PXG 0311 SGI Iron Review
Today, I had the opportunity to test the PXG 0311 SGI iron.
The club I tested was a 7-iron from the PXG 0311 SGI series.
It was paired with a BASSARA shaft. The loft is 29 degrees, and the club measures 37 inches in length.
PXG irons are still quite new to me. I haven’t had many chances to try them out, but they’re known for being premium-priced. That said, I don’t necessarily believe that a higher price automatically means better performance or quality. I consider PXG to be on par with other top brands in terms of performance.
Still, there may be reasons for their higher price that I haven’t fully grasped yet—perhaps they use rare materials, for instance.
In golf, price and performance don’t always align, and that’s one of the unique charms of the game.
One of PXG’s signature design elements—whether in drivers or irons—is the use of multiple visible weights. This makes PXG clubs instantly recognizable.
In a way, this is similar to Royal Collection’s cavity sole concept, which also serves as a visual identifier.
The model name “0311 SGI” is boldly engraved on the heel side. These days, such prominent branding is rare, so it felt a bit unique.
This iron features a long face and a large overall head size. It doesn’t look like your average iron—in fact, it resembles a utility iron.
While utility irons are typically found in 3 or 4-iron replacements, PXG carries this utility-style design down to the 7-iron and possibly even lower. That tells me they’re very intentional with this design.
This kind of bold approach is rare among Japanese manufacturers and feels distinctly American.
The cavity is quite deep—or rather, the top section (near the sole) stands out more prominently than usual. 
Its shape is so distinctive, it reminded me of a “kobudai” (Asian sheepshead wrasse), a fish known for its prominent forehead bump.
The topline is on the thicker side. When looking at the iron as a whole, it feels like it was designed with forgiveness in mind rather than finesse.
Unlike some Japanese irons that focus on delicate detailing, this PXG iron emphasizes a bold and generous profile.
The neck length is standard—neither short nor long. I had expected it to be shorter, but this length actually makes the club easier to handle.
Though the head feels a bit “top-heavy,” the longer neck helps in keeping things manageable. In fact, a too-short neck might make the club harder to control.
Rather than saying long is better or short is better, I think the real key is matching the club’s center of gravity to the player’s needs.
While low CG is generally easier to hit, I personally find extremely low CG clubs harder to control.
In that sense, the neck length on this iron is well thought out and quite effective.
I like to think of the neck as a bridge that transmits the player’s input from the shaft to the head. If it’s too short, it may disrupt the communication between player and club.
The sole is quite wide—further reinforcing the idea that this is more of a utility iron than a standard one.
However, PXG officially classifies it as a regular iron. In the end, categorization doesn’t matter too much—what matters is how the club feels and performs for the individual golfer.
The sole appears to have a smooth, rounded curvature. On closer inspection, it seems to have a two-tiered design—similar to what you’d find in XXIO irons.
Wide soles naturally offer better turf interaction, and this design takes that a step further.
Some clubs are meant to “fly” through the air with minimal turf contact—like drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids. But irons, wedges, and similar clubs thrive on effective ground contact. That’s where the real shot-making happens.
This iron feels like it will help you succeed in those ground battles with ease.
Personally, I considered this more of a utility 7-iron than a standard one.
The face is simple, with no milling. It’s well-finished but doesn’t appear overly engineered.
It has a shallow face height and only 11 score lines, which is on the lower end.
That’s not necessarily a negative—groove count doesn’t guarantee performance—but for me, 13 grooves on a 7-iron feels ideal and standard.
Brands like Callaway often use tightly spaced, numerous grooves, whereas PXG has opted for fewer. It’s a matter of design philosophy.
Taking practice swings, I noticed the carbon shaft made the club feel extremely lightweight. This is normal for utility clubs.
When using lightweight clubs, I make sure not to swing with just my hands—I remind myself to engage my larger muscles, especially my back. That’s my key to consistency.
If the club has more weight, this mental cue becomes less necessary. But with varied specs across test clubs, it’s the player who needs to adjust.
The PXG-branded original grip looks very stylish. Even golfers who don’t play PXG might find this grip attractive.
The design feels retro and nostalgic—reminiscent of older classic grips.
At address, I was surprised by how good it looked. I expected the face to appear overly bulky, like many utilities, but that wasn’t the case.
There are some utility irons that look so oversized they can’t even pass for irons visually. But this one allowed me to set up as if it were a traditional iron.
There is some visible bulge in the back, but it didn’t bother me. I didn’t fall in love with the appearance, but it wasn’t off-putting either. It just felt neutral.
There’s some offset, but not excessive. What I really liked was the clean, streamlined look around the neck. It wasn’t thick or clunky—quite the opposite. There’s even a bit of a classic, vintage aura.
Field Test Begins
The feel at impact was decent. Given the size and bulge of the head, I could tell it was hollow-bodied.
Upon contact, it delivered that familiar “thuddy” feel typical of hollow designs. It didn’t have that solid, dense sensation—it felt airy, almost like the impact echoed slightly.
It made me wonder if this “hollow feel” has something to do with heat conductivity. Solid steel transfers heat instantly, but air does not. Could that translate to feedback at impact? Possibly.
Years ago, some metal drivers were filled with nitrogen and pressurized to add distance. It makes me curious—maybe the type and pressure of gas inside a clubhead matters more than we think.
Perhaps lighter gases like helium could even be used someday? Although realistically, in a golf head, the effect might be too minor to notice.
Still, I’d love to see golf technology continue pushing in innovative directions.
The ball flew high and easily—just as expected from this design.
This iron doesn’t demand perfect ball striking. Even if you hit slightly fat, the ball still launches well thanks to the wide sole and low center of gravity.
You don’t need pinpoint precision—this club forgives vertical miss-hits like a champ.
The trade-off is that it’s harder to control trajectory. The ball just wants to go high. But the upside is that the height is incredibly consistent.
This iron is also very forgiving horizontally. You get help on off-center strikes in all directions.
It’s an easy club to use, but I wouldn’t call it revolutionary. It just feels like a good modern utility iron.
Distance was excellent. My first shot went well beyond the 7-iron benchmark I usually use as my “K-point.”
It was impressive—and also a reminder that this iron belongs in a different category.
If you can harness this power and still control distance, it could be a major asset. That said, doing so requires skill.
For optimal results, I recommend a smooth swing with slight turf brushing.
As expected from an automatic-style iron, workability is limited. It’s not made for shaping shots.
But that’s not necessarily bad. Its simplicity makes it dependable—like a tool you trust every time.
Final Thoughts
From the first glance, this iron felt more like a utility club than a traditional iron.
But after using it, I started to think of it more like a “chipper” in feel. When you approach it with a mindset to roll the ball, it truly shines.
This not only applies to the club—but also to how the player approaches the game.
Golfers make many mistakes, often driven by desire: to hit far, high, straight, or impressively.
These desires can sabotage performance—but they also fuel our passion for the game.
They inspire brands like PXG to create clubs that help us bridge that gap between ambition and performance.
Some golfers may avoid chippers because they look uncool. Others avoid them due to the 14-club rule. I’m more in the latter group.
I rely on my 8-iron for those chip-and-run shots, and it performs great. So I haven’t felt the need for a chipper.
That said, I believe any legal club that improves your performance deserves a place in your bag—regardless of looks.
I’ve observed many short-game specialists, and most of them are better at rolling than lobbing. Rolling offers better control and even opens the door for unexpected hole-outs.
In terms of consistency, rolling shots clearly win.
While testing this iron, those thoughts kept swirling in my head. This club is unlike most irons I’ve tried.
By the end of the session, I saw it as a “chipper-style iron.”
Overseas brands often prioritize functionality over feel or delicacy. That can be a good thing, as demonstrated by this club.
I walked off the range feeling like I’d had a meaningful experience. PXG definitely has my attention now.
⭐ Performance Summary
Setup Comfort: ★★
Feel: ★★
Launch Height: ★★★★
Forgiveness: ★★★★
Distance: ★★★★
Workability: ★★
* Ratings out of 100:
★ = 0–20 pts
★★ = 21–40 pts
★★★ = 41–60 pts
★★★★ = 61–90 pts
★★★★★ = 91–100 pts
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