At a Glance
PXG is an eight-year-old company that first gained recognition for their muscleback blade-style irons. Engineers snuck technology into the hollow-bodied heads to enhance ball speed, and they added the brand's now-iconic weight screws to the perimeter of the head to promote forgiveness.
After releasing its irons, PXG quickly moved on to creating a variety of other clubs to meet the demands of a wide range of golfers.
PXG debuted the 0811 GEN4 series of drivers in February 2018. The line includes three models: the low-spin GEN4 X, the tour-inspired GEN4 XT, and the ultra-forgiving GEN4 XF. Coaxial fairway woods and hybrids that matched the GEN4 X were also introduced about the same time. Anyone looking for a lower, more penetrating ball flight would benefit greatly from using them.
PXG has launched the GEN4 0341 XF fairway woods and GEN4 XF 0317 hybrids, both of which provide more forgiveness for players. All these clubs have different functions, but they share the same technological infrastructure and design.
Fairway Woods are the main topic, therefore let's talk about the PXG 0341 XF GEN4 Fairway Wood in particular. With that, keep reading on to find out more about this particular club.
PXG 0341 XF GEN4 Fairway Wood Review
Technology Used
At first glance, the silver accent in the crown of a GEN4 XF 0341 fairway wood will catch your attention as you place the club in the address position. The club's top is built from ultralight carbon fiber, but it has been treated with aluminum vapor for added strength in the shiny areas. Technology similar to that seen in GEN4 drivers.
PXG's center of gravity was lowered in both the GEN4 XF 0341 fairway woods by using aluminum vapor-reinforced carbon fiber, which would also result in a steeper launch angle and greater spin.
In addition to that, the PXG 0341 XF GEN4 Fairways have a deep and tall HT1770 stainless steel face, which provides enhanced deflection for very rapid ball speeds. Moreover, Consistent contact with the ball results in maximum distance and forgiveness thanks to the Railed Sole Geometry that keeps the club from sinking into the turn.
A high-performance, vibration-dampening polymer called Honeycomb TPE is also integrated within the insert to improve the club's feel and sound upon contact. Also, having it positioned in the clubhead's sole makes for a more balanced club.
For optimum spring and higher ball speeds, GEN4 Fairways include a hybrid crown with steel in the heel and toe to boost longevity and rigidity of the construction. Since the carbon fiber core removes weight from the clubhead's crown, the center of gravity can be moved lower, the moment of inertia can be raised, and the ball's trajectory can be fine-tuned.
Looks
This part should seem familiar if you have read any of the reviews of GEN4 drivers or hybrids so far. The crown and its AV carbon fiber technology are the most visually prominent features of the 0341 XF. Carbon fiber with a small coating of aluminum vapor paint gives this material its striking silver hue, which stands in stark contrast to the club's otherwise black aesthetic. Aside from the obvious benefits to aesthetics (it makes the club more noticeable and helps the ball stand out), this also reduces overall club weight while increasing tensile strength where it matters most.
The outline of the club is a stylish fusion of the round and teardrop forms. However, you cannot call this clubhead a monster in size. A higher face than in prior models was designed with the goal of increasing velocity, range, and forgiveness so that players can hit longer and straighter drives.
The 0341 XF's T-shaped portion on the bottom of the club improves its glide over the grass. You can adjust the two weights as well. The factory default configuration for most clubs has the heavier weight front, which results in a faster ball speed and less spin. If you switch it to the heel, you'll get a draw biased.
Sound and Feel
To put it simply, the 0341 XF is fantastic. It makes me think of a wood bat being used to hit a home run from the upper deck. There is no indication of a tinny, metallic 'ding' in its thunderous, robust sound.
Contact feedback is beneficial as well. It's an amazing sensation when a home run ball is struck straight in the middle of the face. Mishits don't leave you with the same satisfying sensation, but at least the club tells you where you went wrong.
Performance
Before we finished up, my fitter suggested, "You may want to try utilizing this off the tee." Although I had a hard time adjusting to the driver during my fitting, the 0341 XF GEN4 fairway was a perfect fit for me. Astonishing forgiveness, consistent launch, and long distance.
The things I learned in fitting helped me on the course, too. Poor swings with mediocre contact nevertheless resulted in "good miss" moments for me. My good swings and solid contact in the middle of the ball earned me plenty of praise from my other golfers. As I said up above, it's a blast to whack about in the club.
If your driver isn't playing kind, you can definitely use this as a backup. Its reliability also makes it useful as an approach club into a long par 4, or for attempting to reach a long par 5 in two shots. When using fairway woods, I've struggled in the past with getting the ball in the air and keeping the spin under control. This club can allow me to compensate for my swing flaws without sacrificing distance.
We experimented with lofting up to 16.5 degrees as it is adjustable +/- 1.5 degrees, but I didn't see any significant gain in distance despite the higher launch and peak height. My golf swing is constantly a work in progress, so I want to be prepared for the possibility that I may need to make adjustments in order to achieve a successful launch under new circumstances.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
FAQs
Q. What is a 0341 XF Gen4 fairway wood?
With its powerful and flexible design, the PXG 0341 XF GEN4 fairway wood is a great option for every golfer. It has a commanding presence when you arrive and can be tailored to your preferences.
Q. Which graphite shafts are available?
There is a HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 70 6.5 (Extra Stiff flex), a Riptide CB 60 6.0 (Stiff flex), a Riptide CB 60 5.5 (Regular flex), a Riptide CB 40 5.0 (Senior flex), and a Cypher 40 4.0. (Ladies flex).
Q. What does 0341 XF stand for?
PXG designers were able to increase the clubhead size from heel to toe and from front to back, so increasing the moment of inertia (MOI) and making the clubs more stable on mis-hits, hence the XF in GEN4 XF 0341, which stands for "extreme forgiveness."
Q. What does the 0341 XF Fairway woods look like?
Fairway woods 0341XF are built with a face made of high-strength HT1770 stainless steel that bends readily to increase ball speed.
Interested in more Fairways? Check out the following:
- PXG 0211 Fairway Wood Review
- Callaway Rogue St LS Fairway Review
- Callaway Rogue Fairway Wood Review
- Callaway Epic Max Fairway Wood Review
- Callaway Epic Speed Fairway Wood Review
- Callaway Epic Flash Fairway Wood Review
- TaylorMade M2 Fairway Wood Review
- Callaway Mavrik Fairway Wood Review
Final Thoughts about PXG 0341 XF GEN4 Fairway Wood
Everything necessary for a successful performance is here. The standard is met. For me, there are only two ways to go about acquiring this club. Is it within your price range, and do you like the design? Fans of PXG are likely already in possession of, or in the process of purchasing, this and are only reading for diversionary purposes. You should go to a PXG shop and try on the 0341 XF if you're not sure whether the brand is right for you, or if you're just on the market.
Alternatives to Consider
PXG 0341 x Gen4 Fairway Wood
PXG's latest fairway wood, the 0341x Gen4, is optimized for golfers searching for both a high launch and more forgiveness. It's constructed from a new, stronger material that's less prone to warping and twisting, so it'll serve players well who value precision throughout the course of the whole game.
TaylorMade Stealth Titanium Fairway wood
When it comes to fairway woods, TaylorMade's Stealth has a lengthy history of success. Every golfer should give this club a try because of its excellent distance, ball speed, and forgiveness. Despite TaylorMade's claims that carbon woods represent the future of the game, the steel-faced fairway wood Stealth has demonstrated it is deserving of continued existence. It's a reliable performer that's simple to hit and offers plenty of forgiveness. If this ends up being TaylorMade's final fairway wood before they move to carbon faces, it goes out with a bang.