowed the designers to redistribute discretionary mass to move the CG as low as possible for optimal launch conditions. Hogan has also used a high-performance foam, injected at a specific mass and density for each club, to improve acoustics and feel.
In terms of the looks, I think you would be hard pressed to find someone who could dispute that the Legend iron possesses awesome shelf appeal. They are a stunning blend of old and new, like so many of the current Hogan iron models.
Traditional touches such as the extra-long, ringed ferrules, the knurling of the hosel, and the familiar Hogan font blend beautifully with a premium modern finish and some more contemporary shaping on the back section of the club. In behind the ball, while there is some fairly notable offset, I didn’t find it detracted from the overall aesthetic, and it certainly didn’t add any excessive left bias to my shots. The top line is obviously thicker than something like the Ft Worth MB, but is also thinner than many of its competitors in this market, like the Callaway Apex Pro, or the Titleist T200, for example.
In terms of the performance, the Legend iron ticked an awful lot of boxes for me in this player's distance category. Firstly, I found them incredibly forgiving on my mishits, so much so that I actually found it tricky to tell when I had mishit it! I was relying heavily on the Foresight Sports GCQuad to provide me with accurate impact locations, which some better players who value feedback may not love to be honest. They were very powerful all over the face, and that power isn’t achieved by any crazy 'loft jacking'. The 7-iron comes in at 30.5˚, which is pretty standard in this genre, and this provided ample launch and spin for me.
One feature that I absolutely love is the V-Sole of the Legend irons. Now, it may be because I do most of my testing on some very unforgiving, tight links turf at Saunton Golf Club, but turf interaction is a huge thing for me, and this sole design is up there with the best. The low bounce trailing edge is counteracted by a very high bounce leading edge, and this combination is incredibly forgiving for anyone prone to a slightly fat strike. The margin for error this leaves you with is very reassuring.
One of the downsides of the DTC model is the lack of ability for custom fitting; however, if you already have a good idea of your required spec, then this isn’t a problem, as Hogan will build to your requirements. A loft change will set you back an additional $25/£25, as will a lie change, and there are multiple shaft and grip options to choose from in the custom section of the website.
Overall, I was hugely impressed with what these irons had to offer. Masses of power, high levels of forgiveness, and one of the best soles in the game, all wrapped up in a great-looking aesthetic. Not to mention a price tag significantly lower than many of its rival models. A 7 club set will cost you $899.99/£899.99.
