Edge Pro Apex 4
Ina Dottery
The video confirmed something which had been bothering me: when I sharpen with a water stone, or use a factory edge knife the sharpness lasts much longer than when I used the Spyderco Sharpmaker. The video has the evidence to back that up: that while the Sharpmaker gets edges very sharp, those edges dull much faster. Whereas the videos shows that the water stone and the Wicked Edge has edges which last substantially longer than any other method.
As I have been using the Apex, I have fallen in love with it. It is fast and easy to use. I have gotten to the point where I am starting to really put some wear on the stones themselves. All of my newer knives I have managed to maintain the factory angle for the most part but add a mirror finish to each blade.
All of this means that in about a minute I bring back most edges if they are factory, or set by the Apex. So not only does the knife stay sharper longer now, but it sharpens back much faster with much less abrasive methods.
But what I did not understand was how two bevels that were keen could not cut well. But implicitly I assumed the bevels intersected, i.e. met at a point. If the middle of the edge lies somewhere between the projected intersection point of the bevels, the edge can still have a small angle, but not be very sharp. I had not imagined that scenario.
One reason the explanation Clay gave did not come up in my is that I always make sure to get a burr, and then gradually remove it (with finer grits and sometime stropping), so that the bevels always meet.
I play 4-GW as the PW is at 46 degrees. I also have the 1-3 irons and they're just not as easy to hit as modern day woods, but are still fun to attempt every once in a while. The 1 and 2 irons launch very low for me relative to other Hogans I've hit, with the 3 iron being in that sort of transition spot where it launches higher off the tee and a little lower off the deck. I've contemplated moving into graphite shafts for the 1 and 2 irons, and have swapped out the old Apex shaft for Dynamic Golds.
I've never had the pleasure of hitting the old Edge GS model (would love to get my hands on a set), but I think the AEP is sort of the 2000s version of that classic iron. The GS sort of sat in the middle of the spectrum between the Edge and the Apex. In the early 2000s, you had the chunky Edge one one end of the spectrum and then Hal Sutton's "Be the right club" Apex on the other, with the AEP and the Apex Plus sitting in between.
Much praise is made for the Apex Plus, which has a thinner sole and sharper leading edge (and I've often thought about combining the Apex Plus in the short irons with the AEPs), but the Edge Pro works better for me in the softer turf conditions of the Northeast. These are fantastically forgiving for a one-piece forging and retain a good amount of workability, if that's your thing. Same feel as an MP-60 with more margin for error. Very friendly for thin misses, and relatively so for high toe misses in my experience.
@Poor Mans Ty Webb not sure why you'd take umbrage at a 20 year old set of clubs being in this section...I'm thinking that the '92 Edge Forged GS Ft Worth clubs are a commerative honoring Gene Sheely using the '89 Edge Forged as the model....not sure what other 2000 era Edge you mean, unless it was the Edge Pro or CFT?
All four were forged, although the Apex Edge was not a one piece forging. It was replaced by the Edge CFT in 2004, which I believe had a titanium face instead of a forged steel face, although someone may come along and correct me.
when TA 845's became the house brand at one of the big box chains, maybe in the mid/late 2000's, ( I can't remember exactly) , their first incarnation had that feature, behind the garish back logo plate.
Super irons. Imported a set from the States to the UK around 2004 when there was a half decent exchange rate. 8, 9 & E toplines look a bit clunky on the eye at address, but the results were always good - even off a links fairway.
Played them for the best part of 20-years and heads still in great shape. Might swap out the 3 & 4 irons with those from the final 2006 set of Apex blades BH produced when briefly owned by Callaway. Great long irons.
Back in December of 2021 I was window shopping on eBay, and I came across a set of Apex Edge Pros, 5-PW, for sale for $100. So I went ahead and bought them, and once I got them I took the 7-iron and headed out to my local dog track. The course was empty except for a couple of guys on the first hole, so I went to the 9th about 140 yards from the green and hit a few shots. I was amazed by how well they hit the ball and how good they felt. I played them for all of last season, and they really helped in having a great golf season. They came with Apex shafts in #3, which I think is regular flex, which is what I normally play. The PW is worn right on the sweet spot, but is still playable. The Apex Edge Pros are excellent irons, well worth buying and playing.
I've played both the Apex Plus and the Apex Edge Pros in recent years. About a season's play with the former prior to a back injury and about half a year (or less) with the latter a couple of years back. Both were shafted with Apex Edge 3 steel shafts, but I suspect they were different versions.
I got along really well with the Apex+ when I had them. That was my best year score wise with what even at that time was a very classic set of clubs. Following the injury, the full weight steel shafts were too much load for my aging body to manage, so I sold the complete set of clubs; woods, wedges and all prior to moving.
A couple of years back I came across a nice set of Apex Edge Pros and thought I might give them a spin to see if I could play them again. Those days are behind me. Might have worked with senior flex shafts, but i wasn't about to spend a bunch of money on that notion, so I traded them in on the set of Pings in my signature. They are much more appropriate for my game now. I need all the help I can get with launch and spin.
I agree, it's out of the question, even for a DIYer if you don't have the shafts you want on hand. I didn't even bother to regrip the AEP's, just played 'em as is and made my decision. The whole process turned into an in and out within a few months (like about 6), that had what I deemed to be a reasonable cost for an extended trial.
As for the DIY, I've done my share. Grips, reshafting on single clubs, adding extensions, even built a belly putter from the ground up. I don't mind the work, but without a loft and lie machine to build and swing weight a set properly, I'll leave that to someone else.
The DIY was a lot more palatable when DG shafts were less than $10 each. Even accounting for inflation, the price is close to double now. In my case, having shifted to graphite, it's considerably worse.
There are a lot of clubs out there and they can be acquired cheaply. I am patient and have a basic idea of what clubs are players and leave the rest for others to buy. Being part of a network of guys is part of the fun and we help each other out.
Scott, you are always welcome to hook up with us. On Sunday, April 2, we are having our annual trade show at the Golf Hall of Fame in Oakville. we are also at the golf show at the International Centre in Mississauga this weekend.
I just picked up a set of the Apex Edge irons, 3-SW, from a Canadian online retailer for what I feel was a great price for a 9 piece set of forged irons. I've been looking to get into a more classic style forged cavity back, while still offering some help, and have always loved Hogans. (dad played 84 Apex PCs my whole childhood)
Only thing is they are shafted with the stock graphite Apex 3 shafts, so I pretty sure I'm going to re-shaft. I'll likely only be bagging the 4-pw, so trying to source a decent set of steel shafts without breaking the bank. I went this route because I just cant justify spending 800-1000 on a used set of irons.... I think I will give those stock shafts a try first though before diving in too deep, I'm a lower speed played whos fairly smooth through my swing so who knows maybe they wont be too bad.
These irons take a standard .355 tapered shaft? And does anyone know the weight of these stock graphite Apex Edge 3 flex shafts? Thanks guys, cant wait to get them... I'll post a pic when they arrive!
I have no idea if the heads built for graphite are the same weight as the heads built for steel. Might just be wary of that and check once you pull the graphite shafts out of there. Also bear in mind that the 2000s era Apex Edge (rather than the Edge Pro) is a lower COG, higher launching iron.
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