Ben Hogan PTx Pro and Icon Combo Set Review

This is our Ben Hogan PTx Pro And Icon Combo set review.

I’m an avid golfer, a 9.2 handicap on my way to a 2 (been a 5.6), and I’ve been testing golf clubs and golf equipment since 2015.

Summary: The Player’s Combo Set may be the best solution for the single digit or near single digit handicap golfer wanting to play serious player irons but needs a little help hitting mid and long irons a higher.  

Potential Alternatives

I’ve been playing the Player’s Combo set since late January. I’ve logged many hours on the range and many rounds on the course with them. They are my every-day clubs. 

In this Ben Hogan Player’s Combo set review, I discuss my experience with them, unique features and benefits, as well as customer reviews. 

What is the Ben Hogan Player’s Combo Set?

The Ben Hogan Player’s Combo set consists of: 

• The PTx PRO 5-iron, 6-iron, 7-iron
• The ICON 8-iron, 9-iron, Pitching Wedge

Why the Player’s Combo Set?

The ICONs are forged blades and 5 kinds of gorgeous. Serious eye-candy. 

Many of us want to play a full set of blades but we can’t. (People have feelings about that statement)

Sorry, but you can’t really handle a full set of blades unless you are well in to the single digits. 

Many tour pros play cavity back or non-blade irons…so don’t even come at me.

But…you/I can hit blade short irons well if we are around a 10 handicap or lower. This is definitely the case for me. 

The PTx PROs are also gorgeous. They look like player irons. They play like player irons. But they ain’t blades. They are more forgiving and are designed to optimize launch better than pure player irons.  

Hogan Golf wants us to be happy…So they created the Hogan Player’s Combo set

Benefits of the Hogan Player’s Combo Set

You get the feel, aesthetics, and playability of blades in the ICON short irons with the forgiveness and increased performance features of the PTx PRO mid and long irons.

The best of both worlds at a knock-out bargain price.

My Time with the Player’s Combo Set

At the Range: 6 Many and counting

• I’m looking for solid contact, ball flight, shaping, feel, and to a lesser extent, distance:

Rounds of golf: Many and counting

•  Where I really judge a golf club

I’ve been playing Taylormade P790s for almost a year and a half so I thought there would be an adjustment period to the Player’s Combo set…Not really

Don’t get me wrong. They don’t feel the same and the P790s are more forgiving. The P790s are also player distance irons with strong lofts. Thus, they are or can be longer than the Hogans. 

• The PROs and the ICONS are straight-up player with traditional lofts

But, I started making contact with the sweet spot of the PTx PROs and the ICONS from my first swings.

Range session after range session and shot after shot, I hit one piercing ball after another into stiff Houston winter (don’t laugh, we have winters here) winds. 

I hit punch shots, mid trajectory shots, high shots, draws (my preferred), fades (1 or 2). Every shot is available with these irons. They do what they were built to do. You can’t ask more. 

So the range test was passed with flying colors. 

To the golf course…

As I mentioned earlier, I bought a set of Taylormade P790s about 18 months ago and I’m Still learning my distances with them.

We played in howling winds on a course (Jersey Meadow) I’ve never played before. Still, I was confident I would play well because I had been hitting the ball solid…I was wrong.

So, for this round I’ve got a completely new set of straight up blades and player irons with different lofts. I second-guessed every club I pulled except for my sand wedge and putter during the round. (Playing golf well is about confidence in your decisions and commitment to the shot at hand.)

I hit quality shots with my Player’s Combo set. Just not as many as I would like or needed. Basically, my swing, tempo and game were meshugana for the day.

Judging distance with these new clubs was Really hard for me. As I mentioned, the wind was a major, major factor, so it would be a day filled with knock-down shots and guesses for which club to pull.

Again, indecision is not your friend…or mine. 

My non-committed swings lead to poor contact and shots left out to the right. Which I did All Day Looong. 

So, what did I conclude about the Combo set from this round: They did their job. I didn’t do mine.

I’ve played many rounds with these clubs since my initial review. They’ve replaced my P790s (which I did not see happening). I still love the 790s, but I can’t pass up the consistency with the Combo set. I find my distances are about the same on average and I still get help with the mid and long PTx PRO irons. 

Ben Hogan Player’s Combo Set Review…By the Numbers

Looks: The ICONs are stunning and the PTx PROs aren’t far behind. Each club inspires confidence at address. 
Feel: Well balanced. The entire set glides through the turf easily and have a pleasing click on impact. Slight mishits do not give harsh feedback
Trajectory: Dial it up any way you want. Easy to flight. Easy to get up. 
Shaping: Your choice. Move it left. Move it right. They’ll deliver if you have the game
Forgiveness: Surprisingly forgiving. My normal iron contact is slightly off-center towards the toe. I feel zero punishment from any iron in this set. I’m a little surprised how well I hit them. 
Distance: Plenty long, from pitching wedge to 5-iron. They’re not distance irons with super-strong lofts, but they are by no means short. 

Should you buy the Ben Hogan Player’s Combo Set?

Low Handicappers: Yes, these are certainly worth your consideration. You get the best of blades and player irons with all the latest tech
Mid Handicappers: Yes, IF you are under an 11 handicap and a strong ball striker. I’m not saying you can’t play these if you are above, but their are better options out there for you
High Handicappers: No. No need to punish yourself. Get a set of EDGE EX irons or some other game improvement irons.

Our Verdict on Ben Hogan Combo Iron Set

Give these a serious look if you are in the market for new irons and are a low handicap player or want to move in the “player” direction. They’re going to cost you about half the price of the big boys. 

I was/am pleasantly surprised by my ability to game these irons. Ask me even 6 months ago if I would be able to play blades (even short irons) and I would have said No. No question.

Thanks for checking out our Ben Hogan PTx Pro and Icon Combo Set Review.