Equipment
How thick is the rough at Oak Hill, really? This video helps explain it
It feels as though before every U.S. Open or PGA Championship, there’s some sort of fear mongering about the length of the rough, and how unplayable it will be.
Predictions about over-par winning scores, player interviews calling it unfair, and, of course, the obligatory “ball dropping in the rough” videos posted to social media.
We’ve gotten most of that at Oak Hill Country Club this year ahead of the 2023 PGA Championship.
As I’m writing this article right now, I suppose I’m feeding into the frenzy, too. I don’t mind that, though. I’ll be part of the system that draws intrigue to major championships. That ain’t so bad.
The thing is, though, that the Oak Hill rough is some of the most difficult rough I’ve ever seen on a golf course. It’s not 10 inches long like Winged Foot, or knee-high like some Open Championship fescue. It’s just healthy, juicy, and dense rough that makes it imperative for players to hit fairways.
During the Monday-Wednesday practice rounds, players tested their limits from the rough. They dropped balls in different spots, seeing how far they could advance a fairway wood…a hybrid…a 4 iron…a 6 iron.
Players were looking to answer this question: “What’s the lowest-lofted club, realistically, that I can use to advance the ball as far as possible when I miss the fairway?”
As many quickly found out, the answer is likely “none of the above.”
The longest “realistic” club that I heard from most players, caddies, and Tour reps that I spoke to is the 7-iron. And that’s being generous, because more responses seemed to fall on the 8-iron side of the coin.
Some players have replaced their longest iron with a hybrid or higher-lofted fairway wood to try and combat the rough and get more launch/spin on the ball, but the truth is, hitting a short iron or wedge back into the fairway will be the most prudent play when the ball sits down.
And, in this Oak Hill rough, in this mid-May upstate New York weather, the ball always seems to settle down.
PGA Championship alternate (and the 139th best player in the world) Aaron Rai is catching a social media stray right now as one of his rough experiments with a hybrid got posted to Twitter.
The result wasn’t pretty.
So, you’re telling me the rough is thick @PGAChampionship ? pic.twitter.com/9C5ZvKvBiq
— Steve Scott (@sscottpga) May 17, 2023
But Rai’s result wasn’t completely uncommon, either. Especially during the practice rounds when players were testing out their limit.
Tommy Fleetwood provided GolfWRX his full Oak Hill review in an Instagram video, which is embedded below.
View this post on Instagram
In the video, he says, “You might get lucky with a lie that you can get a mid-iron out of it, but for the majority it’s a gouge with one of the short clubs.”
That’s a scary statement. You might get lucky to be able to hit a mid-iron?!
Yikes.
I asked a Trackman rep if he spent time on the course with any players. He told me he was regularly seeing short iron spin rates drop below 3,000 rpm. In one instance, for example, Xander Schauffele’s spin rate with an 8-iron was just 2,400 rpm.
The general rule of thumb for iron spin is to take the iron number and multiply it by 1,000. So, an 8-iron spin rate should generally be around 8,000 rpm. The Oak Hill rough is so thick that his 8-iron spin rate dropped over 5,000 rpm, looking more in the range of a well-struck driver.
At Oak Hill this year, if the ball is in the rough, the first priority is getting up and over the thick patch of grass directly in front of the ball. Hitting the green comes secondary.
Oh, and before you clown Aaron Rai for duffing his hybrid out of the rough during a practice round, or say something like “that’s why he’s an alternate,” just keep in mind that he’s currently 10th on the PGA Tour in driving accuracy, 28th in Greens in Regulation percentage, 23rd in approaches from 200-225 yards, and he’s hit 33 consecutive greens in regulation.
Maybe the rough is just really friggin thick.
Strap in for a fun 2023 PGA Championship. Hopefully this gave you a rough idea of the situation outside the fairways at Oak Hill.
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
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