Hogan’s product page starts the Equalizer II at $139.99 and the wedge catalog shows $139.99 to $149.99. I can’t tell you what moves a club from the bottom of that range to the top, so don’t assume your build lands at $139.99. Price the one you’re configuring.
And the lofts are the simple part. 48, 52 and 56 gives you two four degree gaps on paper. It doesn’t hand you three even yardage gaps, because that depends on your pitching wedge, your shaft and how you deliver the club.
So here’s what you’re getting in these three lofts, what I’d check before you spec a build, and who should pass.
Quick Overview
- Sold one wedge at a time, with the product page starting at $139.99 and the catalog showing $139.99 to $149.99.
- Forged head with a CNC milled face and U shaped grooves.
- V-Sole geometry, with weight positioned behind the impact area.
- 48, 52 and 56 are Standard grind. Texas Grind only comes in 50, 54 and 58.
- Nickel chrome and Diamond Black Metal finishes, and a custom build runs 10 to 15 business days.
Shop the Ben Hogan Equalizer II Wedge for unmatched precision and spin on the course. Elevate your short game today with our best prices and fast shipping!
Spec Sheet
| Specification | Ben Hogan Equalizer II |
|---|---|
| Price | Product page starts at $139.99; catalog shows $139.99 to $149.99 |
| Sold as | Individual wedges |
| Construction | Forged |
| Face | CNC milled, U shaped grooves |
| Sole | V-Sole, weight behind the impact area |
| Grind at 48, 52, 56 | Standard |
| Texas Grind lofts | 50, 54 and 58 only |
| Finishes | Nickel chrome, Diamond Black Metal |
| 48 degree | 35.500 in, 64.00 lie, 23 leading and 6 trailing bounce, 11 overall, 0.076 in offset |
| 52 degree | 35.250 in, 64.25 lie, 23 leading and 7 trailing bounce, 11.7 overall, 0.063 in offset |
| 56 degree | 35.125 in, 64.50 lie, 23 leading and 8 trailing bounce, 12.3 overall, 0.045 in offset |
| Custom build time | 10 to 15 business days |
You’re Getting a Forged Head and a CNC Milled Face
Here’s what Hogan builds into this one. The head’s forged, the face is CNC milled, the grooves are a U shape, and the weight sits behind the impact area.
Forged is about feel. A milled face is about how tightly Hogan controls that surface. Those are the two things I’d care about most on a wedge at this price.
Now, Hogan’s own copy goes further and talks about spin and how the ball comes off. That’s their claim, and I’m not handing you a spin number I didn’t measure. I’d buy this one for the build, and leave the spin talk in the marketing.
The 48, 52, 56 Spacing Is the Easy Part of a Wedge Order
Buying wedges one loft at a time is the right way to do it, and these three keep it simple. 48, 52 and 56, two four degree steps, no overlap on paper.
But check your pitching wedge before you order, because that’s where this goes sideways. If your pitching wedge is already 48, the Equalizer II 48 is a duplicate and you’re really shopping a 52 and a 56. If it’s stronger than that, say a 44 or a 45, then the jump from your pitching wedge into the 48 can be a different loft gap from the four degrees between the wedges themselves, and that’s the one you’ll feel out on the course.
And four degrees of loft isn’t four of anything else. Your distances are yours. So go find out what your pitching wedge actually does, then pick lofts. Our golf wedges guide walks through the gapping if you’ve never done it.
Length and Sole Geometry Change With Each Loft
Hogan publishes these three by loft, and they aren’t three copies of the same head.
Leading bounce is 23 degrees on all three. Trailing bounce goes 6 on the 48, 7 on the 52 and 8 on the 56, so overall bounce moves 11, then 11.7, then 12.3. Length steps down from 35.5 to 35.25 to 35.125 inches, the lie gets a quarter degree more upright each time, and offset shrinks from 0.076 inches on the 48 to 0.045 on the 56.
Hogan doesn’t say which shot each bounce number is built for, and I’m not going to tell you 12.3 degrees is right under your 56. That’s a conversation about your turf, your lies and how you use the club. What you can see is a progression, and that’s what you want from three clubs that have to work together.
Standard Grind Is the Only Grind at These Lofts
You need this one before you build. Standard grind is offered across the lofts. Texas Grind only comes in 50, 54 and 58.
So if you had your eye on Texas, you’re not getting it at 48, 52 and 56. You’d be moving to a 50, 54, 58 lineup, and that’s a different setup with different gaps, not a substitution. Pick your gapping first and let the grind follow.
Finish is the other call, nickel chrome or Diamond Black Metal. That one’s taste.
What I Don’t Love
The price isn’t as clean as the starting number sounds. The page starts at $139.99, the catalog runs to $149.99, and I can’t tell you from the outside what puts a club at the top end. Price all three lofts the way you’d actually order them before you decide this is the cheap option.
Stock is its own question. The lofts are offered and the clubs are configurable, and that isn’t the same thing as your exact loft, shaft and finish being ready to ship. Check the option you want.
And a custom build runs 10 to 15 business days. If you’ve got a trip next week, that’s the part that bites you, not the specs.
Who It’s For
Buy it if:
- You want a forged head and a CNC milled face, and you’re buying from $139.99 a club.
- You’d rather build a lineup one loft at a time than commit to a boxed set.
- You’ve checked your pitching wedge loft and 48, 52 and 56 fits what you’ve already got.
- You’re fine with Standard grind and you like that the three clubs have loft-specific bounce, length and offset.
Skip it if:
- You want the Texas Grind, because it isn’t offered at these lofts.
- You need clubs this week, since a custom build runs 10 to 15 business days.
- You want one fixed total before you start, because the catalog shows a range and you’ve got to price your own build.
Shop the Ben Hogan Equalizer II Wedge for unmatched precision and spin on the course. Elevate your short game today with our best prices and fast shipping!
- Premium Forged Feel and Touch.
- High, Predictable Spin Rates.
- Clean, Classic Aesthetic.
- Limited Grind Options.
- High Trajectory on Lob Lofts.
- Direct-to-Consumer Fitting Limitations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Equalizer II come in 48, 52 and 56 degrees?
Those lofts are offered, and all three are Standard grind. Hogan publishes the specs by loft, so the 48 is 35.5 inches with 11 degrees of overall bounce, the 52 is 35.25 inches with 11.7, and the 56 is 35.125 inches with 12.3. Whether your exact build is in stock is a question for the order page.
How much does one Ben Hogan Equalizer II wedge cost?
The product page starts at $139.99 and the wedge catalog shows $139.99 to $149.99. Price the exact loft, finish and shaft you want before you count on a total for three clubs, because I can’t promise every build comes in at the bottom of that range.
Is the Equalizer II the same as the Equalizer or the Equalizer III?
No. Hogan lists the Equalizer II as its own model next to the Equalizer wedge, and the Equalizer III is a different club again. If you’re shopping these specs, make sure the page says Equalizer II.
Can I get the Texas Grind in a 48, 52 or 56?
No. Texas Grind comes in 50, 54 and 58 only. Going that way means rebuilding your gapping around those lofts instead of swapping a grind into the setup you planned.
How long does a custom Equalizer II order take?
Hogan’s page lists 10 to 15 business days for a custom build, so order early if you’ve got a date in mind.
Final Thoughts: Ben Hogan Equalizer II Wedge Review
If you want forged heads and milled faces and you’re buying wedges one at a time, the Equalizer II is worth your time starting at $139.99, and 48, 52 and 56 is the setup I’d spec. Two things before you commit. Price all three builds exactly how you’d order them, and check your pitching wedge loft so your gaps are real gaps. If you want the Texas Grind, or you need clubs by Saturday, this isn’t your buy.
About the author
Paul Liberatore
Paul Liberatore is the founder of Golfers Authority and a former four-year golf gear contributor to Sports Illustrated. He tests golf equipment hands-on to help golfers make better buying decisions.