William L. Coney Blog: First Look: Ben Hogan BLACK Equalizer Wedges

Friday, November 23, 2018

First Look: Ben Hogan BLACK Equalizer Wedges

I’m not entirely sure when the day after Thanksgiving became known as Black Friday, but today has certainly evolved – or maybe devolved – into a Roman orgy of savings and commerce. There are so many offers, discount codes, and can’t-say-no deals bombarding you that you could literally go broke saving money.

The Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company is getting in on the post-Turkey Day fun, releasing a limited-edition set of Equalizer wedges in, of course, black.

Same Wedge, New Shade

It’s been a black and white kind of year for Hogan. The chrome Equalizer wedges and Edge irons were released in early spring, followed by the Ft. Worth Black irons. Several months later, Hogan released the Ft. Worth White irons – the same irons but in a more traditional chrome finish.

The black Equalizers round out the offering, allowing you to buy wedges to match your irons, whether you want all chrome or all black. Hogan says the Ft. Worth Black irons have been very popular, and consumers have been asking for matching wedges.

The black Equalizers use the same Diamond Black Metal – or DBM – finish as the Ft. Worth Black irons. DBM, of course, is the premium finish for black irons and has proven to be considerably more durable than either black oxide, black nickel or, PVD.

Limited Quantities

The black Equalizers are being offered only in a three-club set, featuring 50°, 54°, and 58° wedges. As with all Hogan clubs, they’re available only on the Hogan website.

The three-wedge set sells for $330.00, with your choice of KBS Tour V, KBS Tour 90, True Temper Dynamic Gold or UST Recoil shafts and standard or midsize Hogan grips. As is usual with Hogan, length, loft and lie adjustments are no extra charge.

Hogan continues to be very deliberate in filling out its product line. The black Equalizers, just like the Ft. Worth White irons, are simply a tweak to an existing product. Hogan says the black Equalizers are a limited edition and available only in limited quantities, and when they’re gone, they’re gone.

However, since its return from bankruptcy, the new Hogan has shown itself to be a very nimble, albeit cautious, company. The black Equalizers bear all the signs of test-marketing: if they sell, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see a full line of black Equalizers added sometime in 2019.