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.
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX
Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.
@Lamosteve began:
Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine
Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. 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.
- macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
- JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
- jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”
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Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
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J.T. Poston’s winning WITB: 2026 Memorial Tournament
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Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
Asterisk Talley WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
Brianna Do WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 3-wood: Callaway Elyte Titanium (15 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 5-wood:...
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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.