PXG 0211 XCOR2 Iron Review

The PXG 0211 COR2 iron is the brand’s 2nd generation ‘affordable’ iron aimed at everyone from 0-25 handicappers.

Having effectively created the super-premium iron market, where golfers are happy to pay £2K for a set of irons, PXG is now turning up the heat on the mainstream iron arena and competing with the best golf irons from the likes of Ping, Callaway, and TaylorMade. To do it the brand has revealed a new 2nd generation ‘affordable’ 0211 XCOR2 iron, with the intention of wowing price-sensitive golfers and giving those spending less than £1K on their irons some serious decisions to make.

PXG says the new 0211 XCOR2 is a simple, non-adjustable (except for loft and lie), cost-effective route into playing the brand’s irons. We think they are among the best PXG irons available and some of the best golf irons for mid-handicaps. This is their story.

What you need to know about the PXG 0211 XCOR2 iron

It’s the same XCOR2 material inside

Inside you’ll find the same XCOR2 material that’s at the core of the brand’s premium 0311 GEN5 iron family. The material is lighter than the previous 0211 filling, which means additional weight (5 – 7g) is freed up to improve MOI forgiveness.

The material works in conjunction with the brand’s super-thin face technology (PXG makes the thinnest iron face in golf) to improve face deflection and energy transfer, whilst also upping MOI forgiveness by 2% over the previous 0211 DC (DualCor) model.  

The thinnest face with Power Channel tech

PXG’s calling card since setting up business in 2015 has been creating the thinnest iron faces in the game, they reckon the tech gives a decent sound and feel advantage over the competition.

Just like the brand’s super-premium 0311 GEN5 family the new 0211s have 1.5mm thick HT1770 steel faces (with 431 cast stainless steel bodies, where the GEN5 family are forged) with a power channel around the perimeter to improve face flex and ball speed on shots hit off center and high on the blade.

Progressive set design

The thinking behind PXG’s more affordable iron is making them accessible to the widest possible audience of golfers. Every detail across the set is tailored to give the majority of golfers exactly what they want from their short, mid, and long irons, which means the best bits of the brands 0311 GEN5 P and XP irons are brought together in a single set.

The long irons have longer more forgiving blade lengths to aid launch, playability, and inspire confidence where golfers need it most. Whereas the short irons are much more compact like the 0311 GEN5 P iron model. Across the set, there’s progressive hosel offset, which aids launch and gives more time to square the blade at impact. The idea also ensures shots are flighted correctly in the long (higher) and short irons (lower) to promote trajectory consistency and up-distance control.

Sole width and bounce also vary throughout the set. Expect less bounce in the long irons to work in tandem with shallower attack angles, whereas the short irons have more to complement the tendency to be steeper on shorter approaches.    

RELATED: Everything you need to know about the PXG 0317 ST Blades

Angled top rail

You won’t notice it at address but the new 0211s have a tapered head shape, so the toe is wider than the heel, which is a very clever design trick that adds additional MOI. To ensure the topline doesn’t have a weird thin-thick look at address PXG’s engineers cleverly angle the top rail, so golfers get a familiar look.

PXG says the idea helps draw the center of gravity to the center of the face (where lots of competitors have a heel-side center of gravity) so golfers get optimal performance and feel when shots are hit from the center of the face. 

Robot polishing

Hand grinding and polishing golf clubs leads to head-to-head inconsistencies, which means two irons, even though they’re the same model, are never quite the same shape or profile.

To deliver extra precision PXG irons are robotically polished. It means the geometry of every angle, edge, and bevel is the same, so you get exactly the same shapes and profiles as the demos you were fitted on.

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Available in a Xtreme Dark finish

PXG is well known for producing ‘murdered out’ (black) golf equipment, and for the first time, the ‘affordable’ 0211 iron is available in the brand’s Xtreme Black finish. The dark color comes from a Diamond-like Carbon finish (DLC) which is much more durable than competitors’ PVD alternatives.

Video: How does the PXG 0211 XCOR2 compare to leading competitor Mid-Handicap Irons?

How does the PXG 0211 XCOR2 iron compare to the previous 0211 DC model?

PXG robot tests all their products before going to market and they say the new 0211 XCOR2 when compared to the previous model is faster and higher launching. Thanks to a little less spin the model carries shots 7 yards further than its older sibling (the 0211 DualCor) whilst reducing shot dispersion by 30% (202yds vs 141.8yds). And that data’s produced from clubs that are exactly the same loft and length.     

Compared to the competition, PXG says their filled hollow body tech is so dialed in nowadays the new 0211 XCOR2 has 10% more MOI forgiveness than competitor cavity back irons of a similar size. As the model has no tungsten weighting like the premium 0311 GEN5 family, there is though 10% less MOI on offer compared to the brand’s current P and XP models.    

Specs: PXG 0211 XCOR2 iron

RRP: £119 (Chrome) £149 (Xtreme Dark) per club | VIEW UK OFFER | VIEW US OFFER
Stock shaft: True Temper Elevate MP and Elevate Tour, Nippon Modus Pro 125, UST Recoil Dart, Project X Cypher, Mitsubishi MMT | 7-iron loft: 28° | Forgiveness rating: 3.5

Verdict: PXG 0211 XCOR2 irons

PXG has come a very long way since launching in 2014. Having opened up a super-premium iron market, that’s since been plundered by most major brands, the company also now makes the brilliant ‘mass-market’ and affordable 0211 family for golfers who just won’t entertain paying premium equipment prices.

The XCOR2 isn’t forged, and they don’t have the brand’s famous weight technology (so MOIs are typically 10% lower than PXG premium irons), but apart from that you’re buying into the brand’s knowledge and know-how for £99 a club when you purchase five or more. So, in a year when money for many is tight, you could get your hands on a set of 0211’s for £594 (6 – GW), which in anyone’s book is outstanding value for money.

PXG has always made great-looking irons, I’m yet to meet anyone who doesn’t like their shape. My gut feeling is many club golfers will struggle to feel the difference between this and the brand’s premium forged and fully adjustable models. Even though the model is two years old (which could mean it’s likely to be replaced soon, so keep an eye open for reductions and clearance prices on the PXG website) it was our second fastest and tied longest Mid-Handicap Iron of 2024.

Just be aware that thanks to the strong loft you will need good levels of speed to launch the model with enough spin, shot height, and descent angle to get shots to stop quickly on the green, a lighter and higher launching shaft will also be beneficial. All in the 0211 XCOR2 is still a fantastic, cost-effective iron choice in 2024.  

Data: How does the PXG 0211 XCOR2 iron compare to competitor irons?

Iron	7-Iron Loft	Ball Speed	Launch Angle	Backspin	Height	Descent Angle	Carry Distance	Carry Distance Drop Off	Shot Area
TaylorMade Qi	28°	129.2 MPH (3)	15.6°	5065 RPM	33 YDS	44.2°	198 YDS (T1)	12 YDS	267.6 SQ YDS
PXG 0211 XCOR2	28°	130.1 MPH (2)	13.6°	5057 RPM	29 YDS	41.8°	198 YDS (T1)	16 YDS	193.6 SQ YDS
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke	28°	130.6 MPH (1)	14.5°	5311 RPM	32 YDS	43.4°	197 YDS (3)	18 YDS	552.6 SQ YDS
Wilson Dynapower	27°	127.8 MPH	15°	4910 RPM	31 YDS	42.7°	195 YDS	8 YDS (T3)	196.8 SQ YDS
Cobra Forged Tec X	27°	127.7 MPH	13.9°	4872 RPM	29 YDS	42.1°	191 YDS	9 YDS	360 SQ YDS
PXG 0311 XP GEN6	27°	126.2 MPH	13.7°	4726 RPM	27 YDS	40.8°	190 YDS	20 YDS	470 SQ YDS
Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal	28.5°	127.6 MPH	14.9°	5748 RPM	31 YDS	44.2°	190 YDS	13 YDS	243.1 SQ YDS
Srixon ZX4	28.5°	126.4 MPH	14.7°	5030 RPM	30 YDS	43.1°	189 YDS	22 YDS	594 SQ YDS
Ram FXT		126.1 MPH	15.4°	5395 RPM	31 YDS	43.7°	189 YDS	13 YDS	161.2 SQ YDS
Cleveland XL ZipCore	29°	125.1 MPH	14.6°	4719 RPM	29 YDS	41.8°	188 YDS	15 YDS	210 SQ YDS
Ping G430	29°	125.8 MPH	14.9°	5117 RPM	30 YDS	43.3°	187 YDS	7 YDS (2)	110.6 SQ YDS (2)
Inesis 500		125.1 MPH	15.6°	5456 RPM	31 YDS	43.5°	187 YDS	8 YDS (T3)	181.6 SQ YDS
Titleist T350	29°	125.5 MPH	14.3°	5159 RPM	29 YDS	42.6°	186 YDS	11 YDS	167.2 SQ YDS
Cobra Darkspeed	27°	126.7 MPH	12.4°	5298 RPM	26 YDS	40.7°	186 YDS	8 YDS (T3)	129.6 SQ YDS
Takomo 101	30°	123.8 MPH	14°	4784 RPM	27 YDS	40.8°	184 YDS	4 YDS (1)	52.4 SQ YDS (1)
Yonex GS i-Tech		125.2 MPH	13.8°	5373 RPM	28 YDS	42.2°	184 YDS	21 YDS	611.1 SQ YDS
Vega Mizar Plus	30°	125.4 MPH	14.3°	5858 RPM	29 YDS	43.8°	182 YDS	22 YDS	420.2 SQ YDS
Sub 70 699	31°	124.1 MPH	13.3°	5847 RPM	27 YDS	42.1°	179 YDS	11 YDS	154 SQ YDS
MacGregor V-Max		118.3 MPH	17.5°	6305 RPM	31 YDS	45.3°	171 YDS	8 YDS (T8)	121.6 SQ YDS (3)
AVERAGE		126.1 MPH	14.5°	5265 RPM	29.5 YDS	42.7°	187.9 YDS	12.9 YDS	273.5 SQ YDS

How do PXG 0211 XCOR2 ‘affordable’ irons compare to the brand’s premium 0311 GEN5 models?

Super premium irons are a modern phenomenon, and PXG is partly responsible for creating the trend. Their original irons came in at over £2,000 a set and other manufacturers quickly followed suit.

From day one PXG wanted to create golf’s finest equipment, so every ounce of their focus has been spent on delivering golfers a premium experience. That meant a personalized fitting service that comes to you, with a vast array of upgrade shafts (that aren’t available elsewhere) along with the creation of 100% CNC milled irons and wedges for ultimate precision, no matter what the cost. 

But in the last year or so, PXG has launched irons that are half the price, which begs the question – what’s the difference?

To find out, we got TG pro Neil Wain to pit PXG’s premium £1,603-a-set 0311 GEN5 irons against the £763 0211 XCOR2. This is what happened.

What’s the difference?

Our testing has proven before how PXG models combine powerful ball speeds and distance performance with impressive dispersion numbers in their respective categories. This time our data shows the effect different loft, head size, and hosel offset has on ball speed, launch/spin, height, and descent angle between the three models.

What the data doesn’t show is the extreme weight set-up and fitting capability of the GEN5 iron. Thanks to weight being positioned behind the center of the face (which can be changed from 2.5g to 20g) it’s possible to fit golfers to lighter or heavier clubs (which can help with timing and ball speed gains), as well as longer or shorter shafts all without moving the center of gravity; that just isn’t an option with other brands. 

And essentially that’s what you pay for by going premium with PXG. That ability to have the exact weight, feel, or shaft length your game needs, all without shifting the center of gravity (which affects feel and consistency).

With the 0211 XCOR2 weight adjustments go inside the shaft (like its rivals), and thanks to the cast head there’s no forged sound/feel, which good golfers often put a premium on. While on paper our data shows the 0211 stacks up brilliantly against the 0311s, it just doesn’t have the same personalized fitting capability.

It means the premium versus affordable decision really comes down to whether a £1,600 super-fitted set with extra MOI (0311) is worth twice as much to you as the less customizable, but equally powerful, 0211s. It’s a choice only individuals can make.

READ NEXT: Which PXG iron best suits me?

 

PXG 0211 XCOR2 Irons

RRP: £119 (Chrome) £149 (Xtreme Dark) per club | VIEW UK OFFER | VIEW US OFFER
Stock shaft: True Temper Elevate MP and Elevate Tour, Nippon Modus Pro 125, UST Recoil Dart, Project X Cypher, Mitsubishi MMT | 7-iron loft: 28° | Forgiveness rating: 3.5

Visit the 0211 XCOR2 iron on the PXG website here