Fantastic level of adjustability, big distance improvement from last year's model, updated sole design and shape both hit the mark
Cons
High gloss finish on the crown might not suit the eye of every golfer
PXG Black Ops Driver Key Features
Advanced Material Face Technology: a variable thickness design that helps ensure consistent and efficient energy transfer across various impact points on the clubface
A non-uniform bulge and roll face design: supports enhanced forgiveness and improves overall performance by optimising the club's reaction to off-centre hits
High-grade carbon fibre sole inserts: help improve weight distribution within the clubhead to increase the moment of inertia (MOI)
Interchangeable sole weights: support preferred spin and bias settings
In recent years, few brands have managed to break into the golf equipment industry and cement themselves as a real contender to the most established brands, but PXG has succeeded where many have fallen before.
With the launch of the new Black Ops driver, PXG has further solidified its position as one of the big boys in the industry, and it has utilised some innovative new technology in order to do so. We were so impressed by the Black Ops that it has gone straight into our best golf drivers buyer guide.
The key new tech story for Black Ops is the use of advanced material face technology. While this innovation is not new, with many other brands also opting to use variable face thickness on their drivers, it has been fine-tuned by PXG to provide what is promised to be exceptional distance and forgiveness across the face.
10k MOI has also been a big talking point for drivers this year, with both PING and TaylorMade launching their own 1Ok MOI models. While the standard setup of the Black Ops driver sits just below the 10k threshold, thanks to the moveable weights in the sole, the mythical number is achievable with only a small amount of alteration.
The level of alteration that is available to players is also one of PXG's key selling points. The brand has prided itself on the level of adjustability on offer across its range since it was founded, and thanks to three changeable weights throughout the head, this driver offers an unparalleled level of customisation, allowing for a number of key performance parameters to be fine-tuned to each player's specific needs.
So, with our driver fully fitted and ready to launch, we took it out to Spain for a full testing week at the La Hacienda Links course before getting it back to England for some in-depth data analysis at Custom Golf Works in Woking.
Let's get into it.
Player Level
The Black Ops driver is somewhat of an all-rounder, making it a viable option for players of all abilities. From Tour pros to beginner golfers, everyone could benefit from the performance delivered in this model.
PXG Black Ops Driver
PXG Black Ops Driver Looks and Feel
Sticking with the tried and tested black, silver and white colour palette that has become PXG's calling card, this driver has a much more sophisticated overall design than its older siblings, the PXG Gen 6 and PXG 0211 driver.
The crown is still dominated by carbon fibre. However, the designers have opted for a gloss finish rather than matte, which was used in previous models.
Those who are familiar with GolfMagic's reviews will know we tend to prefer a matte finish, and perhaps it would have been better suited to this design. However, the gloss still looks very smart and sat behind the ball; the profile is also slightly deeper, producing a more dynamic shape that we much prefer.
This change of head profile immediately stuck out to us during testing, and it's one of the most impressive visual alterations the brand has made.
The head is noticeably longer front to back, which gives the club a more sophisticated and sleek overall look—a big thumbs up from us.
Flip the head over, and the sole has had a complete facelift. The rear end of the sole features an interwoven carbon finish that is separated from the solid black panel at the front of the club by a slim line of silver.
One weight is positioned towards the back of the head on an aerodynamic fin that runs through the centre of the club, with the two other weights positioned towards the heel and toe of the club.
Overall, the new design looks much more cohesive than previous models, with each panel fitting the space much more effectively than before.
In terms of feel the Black Ops provided a solid sensation from across the face through impact. There is definitely more feedback on offer than other drivers in 2024, but there is arguably nothing wrong with knowing where you have hit each shot from.
During testing, we hit a number of shots from high on the heel, and you can instantly tell when compared to the middle.
While striking a driver from the dead centre is harder than it sounds, when we did manage to achieve almost perfect contact, it felt powerful, stable and very punchy.
Acoustics have become more and more important in recent years, and for those of you who prefer a more muted sound at impact, this driver will really hit the mark.
Out on the course, we compared the Black Ops to a number of other drivers on the market, and it produced a notably subdued noise.
While that's neither a good nor bad thing, it was certainly noticeable compared to its competitors.
PXG Black Ops Driver
PXG Black Ops Performance and Forgiveness
The PXG Black Ops was certainly one of the surprise packages of 2024. We have tested previous drivers from PXG, and they have finished fairly middle of the pack compared to other brands. However, this year, we have seen a noticeable upgrade in terms of distance and forgiveness.
As you can see from the numbers above, this driver is very long, so long in fact it was only beaten for distance amongst other flagship drivers by the Cobra Darkspeed X.
Set at 9 degrees, we found we were also able to launch the Black Ops very high, which, when paired with the optimal spin we received, led to outstanding distance numbers both through the air and on the ground.
So, one thing we can confirm is that PXG has really pushed the boat out with Black Ops, and the improvement in terms of distance is quite stark.
When Bob Parsons says Kaboom baby, he really means it.
Before we tested the Black Ops, we had the pleasure of being invited to PXG's new flagship store in South London to get fit for a number of PXG golf clubs, and one thing we absolutely must recommend if you are considering purchasing the Black Ops driver is to be properly fit.
The setup at the store is second to none, and the fitting service they offer is excellent.
The benefit of the experience was finding the right shaft and weight setup, and once we saw optimal numbers, the level of forgiveness this driver could offer was fantastic.
We went through a number of different shaft options during our fitting, but once we were in the right one, our offline dispersion dropped dramatically, even from off-centre strikes.
This came in clutch during on-course testing, and we were hitting fairway after fairway. One thing we did love about the 0311 Gen 6 was its forgiveness, and we can confirm the Black Ops has continued to be a very straight hitter.
All in all, Black Ops is an extremely impressive driver and has comfortably solidified itself as one of the best best golf drivers of 2024.
PXG Black Ops Driver
Should you buy the PXG Black Ops Driver?
PXG's Black Ops driver is without a doubt one of the best drivers on the market in 2024, offering excellent distance, ample forgiveness and exceptional levels of adjustability.
If you're a fan of PXG or just a fan of hitting good drives, then the Black Ops is a fantastic option for 2024.
As previously mentioned, if you are considering purchasing the Black Ops, it's definitely worth paying a visit to PXG's store in South London for a full fitting, as it will undoubtedly benefit your performance.
Johnny joined GolfMagic as Reviews Editor in 2023 having worked for Sports Impact for two years as Head of Social Media, working alongside prominent golf brands including Galvin Green, Motocaddy and Wilson.
