Ben Hogan Radial vs Ben Hogan Edge
Side-by-side factory specifications. Differing values are highlighted.
Specification comparison
| Club | Radial loft | Edge loft | Radial lie | Edge lie | Radial length | Edge length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 19.5 | — | 57 | — | 39.25 | — |
| 3 | 23 | — | 58 | — | 39 | — |
| 4 | 26.5 | 22 | 59 | 60 | 38.5 | 39 |
| 5 | 30 | 26 | 60 | 61 | 38 | 38.25 |
| 6 | 33.5 | 30 | 61 | 62 | 37.5 | 37.5 |
| 7 | 37 | 34 | 62 | 62.5 | 37 | 37 |
| 8 | 41 | 38 | 63 | 63 | 36.5 | 36.5 |
| 9 | 45 | 42 | 63.5 | 63.5 | 36 | 36 |
| PW | 50 | 46 | 64 | 64 | 35.5 | 35.75 |
Highlighted cells differ between the two sets. Lofts and lies are factory standard.
Lofts compared
- Radial
- Edge
What the differences mean
At the 7-iron, the Radial is 37° and the Edge is 34°, a 3° gap. Each degree of loft is worth roughly 3 to 4 yards of carry at the same swing speed, so the Edge should carry roughly 9 to 12 yards further with that club, on a slightly lower, shallower flight than the Radial. Across the 7 clubs both sets share, the Edge averages 3.6° stronger, with the largest gap at the 4-iron (26.5° vs 22°). The pitching wedges are 50° and 46°; the stronger one leaves a 4° jump to a 50° gap wedge, which matters when planning wedge gapping. Beyond loft, the Radial 7-iron sits 0.5° flatter (62° vs 62.5°), which nudges start direction slightly right for a right-hander.
The sets are built differently: the Radial runs 2-iron to PW (9 clubs), the Edge 4-iron to PW (7 clubs).
Both are game improvement irons, built for roughly 10 to 25 handicaps. Perimeter-weighted cavity backs with wider soles, more offset and stronger lofts, aimed at mid handicaps. Because they target the same golfer, the decision comes down to the specific loft, feel and shaping differences rather than who the sets are made for.
The Radial is listed as forged, wide radial sole and the Edge as two-piece forged hollow body, laser welded. The Edge's hollow body lets the face flex more and moves mass low and outward, usually giving higher launch and more ball speed on off-centre strikes than the Radial, at some cost in feel.
There are 31 years between these sets (1987 and 2018), more than one design generation. Over that time irons moved toward stronger lofts, thinner and faster faces, hollow and multi-material heads and wider use of tungsten, so the newer set is not simply a better version of the older one: it may launch and spin quite differently. Here the 7-iron loft moved from 37° to 34°.
Which should you choose?
The Edge is the stronger-lofted set — up to 4.5° stronger than the Radial on matching clubs. Expect longer carry per numbered iron but a flatter descent angle; gapping at the wedge end is where that shows up.
Both charts are reproduced in full on their own pages: Ben Hogan Radial specs and Ben Hogan Edge specs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ben Hogan Radial stronger lofted than the Edge?
No. The Edge is the stronger-lofted set: its 7-iron is 34° against 37° for the Ben Hogan Radial, 3° stronger and worth roughly 9 to 12 yards of extra carry.
What is the loft difference between the Ben Hogan Radial and Edge?
At the 7-iron the difference is 3° (37° vs 34°). The largest gap on a shared club is 4.5° at the 4-iron, and all 7 shared clubs differ.
Are the Ben Hogan Radial and Edge aimed at the same golfer?
Yes. Both are game improvement irons, built for roughly 10 to 25 handicaps. Choose on feel, looks and gapping, ideally after hitting both.
Do the Ben Hogan Radial and Edge have the same lie and length?
Not exactly. At the 7-iron the Ben Hogan Radial is 62° lie and 37 inches, the Edge 62.5° and 37 inches. Both can be bent or built to your own fit.
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