Equipment
Forum Thread of the Day: “Brandel Chamblee: Every player should leave the flagstick in the hole while putting”
Today’s Forum Thread of the Day was submitted by RMGC_NV and concerns a hot take from Golf Channel analyst, Brandel Chamblee. Whether you love him or hate him, Chamblee is never one to hold back from speaking his mind, and in this particular case, the former pro is confident that it’s in every player’s best interest to leave the flagstick in the hole while putting. Our members discuss.
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.
- jll62: “Looking forward to doing some of my own testing on this with my Perfect Putter, but I am firmly in the camp of leaving the flagstick in as the default state based on all of the evidence we have to date. The key will be knowing when it’s advantageous to take it out, but I think those situations will be rare.”
- HoosierMizuno: “I don’t think leaving the pin in will hurt anyone’s score. I do think its debatable on how much it will help….especially when it comes to putting. I get leaving it in on chips. I’m predicting that in 3 years there will be only a few if any guys still removing the pins to putt. there just isn’t any reason to take it out other than you think it looks weird.”
- Gautama: “Help or not I can’t say, wind is the big variable in my mind. Regardless, though, personally I hate the way it looks after thirty-plus years of pulling pins, and I’m sticking to my shallow and subjective opinion, lol. Anyone else find it just ugly to see a putt made with the pin in the hole?”
- sbjinx: “Played today with my group and we decided to keep the flag in for all our putts. It was weird at first, but by the 3rd hole, we all agreed that we’ll play with the flag in from now on. We didn’t have any instance where having the flag in helped or damaged a putt, but it’s nice not to have to walk to the hole and pull the flag once we’re on the green. We would just walk to our balls, hit our putts and move on to the next tee. I agree with the above poster that in a few years most people will be playing with the flag in.”
Equipment
Tour Edge unveils all-new Exotics mini driver
Tour Edge Golf has today introduced the all-new Exotics mini driver, engineered to deliver a powerful combination of speed, control, and versatility in the long game.
The Exotics Mini combines a titanium face with a stainless-steel body in design to balance ball speed with stability and control, creating a versatile option at the top end of the bag.

At the core of the design is Tour Edge’s proprietary Combo Brazing technology, a high-precision thermal bonding process that seamlessly fuses a titanium cup face to a stainless-steel body into a single, continuous structure. By eliminating energy loss found in traditional multi-piece constructions, Combo Brazing is designed to deliver faster face response, more efficient energy transfer, and a uniquely powerful yet controlled feel.

The multi-material construction also allows mass to be positioned lower and deeper in the head in a bid to increase stability, while the thin titanium face is engineered to maintain ball speed across a wider impact area.

“While the initial goal was to enhance control and versatility in the long game, Combo Brazing ultimately drove measurable gains in ball speed and distance within the mini driver category. In robot testing, we’ve documented higher ball speeds, higher launch, reduced spin, and increased carry and total distance compared to leading models.” – Vice President of R&D Matt Neeley

In addition to distance performance, the Exotics mini emphasizes forgiveness through a heavier stainless-steel body that shifts mass toward the perimeter. This configuration increases MOI relative to traditional all-titanium mini drivers, helping preserve ball speed and directional stability on off-center strikes. Paired with Pyramid Face Technology from the Exotics metalwood line, the design is intended to support consistent speed across the face.

To further enhance MOI, a lightweight carbon fiber crown frees additional mass that is strategically repositioned low and deep in the head in design to improve stability and promote optimal launch with controlled spin.

“We designed the Mini to be about five millimeters shallower than other mini drivers on the market. That change improves playability off the deck. From a clean fairway lie, it can function as a strong 3-wood alternative while still providing control off the tee.” – Tour Edge CEO David Glod
An adjustable hosel system allows for loft and lie tuning to dial in trajectory and shot shape, while a fixed 13-gram rear weight helps stabilize the head through impact to improve dispersion consistency. The Exotics Mini Driver is available in 11.5 and 13.5-degree lofts in right-handed models.

Pricing & Availability
The Exotics Mini Driver is available for pre-order beginning today for $399.99 USD at touredge.com, and will be available for purchase at retail outlets worldwide on May 22, 2026.
Equipment
Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss
In our forums, our members have been pitting a Srixon ZXi combo against a TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo. WRXer ‘edutch22’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons and kicks off the thread saying:
“Looking at picking up a new set of irons and think I’ve narrowed it down to Srixon ZXi combo or Taylormade P7CB/770 combo. I am currently a 5 cap and allbeit I feel irons are my weakness. My miss is a little to the toe side. I am decently steep at 4-5 down. Always thought I am high spin but recently on trackman my 7 was spinning at 5800 roughly.
My question or looking for thoughts on which one would benefit me more from a forgiveness standpoint? Or is there another iron is should be looking at entirely? I only get to play about once or twice a week, if I am not playing a 2-3 day event. Thanks in advance.”
And our members have been sharing their thoughts and suggestions in response.
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.
- manima1: “You just can’t go wrong with Srixon ZXi7.”
- MattM97: “You have to hit them to know, the V-Sole on the Srixon can be make or break for many.”
- dmeeksDC: “P7CB is more forgiving for me than ZXi7 because my main miss is low middle and the P7CB still flies and spins great on that miss. These are both really nice irons but I like the P7CB more than the Zxi7 and the P770 (or P790) more than the Zxi5. The Srixons are larger so if that gives you confidence that is the way to go. I don’t feel like I get any benefit from the V-sole and the P7CBs live up to their high Maltby forgiveness rating so the TaylorMades have been great for me.”
Entire Thread: “Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
Equipment
From the GolfWRX Classifieds: 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who 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, @pianoman0123 has a 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo up for grabs.

From the listing: “2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade Combo. 4-8 irons are CB’s and the 9,PW are Blades. 5-PW have Project X 6.0 Shafts and the 4 Iron has a Steelfiber CW110 Stiff Shaft. Standard Length, Lie and Lofts. These are in very good condition the shafts just don’t work for me. Like new Lamkin Grips on the 5-PW and a stock Golf Pride on the 4 Iron. $525 OBO.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
-
Equipment2 weeks agoJustin Rose WITB 2026 (April): Full WITB breakdown with new McLaren irons
-
Equipment1 week agoWhat’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
-
Equipment2 weeks agoCadillac Championship Tour Report: Spieth’s sizable changes, McLaren Golf launches, and more
-
Whats in the Bag3 days agoKristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
-
Whats in the Bag1 week agoCameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
-
Whats in the Bag3 weeks agoNelly Korda WITB 2026 (April)
-
Equipment2 weeks agoJustin Rose on the switch to McLaren Golf, learnings from previous equipment moves
-
Tour Photo Galleries2 weeks agoPhotos from the 2026 Cadillac Championship

Leo Vincent
Feb 19, 2019 at 11:29 am
I usually disagree with everything Brandel Chamblee says but he is correct on this one.Leaving the flag in helps the player and this is an old rule being brought back.A rule requiring the flag be taken out was adopted in the 1950’s i believe.Prior to that the flag could be left in
John
Jan 16, 2019 at 2:09 pm
We are witnessing the dumbing down of golf. Personally, I’d give up the game before I’d leave the pin in to putt. Stupid rule introduced by people trying to justify their existence.
dave
Jan 15, 2019 at 12:43 pm
Its a joke of a rule!!! UsGa is a joke , they are clueless!
Take the flag out, one guy says out next guy putting wants it in. Come on!!!
Agree it will slow play down.
Lastly, drop at knee height. Really? uSgA joke of an organization…
Hamish
Jan 13, 2019 at 1:32 pm
How about local rule.. if it hits the pin its in!
Most Flag pole’s are too fat reducing the width of the cup, ejecting putts that don’t hit the pole dead center. Bring back the thinner old school fiberglass flag pole.
Glftips
Jan 11, 2019 at 5:46 pm
This rule was adapted in order to speed up play. However, in my first five rounds of 2019. it seems to make play slower. One guy wants in out and then the next guy wants it in. Putting the pin in and out a few times on each green adds more time to the game. Maybe it will get better with time but right now it is not good.