Four new PXG drivers have landed on the USGA conforming clubs list.
I suppose that shouldn’t come as any real surprise. Black Ops is nearly two years old, and well, let’s just say we knew we’d see some new PXG stuff this fall.
That said, I’m not sure I would have bet on four new driver models from PXG.
As per usual, the USGA’s photos leave a bit to be desired as far as discerning key details are concerned, but there’s enough visible in the upcoming Lightning drivers to at least make things interesting.
Let’s have a look.
PXG Lightning Max 10K
It’s almost impressive how quickly “Max 10K” (and similar descriptors) have become the industry standard way to denote the most forgiving driver in any given lineup.
So yeah, it’s a safe bet the Lightning Max 10K will replace the standard Black Ops and all of the XF versions that came before it.
The USGA list doesn’t provide an MOI number (at least nothing more specific than 10K), but it’s reasonable to assume that it will be in the same general ballpark as 10K options from PING, TaylorMade, COBRA, and Tour Edge.
Like other recent PXG designs, the Lightning Max 10K will offer a 3-weight configuration. That generally allows golfers to dial-in more forgiveness or a bit of draw bias (at least that’s the assumption in a Max 10K head).
What’s interesting is that PXG has typically placed its forward weights to the extreme perimeter, but the forward weights on the three Lightning models that offer them are noticeably more centralized.
Given the 10K nomenclature, let’s, for now, assume PXG isn’t paying an MOI penalty for it.
The USGA listing includes lofts of 8-, 9-, 10.5-, and 12-degrees. An 8-degree option in a max MOI head is unusual but likely speaks to the reality that extreme backweighting can lead to excessive loft and high spin. Dropping down to eight degrees provides an option for faster swinging and other players who create a bit of extra dynamic loft to achieve functional results from a max MOI head.
PXG Lightning MAX Lite
The movable weight-less driver in the upcoming lineup, the Lite name suggests, well, that’s kind of obvious, isn’t it?
Expect the Lightning MAX Lite to be a lighter version of whatever tech is baked into the lineup. Typically, the target audience includes swing speed-challenged golfers, along with anyone else who struggles to generate sufficient spin rates.
The Max Lite offers a rear weight port, but that’s going to be for swing weighting purposes only.
The PXG Lightning Max Lite is listed in 10.5- and 11.5-degrees.
PXG Lightning Tour Mid
On one hand, naming a driver “Tour Mid” would seem to suggest a mid spin profile, so I suppose PXG deserves a bit of credit for continuing the simplicity in the naming conventions of the Lightning lineup (we’ve come a long way since 0811). Still, as the father of a 15-year-old, I wince at anything with “mid” in the name.
Allow me to suggest that you check with a teenager before naming anything.
Anyway, if this one proves to be a mediocre performer, the name will have been a bit too on the nose. You’ve been warned.
That’s not a prediction (it’s way too early for that), but man … the oof potential is bigly.
The PXG Lightning Tour Mid is listed in 8-, 9.5-, and 10.5-degrees.
PXG Lightning Tour
We’ve covered the max MOI one, the lite one, and the one in the middle, which leaves us with Lightning Tour, which is almost certainly the lowest spinning one.
Guys, you were good reusing Max, and Lite, but LS was a bridge too far?
PXG has typically avoided extreme low spin drivers, so I suppose that’s reasonable enough. Past models suggest that Lightning Tour will try to ride the line between Tour performance (forward-ish center of gravity) and playable MOI.
With respect to the last few generations of PXG drivers, I’d argue the company has done a good job of keeping spin under control on their most forgiving models, without overcooking their lowest spin offerings.
Does that make them mid?
I digress.
The PXG Lightning Tour is listed in 8-, 9.5-, and 10.5-degrees.
Pricing and availability
Frankly, even typing that header feels a bit like clickbait. The truth is, I have no idea when the PXG Lightning drivers will hit retail and any pricing info I give you is based on little more than speculation.
With that disclaimer out of the way, I’d bet my money on a January release. As far as pricing goes, it’s going to be $600 on the low end and likely $650 on the high end, but I’d say the same for every driver that pops up on the USGA list between now and the end of January.
More information as it becomes available.
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