You have conducted thorough research, tirelessly scouring the vast realm of driver heads, and you’ve now narrowed your choices down to the PXG 0311 Gen 5 driver or the PXG 0311 Gen 6 driver.
Fortunately, I’m here to assist you in your decision-making process between the newer, pricier model and the older, more budget-friendly version.
Both of these driver heads are packed with cutting-edge technology, and I’ve had the opportunity to test them extensively so that you can benefit from my insights without the need for your own testing.
Both of these drivers cater to players seeking a harmonious blend of distance and forgiveness. Their faces boast remarkable speed, complemented by precision weighting technology.
If you’re someone who values a solid feel and enjoys customization options, these two drivers are tailor-made for your preferences.
In this article, I will share my firsthand experiences with both the 0311 Gen 5 and 0311 Gen 6 drivers.
I’ll delve into various aspects including sound, feel, forgiveness, distance, pros and cons, real-world performance metrics, and finally, I’ll provide you with a recommendation based on my analysis.
PXG 0311 Gen 5 Driver
The PXG 0311 Gen 5 driver entered the market in 2022 and swiftly gained a reputation as one of the most sought-after drivers available.
According to GolfWRX.com, it ranked as the finest PXG driver they had ever tested at that point.
Meanwhile, Golfweek praised its suitability for golfers craving distance and enhanced ball speed.
These accolades underscore PXG’s notable progress in driver performance, especially when considering its lineage of 0311 drivers.
The 0311 Gen 5 driver is also offered in an XF version, designed to encourage higher launch, increased spin, and maximum forgiveness.
Both variants of the Gen 5 include an adjustable hosel to modify loft, as well as three interchangeable weights on the club’s sole, facilitating personalized shot shaping and swing weight adjustments.
This driver is available for golfers across the board in 7.5, 9, and 10.5-degree lofts. Its standard length is 45.5 inches, lie angle measures at 59 degrees, and the stock head weight is 203 grams.
$289
The PXG 0311 GEN5 Driver, with its enhanced MOI and improved sound and feel, stands out as a top performer for golfers seeking a blend of distance, forgiveness, and a premium feel.
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PXG 0311 Gen 6 Driver
The 0311 Gen 6 driver is the latest entrant, debuting in 2023, and has set the golfing world abuzz.
Golf Monthly raves about its “fiery feel of the face,” while TXG asserts its “unbelievable speed” and precision. Engineered for players of all skill levels, it promises remarkable distance, precise dispersion, and remarkable forgiveness.
Much like its predecessor, the Gen 6 driver features an adjustable hosel for loft manipulation and customizable perimeter weights to influence ball trajectory and swing weight.
In independent testing against other major golf club manufacturers, the Gen 6 clinched the top spot in dispersion and secured second place in distance—a formidable combination.
The 0311 Gen 6 driver also arrives in an XF version tailored to maximize launch, spin, and forgiveness. The standard head suits players seeking to enhance ball speed while still benefiting from a highly forgiving design.
It is offered in 7.5, 9, and 10.5-degree configurations to cater to all players. The driver boasts a stock length of 45.5 inches, a standard lie angle of 59 degrees, and a stock head weight of 203 grams.
Sounds, Look, and Feel
When looking down at both of these drivers at setup they appear almost identical. You will notice the matt black carbon crown on the Gen 6 which I was a big fan of.
This was a departure from the grey crown on the Gen 5 which looked ok but not as sharp as the black. They have a very traditional look at setup and sit really square and maybe even a tick open.
The look and feel of these clubs reigns consistent to how they look. Both had a very solid sound at impact and a pure feel. They gave me good feedback on where I hit them on the face and I was a fan of both heads.
I will have to give these drivers a tie in this category as I couldn’t tell them apart at all.
Forgiveness
Since PXG was able to implement a full carbon crown on both heads, it allowed them to distribute weight to the perimeter of the driver. Anytime you can distribute more weight to the perimeter and back of the driver it is going to increase MOI and forgiveness.
Both drivers feature perimeter weighting technology on the extreme edge of the head which I found really helped me to keep the ball in play on mishits.
The Gen 5 and Gen 6 drivers also feature a design technique called robotic polishing. This technique goes over each club face to ensure proper face curvature which helps to keep the ball in play on misshits.
I found both of these drivers almost identical when it came to forgiveness. They really seemed to keep me in play just as good as anything else on the market and it is hard to give the leg up to either one over the other.
Distance
I found both of these drivers to be very fast and long. On their website PXG boasts about their aerodynamic head design and Ti42 alloy fast.
When comparing the two drivers, I really did not see much difference in distance, but I did notice that they are just as long as anything I have played with.
I am a player that really likes a deep face driver and that is exactly what these two heads have to offer. I have found that with a deep face, it gives me a high trajectory with very little spin that seems to go forever.
If you are looking for a long driver off the tee both of these heads are great options and it is hard to recommend one over the other.
PXG 0311 Gen 5 Pros and Cons
Pros
Low costs of $289.89 and basically has ll of the same technology as the Gen 6
High speed Ti42 alloy face
Interchangeable weights to customize ball flight and swing weight
Carbon crown to increase perimeter weighting and forgiveness
Cons
Not the newest driver on the market
Not the most customizable option on the market
May not offer enough forgiveness for some players
$289
The PXG 0311 GEN5 Driver, with its enhanced MOI and improved sound and feel, stands out as a top performer for golfers seeking a blend of distance, forgiveness, and a premium feel.
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
PXG 0311 Gen 6 Pros and Cons
Pros
Perfect blend of speed and forgiveness
Interchangeable weights to customize ball flight and swing weight
Carbon crown to increase perimeter weighting and forgiveness
Accuracy and distance
Cons
Expensive at $499.99 for pretty much the same technology as the gen 5
May not have enough forgiveness for some players
Real Numbers
For a look into real life numbers I have included some robot test results completed by PXG. These robot results were published by Worldwide Golf and can be found by CLICKING HERE.
Club | Swing Speed | Ball Speed | Carry | Total |
0311 Gen 5 | 100 | 148.4 | 249.3 | 271.5 |
0311 Gen 6 | 100 | 149.3 | 255.5 | 282.7 |
Recommendation
As you can see from the real life numbers, even though it doesn’t appear to be any better at first glance when looking at the technology, the Gen 6 is superior to the Gen 5. This being said, I still feel that both of these drivers are very similar and there aren’t any groundbreaking improvements to the new model.
I did enjoy the new black crown featured on the Gen 6 compared to the gray crown featured on the Gen 5. The sound and feel on both heads were exceptional and I think can stack up to any other driver on today’s market.
Forgiveness and accuracy is the area where I really feel that these two drivers set themselves apart from other manufacturers in the industry. Both heads seemed to keep me in play better than anything else I have tested.
Both drivers also performed well when it came to distance. As you can see from the robot testing above, the ball speeds will not blow you away, however they are still very respectable. If you are simply looking for the longest head on the market, there are slightly longer options out there but let’s face it, would you rather have 5 extra yards or hit more fairways.
In my opinion between these two driver heads, I would choose the Gen 5. I think that the Gen 6 is slightly better, as it should be, but not worth the extra money.
For the money, the PXG 0311 Gen 5 driver is the best deal on the market today. If you are trying to decide between the two this is your decision; a few extra yards, or a few extra dollars in your pocket.