PXG 0311P Gen5 Iron Review

PXG forged a sterling reputation in the premium performance fitting experience space and them muddied the waters with its more affordable 0211 range. But the brand has updated its premium range for 2022 with the launch of Gen5, which comprises both woods and irons.

The 0311 Gen5 irons come in at $349 a stick and may be as intriguing internally as they are on the outside. The XCOR2 material inside the clubhead makes it light and fast. Essentially the material immediately behind the ultra-thin clubface – the company calls it the thinnest face in golf – and extending into the sole, XCOR2 has a lighter density and higher COR than in past models. It saves between five and seven grams of mass from the core, which is then moved to increase the perimeter weighting and boost MOI. And it works in conjunction with the clubface to increase face deflection, energy transfer and ball speed. 

Then there’s the internal power channel that helps this iron become longer and more forgiving, by increasing deflection at the top of the face. That in turn helps shots get higher with more speed. The feel and crisp impact sound are very satisfying, too. That can be attributed in part to the iron body being forged five times over. And the milled back surface where the immovable tungsten weights sit reduces the wall thickness and provides an awesome look. Those weights make the irons more forgiving and PXG fitters can toy around with them during your fitting session, to dial in your preferred feel.

The P model is designed for low-to-mid handicappers seeking an iron that blends distance, workability and forgiveness. It’s a mid-sized clubhead with a moderate amount of offset and a comfortable blade length. The contrasting head style is part futuristic, part utilitarian. And somehow it looks really good from all angles – most importantly at address. The company’s also selling a “Black Label Elite” version of the iron with a Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) coating dark finish, black shaft, and contrasting steel-finished weight ports on the low heel and toe. Unlike black PVD, the DLC is a three-layer process that’s incredibly thin, wear-resistant and non-influential on ball flight.