PXG 0311 GEN5 iron Review

Name: PXG 0311 GEN5 iron Review
Brand: Irons
Price: 249 GBP

By Simon Daddow, Today's Golfer Equipment Editor

Last updated: 31 January 2024

PXG-0311-Gen5-Irons

A list comparing the PXG 0311 GEN5 and 0211 XCOR2 irons

Comparison data for PXG 0311 GEN5 irons versus the 0211 XCOR2

Data chart showing how the PXG 0311 P GEN5 iron compares to competitor models

Data chart comparing the PXG 0311 T GEN5 iron to leading competitor irons

Data chart showing how the PXG 0311 XP iron compares to competitor models

Address comparison of the PXG 0311 GEN5 P, XP and 0211 XCOR2 irons

At a glance
TG Rating 5 out of 5
Owner Rating Not yet rated
Pros
- All three models can be weighted up or down, or be played at longer or shorter lengths without moving the centre of gravity location.
- There's 5% more MOI on offfer over the previous Gen4 models.
- These are some of the best looking irons you can set eyes on.
Cons
- Keep an eye on the PXG website as prices are prone to fluctuate and fall on a regular basis.
- At launch prices are eye-watering.

What we say...

The PXG 0311 GEN5 irons have a new lighter and faster core for more speed, longer shots and extra forgiveness.

PXG founder Bob Parsons made a rod for his own back saying ‘PXG will never launch new products unless they’re significantly better than previous models’ when the brand started out in 2015, an ethos that has seen them release some of the best golf irons available. It was an admirable comment at the time, and it was directed at pricking the ears of golfers who’d grown disillusioned with brands launching equipment that was just new, rather than being better.

Ever since though it’s meant PXG engineers have had to toil harder than most to figure out ways to make new improvements in ways some other R&D teams just haven’t. On the plus side the philosophy has meant at launch Parsons has been able to explain new products gains over previous generations, and golfers from day one have known exactly what they’re buying into.

We’ve tested PXG irons for several years and they’ve always been really strong performers. This year (2022) the 0311 GEN4 T, P and XP performed brilliantly (within their respective categories) in terms not only of ball speed and distance, but also thanks to their hollow bodies for forgiveness too. And because GEN4 irons offered golfers the opportunity to try shorter or longer lengths and heavier or lighter wight set-ups, all without changing the centre of gravity of the head, we’ll hold our hands up and say we couldn’t possibly imagine how Parsons would improve upon them anytime soon.

We were shocked then, just a year on from the big GEN4 reveal, that the brand reckon they’ve come up with extra MOI forgiveness within a brand new GEN5 family.

What you need to know about the PXG 0311 Gen5 irons

New to the core

What PXG have achieved with the GEN5 goes right to the very core of each iron. A new XCOR2 filling material (inside the head) is lighter (5-7g per iron) whilst having a higher COR. The material frees up weight from the centre of the head (so golfers get 5% more MOI over the previous GEN4 models) whilst also allowing the face to flex more and improve energy transfer at impact.

The freed up mass is relocated in the form of five new tungsten toe and heel weights, to nudge up MOI.

Forged five times

Traditional forged irons used to be pretty simple shapes, which meant they could be stamped into shape pretty easily. But models with as complex internal shaping as PXG’s can’t just be pressed into shape with one hit by the forge. Instead each head has to be hit five times, which means creating five expensive toolings for each iron in all three new sets (that’s 45 different toolings for the 0311 P GEN5 iron set alone).

It goes some way to explaining why PXG’s iron can be more costly than the competition in terms of the best players’ distance irons.

Weight a minute

Tour players use very different head mass properties, so where some prefer a heavier feel others get more out of a lighter setup, yet consumers don’t have access to being fitted for lighter or heavier irons. For the previous GEN4 irons PXG came up with a brilliantly efficient way for golfers to try lighter and heavier irons during a fitting, the idea carries over to the new GEN5 models.

Each GEN5 iron has a weight behind the centre of the face which can be switched to a lighter or heavier set-up during the fitting process, all without changing the CG location. PXG say golfers will be encouraged to try both lighter and heavier set-ups as the switch can unlock some good gains that just haven’t been available before.

Face facts

PXG’s calling card from day one has been making golf’s thinnest face iron. The GEN5’s face is so thin, if there was no filling behind it, the face would simply collapse at impact. By making the maraging HT1770 steel face ultra-thin there’s weight savings to be had, they help MOI forgiveness and the centre of gravity positioning, as well as boosting ball speeds.

Milled and robotically polished

CNC Milling and premium quality go hand in hand, so it’s no surprise the new 0311 GEN5 irons have extensive milled detailing inside and on the back of the head. PXG say the process controls wall thickness very closely, and means no gram of weight is left in an inefficient location.

To ensure consistency and alleviate hand finishing each head is also robotically polished to its final shape.

WATCH: PXG 0311 GEN5 vs 0211 XCOR2 iron test video

Meet the PXG 0311 GEN5 iron models

PXG 0311 T GEN5 iron

EW UK OFFER | VIEW US OFFER
Stock shafts: True Temper Elevate (s), Mitsubishi MMT (g) | 7-iron loft: 32° | Forgiveness rating: 2/5

T stands for Tour. The T is designed to be a more forgiving blade style club for lower handicap players who like the look of a smaller iron head with less offset. Expect extra workability compared to the more forgiving P and XP. This model was picked as one of the best players’ irons in our irons test.

How the PXG 0311 T GEN5 irons compare to previous Gen3 and Gen4 models

Specs: PXG 0311 T GEN5 irons

How does the PXG 0311 T GEN5 compare to other leading Players’ Irons?

Shots by TG Test Pro Neil Wain

PXG 0311 P GEN5 iron

RRP: £249 per club | VIEW UK OFFER
Stock shafts: True Temper Elevate (s), Mitsubishi MMT (g) | 7-iron loft: 32° | Forgiveness rating: 2.5/5

P stands for Player. The P is designed for low to mid handicap golfers who’ll benefit from a good blend of distance, workability and forgiveness. The blade length is longer than the T (but not quite as long as the XP) and there’s extra hosel offset.

How the PXG 0311 P GEN5 irons compare to previous Gen3 and Gen4 models

Specs: PXG 0311 P GEN5 irons

How does the PXG 0311 P GEN5 compare to other leading Players’ Distance irons?

Shots hit by TG Test Pro Neil Wain

PXG 0311 XP GEN5 iron

RRP: £249 per club

Availability: 4 – PW, GW

Stock shafts: True Temper Elevate 95 or Tour (s) Mitsubishi MMT 70g or 80g (g)

7-iron loft: 27°

Category: Mid-High Handicap Iron

XP stands for Xtreme Performance. The XP has the biggest head of the GEN5 iron family, which means it’s really well suited to Mid – High handicap golfers. Extra hosel offset (which positions the centre of gravity further back) helps flight shots from the strong lofts.

How the PXG 0311 XP GEN5 irons compare to previous GEN3 and GEN4 models

Specs: PXG 0311 XP GEN5 irons

How does the PXG 0311 XP GEN5 compare to other leading Mid-Handicap irons?

Shots hit by TG Test Pro Neil Wain

PXG on the 0311 GEN5 irons

PXG 0311 GEN5 irons employ a new proprietary core, XCOR2^TM, and Power Channel^TM behind the face. The innovative new core results from a multi-year collaboration with material experts to develop a polymer specifically for PXG Irons that is lighter and faster. The Power Channel supports additional face loading at impact, increases the coefficient of restitution (COR) and transfers more energy back into the golf ball for faster ball speeds and more distance. Combined with the thinnest face in golf, the overall system delivers explosive performance and an incredibly soft feel.

GEN5 irons also integrate Precision Weighting Technology, a sizeable adjustable weight located near the center-of-gravity (CG) on the back of the clubhead. This enables golfers to experience various head weight configurations quickly and easily during a fitting.

The all-new irons have a remarkably complex, five-times forged body geometry. Each clubhead is CNC milled to create an exact, thin-walled, high-performance design. The result is a mean aesthetic backed by PXG’s industry-leading engineering.

PXG 0311 GEN5 irons are available in Chrome, and an exclusive Xtreme Dark finish as part of a new Black Label Elite^TM offering. Black Label Elite irons feature a striking, wear-resistant Diamond-like Carbon Coating to create an Xtreme Dark finish and provide golfers with a high-end Aerotech Steel Fiber Private Reserve shaft option or any other shaft upgrade offered in PXG’s extensive matrix.

How the PXG 0311 GEN5 irons compare in data (shots hit by TG Test Pro Neil Wain)

How do PXG 0311 GEN5 premium irons compare to the brands ‘affordable’ 0211 XCOR2 model?

Super premium irons are a modern phenomenon, and PXG are partly responsible for creating the trend. Their original irons came in at over £2,000 a set and other manufacturers quickly followed suit.

From day one PXG wanted to create golf’s finest equipment, so every ounce of their focus has been spent on delivering golfers a premium experience. That meant a personalised fitting service that comes to you, with a vast array of upgrade shafts (that aren’t available elsewhere) along with the creation of 100% CNC milled irons and wedges for ultimate precision, no matter what the cost.

PXG 0311 GEN5 and 0211 XCOR2 iron comparison

But in the last year or so, PXG have launched irons that are half the price, which begs the question – what’s the difference?

To find out, we got TG pro Neil Wain to pit PXG’s premium £1,603-a-set 0311 GEN5 irons against the £763 0211 XCOR2. This is what happened.

What’s the difference?

Verdict:

Our testing’s proven before how PXG models combine powerful ball speeds and distance performance with impressive dispersion numbers in their respective categories. This time our data shows the effect different loft, head size and hosel offset has on ball speed, launch/spin, height and descent angle between the three models.

What the data doesn’t show is the extreme weight set-up and fitting capability of the GEN5 iron. Thanks to weight being positioned behind the centre of the face (which can be changed from 2.5g to 20g) it’s possible to fit golfers to lighter or heavier clubs (which can help with timing and ball speed gains), as well as longer or shorter shafts all without moving the centre of gravity; that just isn’t an option with other brands.

We rate the GEN5 among the best PXG irons.

And essentially that’s what you pay for by going premium with PXG. That ability to have the exact weight, feel or shaft length your game needs, all without shifting the centre of gravity (which affects feel and consistency).

With the 0211 XCOR2 iron weight adjustments go inside the shaft (like its rivals), and thanks to the cast head there’s no forged sound/feel, which good golfers often put a premium on. While on paper our data shows the 0211 stacks up brilliantly against the 0311s, it just doesn’t have the same personalised fitting capability.

It means the premium v affordable decision really comes down to whether a £1,600 super-fitted set with extra MOI (0311) is worth twice as much to you as the less customisable, but equally powerful, 0211s. It’s a choice only individuals can make.

Product Information

PXG 0311 Gen5 Irons

PXG 0311 T Gen5 iron