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There are a variety of reasons you can miss shots, but from a directional stand point, lie angles are one of the most critical factors. The vertical line test, is a simple way to quickly and easily figure out if your lie angles are right for you and help you figure out why you are missing your target.

Ryan Barath is a club-fitter & master club builder with more than 17 years of experience working with golfers of all skill levels, including PGA Tour players. He is the former Build Shop Manager & Social Media Coordinator for Modern Golf. He now works independently from his home shop and is a member of advisory panels to a select number of golf equipment manufacturers. You can find Ryan on Twitter and Instagram where he's always willing to chat golf, and share his passion for club building, course architecture and wedge grinding.

12 Comments

12 Comments

  1. Ben Robertson

    Oct 7, 2018 at 5:25 am

    Anyone use this exercise for determing the right lie angle for their putter?

  2. geohogan

    Oct 4, 2018 at 11:12 pm

    If your shafts have zero kick, zero droop and zero torque at impact then dynamic lie angle will be consistent throughout the iron set.

    If shafts are as Moe Norman labelled them, “Licorice sticks”, then every shaft throughout the iron set, may have unique dynamic lie angles. A very good reason to use a quality shaft.

  3. jesse parkison

    Oct 4, 2018 at 1:21 pm

    I love this trick and use it often when I am having ball flight issues. HERE’S A TIP: when using dry-erase marker the post-impact club mark will not show up if you take a large divot or the ground is wet. Both water and dirt at velocity will remove the dry erase marker. I only perform this trick off a mat/pad, and a dry mat is best. Alternatively you can put tape on your club face to help the ink stick.

  4. Johnny Penso

    Oct 3, 2018 at 10:08 pm

    My fitter did that test with me when he was checking the lie angles of my Dad’s old Wilson Staff blades after I took them in for re-gripping. Worked well for me.

  5. williamhiiWyahoo.com

    Oct 3, 2018 at 8:49 pm

    hers what I know…I go places and they try to tell me that Im 1.5* upright…. I am not! I play my irons 2* FLAT. If i touch a iron iron thats upright it either shanks or hooks lol
    I build and do all my own clubs

  6. Stewart Franks

    Oct 3, 2018 at 4:34 pm

    This method only works if you are hitting shots with a square clubface. So make sure you have something measuring clubface

  7. stevet

    Oct 3, 2018 at 3:51 pm

    There is a “static” lie angle at address and a “dynamic” lie angle at impact.
    At static address the club heel should be touching the ground with the toe off the ground. At impact the shaft tip will “droop” down and the club sole will be parallel to the ground. How do you resolve these different shaft dynamics and clubhead lies in club fitting? Thanks.

  8. Howard Jones

    Oct 3, 2018 at 1:03 pm

    Yes, use a whiteboard pen or dry erase marker on the ball.
    That line will be “printed” on the face, and tell if lie angles are good or not, but its not correct that this lines dont tell us more than if we need to go up or flat, we can judge the need for how much we need to adjust with this labels top make it way easier.

    http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1355102-open-source-face-labels-for-lie-angle-diy-lie-angle-testing/

    • Ryan B

      Oct 3, 2018 at 8:10 pm

      Hi Howard,

      That’s a great tool! You provide a lot of great input here on GolfWRX. I like to use a sharpie and take the marks off with acetone but 100& dry erase are a great solution too.

      I prefer to use the line test as a starting point and finalize using ball flight and launch monitor.

      Cheers

  9. Paul Portney

    Oct 3, 2018 at 12:25 pm

    This was interesting to watch, so thanks for posting it. Is the idea to see the mark on your clubface left by the line you suggest putting on the ball? That was a little unclear to me.

    • Josh D

      Oct 3, 2018 at 7:32 pm

      yes its so that the line transfers to the club face from the ball like u thought.

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Equipment

Tour Edge unveils all-new Exotics mini driver

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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. 

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Equipment

Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss

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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”

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Equipment

From the GolfWRX Classifieds: 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo

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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

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