PXG Black Ops Irons Review

PXG Black Ops Irons Key Features:

• Dual cavity design: remove mass from the centre of the club to the perimeter to boost MOI
• Ultra-thin maraging steel face: measuring just 1.27mm the thinnest face in golf improves distance and forgiveness
• XCOR2 technology: polymer core material that allows weight to be positioned low and to the perimeter for greater MOI

PXG has been a serious contender in the iron market for some time now, but until 2024, the brand has been reluctant to move into the game improvement sector. That has all changed now, though, with the introduction of Black Ops.

The new Black Ops line is a continuation of the woods and hybrid we saw launched in January, and the irons are designed to deliver serious forgiveness and heaps of distance. 

Featuring what PXG claims is the thinnest face in golf, a dual cavity design and a polymer core to boost MOI, these irons feature a whole host of tech designed to make the ball go further and straighter. 

We were really impressed by the Black Ops woods and hybrids this year, so to see if the irons could keep up with the rest of the family, we took them down to Mannings Heath Golf and Wine Estate for some on course testing before digging into the numbers with our Foresight GC3 launch monitor.

Lets' get into it.

Player Level

The Black Ops Irons are perfectly suited to beginner golfers or those looking to add distance to their game. Thanks to the blistering speed they can generate, they will add yards to anyone's iron game. 

PXG Black Ops Irons Looks and Feel

As tends to be the case with almost all game improvement irons, these bad boys are quite chunky when sat behind the ball.

The thick topline, thick sole and generous heel to toe length will certainly suit the eye of the beginner golfer, providing plenty of confidence. 

There is plenty of offset to help golfers deliver the face square, and with plenty of muscle behind the striking area, you can bank on the ball going a pretty long way too.

When you flip the clubs over, the back presents a clean cavity design, with chrome PXG branding, a carbon print panel, and angular chrome sections, that provide lovely contrast and boost the overall visual appeal.

Game improvement irons are rarely absolute stunners, however when stacked up against the competition, we would probably say the Black Ops irons are certainly near the top of the list. Titleist and Srixon still take top spot for looks, but PXG is firmly in the chasing pack.

Moving on to feel, and these clubs deliver one overriding sensation at impact, power.

Struck from the centre, these irons feel so hot, and as we will come on to shortly, that sensation is reflected in the performance. 

Like almost all hollow body irons, the feel isn't going to match that of a forged iron, but it's still suitably satisfactory, and the loud crack at impact is also right up there with the best in the category. 

PXG Black Ops Irons Performance and Forgiveness

PXG is a brand that likes to make powerful irons, we've seen throughout the years whether it's their signature 0311P irons to its 0317s there has always been plenty of distance on offer.

That tradition has remained very consistent with Black Ops. These irons are absolute rockets, as you can see from the table above. 

I was able to generate seriously high ball speeds with these irons, and the eventual carry and total distances were longer than almost anything else I've hit this year. 

Coming in at 28 degrees for a seven iron, these clubs are strongly lofted which is certainly a factor as to why they are so long, however I was still able to achieve a respectable apex height and descent angle, that meant it was still impossible to stop my shots on the green. 

I tested a number of clubs in the set, and while they were all impressive, perhaps my favourite was the 4-iron. I wouldn't necessarily say I'm an excellent ball striker, and when it comes to the 4-iron it's often where the biggest drop off is, however the Black Ops 4-iron is so easy to hit.

Offering bags of power, loads of forgiveness and very easy to launch, these irons are a perfect fit for someone perhaps starting in the game, who desires a little more distance from their irons.

As previously mentioned, there is a good level of forgiveness on offer across the face. Thanks to the dual cavity design, weight has been moved from the centre of the club to the perimeter, in order to boost MOI, and the result is a head that does a good job of keeping speed up from across the face. 

All in all the Black Ops irons are in impressive set of clubs for a number of reasons. The power is abundant, the forgiveness is top notch, and the flight characteristics are also strong enough to give golfers enough stopping power.

Should you buy a set of PXG Black Ops Irons?

If you're a beginner golfer or just someone looking to add a bit of distance to their game, you should certainly consider Black Ops irons for your next purchase. 

Offering good looks, hot ball speeds and plenty of forgiveness, they're an excellent option in the game improvement category that can go head to head with all of the biggest brands in the game