SPOTTED: The all NEW and EXPENSIVE PXG 0311 GEN3 Irons &Wedges

Approaching 6 years ago, GoDaddy founder Bob Parsons did something that was imaginable: he started a golf company to take on the major OEMs. The Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG) foundation was simple: build the best clubs absent any research & development costs.

And while most people were blown away by the original generation 0311 irons’ approximate $350 per club price tag, there was no hiding the fact that the 0311 irons legitimately performed and, arguably, gave birth to the hollow club head/goo filling renaissance that has become the “player’s distance” segment we all are familiar with today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Parsons Xtreme Golf (@pxg) on Jan 9, 2020 at 10:43am PST

6 years later and, to many people’s surprise, PXG isn’t just still here, but they’re thriving. Indeed, PXG has announced the release of its third generation of the 0311 irons, albeit with a renewed price point of $425 per iron.

So what makes the GEN3 0311’s so special? Initial impressions would say not much. Indeed, the 0311 series will remain, along with the three separate tiers that range from most player focused to more game improvement (the T, P and XP, respectively).

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However, things get very different very quickly once you get past the naming. To start, the 0311 are made from top-quality 8620 soft carbon steel, which was selected for its strength and durability. The 8620 soft carbon steel is then forged five times, which is unique to each iron, and the backside of the clubhead is then CNC milled for precision.

CNC milling has become very popular with wedges, and while it doesn’t have a direct impact on the 0311 irons’ performance, it certainly looks awesome. Particularly noteworthy in this regard though is the new positioning of a “weight bar” located on the backside opposite the center of the clubface. The backside “muscle” has become more commonplace, as the Miura CB-57 and, more recently, MC-501, Callaway Apex MB, New Level Golf 623-M Forged and TaylorMade RAC MB all features similar design cues with the idea being the additional, concentrated mass can assist with center of gravity manipulation and feel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Weston Maughan Golf (@westonmaughangolf) on May 8, 2019 at 9:47am PDT

However, as has always been the case with PXG’s irons, it’s what’s inside that really matters, and the GEN3 is no different. For the newest iteration of the 0311, PXG has redeveloped its secret sauce and developed Impact Reactor Technology.

The thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material that was injected into the first 0311 iron allowed it to not only impart more energy into the ball, but also provide a more solid feel to a thin, welded on clubface insert. COR2 was the second iteration, which helped improve on all fronts, and now golfers have been blessed with DualCOR. The idea here is that DualCOR allows you to “have your cake and eat it too.” While a stiffer, high-strength polymer outer core provides structural stability, a soft polymer inner core delivers maximum energy to the ball at impact.

In this regard, Bob Parsons explained: “We have technology that just hasn’t been done before. Coupled with the thinnest face in golf, which we’ve always had, when that ball makes contact, and that metal (flexes), both of the core materials work in conjunction to throw it back pretty hard.”

To help further justify the high-end price tag, the 0311 irons are robot polished to guarantee consistency between face and sole geometries, along with CNC milled grooves to achieve optimal ball spin performance.

Simultaneously, PXG is also launching its newest version of the 0311 wedges, which are available in two flavors: the 100% milled 0311 Sugar Daddy and 0311 Forged.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Daniel Maxfield (@1mdmax) on Jan 8, 2020 at 2:03pm PST

While I won’t even get started on the name, it’s immediately noticeable that the Sugar Daddy looks like it’s been bedazzled with PXG’s signature tungsten weights. This is due to the fact that, in both the 0311 Sugar Daddy and Forged wedges, PXG sought to increase spin and improve playability on open face chip and pitch shots by moving the CG higher and closer towards the center of the clubface.

CG location is a battle with wedges, as the true center of gravity is often found in a less than optimal location: near the heel. Fortunately, with the help of some creative engineering that has allowed for CG manipulation, PXG has created wedges that provides skilled golfers with the ability to have greater control over ball flight.

With respect to their underlying construction, although the Sugar Daddy and Forged are both made from 8620 steel, they differ as follows.

The Sugar Daddy are forged with an oversized three-times forged blank and then are 100% milled to ensure each sole, face and leading-edge are made exactly the way they were intended to be. The extra work calls for a $650 per wedge price tag with the Chrome finish, and $750 in Xtreme Dark.

Meanwhile, the Forged are simply three-times forged and, therefore, only call for $295 per club.  With a price like that, you would think that PXG is giving these away.

Fortunately, the 8620 steel is known for its strong but soft construction, which should help prolong the life of the grooves (and help you avoid taking advances against your 401(k))

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Cover Image Via Instagram