Golfstead is reader-supported. When you buy through links on the site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Our affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network and Amazon Associates.
In this review, I’ll be taking a comprehensive look at the PXG 0317 CB irons.
The 0317 CB is the middle model in PXG’s players’ category. It has a compact blade and is engineered to deliver control, consistency and workability demanded by the best players with a little bit of added forgiveness thanks to a cavity-back design.
How does the 0317 CB actually perform when put to the test? How does it compare to the other models in the 0317 line? 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 0317 CB irons have been received very positively overall. Critics have noted their improved forgiveness compared to the ST model and their phenomenal feel in particular.
What People Like
- solid amount of forgiveness for a players iron
- outstanding consistency
- top notch feel at impact
- highly workable and controllable
- sleek, premium looks
What People Don’t Like
- clubhead seems to get dinged up relatively easily
The Features
The 0317 CB iron is marked by a solid-body construction, thick face, and compact head, all of which promote control and spin consistency.
This is complemented by a cavity back design, which adds some forgiveness to help with those long irons.
Other features of the 0317 CB irons include:
- Precision Milling: the back and face of the iron are CNC-milled, enabling an extremely high level of precision when it comes to the construction of the club. Every line, angle and curve are engineered to exact specifications, enhancing the looks and optimizing performance.
- Robotic Polishing: a precise manufacturing process that ensures a perfect finish and consistent sole and face perimeter geometry.
- 3X Forged: the 8620 carbon steel head is forged using three hits, creating a tight grain structure that enhances feel, strength and durability.
- Precision Weighting: a large weight on the back of the clubhead can be used by a PXG fitter to optimize swing weight.
Stock Info
The 0317 CB irons are available in 3-GW (21°-50°).
In addition to the standard chrome, PXG offers what they call an Xtreme Dark Finish with a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating. This coating, which is unique to golf, has extremely high wear resistance.
The stock shaft options are the True Temper V2 Elevate Tour S (steel) and Mitsubishi MMT 80 S (graphite). The stock grip is the PXG Z5 Black. Custom options are available.
Below are the specs of the 0317 CB irons. Click or zoom to enlarge.
The Performance
Distance
As an unapologetic players’ iron, the 0317 CB is about as long as you would expect a players’ iron to be. Raw ball speeds are a little less than the 0317 T model in my experience — a couple mph.
The lofts are also weaker than the 0317 T irons. Spin is marginally higher.
These irons are designed to produce consistent, repeatable yardages. And boy do they ever. Distance control with the 0317 CBs is outstanding, even in the long irons, and gapping is very consistent.
Forgiveness
There’s no two ways about it: the 0317 CB is not a game-improvement iron and its forgiveness is consistent with that. When you mis-hit a shot, the ball flight will let you know.
However, you do get significantly more forgiveness than you would with a traditional muscleback.
The cavity back gives a little boost in forgiveness that tends to be very helpful when hitting the 3-6 irons. In particular, ball speed is fairly well-preserved in mis-hit regions, so you typically shouldn’t lose a whole lot of distance in such cases — maybe 5-10 yards.
Playability/Trajectory
When hit solidly, trajectories with the 0317 CB irons are high. Spin is on the high side.
The high spin potential certainly limits distance to an extent, but it’s also what makes these irons so consistent and controllable. If you have the skill, stopping power into greens is even stronger than the 0317 T irons.
When it comes to workability, you can’t do much better. The 0317 CB irons allow you to shape your shots with ease, whether it’s a draw, a fade, or flighting it low or high.
In addition, these irons are versatile and do an impressive job out of the rough and other trouble lies.
As with PXG’s other iron models, the large Precision Weight on the back of the iron can be modified by your PXG fitter. This will allow you to dial in your swing weight (and potentially optimize your launch, accuracy, etc.) without changing the CG location in the clubhead.
The Look
As already mentioned, the CB iron is the middle model in the 0317 players’ line. As such, most of its physical features occupy a middle ground between the two models, although the differences are relatively small.
Compared to the 0317 T, the CB is more compact and marginally smaller. It has slightly less offset (the same amount of offset as the ST) and the top line is ever-so-slightly thinner.
Like the other 0317 models, I really love the aesthetic of this iron. The forged construction and intricate milling that dominates the back of the iron really drive home the fact that this is a premium iron, and the rather subtle cavity is incorporated tastefully.
All in all, this is pretty much as close as you can get to a true players iron in appearance without going into muscleback territory.
The Sound & Feel
The feel of the 0317 CB irons at impact is wonderfully soft, just like you would expect from a traditional-style iron. The face is not explosive like you would expect from mid and high-handicap irons, but this paves the way for precise and informative mis-hit feedback.
Of course, the best, softest feel will come when you hit the center of the face. The iron will let you know when you stray from it since the feel won’t be as soft.
You can also expect the long irons to feel a little sharper at impact just because of the swing speeds involved.
The sound of the 0317 CB irons is very similar to the T model, with impact producing a muted and subtle “swoosh” consistent with any players iron worth its salt. I don’t find the sound the change much as you move towards the heel and toe regions.
Where To Buy These Irons Online
Online availability of PXG golf clubs is very limited compared to other manufacturers. Most online retail stores do not carry them.
Fortunately, PXG makes it easy to get everything you need on their online store. Not only can you custom order 0317 CB irons in whatever set composition you want, but you can also book affordable PXG fittings directly from their site so you can figure out the exact configuration that works best for you.
Aside from the PXG store, the best place to get these irons at affordable prices is eBay. You can typically find deals there that you can’t find anywhere else.
With players irons like the 0317 CB in particular, a custom fitting is highly recommended.
Final Thoughts
The PXG 0317 CB is a players’ iron through and through, and it’s a great one that I recommend any low single-digit handicapper or better try as part of a PXG fitting.
Distance control, launch, spin, workability, and feel are up there with the best players’ models on the market from other OEMs, with a nice bonus of some added forgiveness.
But ultimately, your success with these irons will depend on your skill. If you’re a high or mid handicapper, chances are you’ll have a hard time getting the ball up in the air. Low handicappers will typically have the swing speed and ballstriking prowess needed to realize the 0317 CB’s full potential.
Are you interested in the 0317 CB irons? Have you tried them yet? What’s your experience? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
