Ben Hogan GS53 Fairway Wood Review

So, how good are the GS53 fairway woods from Ben Hogan Golf? Short answer… Plenty. 

I’m an avid golfer, a 9.2 handicap on my way to a 2 (been a 5.6) and frequent tester of golf clubs and equipment since 2015.

Potential Alternatives

I’ve been playing and practicing with the Hogan GS53 fairway woods for nearly a year now. They are my gamers. 

Summary: I find the GS53 fairway woods accurate, forgiving, plenty long, and dependable. Their compact club heads look awesome at address on the tee or on the turf. Serious Ben Hogan fans and/or serious players should give them a look. 

In this Ben Hogan GS53 fairway woods review, I discuss my experience with the clubs, unique features and benefits, as well as customer reviews and potential alternatives. 

Ben Hogan GS53 Fairway Woods Overview

The GS53 fairway woods deliver accuracy above all. But, don’t be fooled, they are not short clubs. The head is sleek and compact, but not small and will appeal to better ball strikers..(1)

Why Consider the GS53 Fairway Woods 

The GS53 fairway woods have all the performance and aesthetic features better players demand for around $60 less than comparable clubs. 

Features & Benefits

1) Forged face 

• The forged 455 Carpenter steel face eliminates hot spots and dead spots on the face.
• The forging process also means the precision-milled scoring lines and bulge and roll to move shots struck on the toe or heel back into the fairway.

2) Flex Face

• The forged face is thickest in the middle for solid feel and thinner moving out from the center to provide greater distance over a larger portion of the face.

3) Speed Slot

• Better aerodynamics for more club head speed.

4) Tour-Inspired Club Head

• The club head was crafted with the input of accomplished players and professional golfers, alike. The heads are compact at 150cc (5-wood) and 160cc (3-wood). The toe is squared off for a more traditional look and the face sits 1-degree open at address. Head graphics are non-existent.

Testing the GS53 fairway woods

I’ve had the 3-wood for about 3 months and the 5-wood a little over a month. The 3-wood has gotten tons of reps on the course and the driving range. I’ve got 2-3 rounds under my belt with the 5-wood and 3 or so range sessions.

Specs: 

• 3-Wood: UST Mamiya Helium 59g Stiff (F4) Shaft – 14-degree Head – Standard Grip – Length 43 inches
• 5-Wood: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei Blue CK Series 78g X-Stiff Shaft – 18-Degree Head – Standard Grip – Length 42 inches

I use my fairway wood off the tee primarily, but I do look for playability off the deck. I don’t mind hitting my fairway woods far, but I’m looking for consistency and accuracy first and foremost.

My Experience with the Ben Hogan GS53 fairway woods

I loved the GS53 fairway woods from the first time I saw them. I find compact fairway wood clubheads easier to hit off of the fairway or out of the rough, so I have a lot more confidence looking down at them at address.

The GS53s feel great with solid contact and produce the nice tight draw I rely on in my game. I found they responded well when I tried to take off distance too. Specifically on long par 3s. They are easy to elevate and keep all but my worst swings in play. 

They are excellent off the tee and produce good distance. They feel at least as good as the woods I replaced them with, if not better.

Review of the Ben Hogan GS53 fairway woods

• Looks: Really clean and perfectly compact clubhead frames the ball beautifully at address.
• Sound & Feel: Satisfying click on contact and a muted feel in my hands.   
• Distance: Plenty long. Swing your swing. No need to go after them
• Forgiveness: Some forgiveness built it, but not the most forgiving out there. You’ll only give up a little distance with slight off-center hits.
• Flight / Playability: I hit tight high penetrating draws from the tee and the turf. Pretty much exactly what I want to see from my fairway woods.  

Customer Reviews

There are 206 reviews (as I’m writing this) on the Hogan website and the average customer review is 4.9.

Who are GS53 Fairway Woods For?

Low handicaps & Low-mid handicaps (0-10ish): The compact club heads and performance are just what the doctor ordered. Strong ball-strikers wanted.