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2021 PXG Gen4 drivers and fairway woods: More technology, greater adjustability, improved performance

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After some serious teasing, PXG is delivering all the tech details of its new Gen4 metals series featuring the 0811 XF, 0811 X, and 0811 XT drivers, along with the new Gen4 0341 X fairway woods, and 0317 X hybrids.

Gen4 series goals

  • Utilize all available technology to improve performance
  • Offer greater adjustability
  • Make the clubs easier to dial in for each individual golfer

PXG Gen4 driver technology

The Gen4 series of drivers have been re-engineered from the top down to boost MOI and ball speed with the most noticeable change being the two-tone crown comprised of carbon fiber with an aluminum vapor (AV) coating.

This AV process has been used in the past on a select number of high-end shafts to increase material stiffness—most notably, the Mitsubishi AV Raw series—but in true PXG fashion, this is the first time this type of material and process has been used in clubhead design.

“The AV technology (in the crown)adds a big performance element thanks to the stiffening of the carbon fiber and mass savings.”  –Brad Schweigert, Chief Product Officer

This AV carbon fiber panel is stronger and lighter than traditional carbon fiber and helps lower the center of gravity. It also serves the secondary purpose of creating perimeter weighting like a cavity back iron, since the crown features titanium on the heel and toe sections.

For the internals of the driver, we are greeted with the familiar PXG honeycomb TPE insert to dampen acoustics and increase feel, which brings us to the final parts of the puzzle—the face and sole.

The new PXG Gen4 driver uses an exclusive high-speed titanium 421 face, which allows the engineers to push the envelope of variable face thickness to save mass and increase the COR outside of the sweet spot. This material was first introduced in the 0211 driver and has carried forward into Gen4.

“The Ti412 is the perfect material for a driver face.” -Brad Schweigert

The reason this titanium material works so well is that it has a high yield strength with low elastic modulus—in layman’s terms, the Ti412 is strong when placed under stress to hold its shape but is also springy/elastic to create ball speed.

Now to the sole. Much like the Prototype drivers that came before it, PXG is officially ditching the smaller adjustable weights in the Gen4 in favor of larger, more condensed points of mass adjustability. This makes adjusting the driver faster and easier and helps create more discretionary weight to be positioned around the driver’s head since the smaller housing (places within the head that hold the weight) are now much lighter.

Driver Models

PXG 0811 XF

The 0811 XF is the largest profile from address and is longer heel to toe to increase stability in the hitting area, making it the most forgiving driver in the PXG line.

The available lofts are 7.5, 9, and 10.5 degrees (right and left-handed)

PXG 0811 X

The 0811 X has a taller face height and shortened length from front to back. This helps lower the CG relative to the face to help produce higher-launching, lower-spinning shots, while still maintaining forgiveness. This is the lowest-spinning driver in the new Gen4 lineup and spins on average just over 400 rpm less than the XF.

The available lofts are 7.5, 9, 10.5, and 12 degrees (right and left-handed)

PXG 0811 XT

The 0811 XT is the “outlier” compared to the other drivers in the Gen4 line because it has been completely optimized for golfers who swing the driver over 105 mph. It offers a more aerodynamic shape, along with a smaller profile to increase workability.

The available loft are 9, 10.5, and 12 degrees (right and left-handed)

Order date and price

The Gen4 0811 series drivers are available for order now through PXG.com and are priced at $549.

PXG Gen4 fairways and hybrids

The PXG Gen4 fairway woods and hybrids feature much of the same technology and design philosophies as the Gen4 driver, but in packages optimized for their unique functions using materials better suited for the job—the most noted being HT 17170 maraging steel face inserts.

Technology and design

The fairway woods and hybrids utilize the same concept from the crown of the Gen4 driver to lower CG and boost MOI by removing the middle section and replacing it with the new AV carbon composite. Although the carbon panel on the crown is smaller compared to the driver, the steel it replaces is almost eight times heavier, which makes it extremely effective for saving weight.

The 0341 X fairway woods feature a deeper face design with a low center of gravity to help optimize spin performance. For a fairway wood that means creating a stable flight that is also stoppable in the higher lofts since those clubs are used more often from the rough and to approaches greens.

The hybrids feature the same construction of the fairway woods, but unlike PXG hybrids of the past that are traditionally more rounded and “wood” shaped, the new 0317 X have a longer look from heel to toe with a deeper squared-off toe profile to make them appear slightly more iron-like from address, which helps increase high-low MOI (which is the measurement of forgiveness up and down the face).

Both the soles of the fairway woods and hybrids now use the larger weights to make adjusting faster and rely on a dual weight system to create either a neutral or draw bias. In the fairway woods, this is an evolution from the earlier released Prototype which featured a third toe weight port but based on player testing and feedback it was felt that the extra weight saved from the third weight port could be better utilized to optimize spin versus offering a rarely used fade bias.

The change in the weight system came directly from our fitters. The previous system was underutilized and we wanted golfers to see as much benefit as possible and the larger weights offer greater CG customization. -Mike Nicolette

Although not a technology feature, one key thing to point out about the Gen4 lineup—along with all PXG clubs—is since every club is custom built from scratch, they are completely unisex. This is a design characteristic PXG has had since the beginning and is an often overlooked part of their design philosophy. From the club designers all the way to PXG fitters, they don’t believe in “men’s and women’s” clubs —they believe in golf clubs designed to fit any player and the Gen4 reinforces that philosophy.

Fairway wood specs, price, and availability

The fairway woods will be available in the lofts of 13, 15, 18, and 21 degrees (right and left-handed), and are available now for custom order – they are priced at $429 each.

Hybrid specs, price, and availability

The hybrids will be available in the lofts of 17, 19, 22, 25, and 28 degrees (right and left-handed), and are available now for custom order – they are priced at $379 each.

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Ryan Barath is a club-fitter & master club builder with more than 17 years of experience working with golfers of all skill levels, including PGA Tour players. He is the former Build Shop Manager & Social Media Coordinator for Modern Golf. He now works independently from his home shop and is a member of advisory panels to a select number of golf equipment manufacturers. You can find Ryan on Twitter and Instagram where he's always willing to chat golf, and share his passion for club building, course architecture and wedge grinding.

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Equipment

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

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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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Whats in the Bag

Alejandro Tosti WITB 2024 (April)

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  • Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.

Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 80 TX

Hybrid: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue (22 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 6.5 100

Irons: Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore Tour Rack (50-10 MID, 54-10 MID, 58-10 MID, 60-06 LOW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100, S400

Putter: Scotty Cameron

Grips: Golf Pride MCC Plus4

Check out more in-hand photos of Alejandro Tosti’s WITB in the forums.

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Whats in the Bag

Drew Brees WITB 2024 (April)

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Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)

Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper (13.5 degrees)

5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (19 degrees)

Irons: TaylorMade P790 (4-8, PW), TaylorMade P760 (9)

Wedges: TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09, 56-10, 60)

Putter: Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2 Prototype

Check out more in-hand photos of Drew Brees’ clubs here.

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