Are the new PXG 0311 Gen2 irons worth their hefty price tag?
Our PXG 0311 Gen2 irons review took place at Northamptonshire County in their new state of the art fitting facility.
PXG 0311 Gen2 irons review – First impressions
As the name suggests these follow on from the original 0311 irons but we now have four models – T, P, XF and SGI.
As we’ve come to expect, these come with a super premium price tag because they are made, forged, from super premium materials.
So 5-PW set is going to cost £2,400 – that’s more than double what you’d expect to pay for a set by one of the market leading brands.
You won’t find PXG clubs on the rack at American Golf and it would be quite rare to see them in your local pro shop.
They do things a bit differently to most brands and that involves an emphasis on custom-fitting.
So they would never sell their clubs ‘off the shelf’ and they won’t let media test their gear out for reviews unless they have been fitted.
On first inspection the 0311 Gen2 irons look similar to the original models.
The T (tour) is the sleekest, the P (players) is very similar, the XF (Xtreme forgiveness) is a tad larger but not what I would describe as a ‘game-improvement’ iron at all.
It’s the iron which will probably have the broadest appeal and will suit players from single figures to 20+ handicaps.
The fourth model SGI (super game-improvement) wasn’t actually available to test but fitter and PGA pro Matt Straughan told me they are all like driving irons.
The PXG 0311 Gen2 irons look stunning and were beautifully presented which adds to the premium experience.
PXG 0311 Gen2 irons review – The technology
These are hollow irons filled with an elastomer to improve the sound and feel.
PXG say they have a larger sweet spot than the original models and are hotter off the face thanks to the thinnest face they have ever produced.
They are forged from 8620 soft carbon steel and feature PXG’s signature perimeter weighting for stability.
Throughout the range, PXG said they have made the looks a bit sleeker with slightly less offset.
“It’s a tall task creating a club that is better than the best, but that’s our commitment,” said PXG founder and CEO Bob Parsons.
“PXG will never release a new club that is not notably better than what we currently offer. And we believe, PXG Gen2 irons set a new standard for the world’s finest.”
PXG 0311 Gen2 irons review – The results
This was a really interesting way to review clubs.
We went through a range of different shaft and head combinations to get things working well for me.
It showed me that PXG take fitting extremely seriously which was very refreshing to see.
By the end of the fitting session I was confident I had been fitted into the right set up.
Which was 0311 Gen2 P from 8-PW and then 0311 Gen2 XF from 7-5.
I naturally launch the ball very high and the XF models do get the ball up in the air very quickly.
But with the right shaft (KBS $-Taper 120 stiff) Matt was able to control the spin rates to still allow me to launch it high.
When testing the T and P models, they did feel just a little bit crisper.
There was a bit more of a drop in ball speed on the mis-hits with the T compared to the P so Matt was happy the P would work best for me in the shorter irons.
It’s actually very rare to get fitted into a split set of irons, despite more than three quarters of tour players have more than one iron model in their bags.
And I think this is what happens when fitting is done properly.
I wasn’t just fitted into a 7-iron and then recommended a full set from 4-PW.
The results of the 0311 Gen2 XF were as good as anything I have hit, probably ever.
They are ridiculously easy and good fun to use. I could have hit them all day.
The feel is superb with a lovely penetrating ball flight and good distance.
A 7-iron is normally a 150 yard club for me but I was getting a carry of up to 160 at times.
PXG 0311 Gen2 irons review – NCG verdict
For me, this was as much about the fitting as it was the clubs.
The clubs are sensational and speak for themselves. The fitting takes time, effort and a commitment to do it properly.
PXG are not happy for their clubs to be used without a proper custom-fitting and I can totally understand why.
Firstly, they are expensive so why wouldn’t you want them to be tailored for you in the same way an expensive suit would be?
And they want you to enjoy each iron in the set so you can tell all your friends how good they are.
So once you get properly dialled into the PXG 0311 Gen2 irons, you can really enjoy the stunning looks, sound and feel that they offer.
Throughout the fitting it was always explained to me what what going on and why certain shafts worked for me and others didn’t.
I hate it in a fitting when I’m given a load of shafts to try and asked which one I like the best.
It can be very hard to say which shaft ‘feels’ the best during a fitting as the differences can be difficult to detect on a few swings.
But when the differences in the shafts are explained to you, and why one wmight work and one might not, it makes the whole process a lot more worthwhile.
So if you’ve got a few quid to spare and want to get dialled in like a tour player, then visit the PXG website and get yourself booked in.
PXG 0311 Gen2 Irons details
SRP: £400 per iron (chrome), £475 (Xtreme dark)
Are tour players entitled to whinge about the new Rules of Golf in public?
Slow play and what actually happens on the European Tour
James Savage
Former equipment editor of NCG. Inconsistent ball-striker and tea-maker.
