We got the chance to experiment with the new PXG 0311 P Gen 5 Pro as part of our 2022 Best Player’s Distance Iron test. PXG has done a great job to make sure golfers think of these as quality irons. They certainly felt that way during testing.
However, when compared to other options, the overall performance was about average.
There is good news and bad news with the PGX 0311 P Gen 5 and it’s worth understanding all of it before you make the purchase.
PXG 0311 P Gen 5 Irons Details
The PXG 0311 P Gen 5 irons were highly anticipated as we were curious to see what changes there would be from the Gen 4. Right away, we noticed that the clubface felt a bit hotter and that was really no surprise. The XCor 2 Technology combined with the thin face of the PXG 0311 helps the ball to jump off the face of the club. Testers noticed it almost immediately.
We like this jump but it didn’t necessarily equate to more distance, as seen in the distance rankings below.
Precision-weighting technology and five tungsten weights across the back of the club head certainly help with customization and stabilization. The club can be made to fit the specifics of your game. Perhaps this is why so many golfers consider the PXG 0311 P Gen 5 to be one of the most consistent irons in the test. The overall accuracy, distance and forgiveness ratings barely changed. When we see an iron get first place for distance and last for accuracy, clearly there are some issues that need to be addressed. With the PXG, the performance is consistent.
How does PXG make the feel of their irons stand out? They forge them to death! The PXG 0311 P Gen 5 irons are five times forged and made with 8620 soft carbon steel. The feel is quite good.
Pros
- Impressive forging technology
- Players felt a high initial ball speed
- Customizable center weight for ideal swingweight settings
- Xtreme dark option available
- Highly workable irons
- Less offset than some
- Precision robotic welding and polishing leave a nice finish
Cons
- Pricing is still really high
- A larger club head size is not appealing to all players
- Overall distance performance does not stand out from other irons tested
How We Test Golf Clubs
The PXG 0311 P Gen 5 irons were part of our 2022 Player’s Distance Iron test. For this test, we spent 200 hours testing 412 products. During the process, a total of 11.520 golf shots were taken. All data is measured using the FlightScope GC Quad launch monitor and all players use the Titleist Pro V1 ball. This is done to try to help prevent outliers. The metrics used to complete this testing include distance, accuracy and forgiveness.
PXG 0311 P Gen 5 Irons Review
The total rating for the PXG 0311 P Gen 5 review was 84.37, good for ninth place overall. The technology here is certainly not lacking but the PXG Gen 5 Irons did not hold up quite as well against the other player’s distance options for 2022.
Distance
Distance is where we were really hoping to see some big numbers from PXG with this new Gen 5 series. However, their rating was less than mediocre. The total distance rating was 84.58, putting the PXG in eighth place overall. We know there is something about the way this club looks and feels that makes golfers want to put it in the bag but the distance stats are not quite there when compared to something like the Callaway Rogue ST Pro.
Accuracy
Accuracy scoring for the PXG 0311 P Gen 5 Iron was 84.99/100, good for a seventh-place finish. Interestingly, this was the highest rating for these irons and it was something that many testers mentioned as well. They felt the club was predictable and accurate.
Forgiveness
The forgiveness rating for the PXG 0311 was 80.86, finishing seventh, about the middle of the pack with a testing group of 12 player’s distance irons. Overall, golfers felt the club was relatively consistent but they didn’t notice it to be overly helpful on a missed shot. The feedback from the PXG is quite good, letting you know exactly how you have done with every shot.
Overall
The overall score for the PXG 0311 P Gen 5 iron was 84.37/100. At first glance, this may seem a little low but no iron scored a perfect 100/100. For comparison, the top player’s distance iron in 2022 was the Mizuno Pro 225 with a total score of 97.53. Often an iron will have a very impressive performance in one category and lack in another. The PXG 0311 P Gen 5 was just about average throughout.
Golfers Feedback
The overall feedback from the MyGolfSpy testers was pretty positive for the PXG 0311 P Gen 5 irons. The one thing that continually stood out was the impressive feel.
- Solid feel at impact; feels long but soft enough to control.
- The chrome finish is muted, making it a bit easier on the eyes.
- Overall consistency was quite good, with not much variation.
- Looking from the top down is clean and confidence-inducing; top line is not overall thick.
- Many testers commented that the distance was quite good but the stats show these irons at eighth total; we think it has to do with the way the ball comes off the clubface with that solid and fast feel.
- A few players commented that, for a player’s distance iron, the club head looked a little too big.
MyGolfSpy Feedback
Bottom Line
The PXG 0311 P Gen 5 irons had an average performance in this year’s test of the best player’s distance irons. Even though our tester feedback was relatively positive, the number showed that for distance, accuracy and forgiveness, the PXG 0311 couldn’t compete with the Mizuno Pro 225 or even something like the Callaway Rogue Pro ST. If you are a big PXG fan, you may want to see if the next release has a bit more to offer for the price.
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