Hogan Golf FW-817 Review: A Reliable Set for the Aspiring Golfer

So, I’ve spent a couple of weeks trying out the Hogan Golf FW-817 set, and here are my thoughts. For context, I’m an average golfer, not a pro, just someone who enjoys a few rounds on the weekend. The set covers pretty much everything you need: a driver, fairway wood, hybrids, irons, and a putter. It's designed for right-handed players with a height between 5'7 and 6', which is a pretty common range.

I was initially drawn to this set because of its reputation, and let's be honest, the Ben Hogan name carries a certain weight. However, I was also cautious because I didn’t want to fall for the brand hype without knowing if it actually performs well. So, I decided to put it to the test.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve taken these clubs out on the course several times. The first thing I noticed was how lightweight they feel, especially the driver with its graphite shaft. This took some getting used to, but once I did, it was easier on the arms and shoulders. In my opinion, this is a big plus if you're going to be out on the course for several hours.

Overall, my initial impression was good, but I needed more time to see if the performance matched the initial expectations set by the brand's reputation.

When it comes to design, the Hogan Golf FW-817 set has a pretty sleek look. The driver, with its 460cc Forged Titanium head, comes with a premium PVD finish. This gives it a modern appearance without being too flashy. The set's black color scheme is another understated touch that I appreciated. It doesn't scream for attention, which might be a positive or negative depending on your taste.

The irons have an oversized design, which is supposed to help with finding the sweet spot more consistently. They feel solid in hand, thanks in part to the stainless steel construction. The mallet putter also follows this design philosophy with its large sweet spot and oversized grip, which I found helped a bit with alignment and control.

Overall, the design is pretty solid. It's not going to turn heads at the clubhouse, but it has a certain utilitarian charm. The materials used are decent, too. The mix of graphite and steel provides a balance between durability and lightness. Nothing about the design felt cheap, which is always a good sign.

In practice, the design seems to focus more on function than form, which is something I can get behind. After all, at the end of the day, it's about how the clubs perform on the course.

Comfort is another area where the Hogan Golf FW-817 set does quite well. As I mentioned before, the clubs feel lightweight, particularly the driver and fairway wood with their graphite shafts. This is surprisingly important when you consider that a round of golf can be quite lengthy. The lighter weight helps reduce fatigue, which is a plus in my book.

The oversized grips on the clubs are made of synthetic rubber, which I found to be quite comfortable. After a few rounds, I didn’t experience any hand fatigue or discomfort, which can often happen with less ergonomic designs. The grip size is something I thought might be a downside at first, but it actually provided a better handle during swings.

In terms of usability, the set is aimed at regular golfers, and I think it hits the mark. The clubs are forgiving enough for those who are still working on perfecting their swing, but they also have enough capability for those occasional great shots when everything clicks. In practical terms, I felt that the clubs were quite intuitive, which is a good thing if you're not looking to overthink your game.

Overall, the comfort and usability of the Hogan Golf FW-817 set make it a solid choice for its target users. It doesn’t try to be more than it is, which can be refreshing.

Now, let’s talk about how this set actually performs. The driver is one of the highlights for me. The enlarged sweet spot and high MOI definitely helped with forgiveness on off-center hits. It’s not magic, but it does give you a bit of a buffer which, as an average golfer, I certainly appreciated. Off the tee, I found that I could get decent distance without feeling like I had to swing hard.

The fairway wood and hybrids are also good. They provide options for those longer shots, and I found them easier to hit than traditional long irons. The 3 wood has a 15-degree loft, and it delivers a nice, high ball flight. The hybrids, on the other hand, are versatile and came in handy more often than I expected.

As for the irons, they offer decent control. The oversized design with the undercut cavity did seem to help with accuracy. I felt a bit more confident aiming for the green knowing there was some forgiveness built into the clubs. The putter is straightforward, nothing special but effective, with its large sweet spot helping out on those not-so-perfect putts.

Overall, the performance of the set is strong for its category. It’s not going to replace high-end clubs, but for someone like me who just wants to enjoy a round, it gets the job done.