PXG Gen 5 Drivers Review – Gen5, Gen5 XF Vs Gen 4

PXG Gen 5 Drivers Review – Gen5, Gen5 XF Vs Gen 4

We have been consistently blown away at PXG clubs for their premium appointments, good looks and amazing feel. The PXG 0311 Gen 5 family of drivers debuted this year and they have already built up a reputation for themselves as modern distance machines.

At a glance, both of the new PXG 0311 Gen 5 drivers (the standard PXG 0311 Gen 5 and the Gen 5 XF) look amazing. The soles of these drivers looks sleek, modern and downright sexy. But how do they perform relative to each other?

You may also be wondering what advancements the company has made with the PXG 0311 Gen 5 drivers over the Gen 4 drivers? If so then you’ve come to the right place because in the following review we will be sharing all the details of our testing of the new PXG 0311 Gen 5 drivers!

The PXG 0311 Gen 5 Driver in 50 Words or Less

The new PXG 0311 Gen 5 drivers represent some nice improvements over the 0811 Gen 4 model including a fully carbon fiber crown. The new drivers take everything that was great about the 0811 Gen 4 drivers and makes them better.

First Impressions on the Range

We first took these bad boys out to the range for a little side-by-side comparison. Just by looking at them, we could pretty much tell what to expect from them.

The PXG 0311 Gen 5 driver has a smaller footprint than the PXG 0311 Gen 5 XF driver so right away, we expected the XF driver to be more forgiving and maybe even play a little longer for our high handicap testers – and we were right.

Our higher handicap testers liked the PXG 0311 Gen 5 XF driver more because it has a longer face heel to toe which provides more wiggle room in terms of accuracy. However, they were not able to reach the distances that our lower handicap testers achieved with the standard PXG 0311 Gen 5 driver.

With the PXG 0311 Gen 5 driver, our testers averaged a drive distance of 231 yards after three swings. With the PXG 0311 Gen 5 XF driver, our testers only got 224 yards.

What’s New With the PXG 0311 Gen 5 Drivers?

The first thing you will notice about the PXG 0311 Gen 5 drivers compared to the 0811 Gen 4 drivers is that the crown looks a lot cleaner and more attractive.

The 0811 Gen 4 drivers had a multi material crown made up of carbon fiber and titanium. This was supposed to increase flex while maintaining torsional stability in the head. And while it did achieve this effect, it made the crown look a bit busy.

With the PXG 0311 Gen 5 drivers, the crown looks much smoother. It sports a fully carbon fiber crown which lowers the head weight tremendously.

Despite the fact that the PXG 0311 Gen 5 drivers have the same titanium face as the 0811 drivers, MOI in the newer drivers is greatly increased. There are weight ports that are positioned in the perimeter and anchored to the outer wall.

This helps increase some of the torsional stiffness that gets lost by using a multi-material carbon fiber/titanium crown.

What Handicaps Are They for?

It become clear in our testing that the standard PXG 0311 Gen 5 driver is geared more towards mid handicap players with at least moderate swing speeds. The PXG 0311 Gen 5 XF has a larger overall profile which increases forgiveness tremendously. That’s why the PXG 0311 Gen 5 XF driver is much better for high handicappers.

How do They Compare to the 0811 Gen 4 Drivers?

The new PXG 0311 Gen 5 drivers are improved in almost every department.

The MOI is higher in the PXG 0311 Gen 5 drivers, they look better at point of address, but are they longer than the 0811 Gen 4 drivers? Only slightly actually. Our max distance with the PXG 0311 Gen 5 driver was 239 yards while our max distance with the 0811 Gen 4 driver was 235 yards.

The PXG 0311 Gen 5 drivers feel a bit more stable than the 0811 Gen 4 drivers thanks to the innovative perimeter weighting system. However, the sound is pretty much the same as the 0811 Gen 4 driver. That’s to be expected as the face (a Ti412 titanium alloy) is the same in both of these driver families.

Overview of the Standard PXG 0311 Gen 5 Driver

Our lower handicap testers really liked the setup of the standard PXG 0311 Gen 5 driver.

That’s because it delivered lower launch and eliminated spin off the tee. Compared to the PXG 0311 Gen 5 XF driver, the standard PXG 0311 Gen 5 generates a faster, more piercing shot trajectory. The PXG 0311 Gen 5 features variable face thickness so it is also surprisingly forgiving.

You can also adjust the weights of the PXG 0311 Gen 5 driver to almost any kind of configuration including fade bias, draw bias, max forgiveness or low spin. The PXG 0311 Gen 5 is definitely for mid handicappers.

Pros:

• Looks great
• Lightweight
• Plays long

Cons:

• Requires at least a moderate swing speed
• Dialing in your preferred weight configuration takes time

Distance: 95/100

Workability: 92/100

Feel & Sound: 94/100

Forgiveness: 92/100

Value: 93/100

Overall Score: 93/100

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Overview of the PXG 0311 Gen 5 XF Driver

The PXG 0311 Gen 5 XF has a larger footprint and offers more forgiveness.

Luckily, the XF is packed with all the same features as the PXG 0311 Gen 5 standard driver. However, it has a larger head and a more expansive sweet spot. This makes it a great choice for beginners and high handicappers.

Pros:

• Very forgiving
• Good sound and feel
• Adjustable weights

Cons:

• A bit pricey
• Headcover seems cheap

Distance: 94/100

Workability: 91/100

Feel & Sound: 94/100

Forgiveness: 95/100

Value: 93/100

Overall Score: 93/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Are They Worth it Overall?

The PXG 0311 Gen 5 drivers will be worth it so long as you choose the right one for your swing.

They are a bit on the pricey side with each one retailing for about $500. Keep in mind though that these are still brand new drivers so the price is likely to fall next season. For moderate to fast swing speeds, we would recommend the PXG 0311 Gen 5 standard while slower swing speeds would do better with the PXG 0311 Gen 5 XF driver.

Other Drivers to Consider in 2022

 

Taylormade Stealth Driver

The Taylormade Stealth driver has a familiar look to the SIM drivers but with all-new face technology.

The face is comprised of 60 ultra-thin layers of carbon fiber which is lightweight but very strong. The Stealth drivers offer great distance and forgiveness.

Callaway Rogue ST Max Driver

The new Rogue ST Max combines high MOI with an even lower CG than the original Rogue driver.

This combination makes for incredible launch. When we tested the Rogue ST Max, we noticed consistently long carry distances.

Ping G425 Driver

The Ping G425 is incredibly versatile and feels amazing.

The rear weight can be moved into draw, neutral or fade positions while the forged titanium face insert provides excellent feel.