Has PXG Just Created The Perfect Golf Starter Set?

PXG is one of the most forward-thinking and innovative equipment companies in golf and of late, has been getting more and more creative. Never afraid to think outside the box, new ideas such as the Desert Club or the Secret Weapon mini-driver have represented interesting and unique concepts. Looking to take on some of the best package sets in the game is the PXG Wildcat set, which I was able to take to the course to give a thorough test.

PXG has conceived and designed the Wildcat set very much with novice and occasional golfers in mind, with the simple target of making the game as easy and fun as possible. It has not. however, scrimped on the technology in doing so.

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The driver features a titanium, Ti-811 construction along with a thin, high-strength titanium face insert. It comes in at a very healthy 16 degrees of loft and at 44 inches long, which is a lot more loft than you would normally expect to see in any of the best drivers and at least an inch shorter than most major manufacturers ‘standard’ driver length. This is to provide more launch and a better quality of strike.

Complementing the PXG Wildcat driver are the PXG Wildcat fairway wood and PXG Wildcat hybrid. Both are designed with a high-strength body material that allows for a thinner wall thickness and a lightweight feel. They also incorporate an ultra-thin-face design for added flex, improved ball speeds and distance.

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The PXG Wildcat irons feature a body made primarily of stainless steel and PXG’s proprietary XCOR2 polymer core system. There is also a dual cavity design that includes a weight-saving insert in the outer cavity and a polymer-filled inner cavity. The idea of this design effectively removes mass from the center of the club to enhance forgiveness on mishits, while delivering low spin and high launch performance.

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Completing the set is the Black Hawk putter which combines the looks of a traditional mallet putter with some interesting design features, and even includes the option to be fitted with four different hosels. It is constructed from multi-material components and features a 100 percent milled aerospace-grade aluminum body, and a stainless steel rear weight plate, boosting the MOI for maximum stability.

It has been designed as a nine-club set, which includes a driver, a 5-fairway wood, a 6-hybrid, a 7-iron through sand wedge (SW), and a putter, however, they can also be purchased individually for those looking to build the set up slowly.

In terms of the looks, PXG has done an excellent job. The term ‘package set’ often conjures up images of poorly constructed budget equipment, and that could not be further from the truth with Wildcat. The biggest compliment I could offer this set is that it could easily sit alongside the main in-line products of the PXG range in all of its comparable categories like the Black Ops irons or 0211 drivers. PXG has not compromised on build quality or finish in any regard here, and importantly, every single club genuinely inspires confidence behind the ball with their generous proportions.

Performance-wise, I was seriously impressed throughout the bag here. I honestly think the driver could actually sculpt and influence some future designs in the industry, with its deep face and 16˚ loft providing performance I have never seen before. It is incredibly easy to launch, and those with slower swing speeds will likely experience a ball flight and peak height that they have only previously dreamed of, providing what I foresee to be a healthy distance boost.

This user-friendly theme continues throughout the bag, with the irons featuring very large head profiles, a low CG, and super wide soles that all add up to create high levels of forgiveness and ease of launch. They have deliberately been swing-weighted lightly (C6) to make them swing a little easier than more ‘standard’ irons and also have some fairly generous lofts to once again aid launch.

This isn’t exclusive to the Wildcat set, as a lot of the best golf club sets for beginners focus heavily on playability and making them easy to get in the air, but I have never seen it achieved with such a solid and premium feel as this.

Aside from the unique driver, the putter may have been the highlight for me. I am so used to pulling out a cheap, poorly finished afterthought of a putter in most package sets that the Black Hawk was a real treat. The milled pyramid face feels great, facilitating a nice roll on the ball, while the ‘pick up’ pocket will delight those who regularly play ‘gimmies’. Seriously easy to align (there are hallmarks of the impressive Allan putter in the address position) and with a premium feel, this is an excellent standalone product that could sit alongside many of the best putters in the game.

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This is a package set like no other I have tried before. I love the idea of only going with nine clubs in the set, as I hear so many beginners getting confused about what club to use, so limiting the options is a smart idea here. There has been zero compromise on quality or design to hit a price point, which is absolutely reflected in the performance throughout here. In terms of that price tag, it is a little higher than most package sets out there, but if you are going all in, the ‘Full Bag Bundle’ which includes all nine clubs, a golf bag, a hat, and a dozen balls will set you back $1499.99.

The driver as an individual club is $299.99, the fairway is $199.99, the hybrid comes in at $189.99, and each individual iron is priced at $149.99. The Black Hawk putter will set you back $299.99.