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Today, I’ll be reviewing the PXG 0311 Black Ops hybrid.
The 0311 Black Ops is a versatile, aerodynamic hybrid that is suitable for players of a wide range of skill levels. It was designed, with the help of pro player feedback, to deliver an optimal mix of distance, forgiveness and control.
How does the 0311 Black Ops hybrid actually perform when put to the test? Who is it best suited for? Is it worth putting in the bag?
Here’s what will be covered in the review:
Read on to find out what you need to know to make an informed purchase.
Note: Unless otherwise indicated, stock shafts and stock grips are used when evaluating clubs and the 4H is evaluated in the case of hybrids. In most cases, the golf clubs reviewed on Golfstead are acquired temporarily for testing purposes and are not purchased. The review that follows is based on the personal experience and research of the author. Because everyone’s swing and body are different, results with a particular club may differ from person to person.
What are the reviews like?
Critics and users have praised the PXG 0311 Black Ops hybrid for its strong performance across the board, from ease of launch to forgiveness to distance. The club won a gold medal on the 2024 Golf Digest Hot List.
What People Like
- solid feel
- very appealing look at address
- high ball flight and easy to launch
- longer than previous models
- very forgiving given footprint size
- impressive amount of adjustability
What People Don’t Like
- on the expensive side
The Features
Low-Profile Design
The 0311 Black Ops hybrid is made from AM 355, a chromium-nickel-molybdenum stainless steel. A squared face and flat sole make up a low-profile design that shifts the CG (mass) low and towards the perimeter, resulting in higher MOI and forgiveness.
The stainless steel face of the club is 10.5% thinner than previous PXG hybrid models, leading to greater energy transfer at impact.
In addition, the squared face allows for a more vertical perimeter skirt, which creates more surface area for the ball to impact and hence more forgiveness.
Carbon Fiber Crown
PXG continues the industry trend of using carbon fiber crowns in woods and hybrids.
The carbon fiber crown of the 0311 Black Ops hybrid enables weight savings which are used to further shift mass to the perimeter, increasing launch and forgiveness.
Robotic Polishing
The 0311 Black Ops hybrid has undergone an advanced manufacturing process that ensures precise face thickness and face curvature (bulge and roll) profiles.
This not only enhances overall performance, but also imparts corrective spin on off-center strikes to minimize the negative effects of mis-hits.
Precision Weighting Technology
The 0311 Black Ops hybrid has a supported weight structure represented by three weight ports that are positioned in the perimeter of the clubhead.
This stable, stiff structure is anchored to the outer wall and was engineered by PXG, based on modal analysis, to generate high-frequency vibrations for an optimal sound and feel at impact.
Stock Info
The 0311 Black Ops hybrid is available in 2H-7H (17°-31°).
The hybrid features three interchangeable sole weights (two 2.5g and one 12.5g) that can be used to alter ball flight characteristics.
There’s also a lightweight adjustable hosel that allows you to adjust loft and lie. There are numerous configurations that allow you to change the loft by ±1.5° and introduce a 2° or 3° flat lie angle.
PXG offers a selection of graphite shafts for the 0311 Black Ops at no additional charge including the Mitsubishi TENSEI AV Xlink Blue and UST Mamiya Recoil DART. The stock grips are the PXG Z5 Black and Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360. Full details on all available shafts and grips can be found here.
Below are the specs of the PXG 0311 Black Ops hybrid. Click or zoom to enlarge.
The Performance
At the time of writing this review, I haven’t had the chance to do in-depth testing of the 0311 GEN6 models, so I can’t make a definitive comparison with those hybrids.
However, my brief experience with them appears to be consistent with other reviewers in that the 0311 Black Ops seems slightly longer and more forgiving off the face.
Distance
The 0311 Black Ops certainly isn’t wanting in the distance department. Ball speeds are at least as competitive as the latest hybrid models from other OEMs that I have hit on the range.
Forgiveness
The hybrid has nearly a game-improvement level of forgiveness despite the fact that the head is not oversized.
You can expect mild or moderate mis-hits in either direction to remain relatively playable, but your worst strikes will still be penalized.
Playability/Trajectory
The hybrid tends to produce a high flight with mid spin. The flight bias is neutral, but draw or fade biases can be introduced via the sole weights or adjustable hosel. Overall workability is solid as far as hybrids go.
Similar to the Black Ops drivers and fairway woods, with the heavy 12.5g weight in the back of the sole, you get the highest launch with more spin, stability and forgiveness. This can help slower swingers achieve more distance and accuracy.
On the other hand, putting the heavier weight in the heel position introduces a draw bias, while more weight in the toe position introduces a fade bias.
In addition to the weights that come on the hybrid, PXG sells a weight kit that includes 5g, 7.5g, 10g, 12.5g, 15g, 17.5g, and 20g weights, so you have plenty of room to find a configuration that works best for you. This is some of the most powerful adjustability of any hybrid on the market.
I’m also very impressed with the versatility of the 0311 Black Ops. Turf interaction is excellent, and the club is easy to hit from a variety of lies — not just tight fairways, but also rough and fairway bunkers.
The Look
The 0311 Black Ops hybrid is on the compact side with a slightly asymmetrical pear shape that is very attractive to the eye.
The club is marked by a squared face (that is not too shallow nor too tall) and flat sole as part of a low-profile design. This keeps the center of gravity low, contributing to a high launch, and makes the club easier to hit off of tight lies.
Other physical features include a carbon fiber crown with glossy finish, white-outline “X” alignment aid, white perimeter crown accents, and three weight ports on the sole.
This hybrid stays true to the monochrome (black/white) theme PXG is known for, with the carbon composite crown’s texture adding a touch more sophistication to the overall aesthetic.
The Sound & Feel
The feel of the 0311 Black Ops hybrid is a touch explosive, but also solid, which some might find surprising considering how thin the face is.
At impact, the club produces a crisp, quick “snap” sound that is highly satisfying. It’s pretty close to being the “perfect feel” that I look for in a hybrid, although I personally would have liked the sound to be a touch softer.
As you move away from the center of the face, the sound doesn’t seem to change all that much, and the feel maintains much of the solidness you get from sweet spot strikes. Nevertheless, there’s enough mis-hit feedback to discern the general area where the ball makes contact with the face.
Where To Buy This Hybrid Online
PXG makes it easy to get everything you need via their online store. Not only can you custom order the 0311 Black Ops hybrid, but you can also book an affordable PXG fitting directly from their site.
Aside from the PXG store, the best place to get the 0311 Black Ops hybrid at a good price is eBay. You can typically find deals there that you can’t find anywhere else.
PXG offers a robust fitting process which may be available in your local area.
Final Thoughts
The PXG 0311 Black Ops is a versatile hybrid that performs well across the board and should appeal to a wide range of players from low to high handicap.
This club is everything that a hybrid should be as a long and mid iron replacement. It’s not only playable out of a variety of different lies and gets the ball up in the air, but it’s also very long and forgiving without being too large in size.
If you have a preference for PXG clubs or appreciate how accessible PXG’s fitting process is, you should definitely give the 0311 Black Ops a try.
Interested in the 0311 Black Ops hybrid? Have you played it? What’s your experience? Let us know in the comments below.
