PXG Gen6 Irons Review – P, XP VS Gen5
“The PXG Gen6 line of irons is officially here and we were super excited to get our hands on them for a round of testing.”
In the following review, we will also be comparing them to last year’s PXG Gen5 irons and seeing what’s new.
I remember a time when PXG looked like a fledgling, boutique golf club manufacturer. And to be quite honest, I wasn’t sure if they would make it. But it looks like PXG is here to stay.
As far as their production goes, it seems like they are keeping up with the bigger manufacturer. Instead of releasing new lines of clubs when they feel that they have made a major breakthrough, they seem to be releasing new clubs every year.
And while this is surely indicative of commercial success, one has to wonder if the company isn’t sacrificing true innovation and quality for simply being prolific in the market.
I’m not one to wonder too long. I and a few other testers got to play the PXG Gen6 0311 irons and our testing was predicated on whether or not the Gen6 irons bring enough innovation and performance to the table to make them worth an upgrade over the Gen5 irons. Read on to find out how the PXG Gen6 irons fared.
Overview of the New PXG Gen6 0311 Irons in 50 Words or Less
“The PXG Gen6 0311 irons come in P and XP versions. The XP has a longer blade and more offset than the PXG Gen6 0311 P irons.”
But they share the same ultra-thin maraging steel face, polymer core and each has undergone a rigorous 5x forging process.
First Impressions at the Range
“On full swings, you can really feel the super-thin face at work.”
Both the PXG Gen6 0311 P and XP irons launch really hot. The ball gets out and up really quickly which actually helps improve apex height. Our entire testing party was launching slightly higher than normal with the PXG Gen6 0311 P 4-iron. The improvement in apex height varied from 2-4 yards.
For the most part, that increased height led to better carry distance. Our ball speeds were living in the 107-114 MPH range so that definitely helped improve carry distance as well. The feel at impact is incredibly soft and smooth thanks to 8620 soft carbon steel that has been forged 5 times to construct these irons. Overall, these irons were extremely impressive off the tee.
What’s New With the PXG Gen6 0311 Irons?
“PXG boasts improvements over the Gen5 irons in almost every statistical category.”
We’ll get into the details of the performance comparisons in the next section. For now, I wanted to focus on what’s new feature-wise. The first and most stark difference between the PXG Gen6 0311 irons and the Gen5 irons is face thickness.
The Gen5’s were .058” thick while the Gen6’s were .050” thick. So you get a thinner face with the Gen6’s. The next big difference is that the PXG Gen6 0311 irons have a variable thickness face design which imparts a bit more forgiveness on off-center strikes.
One last thing to note is that the new PXG Gen6 0311 irons don’t actually have a “T” version….yet. The Gen5 lineup had the P, XP and T versions.
How Do They Compare to the PXG Gen5 0311 Irons?
“There was one stat category that stood out when we compared the Gen5’s to the Gen6’s”
And that category was dispersion. With the PXG Gen6 0311, we were seeing a noticeable improvement in dispersion over the Gen5’s. And I do mean seeing. The launch monitor data confirmed it but we could see with the naked eye that the PXG Gen6 0311 irons were flying straighter.
The PXG Gen6 0311 dispersion was tighter than the Gen5’s by an average of 8.3 yards. That is a massive improvement. Other category improvements weren’t as dramatic. We were very impressed that the PXG Gen6 0311 irons did in fact outperform the Gen5’s in almost every category; but the improvements were nominal.
I’ll give you a few examples. The average ball speed we got with the PXG Gen6 0311 irons was 112.8 MPH compared to 110.9 MPH with the Gen 5’s. The spin rates we were getting with the PXG Gen6 0311 irons were in the 5300 RPM range compared to 5500 RPMs with the Gen5’s. Last but not least, our average carry distance with the 7-iron of the PXG Gen6 0311’s was 169.6 yards compared to 165.7 yards with the Gen5’s.
Overview of the PXG Gen6 0311 P Irons
“This is the iron set that is geared to low and mid handicappers.”
Neither the PXG Gen6 0311 XP or P versions are particularly bulky irons. But the PXG Gen6 0311 P in particular is the more compact of the two. It has a thinner topline, less offset and shorter blade than the XP irons. The PXG Gen6 0311 P irons also have weaker lofts than the XP irons.
Pros:
- Very pleasing look at address
- Decent workability
- Exceptionally soft feel
Cons:
- Turf interaction isn’t great
- They look a bit busy in the bag
Distance: 97/100
Workability: 95/100
Feel & Sound: 98/100
Forgiveness: 96/100
Value: 96/100
Overall Score: 97/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Overview of the PXG Gen6 0311 XP Irons
“With more offset and a thicker top line than the PXG Gen6 0311 P irons, the XP’s look a bit more friendly at address.”
They still don’t look like game improvement irons outright, but the added offset will surely make it easier for players to square up at impact – especially with the longer irons. The PXG Gen6 0311 XP irons have all the same technology as the PXG Gen6 0311 P irons too: 5x forged soft carbon steel construction, polymer core, .050” variable thickness face, milled back surface and the “Power Channel” which is basically the same thing as Taylormade’s Speed Pocket.
Pros:
- Penetrating launch
- Easy to square up
- Amazing feel at impact
Cons:
- Not very workable
- A bit expensive
Distance: 97/100
Workability: 94/100
Feel & Sound: 98/100
Forgiveness: 97/100
Value: 95/100
Overall Score: 96/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Are They Worth it Overall?
“So do the PXG Gen6 0311 irons bring enough innovation and performance to the table to make them worth it?”
Yes and no. There were slight improvements in performance data across the board which was very impressive. The key word in that last sentence though is slight. Dispersion was greatly improved over the Gen5’s so we can see how that would make the Gen6’s worth it for some players. But if dispersion isn’t a problem for you then any Gen6 improvement can be viewed as minimal.
PXG are premium clubs. If you currently have PXG 0311 Gen5 irons, the Gen6’s don’t represent a huge improvement. But if you currently have regular player’s distance or game improvement irons and are looking to upgrade, the PXG Gen6 0311’s are definitely worth it.
In fact, from a totally objective standpoint, I would jump at the chance to score a set of PXG Gen6 0311 irons. It’s only when comparing them to the Gen5’s that the Gen6’s seem like just a modest improvement. But that’s more of a testament to the production and design quality of PXG clubs.
Other Irons to Consider in 2023
Callaway Paradym Irons
“The Callaway Paradym irons actually mirror the PXG Gen6 0311 irons very closely.”
The Paradym irons have a hollow body construction and the faces are made from forged 455 steel. There is a standard version and the Paradym X versions which are similar to the PXG Gen6 0311 P and XP versions. The Paradym X irons have more offset and wider soles than the standard Paradyms.
Overall, the Callaway Paradym irons offer excellent distance, feedback and feel. The only caveat is that the launch is pretty dang low. If you are a player that struggles to get the ball in the air, the Callaway Paradym irons may not be ideal for you.
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Taylormade Stealth HD Irons
“The Taylormade Stealth HD are pure game improvement irons.”
They have a chunky look at address and a top line that you can eat your lunch off of. There’s no doubt that these irons are for 20+ handicappers. They launch effortlessly high and have massive soles.
I liked that the Taylormade Stealth HD irons play like rescue clubs from the rough. But they also produce a lot of spin which can make it harder to keep your ball on-line. Still, the Stealth HD irons are ridiculously easy to hit.
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Cobra Aerojet Irons
“The Aerojet irons feel incredibly fast on the downswing.”
I really liked the club head and ball speed I was getting with these irons. But as light as they are, they still do a good job of keeping flight and trajectory stable.
The suspended bar weight helps to brace the head and resist twisting at impact. This would be a good choice for slower swing speed players.
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Aidan is a low-handicap golfer who came from over 110 to breaking 80 in less than 1 year.
Aidan has become obsessed with becoming a scratch golfer and plays golf on every possible occasion, even in the snow!
