I was a big fan of last year's Black Ops drivers from PXG, so I was excited to see what was on offer with its new Lightning family.
The PXG Lightning Max-10K+ driver has been designed to be the most forgiving model in the lineup, representing PXG's first venture into the maximum 10K MOI driver market. This club is built specifically to deliver exceptional stability and forgiveness, aiming to capture the market share dominated by models like the Ping G430 Max 10K and TaylorMade Qi10 Max.
Having tested this head extensively during my winter sessions, I wanted to see if PXG could deliver maximum forgiveness without compromising feel.
The PXG Lightning driver family is built around the principle of increasing forgiveness (MOI) and efficiency through its Frequency Tuned Face technology. The idea of this feature is to try and match the face’s natural vibrational frequency with the compression of the ball, producing a more efficient transfer of energy.
The Lightning Max-10K+ specifically serves as the ultra-forgiving model, aimed at players who need maximum stability.
Visually, the Lightning Max-10K+ retains the signature matte black and carbon fiber look of the Black Ops range I enjoyed last year. However, on this brand new model, the head shape is its defining feature: I love the large, rounded profile that clearly differentiates it from the Tour models.
This shape offers bucket loads of confidence at address, looking large and friendly behind the ball, but also sitting extremely squarely and framing the ball well. This aesthetic reflects the technology beneath: a massive 84% larger carbon fiber sole area compared to the Black Ops, which pushes discretionary weight to the extreme perimeter for maximum forgiveness.
However, the subjective experience of impact was a mixed bag. I didn't love the feel, finding it a little too hollow and clicky in the hands. Despite PXG's great work in refining the acoustics with their Frequency Tuned Face, the sound remained sharper than the soft, heavy thud of some major competitors.
However, as I mentioned, feel is a very personal preference, and others may love it.
In terms of performance, the Lightning Max-10K+ performs exactly as it was designed to.
The forgiveness on offer is superb, rivaling the popular Ping G430 Max 10K and TaylorMade Qi10 Max in that regard. The MOI measured at 10,095 g/cm² - an intentional boundary-pushing number - ensuring the head resists twisting under virtually any load.
Along with the impressive dispersion performance, off-center hits, while not feeling as good as other drivers in this category, maintain impressive ball speed retention, minimizing the punishment for a toe or heel strike.
Testing with my Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor, I found the spin numbers to be on the high side as I expected, but not excessive. PXG’s own testing recorded 2359 RPM at 100 mph swing speed, whereas mine were a little higher (around 2800 rpm on average) based on my 118mph club head speed.
I also didn't notice any discernible flight bias in terms of draw or fade, which is something I enjoyed, as many of this driver type often are armed with a distinct draw bias. This driver is very neutral and designed purely for height and stability.
All of my testing and data gathering were conducted in a fairly neutral weight setup (which I was custom fit for), but for those looking to fine-tune a ball flight preference, there are three movable weights on the sole to allow you to manage CG location to your liking.
The PXG Lightning Max-10K+ is a successful realization of a maximum MOI concept. It’s an incredibly reliable, high-launch, and highly stable driver. While the feel was not my personal preference (finding it too hollow), its performance in dispersion and stability is top-tier. For any golfer battling wide misses and seeking ultimate confidence off the tee, this driver delivers. It would very much be on my test list in the max MOI driver market.
For those wanting a similar level of performance but in a lighter head weight, PXG is also offering a Max-Lite model, which offers all of the performance benefits of the Max 10K+ but in a 189g head as opposed to the standard 203g of the rest of the range.
The Max 10K+ comes in loft options of 9˚, 10.5˚, and 12˚ in both right and left-handed orientations, whereas the Max lite has 10.5˚ or 11.5˚ options, once again, in both left and right hand.
The RRP is $649.00/£569.00.
