1983 Hogan Radial Irons - The Vintage Golfer

[@redstone5149]

My three brothers and I awoke Christmas morning in 1984 to each find a new set of Hogan Radials under the tree. All 4 sets were in big black leather staff bags. 36 years later my brothers and I still get together every year for a golf vacation. Thanks dad🙂

[@MrJohnr47]

s drak Best dad ever

[@renelopez2244]

I wish I still had my red Iines.

[@SCTV59]

Just ordered my fifth set of these. Keep selling them off and going back to them. Love em!

[@lizgalvanoharshbarger4369]

"Radial" was meant to give you "feel" under the ball. This was a ground-breaking improvement club, which really helped golfer utilize the weight of the clubhead, to create more perfect centrifugal force. Don't under estimate Hogan technology. I have these clubs. I played them as a professional. Now, 30 years later I re-purchased them to help me get my swing back. These clubs work.

[@dhall058]

I just bought a set of 1983 Radials on eBay, played them yesterday for the first time. They fit me perfectly, length, swingweight, and even my 3 degree flat lie angle! I was stunned at how well I hit them; although a tiny bit less distance than my modern TM Sim Max irons, the ball flew straight when I wanted, drew and faded on command! Great clubs for the tight lies of my links-style golf course. From the first stroke, they inspired unbelieveable confidence! Thanks for the review, and explaining how to tell that my clubs are 1983 vintage, vs 1987.

[@TheScrubbbLord]

I think the reason I haven't quit playing mine is the sweet sound of music it makes of perfect contact. The pure sound it makes, makes me think of a being around 5, going out on the course with my grandpa and him teaching me. The sound is just pure bliss to me

[@fossil-bit8439]

Been waiting a while for you to do a video on the Hogan Radials! These are my absolute favorite looking vintage irons and so far my favorite playing ones as well!

[@zacharywiedner327]

The radial equalizer is, by FAR, the best PW/GW I've ever hit. The feedback is immense, it sounds amazing the sole saves mild chunks, the weight of the club makes it easy to overpower cabbage lies, its easier than my modern Hogan irons (PTX Pros) to shape, and it will still absolutely park balls on the green. I still have one in my bag in the gap wedge role (and it's staying there until 2024).

[@be1169]

I found a pristine set of Hogan Radial irons in a bargain barrel at a play it again sports store. Intended to give them away to a grandson, but decided to try them out first. The lofts are pretty “weak” by today’s standard so my distances were off and the “E” wedge was novel. However, I couldn’t believe the effortless - soft - noiseless contact….the ball travelled (5 to “E” ) in a high arc with slight draw. I re-gripped and kept them as a second set and use them, because of the small head, to practise and groove centred hits. Forged irons for $10 each…great bargain and look and feel great.

[@Justinsatiable]

I love the radial styling and feel. For me, the ball contact on this club feels outstanding.

[@jeffreyclendenny2215]

Still have my original set 3-SW from 1983 and they're in excellent condition. Starting golf again after a 26 year layoff ( kids ). I've been shooting in the mid 80's already ( need to learn to putt and chip again!! ) and I've been alternating with Topflight XL 2000's and Ping G 25's ( both sets given to me ) but I'm just not happy with those clubs. I've regripped the Radials and I'm hitting them very well on the range. I think I'm going to put them back in my bag. They worked for me once ( 8 handicap ) and I'm hoping my muscle memory will make them work for me again!!

[@leeeustace7643]

I think you are underestimating the Hogan Radials, especially by hitting them off a mat rather than grass. With the small head and thin top line they are definitely a blade, but probably has the easiest two iron you'll ever hit. The relatively heavy head promotes a "swinging" action rather than a "hitting" action. Google "Hogan Radial review" and you'll see an average rating on these irons of 4.5 out of 5. When you adjust for the fact that modern clubs have been de-lofted several degrees since these came out, the distance you get from these Hogan is comparable to the best clubs you can buy today.

[@Noah-qh4ds]

True man. I can't hit mine off mats. I shank everything but for some reason on the course I hit them pure every time. +10 yards too for whatever reason. Maybe mental but I agree, hitting them off mats doesn't do them justice

[@TheScrubbbLord]

I CAN CONFIRM THIS. I have these in left hand. Got lucky in high school while working in the cart barn. Found them in attic. Could never seem to let them go and I can't seem to hit anything else consistently

[@TheScrubbbLord]

@@Noah-qh4ds when setting up on the ball on mats, pick the club head up before you swing and swing 75% if that. I hit mine so pure all day off mata

[@RobertDrlicka]

I agree. Just bought a set off eBay and clearly the best feeling clubs ever. Yes the 2 iron is super easy to hit. Got lucky and just ordered the 1 iron. Anxious to hit it as soon as it arrives.

[@coryadelmann8277]

Bought a bag 15 yrs ago in a garage sale..$5. Has a 3 to a P. Original owner's name is still on the shaft. I absolutely swear by these clubs. As others have said, hitting from a mat gives it no justice. With the weight low, it allows you too take that "pro chunk" out of that fairway and drive through the ball. Love the design and feel of these clubs, Hogan sure knew what he was doing.

[@BLZ121]

I actually am very fond of the radials, these are the exact clubs I learned how to properly play golf with. Still have a full set 1-9 every now and again I break em out.

[@louissexton7530]

The radials look very nice. Their looks are some of my favorite but I still love my ping eye 2 black dots more.

[@bb57365]

These were my first set of clubs, that I bought used from a friend. Really liked them. Thinking about getting them again, really miss them.

[@sooners2win]

I got a set early for Christmas this year, loved them so much I bought another set on eBay to have as a backup set.

[@doughartley3513]

I have been playing these irons for years. Mine are 1983’s. They hit beautifully yet they are not a forgiving club to hit. My buddies will try a shot or two with them and most will give up, tooo hard to hit they say. True, but if hit on the sweet spots they feel great.

[@johnweita9976]

Always wanted a set of Hogans and found a set of Radials for $20. Standing over them, they look great. Love the thin top line.

[@thomburleson7661]

Interesting conversation. My first purchased set of clubs was the Hogan Radial, 2-SW, in 1983. In 1989, I bought the original "Edge" when they came out and have played them for 31 years. Because I maintain them meticulously, both sets still look nearly pristine even though I've got probably 1500 rounds on them collectively. I've thought about selling on eBay, but sentimentality prevents me from doing so. I've always been a Hogan fan (because of the man himself), so it's nice to see that the company is being resurrected. I just ordered several VKTR Hybrids and am excited to try them out. Unfortunately, we've got 3 inches of snow on the ground right now!

[@mptemplin]

Selling those Radials? Let me know 😁

[@Jordan.M.23]

Great video, love ben higan bladed irons . Just recently purchased the apex plus irons, always wanted them as a kid.

[@arnebc]

Picked up a full set last week 3-E + Sand iron from the orignal owner...$25! With a couple persimmon woods in a rad old Taylormade bag. Just hit them finally at the range tonight. Sa-weet, other than 'weaker' lofts, these felt incredible when struck sweetly.

[@vic1474]

I have played various Hogan blades for twenty years. I tried these (Radials- I found some in a thrift store bin) but gave them away to a friend who loved them. I grew up hitting blades with minimal offset. These have way too much offset for me as compared to almost any other old school blade. I pull hook them. Other people love them however. They have a very low center of gravity and definitely look different from any other Hogan blade.

[@stimpy1414]

I just bought a set of these at a garage sale for $10. can't wait to try them out.

[@charlesmatlock2177]

I started golf about 3 months ago, and initially was given these hand-me-down radials from 1983, from my fiances grandfather. I hated them. Now, I can't see myself not playing with them. Once I figured out how to swing properly, I can't hit a more true ball than with these irons. I am not joking when I say I went from shooting 115-120 to sub-100 JUST with these irons. I've played with the new mavrik irons and can't hit them nearly as well as these things. Just today I hit my 8 iron my furthest and most true at 170 yards. Love them.

[@dan.promedio]

I found a what I thought was a full set 3-PW but I spent 30 minutes looking for the 8 iron and never found it. Decided to leave them at the goodwill. They're beautiful looking clubs

[@herbertgearing1702]

I had a set and really wish I still had them. I picked them up used when I first started playing. I actually hit them pretty well except for the 3 iron, but I didn't understand the difference in loft creep over the years and was frustrated with the distance. My ex wife threw them out. Still not happy about it. I'm a lefty and forged irons aren't as easy to come by used.

[@todddowedite9477]

Love the Hogan radials. I have two complete sets . A long set + 1.5 that I got from a client who used them once and parked them in the garage. My other set is a 1/2 inch shorter not as permo but still in great condition. The best part is they were not expensive. Golfing on a budget..

[@malibuguy5187]

I had a mint sent of Hogan Radials back in the 1990s. They worked well. I remember it feeling light and agile for a typical Hogan blade type club.

[@thebigeasy8609]

TGIF!!! Never played these Hogans. I had a very similar looking club made by Maxfli they were actually the first set of irons I ever purchased and I got the 1,3,5 woods in Maxfli Max 357's. The woods were junk they dented in the driver (operator error by the way). I liked the irons. I've got a set of those on Ebay they say are still new! 100 bucks debating to pull the trigger on them just for nostalgia's sake. thanks for the vid! Next week baby!

[@johnnypenso9574]

I just bought a set of these off Kijiji for $75. Can't wait to hit them if we ever get out of lockdown. They made both forged and cast versions.

[@samuelstewart1492]

Good video. Thanks for showing us the Radial! I agree its a weird name. They were probably trying to make a blade-looking iron that less skilled golfers could hit well.

[@hughwarrenimbecile2877]

It isn't a weird name at all! Merriam Webster: radial - of, relating to, or adjacent to a bodily radius. Look at the shape of the flange and voilà: the trailing edge isn't straight like in the Apex irons, it has a radius to it.

[@HVACKABOOM]

Thanks for this video. The club treated you very well nice tight grouping, what was the distance consistancy like? These were my first foray into vintage clubs. Every time I think I want to trade them out, I take them out for a walk on the course and realise they need to be regripped. They feel amazing and are very forgiving for a blade. You could do worse for the price even as a set of first clubs for a beginner.

[@barkingbyrd8691]

I remember when these came out, and they were not a "players" club. The heavy bottom plate was an early attempt at creating a low center of gravity as a few clubmakers tried to imitate the success that Browning had with their 440 model. No "player" would admit to needing that assistance. There were very few perimeter weighted clubs in that era outside of Ping. I'm surprised there aren't more clubs like this now. A low center of gravity with forged club head might prove popular.

[@kirkclements4893]

Of my 8 different sets of Hogan blades, the Radials are definitely different. From what I understand, Hogan wanted a club more suitable for the Bermuda grass in Florida and other southern states. Other Hogan blades have a very sharp leading edge which can be a bit difficult in Bermuda grass. Up here in Alberta, they are good for early and late season play when the cold can make a mis-hit blade vibrate painfully in the hands with my other sets, but the flange sole of the Radials takes the sting away without reducing feedback from the feel of a mis-hit.

[@jet8301]

Would you happen to know where I can find specs info on Ben Hogan irons?

[@genaroalvidrez5242]

It is like a hybrid, or the first hybrids to existing 🤔

[@jimf1921]

I have a set of Ben Hogan 1971 Bounce Soles 2-E with Apex 3 shafts and mint original grips... I don't understand why they don't get the same recognition as the 1972 Apex irons... They are damn near the same clubs with a different name.

[@johndonohoe3778]

Just an ok set of Hogan’s. If you can find a set of Hogan Magnum iron review it. These were Hogan’s answer to the Ping eye 2 irons. They were just ok as well, I had a set. Good turf interaction though, easy to hit. I eventually bought the Hogan edge Gs irons in the late 80’s. Had this set until 2017!! Great clubs. Best feeling Hogan irons I’ve used were the 1+ irons from the early 70’s. Butter baby! 🏌🏻🏌🏻🤣

[@douglastaylor43]

Just bought a set of these.

[@benjaminhogan3157]

Blades w/training wheels...nice to hit...I have 2 minto sets!!!

[@newmanfertig886]

OK, maybe I missed it. But if I didn't you really need to review the old Wilson Staff irons. FG-17, FG-53, those were classics. A B*tch to hit as I recall, but I couldn't swing very well back then.

[@Jordan.M.23]

I do agree with you that the sole is way to big not a fan of that. Rather have the thin top and sole

[@reasonableconservative4497]

Imagine taking a fine player's blade and adding a bunch of weight to the bottom to help get the ball up quickly and make an enjoyable game out of golf. Enter the Hogan Radial, which, if you think about it, is virtually the only blade that actually took this route. It looks and hits like a blade, but has the bottom weighting of an improvement club. Highly underrated because it came from Hogan and looked like a gimmick. (Not a great vibe from that company, which continues to work against this.) Hogan is a TRADITIONALIST company, (which they've ultimately embraced.)

[@ng8981]

These are like a game improvement blade, lots of weight low down to help get that ball airborne and they won't dig in too much with that sole.

[@jeffcline7689]

Kind of a precursor to a hybrid.

[@MrJohnr47]

I had a set of these that were knockoffs.

[@MrJohnr47]

First set of serious clubs Ihad. Would love to get a hold of some of these.

[@jamesandolina9546]

Hogan RADIAL 7 Piece Steel Men's Package Sets have those golf culb love them nice for someone get to golf will tell them all you need get my for free pay nothing for them love my golf culb left handed golf more Expensive that way get those feel good to me how get in to them tell have in my room

[@100davidcote]

You need some swing lessons .

[@dscwac396]

I think that's the only thing holding his channel back from really growing. Probably should get a better golfer to test them

[@MrJohnr47]

He’s a real person not a pro. How many of us have a perfect swing? He swing works for him and that’s good enough for me.