PXG 0317 ST Blade Iron Review

By Simon Daddow, Today's Golfer Equipment Editor

Last Updated: 27 October 2023

At a glance
TG Rating 5 out of 5
Owner Rating Not yet rated
Pros
- A beautiful traditional blade profile.
- Can be weighted up or down without changing the CG location.
- Even decent ball strikers will appreciate the cavity back long irons.
Cons
- Unforgiving on off-centre hits, so they're for high skill ball strikers only.
RRP £209.00

What we say...

The PXG 0317 ST Blade iron offers ultimate shot-shaping and control to the game’s best ball strikers.

Having a US Marines call sign for its name says everything you need to know about PXG’s elite player 0317 ST blade, which emerged as one of the best golf irons in our huge head-to-head test.

That’s the designation of a “Scout Sniper”, a Marine who’s highly skilled in marksmanship and who can deliver precision long-range fire onto a selected target. In golf terms, it means this beautiful new muscle-back blade is aimed at skilled golfers who dine out on shaping shots towards the flagstick. For golfers good enough to use it, the PXG 0317 ST is one of the best blade golf clubs out there.

According to PXG, what sets the new 0317 ST blade apart is the forged then CNC-milled construction and robot polishing, which eliminates the inconsistencies traditionally associated with hand-finishing irons and wedges. PXG’s weight tech – which lets golfers try lighter and heavier swingweights and/or longer or shorter shaft lengths without changing the center of gravity location (which just isn’t an option with the competition) – is also a huge benefit at this end of the market.

Cloe in on the back of the PXG 0317 ST Blade iron

With a smaller solid body construction (so there’s no face flex which lowers spin) the 0317 ST creates higher spin numbers, which is good for shot-making and increases control for those who possess it. Mishits, however, will be more severely punished. PXG says the grooves of each head are CNC milled to within a whisker of the rules, and thanks to milling the face and back of the head tolerances are incredibly tight for this one-piece forged design.

As none of the PXG tour staff use blade long irons the 0317 ST naturally transitions into a slightly larger cavity back 3 and 4 iron. The idea offers a degree of forgiveness in the more difficult-to-hit long irons.

Details: PXG 0317 ST blade irons

RRP: £209 per club

Stock shafts: True Temper Elevate 95 (s), KBS Tour Lite (s), Mitsubishi MMT (g), Project X Cypher (g), UST Recoil Dart (g)

7-iron loft: 33°

Category / Forgiveness rating: Muscle-back Blade – 1/5

Where does the PXG 0317 ST blade fit in the PXG iron family?

PXG 0317 ST Blade iron

RRP: £209 per club

7-iron loft: 33°

Category/Forgiveness rating: Muscle-back blade – 1/5

Back, sole and address images of the PXG 0317 ST Blade iron

The ST is forged three times from a single piece of soft 8620 carbon steel. Experience says no matter how good the model looks it should only find its way into the hands of seriously good ball strikers, and those who “work“ the ball round the course. The PXG 0317 ST is among the best blade golf clubs on the market.

PXG 0311 GEN5 T iron

RRP: £249 per club

7-iron loft: 32°

Category/Forgiveness rating: Players’ iron – 2/5

The PXG 0311 GEN5 T iron back and at address

Golfers used to argue players’ irons couldn’t have hollow bodies, fast faces, or stronger lofts. PXG turned that sort of thinking on its head. The T stands for Tour, so expect this compact profile iron to be most at home in the hands of decent players.

PXG 0311 GEN5 P iron

RRP: £249 per club

7-iron loft: 30°

Category/Forgiveness rating: Players distance Iron – 2.5/5

The PXG 0311 GEN5 P iron back and at address

A fast, long, and forgiving model within the players’ distance iron category. Our data has shown time and again how PXG irons are accurate, and often hit shots with less shape/curve, which for most club golfers is a seriously good proposition.

PXG 0211 XCOR2 iron

RRP: £100 per club

7-iron loft: 28°

Category/Forgiveness rating: Mid-Handicap Iron – 3.5/5

The PXG 0211 XCOR2 Iron back and at address

PXG’s ‘affordable’ 0211 XCOR2 iron is a brilliant performer for a wide audience of golfers, it can suit 0 – 24 handicappers. The lower price means you get a cast not forged head. There’s none of the weight tech you’ll get in PXG’s more premium products (which allows tailoring of length and weight without shifting the center of gravity), but the price is hard to argue with.

RELATED: Best Mid-Handicap Irons Tested

PXG 0311 GEN XP iron

RRP: £249 per club

7-iron loft: 27°

Category/Forgiveness rating: Mid-Handicap Iron – 3.5/5

The PXG 0311 GEN5 XP iron back and at address

With a 27° 7-iron loft the XP is very much a distance-focused mid-handicap iron. The heads are larger than the 0311 GEN5 P, if you’re the type of player who doesn’t like lots of hosel offset this is a strong and good-looking model to consider.

PXG 0211 Z hybrid iron

RRP: £749 (7-piece set)

7-iron loft: 31°

Category/Forgiveness rating: Hybrid iron – 5/5

A very forgiving and easy-to-hit hybrid iron, the Z is aimed at less confident golfers and those who play less frequently. The extra loft works very well at more moderate speeds.