Equipment

PXG goes big with 0311XF irons

Published

8 years ago

Sep 6, 2016

There’s a new addition to the PXG iron family. The company’s new 0311XF irons use the same technologies as its 0311 and 0311T irons, but have larger club heads to offer golfers “Xtreme Forgiveness.”

“We’d all love to hit the ball perfectly every time, but the truth is many of us don’t,” said PXG founder Bob Parsons. “Most players struggle with imperfect swings and for some playing a blade can be intimidating. So, we engineered a game-improvement iron that is even more forgiving than the original PXG 0311 irons and just as sexy. Trust me, forgiveness has never felt so good.”

0311XF Tech Specs

Blade Length: Approximately 0.173-inches longer than the 0311.
Club Face: Approximately 0.1-inches larger than the 0311.
Sole Width: Approximately 0.065-inches wider than the 0311.
Offset: Approximately 0.173-inches larger than the 0311.

Comparison_soles_0311_0311XF

The 0311XF irons use the company’s TPE Core Technology, which our Andrew Tursky detailed in this must-read story. Like the 0311 and 0311T irons, the 0311XF club heads are triple-forged. Unlike most forged irons, however, they have extremely thin faces thanks to their hollow-body construction and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) filling, which dampens vibrations and improves energy transfer for added distance.

High-density tungsten weights are also used in the 0311XF design, and in conjunction with PXG’s signature perimeter weight on the back of the irons they optimize each iron’s center of gravity (CG) location.

“The longer blade length and wider sole help increase the moment of inertia and drive the CG back to create greater forgiveness and more dynamic loft at impact,” said PXG Chief Product Officer Brad Schweigert. “As a result, the clubs are incredibly forgiving and deliver outstanding mis-hit performance.”

Comparison_0311XF_0311T

While the 0311XF irons target mid-to-high-handicap golfers who need extra distance and forgiveness, the game-improvement irons can also benefit the best players in the world. Take Charl Schwartzel, for example. The winner of this year’s Valspar Championship and the 2011 Masters loves his 0311XF 4 iron, saying he can hit it 260 yards off the tee.

PXG_0311XF_face

“[my 0311XF 4 iron] blends perfectly with my 0311 irons,” Schwartzel said. “You would never know that it’s a game-improvement club – and I like that.”

The 0311XF irons (about $300 each) are available in two finishes, Chrome and an Xtreme Dark, which uses a black Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) coating and carries an upcharge of $150 per iron. Full sets, as well as mixed sets of the 0311, 0311T and 0311XF are available for purchase through PXG’s network of authorized fitters.

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38 Comments

Messico

Sep 7, 2016 at 6:21 pm

Heard these were made just for Tigers come back. Also making him some sweet non riding underwear too.

Reply Report comment
SNBD

Sep 7, 2016 at 1:34 am

I love the comments here referring to saving money and spending it on lessons for the “higher handicap” player. If you are buying PXG, you could give a shit how much it costs. That’s the beauty of having MONEY. A lot of people with massive amounts of disposable income buy expensive things just because they can, including clubs for $3k. They drive Range Rovers, wear Rolex’s, and live in overly priced zip codes…..don’t hate just because you aren’t in the same boat.

Reply Report comment
- Lou Loomis
  
  Sep 7, 2016 at 5:48 am
  
  I didn’t say don’t spend the money, you twit. I said spend the difference on lessons and practice to become a better ball striker. You look like a fool hacking around the course with $3000 sticks.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - SNBD
    
    Sep 7, 2016 at 10:15 pm
    
    An Acura MDX drives as well as a Range Rover and a Fossil watch keeps time as well as a Rolex, why doesn’t everyone just buy the middle of the road item? PXG is on par with other high end stuff, it’s part status and part performance. Let’s be honest, if you are hacking up a course, you look like a fool no matter what you’re playing. Again, don’t hate just because someone wants to drop $3k on a set of clubs. Besides Lou, if someone is playing PXG, I highly doubt they’re playing the same tracks as you so, you don’t have to worry about them hacking up “your” course.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - SNBD
      
      Sep 7, 2016 at 11:38 pm
      
      Classic response from someone who has nothing meaningful to say….resort to name calling.
      
      Reply Report comment
  - Jim
    
    Sep 8, 2016 at 11:24 pm
    
    I love the videos of dipsticks crashing Ferraris & Lamborghinis – during routine driving – or losing control when showing off… F*k it…maybe if they spend the money on them & play more – there’s no where else to go on the ‘magic club ladder’
    
    maybe they WILL take lessons
    
    Reply Report comment
KK

Sep 7, 2016 at 12:09 am

Screws aren’t removable on the irons. So lame.

Reply Report comment
Jim

Sep 6, 2016 at 9:19 pm

We’re on same page…Shaft was actually 110gr Recoil…what I was saying is the combination of graphite & PXG’s already ‘muted’ feel gave me virtually no feedback – positive or negative…the heads feel so ‘soft’ – but not that ‘buttery’ yet solid Miura feel as described in the thread. So, UNLESS someone needed that level of ‘shock absorbency’ (IMHO) the graphite / PXG combo was ‘unsatisfying’ and most ‘forged’ players probably wouldn’t care for it either…

Now if a person had some bad hand/wrist pain – even elbow pain (not caused by swing mechanics) there’s pretty much nothing more vibration reducing (or ‘soft’ on impact that I’ve hit (but he can cram the $150 black finish upcharge 😉

Reply Report comment
- Jim
  
  Sep 7, 2016 at 11:10 am
  
  I hate it when this happens….write a reply, device says ‘server timed out’….page resets and wait. Still, later no reply appears – so write another one….then both appear – in this case hours later…. harrumph…
  
  Reply Report comment
Nate

Sep 6, 2016 at 2:20 pm

For a game improvement iron they look amazing. Looks wise nothing else on the market compares. Too bad they are $350 per club (from PXG’s instagram).

Reply Report comment
Lee

Sep 6, 2016 at 2:07 pm

What a load of sh*te!

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Lester Diamond

Sep 6, 2016 at 12:09 pm

I don’t see the purpose of mentioning Schwartzel’s length with this club. Like Desmond said, good for him, but for us mortals in means nothing. Should I go buy a Diablo 3-wood because Stenson can hit his 300 off the deck? Nonsense.

Reply Report comment
- DeadFish
  
  Sep 6, 2016 at 3:36 pm
  
  Yes you should because that is what drives club sales!
  
  A year ago someone won with an old TM Burner 9 degree driver. Every local golf shop was sold out within a day and no one could find one and if you did the price was higher than usual. Coincidence…I think not…
  
  Reply Report comment
msmizzllee

Sep 6, 2016 at 11:02 am

XTREME? Just like the Hammer X! The X stood for XTREME – I smell a billion dollar lawsuit!

Reply Report comment
- desmond
  
  Sep 6, 2016 at 11:22 am
  
  You do know what the X stands for in “PXG”?
  
  Reply Report comment
OH

Sep 6, 2016 at 10:22 am

I love me some PXG but these are shovels. If you can’t hit the regular 0311 irons then you need to save yourself $3000 and go get some lessons.

Reply Report comment
- Jim
  
  Sep 6, 2016 at 10:53 am
  
  Agreed!
  
  Reply Report comment
- desmond
  
  Sep 6, 2016 at 11:24 am
  
  I means Charl hits the 4i XF at 260 yds. So he has that going for him, and PXG has that going for them. I’d say if you can’t hit 7-PW in 0311, it’s not the club. For the longer to mid irons, some guys might prefer these in a liteweight graphite shaft over a hybrid.
  
  Reply Report comment
- KK
  
  Sep 7, 2016 at 12:06 am
  
  Yeah, Charl. What a scrub.
  
  Reply Report comment
Ace Edwards

Sep 6, 2016 at 9:24 am

They’re not just selling golf clubs, they’re selling status, like a Rolex. And for some customers, they’re selling hope.

I wonder if they will sell putters. Probably $500 and up.

Reply Report comment
- OH
  
  Sep 6, 2016 at 10:20 am
  
  They’ve been selling putters for a while. And, yes, they are crazy expensive.
  
  Reply Report comment
- LabraeGolfer
  
  Sep 6, 2016 at 11:51 am
  
  Yeah old models were $400 and new ones are $500. I would rather play a Bettinardi any day of the week they were very meh.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Jim
  
  Sep 6, 2016 at 5:59 pm
  
  When Big Bertha Putter, it was 249. Same price as the steel ‘woods’ with graphite shafts & people freaked!
  “249 for a PUTTER WT#&? €?*#!?!” – Same peeps had 3 or 4 Callaway metals in the bag, but back then no production putter on the market was > $100. Eli took a couple steps back and pointed out “It’s the most important club! The only one you use on every hole!”…
  
  And now, NO one complains about those $300 Ping design clones (with nicer finishes) – bought right off the rack – without ever being fit AT ALL from Snotty….
  
  I got putter fit back when it was just taking off – black tent, HS camera – all based on getting the best roll on the ball – with ‘your stroke’….blah blah – shorten the story – I’m 6’2, bad back, stand tall and putt open. Playing mini-tours, Monday 4 spots, etc. Legit 1.2 hcp. Playing with lotsa injuries. Could go 5 under or 6 over same week. Anyway, we got the loft right but I had Liprosy for years. I would lip out 1-3 putts almost every round. Cost me several checks. So much so, it was a standing joke with the other guys “if he ever got ’em to go in” – etc.. Because all my clubs are 2up, with my stancen @ 35″ the putter felt good, eyes over ball etc… Center shaft face balanced half mallet style.
  
  Ten years later, when training to use the SAM Put Lab, I went through an extensive fitting session – it spit out so many numbers, Peltz would flip!
  ANYWAY, it said my putter should be 3 FLAT! A net 5 degree change NO ONE could have possibly told me that without me cracking up….So, we bent the stick and I rolled 10/10 in (FIRST TIME EVER!) from 12′ on our (flat as can be built) putter fitting surface…unfortunately, a bit late for my mini-tour days, but much knowledge was gained and no more liprosy!
  
  We sell beaucoup Edel & Machine custom made putters and will sell PXG’s if they work for the customer.
  
  BOTTOM LINE – I tell all my students – go start swinging every putter on the rack. If it doesn’t look right, or on the take away it doesn’t feel like it’s swinging nicely for you – put it down and try the next one. As big an equipment freak as I am, if the $9.99 discount rack zink POS works for you- BUY IT!
  
  Reply Report comment
Scooter McGavin

Sep 6, 2016 at 7:22 am

I don’t understand the hype over pxg clubs. They don’t look that good and they can’t feel any better than the other premium forged offerings on the market.

Reply Report comment
- desmond
  
  Sep 6, 2016 at 7:34 am
  
  They have a unique feel – none other like it. No, it’s not Miura-like dense yet soft. PXG feels soft and vibration-free. If you want less wear and tear on the body, going with graphite shaft and with generous bounce, you get irons that are easy on the body, forgiving as heck, and perform well with a unique feel.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Scooter McGavin
    
    Sep 6, 2016 at 9:09 am
    
    Maybe I’ll just have to hit them. I like the way you describe Miura’s feel. Seems accurate. But my experience with Fourteen is they have that feel-nothing-at-impact softness. Which is actually why I tend to like Fourteen more than Miura…
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Skip
      
      Sep 6, 2016 at 1:02 pm
      
      I experience the same thing. Anything Endo Forged, some Kyoei offerings, and definitely the Miura Giken stuff give you that soft, buttery feel at impact. The North American Miuras are firm and dense.
      
      Reply Report comment
    - Jim
      
      Sep 6, 2016 at 3:17 pm
      
      Miura is more traditional – not ‘teched out’ like Epon…least “forgiving” of the three, if you add PXG.
      
      I prefer the Miura feel. No major OEM’s BEST Forged irons are as good. Period. No one’s hosel is as tight – Miura says it’s the most important part of the club for creating their superior feel & distance…
      
      The first PXG O swung – happened to have had a graphite shaft. There are people who would benefit from ZERO shock / sensation @ impact – I’m not there YET.
      
      Felt like hitting marshmallows with a swimming pool noodle….just not right –
      
      Unless there’s a pain issue, stick w/steel – even 90gr – if it’s a strength issue as well – buy Fourteens. Nothing better @ those weights
      
      Reply Report comment
      - desmond
        
        Sep 6, 2016 at 5:34 pm
        
        I’ll disagree as to graphite iron shafts if marshmallow means soft or torquey. Try Aerotech if you want less torque than some steel. Recoils have more “feel.” For long term longevity and to lower the probabilty of shoulder, arthritis and other issues, find some heavy graphite if you need them, or the lighter stuff when you need it.
        
        Reply Report comment
        
        Jim
        
        Sep 6, 2016 at 6:28 pm
        
        No – I’m with you on all that – it was actually a 110 gr Recoil…what I meant is the PXG feel is so ‘muted’ anyway, good graphite (no one would put cheap ones in such expensive heads) is pretty much unnecessary and (IMHO) would provide virtually no physical feedback – good or bad 🙂
        
        Someone with severe arthritis, carpal tunnel or other hand/wrist pain or neuropthy may benefit from such minimal vibration/shock transmitted during impact…even some elbow pain (not caused by the swing action itself). 🙂
        
        Reply Report comment
        
        desmond
        
        Sep 6, 2016 at 10:49 pm
        
        I’m with you, but I’ve had friends with bad shoulders and arthritic fingers, and it’s possible that less vibration could help. I’m the guy with liteweight graphite and PXG, and it took me 2 months to figure out where I made contact without looking at the head. It can be done, it just takes time.
        
        Reply Report comment
        
        Jim
        
        Sep 7, 2016 at 11:13 am
        
        🙂
- TF
  
  Sep 6, 2016 at 10:10 am
  
  I was a skeptic as well… But I had a chance to hit a PXG 6-iron while I was being fit for a driver back in January. It was a legitimate “oh wow” moment after the first swing. I wasn’t on a launch monitor so I can’t speak to the performance, but the feel was out-of-this-world. Was it worth the ultra-premium price? Probably not (for most of us). But it was definitely worth hitting a few times to see what else is out there!
  
  Reply Report comment
DevilDog18

Sep 6, 2016 at 7:06 am

Triple forged? … ooooh ok then, here are my next 3 mortgage payments

Reply Report comment
Y. Wurry

Sep 6, 2016 at 6:46 am

Xtreme? Did we time warp back to 1995? The implosion of the golf equipment market can’t come soon enough.

Reply Report comment
Lou Loomis

Sep 6, 2016 at 5:52 am

High handicappers would be better off using that money for lessons and range balls, instead of buying clubs that are no better than ones that can be bought for a 1/3 of the cost.

Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

3 mins ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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