- The PXG Black Hawk putter launch coincides with PXG’s new Wildcat beginner club line launch.
- The Black Hawk mallet features a similar alignment scheme to the popular PXG Allan putter.
- Available now at PXG.com
Although the new PXG Black Hawk putter is launching on the same day as PXG’s new Wildcat beginner club set, this putter is not just for beginners. The new golfer may find the Black Hawk easy to use but it still has all of the technologies a veteran golfer would look for in a PXG putter.
Think of it like the different driving modes in your car. A new driver probably doesn’t need to set the car to Sport mode or use the car’s paddle shifters when driving.
Once they gain some driving experience, though, they will probably explore and appreciate the advanced options.
That is my initial impression of the new PXG Black Hawk mallet. It is fun to roll balls with right out of the box and can still be tuned to meet anyone’s specific putting needs.
PXG Black Hawk technologies: Pyramid Face
The new PXG Black Hawk putter is loaded with PXG technologies. Lat’s start with PXG’s patented Pyramid Face pattern.
The purpose of the pattern is to minimize the roll variation when the putter face interacts with the dimples of the golf ball. Striking a depression or a ridge on the golf ball creates variation in roll.
Yes, this is a real thing.
Worrying about which dimple the putter hits is something that Bryson DeChambeau may care about but hopefully it never crosses the mind of the beginner golfer.
That said, if where you impact the ball causes putts to roll differently, then normalizing impact should improve putting consistency. PXG touts the Pyramid Face Technology as a way to normalize the impact.
PXG Black Hawk technologies: Overt alignment aid
Like the PXG Allan, the PXG Black Hawk feature an enormous targeting aid down the center of the putter. Using this contrasting feature, beginners and veterans alike should be able to aim the Black Hawk at the hole.
This alignment plan is one of my favorite things about the PXG Allan, shown on the right in the image above. There are some subtle differences around the edges and in the overall shapes of the two putters. However, I found the Black Hawk lines played similar to the Allan’s lines and overall were very functional.
PXG Black Hawk technologies: Neck and weight options
This is where we see the PXG Black Hawk ditch some of its “for beginners” label. There are four hosel options. If this was truly a beginner putter, PXG would have gone with a one-hosel-fits-all plan.
Instead, you can have the Black Hawk built to fit your stroke. The double-bend hosel provides the least toe hang, the slant-neck the most. The plumber’s neck, shown in these photos, sits between the other two.
The fourth option is an armlock build. I don’t see many new golfers going this route. However, if a fitting at a PXG location shows armlock to be the most successful, maybe the armlock option will allow them to bypass years of trial-and-error putter purchases.
Like the other PXG putters, the head weight can be easily changed by changing the sole weights.
PXG Black Hawk technologies: Thin face and polymer filling
Like the Battle Ready 2 putters, the majority of the PXG Black Hawk’s body is aluminum. Also like the Battle Ready 2 line, the front section of the putter is hollow and filled with polymer.
This build scheme repositions the weight to the edges to boost MOI and sends the center of gravity toward the rear. The stainless steel weight pushes the weight to the rear as well.
Additionally, the polymer filling supports the face of the putter, allowing it to be far thinner than it could be if unsupported. The thin face with the supporting polymer allowed PXG to optimize the Black Hawk for sound and feel at impact.
PXG Black Hawk technologies: Pick Up Pocket
The “Pick Up Pocket” in the bottom of the putter allows golfers to easily pick up balls from the putting surface.
(Greenskeepers should appreciate that the Black Hawk is too large to retrieve balls directly from the cup.)
The PXG Allan has a similar ball-harvesting design but the Black Hawk does it better. I always feel I am going to dent the putting surface when I grab balls with the Allan. The Black Hawk picks up the ball with far less pressure.
Even PXG’s “for beginners” putters are very good
I’ve talked about this before but I don’t think PXG gets the credit as a putter company that they deserve. If you look at the last few years, PXG has produced some of the best putters in the corral.
PXG putters incorporate assistive technologies, have original shapes and are built with precision. The milling on the recent PXG Tour Series Brandon putters is as crisp and clean as any of their competitors’ machining.
PXG even has some Most Wanted scoreboard. The PXG Battle Ready Bat Attack won Most Wanted Mallet honors in 2022.
Their new models continue to be impressive. The new PXG Allan putter is a strong competitor in the expanding zero-torque putter arena.
This new PXG Black Hawk adds to PXG’s reputation as a better-than-most putter company.
If you know someone who wants to get into golf, take them to a shop to try the new PXG Wildcat clubs. While there, feel free to roll some balls with the Black Hawk. I wouldn’t be surprised if you and your friend both end up going home with new putters.
Find out more about the Black Hawk and other PXG putters at PXG.com
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