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In this review, I’ll be taking a comprehensive look at the PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 driver.
In contrast to the standard 0311 Black Ops driver, the Tour-1 model is built for better players and faster swingers. It has a more compact, traditional shape for lower launch, lower spin, more control, and maximum distance.
How does the 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 driver actually perform when put to the test? How does it compare to the 0311 GEN6 and standard Black Ops? 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 learn what you need to know to make an informed purchase.
Note: Unless otherwise stated, stock shafts and stock grips are used when evaluating this club. 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?
The PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 driver has been received very positively overall by both critics and users.
People have noted the very strong players performance with penetrating trajectory and low spin. Aside from the changes designed to appeal to better players, the driver is similar to its sister model, the 0311 Black Ops.
What People Like
- solid feel
- satisfying sound at impact
- piercing trajectory
- contemporary looks
- very low spin sets up potential for incredible distance
What People Don’t Like
- some find the trajectory to be too low
- forgiveness is noticeably worse than the standard 0311 Black Ops
The Features
The 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 driver has virtually the same core technologies as the standard 0311 Black Ops, namely:
- AMF & Variable Thickness: short for Advanced Material Face, this high-strength, flexible titanium alloy works with a variable thickness profile to produce superior deflection and ball speeds across the face. A non-uniform bulge and roll profile optimizes forgiveness and overall performance across the entire face.
- Carbon Fiber Crown & Sole: the crown and sole inserts are made of a high-strength, high-grade carbon fiber pre-preg that is just 0.03″ thick. This allows for weight savings which are redistributed to the perimeter of the clubhead, pushing the CG low and back, increasing MOI, and improving forgiveness.
- Precision Weighting: a special structure consists of three weights (two 2.5g and one 12.5g) strategically placed in the perimeter of the clubhead and anchored to the outer wall. These weights are interchangeable and can be used to add draw or fade bias or increase stability.
- Natural Frequency Optimization: the natural resonances and vibrations of the driver have been fine-tuned to create the most desirable feel and sound possible.
However, the Tour-1 has a more compact head shape with a more curved crown structure and deeper face. The altered design of the driver promotes a low, penetrating trajectory with low spin, while the deep face gives better players an advantage off the tee while still allowing for hitting off of tight lies if needed.
Stock Info
The 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 driver is available in 8°, 9°, and 10.5° standard lofts.
Included is 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. Hence, this adapter can be used to introduce a fade bias to your ball flight.
PXG offers a selection of shafts for the 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 at no additional charge, such as the Project X EvenFlow Riptide CB and Mitsubishi Diamana 2023 S+. 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. Click or zoom to enlarge.
The Performance
Distance
The 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 driver gave me no surprises when it comes to distance.
Ball speeds off the sweet spot are 2-3 mph higher, launch is a couple degrees lower, and spin is a couple hundred RPMs lower. The result is that if you have the right swing and a high enough swing speed, you could see a significant distance gain over the standard 0311 Black Ops.
For me, personally, total distance is about the same for both models — I get more rollout with the Tour-1 but less carry from the lower trajectory.
Forgiveness
The 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 driver is, unsurprisingly, not as forgiving as the standard model, and I don’t believe that it can reach the same 10K+ MOI number.
Having said that, the Tour-1 is one of the most forgiving low-spin drivers I’ve ever hit. Speed is reasonably well-preserved in mis-hit areas, and dispersions aren’t too shabby either.
Based on my field test, I find dispersions and ball speeds to be worse when hit off the toe as opposed to the heel.
Playability/Trajectory
Typical trajectories with the default weight configuration are considerably lower than the standard Black Ops model. The ball flight is very strong — maybe the strongest I’ve seen out of the low-spin drivers I’ve tested this season.
While this translates to a very piercing trajectory that does fantastically well in windy conditions, you need a high swing speed to get any benefit out of it. Putting more weight in the front ports will amplify this effect even more.
Nevertheless, you can experiment with the sole weights and hosel to change the flight bias and characteristics of the driver. In addition to the weights that come on the driver, 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.
The Look
The 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 has the same premium construction as its sister model, complete with:
- high-quality geometry, details and finishing
- a monochrome scheme
- a glossy carbon fiber crown
- a carbon fiber plate on the sole
It differs from the standard 0311 Black Ops in a few key areas, though. The look is designed to appeal to better players, with a more traditional, rounded pear shape, less elongation from front to back, and a deeper face.
In addition, the weight ports of the Tour-1 are positioned differently. The ones near the heel and toe are shifted inward, away from the perimeter, while the back weight has been moved to the adjacent side. These weight positions are designed to give golfers greater control over their spin.
The Sound & Feel
I echo the sentiment I expressed in my review of the standard 0311 Black Ops: this is the best-feeling and best-sounding PXG driver yet, despite the fact that the sound and feel of PXG drivers has historically not been my cup of tea in comparison to other OEMs.
The 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 driver feels solid and responsive at impact like its sister model. I found the feel to be almost identical in my field test, but the Tour-1 seems to feel just a touch more solid and crisp.
The sound is also extremely similar: a mid-pitched “smack” with a minimal amount of metallic reverberation. However, if we’re splitting hairs, I would say that the Tour-1 might sound just a touch sharper at impact.
As you move away from the center of the face towards the perimeter, the feel becomes noticeably less crisp and the sound noticeably more dull. Mis-hit feedback is pretty clear, meaning it’s not difficult to discern the general area of impact.
Where To Buy This Driver Online
PXG makes it easy to get everything you need on their online store. Not only can you custom order the 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 driver, but you can also book an affordable PXG fitting directly from their site, which is especially important for a better-player model like the Tour-1.
Aside from the PXG store, the best place to get the 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 driver 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. I highly recommend a PXG fitting if possible so that you know which configuration works best for you.
Final Thoughts
The PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 driver does what it’s supposed to do, namely provide low spin and a low launch for faster swingers who need to keep their ball flight down.
This driver delivers a modern, cutting-edge take on low spin, but it’s not for everyone. Some may experience too low of a flight with the Tour-1 and would be better off with the standard 0311 Black Ops model.
Are you interested in the 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 driver? Have you played it? What’s your experience? Tell us about it in the comments below.
