PXG’s GEN8 irons rethink iron design with perimeter-based weighting, forged construction and three models built for distinct player types.
Gear: PXG GEN8 T, P, XP irons
Price: $229 per club (chrome), $249 per club (Xtreme Dark)
Specs: Hollow-body construction with forged 8620 carbon steel chassis and face, adjustable perimeter-based tungsten weights and internal polymer core.
Available: Jan. 15
Who it’s for: Better players looking for a compact, workable iron with modern ball speed (GEN8 T), golfers who want a balanced blend of forgiveness and control (GEN8 P), and players prioritizing distance, higher launch and maximum forgiveness (GEN8 XP).
What you should know: GEN8 marks a significant shift in PXG’s iron design philosophy, replacing center-loaded mass with adjustable perimeter weights that increase forgiveness and allows meaningful shot-shape tuning without changing the clubhead itself.
The Deep Dive: It has been 10 years since PXG brought out its first irons, the 0311, and tried to give the golf world something that many people didn’t think was possible—a true game-improvement club that enhanced distance and feel, yet looked like a better-player’s iron.
Today, PXG’s GEN8 irons build on a decade of refinement, but have the same mission.
Recently released PXG irons were designed with a large weight behind the center of gravity in the back of the head. That approach preserved CG location when weights were swapped to adjust the swing weight, but it limited gains in moment of inertia (MOI) and reduced perimeter weighting. Now, with GEN8, PXG split that mass and pushed it out to the heel and toe. Even in the neutral configuration, going with two weights instead of one creates a noticeable jump in forgiveness because the heads are more stable through impact on off-center hits.
More interesting, though, is what happens when the weights move. Shifting mass toward the heel or toe alters both CG location and the club’s resistance to face rotation around the shaft axis, subtly influencing how easily the face closes or stays open. And PXG’s testing showed these changes were not theoretical; players could feel the difference and launch monitor data confirmed measurable differences in face angle and shot pattern when the 10 grams of total mass that is split isn’t split into two 5-gram weights, but instead into a 4-gram and 6-gram or 3-gram and 7-gram.
That adjustability sits on top of a manufacturing process PXG loves to discuss. The GEN8 irons are fully forged using 8620 carbon steel, despite their complex internal geometry, using a five-step forging process allows PXG to create thin walls, deep cavities and internal channels that would normally require casting. It is a more expensive approach, but one PXG believes is essential to both performance and quality.
Internally, GEN8 continues PXG’s evolution away from energy-absorbing polymers. Earlier generations of the brand’s irons used softer materials primarily to improve sound and feel. Over time, PXG shifted toward a more resilient internal polymer called QuantumCore that is designed to support the face and return more energy to the ball. The result is a face that flexes efficiently without relying on excessive damping, helping maintain ball speed while still producing a solid, controlled feel.
The lineup within GEN8 is tiered.
- The GEN8 T is compact, with minimal offset and a thinner top line, aimed at players who value precision and workability but still want modern ball speed.
- The GEN8 P sits in the middle, blending a slightly larger profile with forgiveness that does not overwhelm the better player visually.
- The GEN8 XP leans fully into distance and stability, with stronger lofts, wider soles and more offset to help golfers launch the ball high and keep speed on off-center strikes.
Taken as a whole, GEN8 feels less like a tweak and more like a platform shift for PXG. The brand is leaning into adjustability, manufacturing precision and energy management, while still offering distinct shapes and setups for very different types of golfers.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: PXG GEN8 irons with adjustable perimeter weighting and forged feel
Category: General Sports
