Best of All Worlds? Ben Hogan PTx MAX Fairway Woods Review

Everything old is new again, including the Ben Hogan PTx woods. 

The latest launch from one of the darlings of the golf direct-to-consumer world, the Ben Hogan PTx MAX fairway woods, harkens notes of Hogan’s PTx woods from the 1980s. The new woods even incorporate the same speed slot into the side of the head for optimal aerodynamics, and come with Ben Hogan’s consumer-friendly pricing.

I tested the 5- and 7-woods from Ben Hogan’s new PTx MAX line to see if their on-course performance is as impressive as their looks.

Key Features:

• Carbon crown
• Speed slot to improve aerodynamics
• Strategically placed CG to optimize launch & spin
• Consumer-friendly pricing
• Completely customizable

These new Ben Hogan PTx MAX woods are quite intriguing. Checking in at just $219, they offer players an impressive suite of customization options, including some juicy shaft options.

I equipped mine with Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue shafts, and there are plenty of other premium options included in that stock price that allows players to select a weight and profile that works with their swing.

The first thing that stood out when I saw the PTx MAX fairway woods was the carbon crown. It’s subtle, certainly not distracting, but completes the premium look you’d expect from Ben Hogan clubs.

The feel is equally as satisfying. At least for now, I’ve become quite familiar with the sweet spot, particularly on the 7-wood, and it returns a strong, powerful feel into your hands. I’ve hit some modern woods that, despite cranking out top-tier distance, feel lighty and airy at impact. Not this one.

The headcover is good. It looks sharp, but it’s on the thinner side which in my opinion fits the value-focused price point.

I tested the Ben Hogan PTx MAX 5-wood and 7-wood in a few different settings: launch monitor sessions both indoors and outdoors, plus on-course rounds where I tracked data using Shot Scope.

What stood out most was how harmoniously the woods work together. On paper that’s expected, but measurable performance doesn’t always match what the specs suggest. These ones do.

On well-struck shots, I saw an ideal 15-yard gap between the 5-wood and 7-wood, exactly what I want from these clubs. The 7-wood also fit perfectly with the 24-degree hybrid I’ve been testing, leaving another 15-yard gap.

Launch monitor data also proved that launch, spin, apex and descent angles fell right in line with my expectations. Hitting the 7-wood, I averaged a nice high spin rate in the 4800s with an apex just over 100 feet and a descent angle in the mid 40s, numbers that give me complete confidence to hold greens from 200 yards, something my old 4-iron couldn’t deliver.

I found an immediate rhythm with the 7-wood. The high loft, shorter shaft and forgiving head match my swing instantly and I’m already seeing a confidence-inspiring wear mark in the middle of the face.

The 5-wood was consistently 15 yards longer with a few hundred RPMs less spin, 10-15 feet lower apex, and about two degrees shallower descent angle.

Are the PTx MAX woods forgiving, or workable? Both. If you play a reliable shot shape, you can bet you’ll reproduce it with these woods. You will also appreciate the PTx MAX when you don’t strike it perfectly. Mishits from both woods delivered a little more than 90-percent of the distance I would expect from a well-struck shot.

If you’re searching for budget fairway woods that you can customize, it’s hard to beat the PTx MAX offering. It’s one of a select few quality DTC options in this price range, along with Sub 70 and Haywood, that give golfers all the customization options they need and the performance they’d expect from woods that cost $100 more.

Beyond choosing a premium shaft, your woods are built with your selected grip size and style, and length.

The result is you get a high-performance fairway wood, built to your specs, at an excellent price. When you consider the entire package, the Ben Hogan PTx MAX fairway woods set the bar for value and performance.