Equipment
Should you use an alignment aid on your golf ball?
In our forums, our members have been having an interesting discussion over alignment aids on balls. WRXer ‘jjfcpa’ relies on “instinct and feel” on the greens and has struggled whenever he has tried a ball with an alignment aid, saying:
“I’ve tried using an alignment aid but found that it really did not help my results. In fact, just the opposite. The more I relied on aligning the golf ball, the more I felt like I was losing the feel for what the ball was going to do. I felt like it hurt my ability to read greens.
There are times that I feel like I’m just making a pure guess as to what the ball will do on the way to the hole only to be surprised to find that the ball drops in the hole. Happens much too often without using the alignment aid, and when I have used the alignment aid I don’t see any improvement in my putting stats, which I track meticulously.
Anyone else find this to be true for them?”
And our members have been weighing into the discussion with their thoughts.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- Wooley12: “Never for me. Actually set any alignment aid on a ball I’m playing be off line. I putt with the number on top. After a couple of practice strokes while looking at a spot right, left or center of the hole that plumb bob indicated, I repeat the stroke as soon a the number comes into focus. Been putting that way for nigh on 30 years. Alan Alda taught me how on TV.”
- Nickb333: “I use it occasionally for practice when my stroke goes off for whatever reason. Never use it when I play.”
- naj595: “The alignment line introduces too much doubt in my mind. If I don’t set up absolutely perfect I will make a tentative-guidey stroke. I feel freed up without the line.”
Entire Thread: “Should everyone use an alignment aid on their ball?”
Equipment
Interesting clubs at top of bag – GolfWRXers discuss
In our forums, users are talking about top of bag setups that are non-traditional or thought-provoking in some way. Original poster @SuperSpurs106 inquired about other members who might use unorthodox set-ups to help with gapping issues or weak spots.
They wrote:
“I currently have a PING G430 driver, TM Qi35 3W and a TM Qi4D 7W. Driver and 7W are fine but can’t get on with my 3W and have always struggling with this club over the years. Thinking of adding a 2H which I know would look odd. Just wondering if anyone else had a weird set up at the top of their bag?”
Our members in the forum have offered up their thoughts and personal experiences with non-traditional top of bag set-ups, and their reasoning for thinking outside of the box to begin with. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- BowMain42: “Don’t worry about what “looks” odd. If the club does what you need it to do, it’s the right club.”
- scooterhd2: “I cant hit 3 woods either. Thats why I roll with a unicorn XL Hibore 2 wood. 400 cc head at 16 degrees of loft and its just a monster 3 wood off the tee. Off the deck, we are playing the f6 baffler. 5 wood at 41.75 inches and its easy to control.”
- phizzy30: “I had driver, 3 metal, 2/4 hybrid once upon a time as a higher ss player. 4 hybrid is gone and in place is a driving iron nowadays. I don’t think what you’re proposing is weird in anyway, however the yardage gap might be glaringly huge between driver and 2 hybrid. What is it about your 3 metal that has got you all messed up? You could always go 4 metal with shorter shaft and see if that works.”
Entire Thread: “Interesting clubs at top of bag”
If you aren’t a member, join us in the GolfWRX forums today!
Equipment
Members of the Mini Driver Club – GolfWRXers discuss
In our forums, one user has gone searching for fellow users of a mini driver. In a post, @TightFade asked for other mini driver users to chime in with their weapon of choice, the reason for employing a mini, and what club follows it in the bag.
@TightFade asked:
“What mini are you playing? What spot in the bag did it take over? What’s the next club after it? For me: Elyte mini 13.5. Replacing 3w. Next up club looks like it’ll be 5w.”
Our members in the forum have been sharing their own bag setups featuring the mini driver, and the various reasons they purchased one in the first place. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- RCGA: “Ping G430 Max 12* ‘Thriver.’ Next club is a 4w and 2i (I play a weird course).”
- JMB3: “R7 at 12.75 with Diamana BB 63s. 3w replacement. Next Club: Elyte Ti 5w at 17*.”
- ColdOkieGolf: “R7 15.5 turned down to 13.5 It replaces the 3w. I found it surprisingly easy to hit off the deck, and it’s very rare that I need or want to hit something beyond 250 from the fairway, so next club is my 7w.”
- ChaosTheory: “I’m sub-90 MPH with driver. But I’m able to hit DOD. I have been wanting something like the R7 15.5, so I just ordered one. I have a spot in the bag so nothing has to go. But I could see it replacing my trusty 4 wood, which I never use for approach shots. Just tee shots and lay ups. If I drop the 4 wood, I will turn my 7 wood down to ~20 degrees and will have good gaps. I recently tried a thriver build: 12 degree driver turned to 14, with a heavier 44 inch shaft and added head weight. I hit it great. Very accurate and not overly high, but the problem was that it sometimes went as far as a typical drive. And that’s not what I needed. So I will probably turn the 15.5 up to 16.5 or even 17.5. It’s all theoretical at this point. ?”
Entire Thread: “Members of the Mini Driver Club…Check In.”
If you aren’t a member, join us in the GolfWRX forums today!
Whats in the Bag
Chris Gotterup WITB 2026 (June)
- Chris Gotterup had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Drivers: TaylorMade Qi4D (8 degrees), Ping G440 LST (9 degrees @8), Ping G440 LST (7.5 degrees)
Shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Grey 6.5 TX 70 g, Project X HZRDUS T1100 Handcrafted 6.5 TX 70 g, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Grey 6.5 TX 70 g


Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black TX 80 g

5-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana WB Wood Shaft 83 TX

7-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB Wood Shaft 83 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), Bridgestone Tour B 220 MB (4-9)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper 130 X


Wedges: TaylorMade MG5 (46, 52, 56, 60)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper 130 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Putter: TaylorMade Spider X Tour
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol 2.0

Grips: Golf Pride Z Grip Cord
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X Mindset
Check out more in-hand photos of Chris Gotterup’s clubs here.
-
News3 days agoRussell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
-
Whats in the Bag2 weeks agoAaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
-
Tour Photo Galleries2 weeks agoPhotos from the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
-
Equipment15 hours agoDetails on Jason Day’s latest prototype Avoda iron setup
-
Equipment2 weeks agoCJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
-
News6 days agoCharles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
-
Equipment1 week agoDetails on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
-
Popular Photo Galleries1 week agoPhotos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge

Russell
Oct 11, 2025 at 11:55 pm
50 years adherence, Side stamp if there, sharpie line if needed
Randy Cooper
Oct 8, 2025 at 7:34 pm
Do the professionals use alignment lines? YES ..virtually all of them! Whatever issues a person might have with “feel”..get over it. If you don’t line up properly, you are probably not going to “feel” it into the hole. That said ..I wouldn’t mind if it was banned.
Mark
Oct 8, 2025 at 3:06 pm
I use the alignment aid on shorter (<5’) putts only.