PXG 0311 Black Ops Fairway Woods Review

The low-profile PXG 0311 Black Ops fairway woods promise effortless performance and ultimate control for all playing abilities.

The mission PXG chose to accept was to create an easy-to-launch fairway wood capable of maximizing distance and tightening up dispersion off tee and turf for all levels of player.

Unparalleled distance and forgiveness aren’t exactly best friends, and trying to get the two to live harmoniously under one crown is no mean feat.

It’s been the nemesis of engineers for years and for this to be ‘mission accomplished’ would propel PXG among the best fairway woods in golf. And in 2024, the Arizona-based, brand, led by military veteran, entrepreneur, and golf nut – Bob Parsons, believes they’ve done it.

Introducing Black Ops – PXG’s breakthrough technology, housed in a new family of drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids – now available to the mass market.

The Black Ops name remains on theme with the covert nature of many recent metal launches across the industry that could pass for the next James Bond installment – Stealth, Paradym Ai-Smoke, Darkspeed, Blueprint. Even Qi10 has a 007-esque feel about it.

The technology builds on the brand’s progressive GEN6 range, and as with all PXG launches, promises to be “markedly better” than what has gone before it.

We rip off the headcovers and take a look at the tech behind what PXG believes will help players of all abilities hit longer, straighter, and more consistently than ever before.

Black Ops: The Tech

Precision Weighting Technology

As per the GEN6 models, Black Ops fairway woods present three weight ports with the default set-up being one heavy (12.5 g), and two light (2.5 g) that are interchangeable to support preferred spin and shape. Available weights range between 2.5 and 20 g in 2.5 g increments so players can fine-tune their ideal head weight and shot bias.

Pulling the CG towards the toe will create a fade bias, with weight in the heel helping to square the face and add draw. Those seeking higher MOI, launch and forgiveness can distribute more weight in the back.

This supported weight structure, positioned in the extreme perimeter of the clubhead, provides a stiff and stable geometry that PXG says creates an optimal feel and sound at impact.

Square face, flat sole design

The Black Ops fairway woods introduce a new high-strength, stainless steel that’s 12.5% thinner than its GEN6 predecessor. The face is engineered to position the CM optimally to aid with faster ball speeds, higher launch, and lower spin. The combination of a squared face and flat sole lowers the CM which leads to the increased forgiveness PXG says is on offer.

Robotic polishing

This high-precision process ensures the face thickness and curvature are consistently manufactured to design specifications that maximize performance and impart corrective spin for off-center impacts.

High-strength composite construction

The Black Ops fairway woods crown is made entirely from a lightweight, high-grade carbon fiber that saves mass, enabling it to be redistributed lower and toward the extreme perimeter of the clubhead for optimal CM positioning and forgiveness.

PXG 0311 Black Ops Fairway Wood

RRP: $349.99 / £319.99 | Availability: 3W / 4W / 5W / 7W

The Black Ops fairway woods have been meticulously designed with custom fitting in mind, which PXG says makes them “some of the most versatile and high-performing clubs in the industry.”

The one-model on offer is geared towards a wide range of players and is characterized as an easy-to-launch, mid-spinning fairway providing maximum distance and tight dispersion off tee or turf, coupled with an incredible sound and feel.

It’s a combination that ticks a lot of boxes and will appeal to those whose preferences edge towards forgiveness but are reluctant to compromise on ball speed. Black Ops also comes in a 7-wood, which will please the growing number of golfers who are adding weaker-lofted woods to their bags.

All Blacks Ops fairway woods are available in a range of premium shaft options and come with PXG Z5 Black grips as standard.

Club	Loft	Lie	Length	Head Mass
3W	15°	58.5°	43″	215 g
4W	17°	58.5°	43″	215 g
5W	18°	59°	42.5″	219 g
7W	21°	59.5°	42″	224 g

The Black Ops Family

The 0311 Black Ops fairway woods are sandwiched between two new models of driver and a hybrid, with PXG naturally incorporating the technology throughout the bag.

The 0311 Black Ops driver is geared towards a wide range of players and is characterized as a high-launch, yet low-spin option by PXG, whereas the Tour-1 driver is geared toward more advanced players with high swing speeds who seek extremely low spin performance and penetrating ball flights.

As per the fairways, the 0311 Black Ops drivers and hybrids boast a high-grade and lightweight carbon fiber crown, saving mass so it can be redistributed low and to the clubhead’s perimeter for optimal CG positioning and added forgiveness.

Players also maintain the ability to dial in their preferred spin and bias settings with PXG’s Precision Weighting Technology throughout the family.

What PXG says

Billed as a “complete and total victory in woods engineering”, it’s fair to say PXG expects Black Ops to be the breakthrough they’ve been waiting for in their bid to ruffle feathers in the long-game market.

“I have often wondered why golfers are content to give up distance to achieve forgiveness, said PXG founder and CEO Bob Parsons.

“We’ve spent much of our R&D efforts focused on that challenge, and I am proud to say we’ve cracked that nut. Black Ops Woods are straight like an arrow, more forgiving than a priest on Sunday, and absolutely stunning to boot!”

Mina Harigae (LPGA Tour Pro): “The entire Black Ops line has given me effortless distance and height which boosts my confidence when playing out on tour. I’m excited to hit them every chance I get!”

Auston Kim (LPGA Tour Pro): “The new Black Ops line sets up very well at address. The clubs facilitate solid strikes and are very forgiving for off-center strikes as well. In addition to feeling great, the clubs look fantastic too.”

Video: How does the PXG 0311 Black Ops compare to other leading 2024 fairway woods?

Verdict: PXG 0311 Black Ops Fairway Woods

The fairway wood was the club in the Black Ops family I was most excited about hitting. My current Titleist TSi2 is the club I struggle with for consistency, and as a result have started to shy away from it.

Having hit 40-odd drives with the Black Ops driver I was pretty warm by the time a 3-wood was put in my hands, and sitting it down behind the ball felt comfortable and confidence-inspiring from the off.

As per the drivers, PXG’s blacked-out livery looks great in my opinion. Clean and unfussy but with a steak of rebelliousness about it. It’s fitting, as PXG unashamedly prides itself on being a disruptive force (in a good way), and nothing says is better than the low-profile and menacing-looking square face of the Black Ops fairway wood.

I was really pleased with how easy the club was to get airborne, and by the time Conor – my very patient and knowledgeable fitter – had optimized my setup, I was consistently hitting 3-woods off the deck for a 200-yard carry. And while Rory McIlroy can knock it past me with a 7-iron, I was still pretty happy for a first hit out.

My standard left-to-right ‘mini slice’ was still present, but after a few adjustments to help close my face-to-path angle, those balls were still clinging onto the fairway. This is why investing in a professional fitting is such an important and worthwhile exercise.

All considered, Black Ops feels like the complete package of a fairway wood that will serve a wide range of abilities really well. I’m looking forward to putting it in the bag this year and I wouldn’t be surprised to see PXG headcovers popping out of many more too.

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About the author

Ross Tugwood

Golf Equipment Writer

Ross Tugwood is a golf equipment writer for todays-golfer.com, specializing in data, analytics, science, and innovation.

Ross is passionate about optimizing sports performance and has a decade of experience working with professional athletes and coaches for British Athletics, the UK Sports Institute, and Team GB.

He has post-graduate degrees in Performance Analysis and Sports Journalism, enabling him to critically analyze and review the latest golf equipment and technology to help you make better-informed buying decisions.

PXG 0311 Black Ops Fairway Woods

RRP: $349.99 / £319.99

Lofts: 3W - 15° / 4W - 17° / 5W - 18° / 7W - 21°

Lie: 3W - 58.5° / 4W - 58.5° / 5W - 59° / 7W - 59.5°

Headweight: 3W - 215 g / 4W - 215 g / 5W - 219 g / 7W - 224 g

Standard shaft length: 3W - 43" / 4W - 43" / 5W - 42.5" / 7W - 42"

Stock shaft options: EvenFlow Riptide CB, PX Cypher, MCA Diamana S+, ProjectX HZRDUS Smoke Yellow, MCA Tensei AV Raw Blue, MCA Tensei AV Raw White, Aldila NVS Pink NXT

Stock shaft options: PXG Z5 Black (Midsize, Oversize, Standard, Undersize)