Are PXG 0211 Irons Good For High Handicappers?

Are PXG 0211 Irons Good For High Handicappers?

PXG is known as a golf club company that doesn’t hold back when it comes to premium features. As a result, there is a perception that most of their clubs are only for elite players.

You wouldn’t know all that from playing the PXG 0211 irons though. The PXG 0211 irons are the company’s foray into more forgiving, game-improvement irons. We tested these irons for ourselves to see just how forgiving they were and to uncover their prominent performance aspects.

If you have been lusting over a set of PXG irons but want to know if they are good for high handicappers, today’s article is for you.

PXG 0211 Irons Overview

With the PXG 0211 irons, the company went out of their way to create a more accessible iron set while still retaining premium PXG features.

Most players pick up PXG irons because of their supreme workability and the premium materials they famously use. The PXG 0211 still have some of those premium appointments; but in a stripped-down, more affordable set of game-improvement irons.

Without getting ahead of ourselves, it should be noted that the PXG 0211 irons are among the most forgiving irons the company makes. But is that enough to make them good for high handicappers?

What Type of Irons Are They?

The PXG 0211 irons fall comfortably in the category of game-improvement irons.

They feature a unique back design that is a cross between muscle and cavity back. At a glance, you might think they are traditional muscle back blades but on closer inspection, you can see there is a sort of hybrid cavity bored into the back.

This design provides a surprising mixture of consistency, feel and distance. Good feedback and high MOI are just a couple of the first performance features we noticed.

How Forgiving Are the PXG 0211’s for High Handicappers?

A 360 undercut channel allows for more flex while at the same time saving total head mass.

That saved head mass is redistributed around the perimeter of the body. The PXG 0211’s are perimeter weighted irons so right off the bat, you get help with accuracy. The repositioned mass around the perimeter of the head means you will get better ball speed on mis-hits.

For our testers, better ball speed on mis-hits usually equaled longer shots. For instance, our high handicap testers were getting an average distance of 168 yards with the 5 iron in this set. So at least from a distance standpoint, the PXG 0211’s are forgiving for high handicappers.

Shaft Options

The great thing about the PXG 0211’s is that there are a ton of shaft options available.

These options include the Accra I series, Aerotech steel fiber shafts, KBS, True Temper Dynamic Gold, Mitsubishi, Project X and Project X LZ.

Workability Assessment

The PXG 0211 do allow for a moderate degree of workability.

The thin, maraging steel face offers great feel and allows you to work the ball left-to-right to a moderate degree. The PXG 0211’s produce a towering launch though and there isn’t much you can do if you need to keep your shot out of the wind or under the trees.

Distance Assessment

The 360 undercut face architecture acts like a trampoline for the ball.

Distance is one of the strangest assets of these irons. The polymer core material also helps efficiently transfer energy so the power of your swing is preserved, resulting in great distance. Max yardage of the PXG 0211 5-iron topped out at 173 yards!

Accuracy & Consistency Assessment

While the polymer core material makes for fair shot predictability, consistency wasn’t great overall.

One thing we were a bit disappointed about was the fact that, unlike many PXG clubs, the PXG 0211 irons aren’t forged. This hurts the consistency factor even as the polymer core does a valiant job of making up for the cast construction.

Are They Priced for Beginners?

The PXG 0211’s are some of the company’s more affordable irons. You can typically score a new set for around $800.

PXG 0211 Irons Pros & Cons

 

Pros:

• Launch in the long irons is excellent
• You get great carry distance out of them
• Slightly larger head sizes and face profiles than other PXG irons
• More affordable than most PXG irons
• Expansive sweet spot increases forgiveness
• Perimeter weighting increases distance on mis-hits

Cons:

• Not as workable as other PXG irons
• Launch in the short irons is hard to control
• They lack a forged construction
• Side spin can be an issue in the longer irons

Overall Score: 95/100

Other Iron Sets for Beginners

Taylormade SIM2 Max Irons

The SIM2 Max’s have a larger head profile than the standard SIM2 irons.

The SIM2 Max’s were built for distance and forgiveness. The Speed pocket (allowing the face to flex more near the sole) and low CG placement will help higher handicap players get down the fairway without having to pull out so many irons.

Overall Score: 94/100

Callaway Rogue ST Max Irons

The new Rogue ST Max irons feature a more traditional cavity back design.

The Rogue ST Max’s also sport the most tungsten of any iron in the Rogue ST series at a whopping 62 grams in the long irons. This imparts great launch and distance to these irons.

Overall Score: 93/100

Wilson D9 Steel Irons

An affordable set of irons that gives high handicappers what they need.

These are incredibly comfortable to swing thanks to the ultra-low CG. This helps pull your swing down, get under the ball and the refined sole lets you glide through the turf with ease. Great overall launch and forgiveness.

Overall Score: 94/100

Final Assessment

Because the PXG 0211’s are so affordable, they are a great choice for any handicapper looking to invest in a long-lasting set of irons with a premium feel.

The PXG 0211’s look great, provide great forgiveness and mid to high handicappers will be able to utilize them for increased distance. While launch is a bit hard to control around the green, high handicappers will love these irons more for their effortless distance and accuracy.

So are the PXG 0211’s good for high handicappers? Absolutely – so long as distance and forgiveness are your main concerns.