Best Muscleback on the market? PXG 0317 ST Blade Iron Review

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.

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

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

Verdict: PXG 0317 ST Blade

If you seriously have the game to play clubs designed for the world’s best ball strikers then it’s highly likely you’ll have a brand preference and direction in mind that you want to follow within the category. If, however, you step back and look only at what benefits each blade brings to the table, rather than going all gooey over heritage and feel and being led by ego, PXG’s latest 0317 ST stands very much out among the crowd.

PXG knows a thing or two about making great irons. As is their calling card throughout their iron family the 317s have delicious straight-line head shapes, throughout the set and a very premium satin finish. Our test pro loved the feel and feedback and it’s no exaggeration when I say he hit them incredibly well.

Speed and distance should never be factors when buying in the blade category but surely the 0317 has to score points for producing above-test average levels of ball speed and ranking tied 2^nd longest for carry distance. The model also registered a shot area 26% smaller than our test average. Now don’t get me wrong I’m absolutely not saying this is a forgiving blade, it isn’t, but our data does support the reputation PXG has built for making slightly straighter irons than most. 

If I were spending my own money though the real deal sealer is PXG’s very clever central weighting system. Golfers can go lighter or heavier (which can boost ball speed, distance, and consistency), longer or shorter without moving the center of gravity location and thus altering feel. To me, it’s a genius idea, and brilliant if you want to optimize a set for your own game in 2024.

Data comparison: How does the PXG 0317 ST compare to leading competitor muscleback blades?

Iron	7-Iron Loft	Ball Speed	Launch Angle	Backspin	Peak Height	Descent Angle	Carry Distance	Carry Distance Drop Off	Shot Area
Ping Blueprint T	33°	120.7 MPH (1)	16.6°	5630 RPM	30 YDS	44.1°	178 YDS (1)	8 YDS (T3)	98.4 SQ YDS (3)
PXG 0317 ST	33°	118.9 MPH	15.4°	5619 RPM	27 YDS	42°	174 YDS (T2)	9 YDS	184.5 SQ YDS
Wilson Staff Model Blade	34°	118.7 MPH	16.9°	5661 RPM	30 YDS	43.9°	174 YDS (T2)	14 YDS	312.2 SQ YDS
Sub 70 639 MB	32°	119.3 MPH (3)	14.8°	5844 RPM	26 YDS	41.6°	174 YDS (T2)	9 YDS	235.8 SQ YDS
Cobra King MB	34°	118.9 MPH	17.1°	6225 RPM	31 YDS	45°	172 YDS	8 YDS (T3)	224 SQ YDS
Mizuno Pro 241	34°	117.3 MPH	17.6°	5547 RPM	30 YDS	44.3°	171 YDS	11 YDS	218.9 SQ YDS
Vega VMB	31°	119.5 MPH (2)	15.3°	6177 RPM	28 YDS	43.4°	171 YDS	5 YDS (1)	50.5 SQ YDS (1)
TaylorMade P7MB	34°	118.5 MPH	16.2°	6490 RPM	29 YDS	44.1°	170 YDS	12 YDS	235.2 SQ YDS
Callaway Apex 24 MB	34°	115.9 MPH	17°	6029 RPM	29 YDS	43.8°	167 YDS	18 YDS	433.8 SQ YDS
Srixon Z-Forged	33°	116.7 MPH	16.5°	6123 RPM	28 YDS	43.6°	167 YDS	21 YDS	588 SQ YDS
Titleist 620 MB	35°	115.6 MPH	17.5°	6362 RPM	29 YDS	44.7°	165 YDS	13 YDS	318.5 SQ YDS
Takomo 301 MB	34°	115.9 MPH	16.7°	6637 RPM	29 YDS	44.7°	163 YDS	7 YDS (2)	90.3 SQ YDS (2)
Average		118 MPH	16.5°	6028.7 RPM	28.8 YDS	43.8°	170.5 YDS	11.25 YDS	249.2 SQ YDS

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

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

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

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

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

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.  

RELATED: Best High-Handicap Irons Tested

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.

READ NEXT: Which PXG iron best suits you?

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PXG 0317 ST Blade iron

RRP: £209 per club | VIEW UK OFFER | VIEW US OFFER

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

Category / Forgiveness rating: Muscleback Blade - 1/5

Visit the PXG website here

7-iron loft: 32°