Equipment
Alignment Pro: The Hottest New Training Aid on the PGA Tour
Each year, golf equipment companies spends millions of dollars trying to get their new products in the hands of the best golfers of in the world. Success is often measured in getting just a few players to try a product. Getting one of them to use your product during a tournament? A monumental success.
So how did a relatively unknown Class-A PGA Professional from Utah get his product in the hands of more than 130 PGA Tour players with almost no investment? He had an idea to improve a product that nearly all of them use and all function basically the same: an alignment stick.
One day, Matt Baird was giving a lesson at Riverside Country Club in Provo, Utah, and a student asked him to explain the arc of the putting stroke. Baird had recently watched a YouTube video where another instructor was explaining how the putter head arcs during the stroke, but the shaft moves in a straight line. The instructor used a practice station made up of a driver shaft and two chairs to demonstrate the concept.
Baird says that got him thinking, “Who’s going to want to take two chairs on the putting green?” He had the idea to create a similar practice station with a modified alignment stick. If two hinges were added to its construction, it could function just like the two chairs and driver shaft. He mentioned the idea to the father of one of his students, who he knew had a friend who was an engineer.
Five months later, Baird had a functioning prototype, and soon after, a PGA Tour player who wanted it. Zac Blair was on the putting green with Baird at Riverside as Baird was practicing with his hinged alignment stick. At the time, Blair was using a large piece of wood as a putting training aid. Blair immediately saw the benefit of the hinged alignment stick, Baird says, and asked Baird if he could have it. Of course, Baird agreed, and when Blair took it to the PGA Tour players started asking him about his new training aid.
Shortly after, Baird received a call from PGA Tour equipment rep Mark Gerent, who said he could get the product into the hands of more PGA Tour players. Baird had 43 units made in the product’s first manufacturing run, each of which went to the PGA Tour and eventually home with a Tour player. The next 50 units, same story.
Tiger Woods had an Alignment Pro in his bag during the final round of the 2016 Hero World Challenge.
Baird estimates that more than three dozen PGA Tour players are regularly using his product, which because of its two-hinge design, can do things that fixed alignment sticks simply can’t, both in putting and full-swing practice.
“There are a lot of guys using it in creative ways that I haven’t even thought of,” Baird says. “You can use it to help you with just about any problem you’re having.”
Baird’s company, Alignment Pro, sells the hinged alignment sticks for $39.99 on his website, along with black or white leather sleeves ($19.99) that are meant to protect golfers and their clubs from the Alignment Pro’s pointed ends. Notable users of the product include Tiger Woods, who had an Alignment Pro in his bag when he made his return to competitive golf at the Hero World Challenge, as well as 2016 U.S. Open winner Dustin Johnson, Jim Furky and K.J. Choi.
Baird says the Alignment Pro will be available in select Dick’s Sporting Goods stores starting in mid-January.
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- Kris Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.
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TaylorMade is continuing its UDI/DHY series with the successor to the Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons: PUDI and PDHY (which the company styles as P·UDI and P·DHY). TaylorMade is folding the designs in with its P Series of irons.
TaylorMade outlined the process of developing its new utilities this way. The company started with the data on utility iron usage. Not surprisingly, better players — i.e. those who generate more clubhead speed and strike the ball more precisely — were found to gravitate toward the UDI model. DHY usage, however, covered a wider swath than the company might have expected with six-to-18 handicappers found to be bagging the club.
TaylorMade also found that the majority of golfers playing UDI or DHY utilities were playing P Series irons at the top of their iron configurations.
Can you see where this is going?
Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Iron and Wedge at TaylorMade: “As we look to the future, beyond the tech and the design language, we are excited about repositioning our utility irons into the P·Series family. P·UDI is an easy pair for players that currently play P·Series product and P·DHY is an extremely forgiving option for players of all skill levels. It is a natural fit to give these players the performance in this category that they are looking for.”
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TaylorMade PUDI
TaylorMade PUDI technology cutaway (via TaylorMade)
Crafted with tour player input, TaylorMade sought to develop a confidence-inspiring utility iron that blends with the rest of the P Series irons. Also of note: Interestingly, the PUDI has a more compact head than the P790.
In comparison to past UDI products, the PUDI has a more traditional iron shape, slimmer toplines, and less offset with a little of the backbar visible at address.
TaylorMade PDHY
TaylorMade PDHY tech cutaway (via TaylorMade).
Larger in profile than the PUDI, the PDHY seeks to position center of gravity (CG) lower in the club for ease of launch. The toe height is larger and the profile is larger at address — roughly five millimeters longer than PUDI — the sole of the club is wider for improved forgiveness.
Club Junkie’s take
Golfers who feel like they are missing something at the top of the bag could find the PUDI or PDHY a great option. The look of the PUDI should fit the most discerning eye with a more compact look, less offset, and a thinner topline. If you want a little more confidence looking down the P-DHY will be slightly larger while still being a good-looking utility iron.
For being small packages both models pack a pretty good punch with fast ball speeds, even off-center. The feel is soft and you get a solid feel of the ball compressing off the face when you strike it well. Your ears are greeted with a nice heavy thud as the ball and club come together. The PDHY will launch a little higher for players who need it while the PUDI offers a more penetrating ball flight. Both utility irons could be the cure for an open spot in the top end of the bag.
PUDI, PDHY, or Rescue?
TaylorMade offers the following notes to assist golfers in filling out their bags:
- PUDI has mid-CG right behind the center face to create a more penetrating mid-to-low ball flight
- PDHY has a lower center of gravity to produce an easier-to-launch mid-to-high ball flight.
- Both PUDI and PDHY are lower-flying than the company’s hybrid/Rescue clubs.
- PUDI is more forgiving than P790.
- PDHY is the most forgiving iron in the entire TaylorMade iron family
Pricing, specs, and availability
Price: $249.99
At retail: Now
Stock shafts: UST Mamiya’s Recoil DART (105 X, 90 S and 75 R – only in PDHY)
Stock grip: Golf Pride’s ZGrip (black/grey)
PUDI lofts: 2-17°, 3-20°, 4-22° in both left and right-handed
PDHY lofts: 2-18°, 3-20° and 4-22° in both left and right-handed
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/3/24): Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
From the seller: (@wwcl): “Has been gamed as pics show. 33.5 includes original h/c and grip. $575 includes shipping and PP fees.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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JIM IMRIE
Jan 11, 2017 at 4:22 pm
I use three simple things: 1. Two long tees with a heavy carpet thread 2. Just the heavy thread on the putting surface 3. Equilateral triangle with the thread for alignment.
Furky?.
Jan 5, 2017 at 3:21 pm
Shoot, if Jim Furky is using one, I want one.
Matt
Jan 4, 2017 at 9:44 am
and it aerates your green free of charge, leaving annoying holes for the rest of us to deal with.
Mad-Mex
Jan 1, 2017 at 10:46 pm
How in the world did this get 238 likes?!?!?! Seriously,,,
JR
Dec 24, 2016 at 5:31 am
Better cover that tip or else its gonna gouge your 500 dollar driver.
Good wood
Dec 24, 2016 at 12:19 am
A string attached to some sticks=$0
Good wood
Dec 24, 2016 at 12:15 am
Dave pelz has some metal sticks with string attached to them for $20. Save your money people!
Philip
Dec 23, 2016 at 5:07 pm
I think I’ll just go with two thin knitting needles and some twine. Placing one needle after the hole.
Gary
Dec 23, 2016 at 1:56 pm
Looks like something Tin Cup would use.
Sam
Dec 23, 2016 at 12:57 pm
Another item for the joy of golf…what ever works and it is toys for the avid golfer…just like new drivers every year or two, we got to have something to be excited about, after all something has to rank second to the thrill of making the tee time…..
Jason
Dec 23, 2016 at 11:44 am
Yeah, so after watching this….what can I use this for? This commercial is very underwhelming. I’m sure I could think some something to use it for, but this commercial doesn’t do a good job explaining that.
Gregory M Platupe
Dec 23, 2016 at 11:36 am
That’s awesome Matt. Glad to see you’ll doing well. I knew Matt in Los Angeles, we all knew each other through certain friends. Ben Krug and Scott from the The hunt golf club
KV
Dec 23, 2016 at 11:22 am
This apparently doubles as a green aerator. Why such a large pin? I’m not sure my superintendent is going to be pleased with the large punch marks.
Double Mocha Man
Dec 23, 2016 at 12:49 pm
I know Scotty, my greens superintendent, would be “all over me” if I stuck that thing into the practice putting green!
RAT
Dec 23, 2016 at 11:03 am
Putting is not all mechanical , this nor any other thing will help as much as learning to read the greens have feel with touch in putting the ball. It’s like holding an egg with just the right amount of pressure ,using your minds eye along with your dominate eye . Then be calm and confident ! If you have doubt in anything you do there is a greater chance that it will not be the outcome you desire.
The other in the mechanical – is the putter the correct length for you. Also does it have the eye appeal that gives you confidence . Just because the putter cost you +300 bucks doesn’t mean it’s right for you. I had a lot of different style and priced putters from cheap to very expensive and I finally put away my ego and decided that I would play the putter that gets me the best results .Guess you know it wasn’t the Scotty and Bett. etc. The one I use is producing great results. I play a mallet style 34″ Cheap in cost , you can’t argue with results. I really like beating those expensive putter guys . Taking there money is great and it kills them when my non +300 dollar putter is knocking them in the cup. Its not an image thing, it’s WINNING!
Jax
Dec 23, 2016 at 10:31 am
If you have any style at all you will dump your crappy Home Depot sticks and replace it with these sick alignment pros. I love these sticks
Egor
Dec 23, 2016 at 4:45 pm
Sarcasm right? The “pros” must have straighter lines right.
Guia
Dec 23, 2016 at 10:07 am
Curious if the putter actually connects/touches the alignment stick, or does not touch and is free wheeling?
Egor
Dec 23, 2016 at 9:56 am
My driveway markers from Lowe’s do pretty good for $4
BIG STU
Jan 4, 2017 at 1:43 pm
Mine were $2.50 at Home depot
Weekend Duffer
Dec 23, 2016 at 9:49 am
Pretty cool. I think I will stick with my $2 driveway markers though.