hogan special sand iron

[super20dan]

anyone else discover how awesume this vintage wedge is? not talking about the well known hogan shure out wedge but the special-a truely versatile sand wedge. this is a players club!

[robert horneman]

I have 3 of them!

HATE every one of them!!!

[mshills]

The Hogan Special SI is my favorite wedge of all-time. It is the only club where I wore the grooves completely off. It was not much for full shots, but I've never found its equal out of bunkers and around the green. I loved that club, and loved practicing with it.

I believe they were produced through the 1980s and maybe even the early 1990s IIRC.

[XYB34A]

I had a becu one, that had 57 degrees of loft. I could spin a balata golf ball like crazy with it. I played it till the bottom grooves were worn down. 1987-1993

Once in a while u will see a fairly new one on Ebay.

[Staffer]

I have a special k 56 that I played on and off from around 1989 to 2007. Worked pretty well from the sand, but not my absolute favorite for flops or full shots.

Spin wise it cant compete with a CG15 though....and the DSG makes almost as versatile as a eye 2+ std grind.

[jmck]

I've had probably 10 or so of them over the years, and currently bag a chrome 53*. For some courses/conditions a 60* will also sneak in the bag. Awesome doesn't even begin to describe them.

Like mshills above, they're the only wedges that I've worn out. I've still got a becu 56* that I played into a concave shape--held on to it for sentimental value I suppose.

What I love most about them is how round the leading edge is. The club just wants to slide right under the ball, no matter the lie or the shot you're trying to hit. IMO, modern wedges have leading edges that are way too square. I'll try to take some pictures sometime soon.

['53 Precision]

[quote name='jmck' timestamp='1326315206' post='4066957']
I've had probably 10 or so of them over the years, and currently bag a chrome 53*. For some courses/conditions a 60* will also sneak in the bag. Awesome doesn't even begin to describe them.

Like mshills above, they're the only wedges that I've worn out. I've still got a becu 56* that I played into a concave shape--held on to it for sentimental value I suppose.

What I love most about them is how round the leading edge is. The club just wants to slide right under the ball, no matter the lie or the shot you're trying to hit. IMO, modern wedges have leading edges that are way too square. I'll try to take some pictures sometime soon.
[/quote]


I have 4 BeCu wedges, one of which has never been hit and is on display with my unhit '88 Redlines, and numerous chrome versions, they are extremely effective.

[super20dan]

i see that i am not alone in liking this vintage wedge. i have 2 and on one someone ground down the flange a bit so it has less bounce. this one is simply awesume in its ability to deliver on touch shots around the green. i agree that full shots arnt this wedge,s strong suit. i am a wedge junky and have most of the best made and consider this club to be near the very top. everyone mentions the famous wilson staff as the top in vintage wedge but you never hear about this gem. i am going to have to find a becu model for shure. one of mine was obviously well liked as its grooves are completly worn down. -the other has 3/4 of the crome missing but has good grooves. i plan to leave it as is as the rust helps grab the ball

[vintage golfer]

[quote name='super20dan' timestamp='1326288943' post='4064097']
anyone else discover how awesume this vintage wedge is? not talking about the well known hogan shure out wedge but the special-a truely versatile sand wedge. this is a players club!
[/quote]

Indeed it is. And I enclose a photo of the one that lives in my bag when I am playing a course that has crusty, firm or otherwise poor bunkers.

[DigDugDig]

[quote name='vintage golfer' timestamp='1326822986' post='4099517']
[quote name='super20dan' timestamp='1326288943' post='4064097']
anyone else discover how awesume this vintage wedge is? not talking about the well known hogan shure out wedge but the special-a truely versatile sand wedge. this is a players club!
[/quote]

Indeed it is. And I enclose a photo of the one that lives in my bag when I am playing a course that has crusty, firm or otherwise poor bunkers.
[/quote]

Thanks for posting a pic! These look great!

Any chance you could post another from an address view? Thanks!

[vintage golfer]

[quote name='aceyducey' timestamp='1326823128' post='4099535']
[quote name='vintage golfer' timestamp='1326822986' post='4099517']
[quote name='super20dan' timestamp='1326288943' post='4064097']
anyone else discover how awesume this vintage wedge is? not talking about the well known hogan shure out wedge but the special-a truely versatile sand wedge. this is a players club!
[/quote]

Indeed it is. And I enclose a photo of the one that lives in my bag when I am playing a course that has crusty, firm or otherwise poor bunkers.
[/quote]

Thanks for posting a pic! These look great!

Any chance you could post another from an address view? Thanks!
[/quote]

Per your request

[vintage golfer]

Here's the photo

[super20dan]

whats remarkable about this wedge is the leading edge is very sharp . lets you pick the ball off a thin tight lie with ease. unusual for a vintage wedge desighn. its a true dual purpose wedge.

[KSP]

Anybody know the bounce and loft for this great club? I had one throughout my youth, and it was my favorite club. Lost it at some point and couldn’t find a replacement (pre eBay). I was looking at replacing my current 56 and stumbled upon a refurbished special sand iron on eBay and pulled the trigger.

 

I’m rather excited to see what it plays like. I remember being very good with 20-40 yard pitches with the Hogan Special Sand Iron. It’s been 20 years, and now I’m a better golfer overall. However, I’m convinced that I was noticeably better from 20-40 with the Hogan Special SI. I also learned how to hit flop shots with that wedge.

[Ol_Pardner]

See, Lee Trevino, US Open 1971: https://www.golfdigest.com/story/us-open-my-shot-lee-trevino

[Chris122]

Great link....what a player he was,I say that as a Brit who saw one of his heroes (Jacklin) destroyed by SuperMex,later I was able to appreciate what a phenomenal golfer Trevino was.

I find it interesting that he says his Hogan wedge had green paint infill,does that date it to a specific period of production?

I have two older wedges with pinned shafts and recently bought another in better condition that is not pinned and which I guess is much more recent manufacture,it's marginally better out of sand but not easy to play from a tight lie,the bounce and face progression differ from the earlier models which came with Apex II iron sets.

[birly-shirly]

Loft and bounce on a Special should be about 56/11. I agree that they vary subtly depending on age - and my favourite is one that also accompanied a set of Apex IIs. I like the round leading edge - which you don't see so much in modern wedges but which I think makes it more versatile without the necessity of fancy heel grinds. I've never seen one with green paintfill.

[elwhippy]

Great from soft sand. Not so clever on a firm course. Superb quality.

[Ol_Pardner]

Chris122, the Green paint fill came in Hogan Bounce- and Round-Sole irons, 1969-72. Also it appeared in the number slots of Laminated woods of that vintage. It also seves as an indicator of clubs with first generation Apex shafts, unless reshafted. (Remember, there were about 4 manufacturers of Apex shafts over the years.) Personally, I think these clubs and shafts have a better feel than some later models. I've attached pics of a Sure-Out and DFD with green fill, and later models with black.

[Chris122]

Thank you very much for the information and pictures,I find your comments on the older Apex shafts interesting because the Apex shafted irons I've played with have not proved to be as exciting as many would have us believe but my mild criticism must be tempered by the fact that my only experience of Apex shafts has been with Apex II,Apex Plus,Edge,FTX all in the regular flex which I find a bit soft,they are all more recent editions.I do have a set of Apex II which have S300 (possibly soft-stepped) which play very well.

[KSP]

 

 

Haven’t played it yet but I can’t wait. Didn’t realize or remember that it has a big offset. Curious to see how it plays

[pymmdcp]

 

 

Found this one today and painted it. The face is a little rough to use but it sure is pretty.

[elwhippy]

These were popular but I could never get away with the bounce and sole. Too clumsy. The BeCu heads were amazing ball shredders.

[hnryclay]

Own one of the BECu love it.

[birly-shirly]

 

Haven’t played it yet but I can’t wait. Didn’t realize or remember that it has a big offset. Curious to see how it plays

 

Maybe check the loft - should be 56*. The BeCu versions introduced a noticeable amount of offset, but I have 2 steel Specials with much less, maybe zero measured to the front centre of that curved leading edge

[rwc356]

I have a BeCU version which is 56 degrees and I love it. It does have a small about of offset - so small I hadn't really noticed it until I read this string.