Ben Hogan Fort Worth CB Irons Review: Classic looks, classic performance

Ben Hogan, once a brand synonymous more with budget golf clubs and package sets than premium golf clubs, has gone through a bit of a shift in recent years.

With more and more golf brands either emerging into or pivoting toward the direct-to-consumer place, it's never been a more exciting time for a brand with an upstart mentality to make a major splash in the game.

And thus, this is what the legendary nine-time major winner's eponymous brand has done of late, pulling its clubs out of the big box retailers and overhauling the brand with a focus on timeless style, quality and affordability. What was once a brand associated with budget golf is now a major contender to the likes of Vice, Takomo and Tour Edge in the entry-level premium sector.

This rings particularly true when it comes to Hogan's irons, which over the last few years have gained an increasing number of plaudits for their classic styling, pure feel and outstanding build quality, packing plenty of high-end tech and materials into iron sets that can easily be had for under £1000. Their latest release, dubbed the Fort Worth irons after the Texas city in which Hogan spent most of his life, is no exception. In fact, it's not an exaggeration to say they're becoming something of a sleeper hit among better players and game improvers alike.

So what's the USP and who are these irons for?  More importantly, should you be taking a look yourself if you're on the hunt for a new set of golf irons? Read on below to see our thoughts after testing them out.

Who are the Ben Hogan Fort Worth CB Irons for?

As an iron that combines both player and game-improvement characteristics, the Fort Worth CB irons will appeal to a wide range of players who have a handle on their ball-striking. Better players will appreciate the forgiveness they offer, while mid-handicappers looking for forgiveness will appreciate these as they approach the single digits.

Looks and feel

Ben Hogan has always been a company that leans heavily into tradition as a source of inspiration. Its clubs, from an aesthetic standpoint, sit on the old-fashioned end of the spectrum, and despite being the brand's most modern irons to date, the Fort Worth CBs look distinctly old school. Hogan's signature logo and the red imprinting combine to provide a combo that screams '90s, and with their fairly angular curves, honestly look pretty akin to something you'd find in your dad's bag from a decade or two ago. This is actually by design, with the Fort Worth's taking heavy inspiration from other 'blade on blade' irons Hogan has released over the last 70 years.

None of this is inherently bad, but with brands like Titleist having found new ways to give their clubs a more modern look while retaining a traditionalist feel, some might feel the Hogans feel a little old-fashioned by comparison – even if they're undeniably still very handsome. They also profile very nicely behind the ball, somehow hiding the fairly chunky cavity back behind a thin topline to maintain a traditional look at address.

This focus on old-school finishing carries over to the general make-up of the irons, which priortise a combination of modern tech and tried-and-tested materials. The bulk of the iron heads are made from high quality forged from 1025C carbon steel, with very little in the way of plastic inserts or visible tech cheapening the look. The slightly cumbersome protusion from the cavity back hides the clubs' two main pieces of tech: Ben Hogan's signature V-sole, which combines a high-bounce leading edge and a soft, lower-bounce trailing edge for improved turf interaction; and Ceramic Matrix Composite insert that pushes the CG towards the perimeter of the club to maximise forgiveness.

Performance

Similar to other high-end cavity back irons, Fort Worth CBs fit neatly into a growing category of irons designed to provide a balance of workability and forgiveness for better players who still want a little ease of launch at certain points throughout the bag. It's worth mentioning that you can actually order these in combo set with the muscle-back Fort Worth MBs as well, which should give you an idea of where they sit in the general players iron spectrum.

As such, they perform pretty much like a classic cavity back players iron, placing plenty of emphasis on launch and forgiveness for players who have a moderately consistent impact profile. The profile as a whole is small and compact behind the ball, and when you strike the Fort Worths well, they absolutely fly. Even so, it becomes pretty clear at address and through the swing on that these are still geared towards players who strike the ball well, as strong mishits were punished fairly severely throughout our tests.

In the hands of a better player, however, the Hogans are pure class. The sound they generate is crisp and classy, with fantastic feedback at impact. And while they're certainly not by any means a distance iron, those wanting consistency and workability will find these easy to dial in. They're also highly customisable for an iron exclusively available online, with an array of shafts from True Temper and UST to choose from as well as a choice of Lamkin grips and loft, lie and length adjustments readily available. 

Should you buy the Ben Hogan Fort Worth CB irons?

People who play to the calibre demanded by irons like these are generally predisposed to spend more on their clubs as a whole, but even so we think the Fort Worths are well worth having a look at given their combination of performance and value.

Starting at £900 for a 5-PW set, they're significantly more expensive than comparable 'affordable' players irons like Takomo's 201 and Vice Golf's VGI01. However they do represent a significant saving on the top-end players irons from brands like Titleist and Callaway. Given they perform just as well in the hands of a capable ball-striker, they're more than deserving of your attention – particularly if you find the classic styling a positive point of difference.