Hogan Apex Irons

The following is a chronological history of the Hogan Apex iron. Pictures of the clubs are also provided by clickingon the underlined model name in blue. Most pictures are taken from product brochures and are copyright of The Hogan Company and Spalding. Thanks to Cary for his invaluable contribution to this history.
Year Description
1972 First Apex iron, compact blade with slight bounce sole. Split level back with thick muscleback. Has Ben Hogan signature on back with BH logo (sunburst).
1973-1978 Apex, compact blade with rounded sole and blade on blade design (a Hogan trademark), leving thin toe line and thin top line. Has Ben Hogan signature on back with BH logo (sunburst).
1979-1982 Apex II, a longish blade with the Hogan Cameo (in white) on the back near the toe area and the Ben Hogan signature on the muscleback.
1983 Apex II, same as 1979-82 Apex except cameo is in black instead of white.
1984-
1987 Apex PC, a high center of blade with very thin sole and top line. PC stands for Percussion Center. Very beautiful blade with PC in an oval on the back.
1988-1989 Apex, beautiful blade with larger sole flange and lower center of gravity. Has Ben Hogan signature with red line under it.
1990-1992 Apex BH Grind, a small blade with square toe. BH (Ben Hogan) is in center of the trademark Hogan sunburst emblem with the word "GRIND" under it and Ben Hogan signature on the back.
1993-1994 Apex, redesigned longish blade similar to 1979-83 Apex. Has the Ben Hogan signature on the back with a short red line under it and the word "FORGED" to the right of the line.
1994-1998 Apex ChannelBack has a channel carved out in the middle of the muscleback with a sunburst near the toe and the Ben Hogan signature on the lower portion of the muscleback.
1999- Apex, new blade based with features of 1988-89 Apex and Apex ChannelBack.
1999- Apex Plus, a forged perimeter-weighted players design featuring progressive offset and a profile that is similar to, but slightly larger than the 1999 Apex blade; Forged from 1030 carbon steel; Varying face thickness with higher center of gravity in short irons and lower center of gravity in long irons; Features muscle pad behind ball for solid feel; Apex Plus on sole along with number; "FORGED" along back side of hosel; trademark "BH" sunburst emblem in cavity near toe.
2001- Apex Edge, an oversized model featuring a undercut cavity muscleback design for lower center of gravity and improved playability; Two piece construction with a forged face insert and forged 1030 carbon steel body; Features a progressive offset and thicker topline appealing to the middle to higher handicap golfer while maintaining a more traditional look; Apex Edge on sole along with number; "FORGED" along back side of hosel; trademark "BH" sunburst emblem in cavity near toe.
2002- Apex Edge Pro, a refined version of the Edge model made of forged 1030 carbon steel featuring had a re-modelled perimeter-weighted head and thinner top line designed to provide a cleaner look at address; Designed to give golfers the feel of forging as well as the forgiveness of a game-improvement club; Apex Edge on sole along with number; Pro on perimeter edge of cavity; "FORGED" along back side of hosel; trademark "BH" sunburst emblem in cavity near toe.
   
  Back to History