PXG 0811 XF GEN4 Driver Review - Plugged In Golf (2024)

on May 10, 2021

50 Words or Less

The PXG 0811 XF GEN4 driver boasts striking looks and exceptional distance and forgiveness. Fully adjustable and customizable. The most forgiving of the new batch of PXG drivers.

Introduction

Up until now, PXG has been known for the excellence of its irons first. Unsurprisingly, they aren’t content with that. For the new line of GEN4 products, making enhancements to the company’s stable of drivers was a high priority for the team’s engineers. To that end, PXG has produced three different head shapes aimed at three different types of players, each packed with tech features and high performance materials. The XF is the most forgiving of the three.

Check out the new PXG 0311 XF GEN5 driver HERE

Looks

Every GEN4 club has its own distinctive look, but the woods and hybrids stand out the most. The silver material you see on the crown is carbon fiber coated with a thin layer of Aluminum Vapor (AV). While part of the purpose of this material is to make a striking visual impact, it also has the performance benefit of removing weight from the crown by using carbon fiber and adding strength to that material without adding any appreciable mass by coating it in a thin layer of AV.

As for the shape of the clubhead itself, the face is tall, and the body is deep front-to-back. It’s a fairly traditional looking shape that appears symmetrical and pleasing to the eye. I think the silver portion of the crown helps provide another alignment element that promotes square contact.

Sound & Feel

The sound of impact is a mid-range, slightly metallic “crack”. It sounds very good, and I have to assume part of that is the result of the Honeycomb TPE insert inside the clubhead, which dampens vibrations around the weight ports.

The clubhead feels fairly heavy compared to others I have in hand at the moment. A clean strike feels incredibly good while punishment through the hands on mish*ts is minimal.

Performance

Golf is hard. It becomes a lot harder if you can’t find the fairway. The 0811 XF isn’t magic – you still have to put a good swing on the ball – but it can definitely help golfers hit more fairways.

On the course, I found myself consistently hitting high baby draws. According to PXG’s testing, you give up a few yards when you game the XF over one of the other two GEN4 models, but I’m content with making that trade-off if it means I’m finding more fairways. Distance is still there, though. I was consistently keeping up with my buddies with similar driving distances.

OEM testing also shows that the XF produces slightly more spin than the other two models. While “spin-killers” are in fashion right now, I encourage golfers not to lose sight of the fact that creating an optimal amount of spin is important. Without it, the golf ball doesn’t stay in the air. That’s another aspect of the club that I think is a net benefit for me.

Conclusion

PXG has been known for the quality of its irons more than its drivers. Will GEN4 be the product line that changes that? While its unique looks will certainly grab headlines, the performance of the PXG 0811 XF GEN4 driver stands on its own.

Visit PXG HERE

PXG 0811 XF GEN4 Driver Price & Specs

Author
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Dylan Thaemert

Contributor at Plugged In Golf

Dylan Thaemert is a clinical mental health therapist living in the Twin Cities area. He is passionate about travel, the arts, and is always searching for ways to increase his knowledge of the game of golf.

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13 Comments

Big Mike
May 10, 2021 at 3:04 pm ·Reply

Thanks for the review. Would love to know the difference in spin between models. 3000 RPM seems a bit high for many. Do you have any thoughts on optimal spin for various swing speeds? Finally, they are actually on sale for $449 right now on PXG.com
- Dylan Thaemert
  May 24, 2021 at 8:20 am ·Reply
  
  Hey Big Mike,
  Apologies for the delay in my response but you’ve asked a good question and I wanted to address it. First of all, I’m certainly not an incredibly consistent ball-striker or high level player. My launch monitor numbers are real and representative of the type of player I am. However, I can confirm your assumption of the spin numbers being a bit high is correct. OEM robot testing has the XF spinning at 2700, the XT slightly lower at 2540, and the X the lowest at 2250. All with the same 100 mph swing speed. I hope that is helpful. Also, thanks for sharing about the current sale price.
  Best,
  Dylan
  - Scott Bagley
    July 29, 2021 at 3:02 pm ·Reply
    
    Mine is in route… they are on sale now for $299.00 with shipping and tax about $352.00
    Thanks for the right up, much more detail than even the sales man told me, glad this is the one of the three he recommended.
Douglas Ames
May 11, 2021 at 1:50 pm ·Reply
See Also
PXG's new GEN4 drivers, woods feature a whole new look in cosmetics and design

Sounds like a winner with all level of golfers.
Mark Fiedor
May 13, 2021 at 4:01 am ·Reply

Just received one of these a few weeks ago and love it. Previously a Ping fan (G410 Plus), I have to say this, to me, is one of the best drivers I have hit. Hit it well and it goes where you aim it, nice flight, not too high and good distance consistently. Hit it off centre and it doesn’t punish you too much, mainly distance rather than accuracy.
Charly Osz
August 1, 2021 at 9:11 am ·Reply

I got my gen4 XF a few months back, and it’s been amazing. Sure it took some rounds to get used to it, but once I gave up trying to kill the ball, and just focused on hitting the sweet spot, which is sizable on this driver, the results followed. After about 10 rounds I was hitting the ball farther than I ever had, and straight. Not straighter, but straight, and I cannot express what a huge joy that has been for me. Gone is my 40 yard slice!!! I do credit the fitting, a first for me, as well as the driver, but it was PXG fitting so I’ll give them credit for that too. Overall, this purchase has been my best golf purchase I’ve made so far!!!
Julius
September 16, 2021 at 2:24 pm ·Reply

What is swing weight of Gen 4 XF in terms of D0, D1, D2, etc.? And the weight for PXG Proto X+ as well if u know?
- Matt Saternus
  September 17, 2021 at 8:31 am ·Reply
  
  Julius,
  It depends on the weights you put in the head, the shaft you use, and the grip.
  Best,
  Matt
Dallin Madsen
September 22, 2021 at 11:30 am ·Reply

Wanted to give my thoughts on this driver since I haven’t seen a lot of people who actually own it commenting on these review sites. This driver is absolutely unreal. I previously played the Gen 2 PXG 0811XF driver and found it to be extremely forgiving and good from a “strokes gained” perspective, but it sounded weird (hollow and like a metal baseball bat) and I definitely felt like I lost distance coming from the Cobra F9. This Gen 4 driver has corrected the two issues I had with Gen 2 (sound and distance) in a big, big way. I have a pretty average swing speed in the 97-103 range depending on the day and how hard I try to hit it and was typically seeing total distance around 265 with my Gen 2 driver. I recently got fitted for the Gen 4, and went from 265 total distance with 3,300 spin (in the Gen 2 driver), to 267 CARRY with 2,200 spin in the Gen 4 (moving the weights around in the head made a HUGE difference to the spin). The PXG fitter was extremely knowledgable, tried a multitude of different shafts, lengths and weight setups until we got it right. I think the fit had as much to do with the gains as the upgrade itself, but the ball speed increases were undeniable. This Gen 4 driver is fast and every bit as good as anything else on the market. The people I’ve seen talking bad about it online 90% of the time don’t own it and just hate the brand. Definitely worth a try and as Matt always says GET FITTED–easily the best $50 I’ve ever spent to get the fit right.
- Michael
  November 9, 2021 at 2:34 am ·Reply
  
  Hi Dallin, thank you for your very interesting post. My average swing speed with the driver is 102, that is right within your range. I hit it with a slightly positive angle of attack. I would like to know what shaft has been fitted for you to reduce spin? Have you been fitted for the Gen4 XF Driver? Did you choose the 10.5° loft? Thanks in advance for an answer,
  Michael
David Howard
December 2, 2021 at 12:35 pm ·Reply

Got to say best driver I’ve ever played, I’ve mostly played Taylor made and cobra went from m6 to this , 9 60gram project x riptide shaft blue hit every fairway high and long flight took the money hope it’s not a honeymoon period did not like the silver top but it’s about performance, did not like the white drivers when the fist came out or the silver and black
Chris
August 14, 2022 at 11:36 am ·Reply

Hi Matt, my tinnitis has been getting worse since returning to golf, which is probably not related – but I’m still looking for the most quiet driver with the lowest sound frequency (lower pitched sound). Some say PXG is the best at what I want. Is this xf 0811 gen 4 the winner, or an earlier gen, or a different club? Thanks, Chris
- Dylan Thaemert
  August 22, 2022 at 3:32 pm ·Reply
  
  Hi Chris,
  That’s an interesting question. I haven’t hit every driver so I can’t really comment on which is going to be quietest. I also think that can be pretty subjective. It seems like something you might have to invest some trial and error into. Good luck.
  Best,
  Dylan