Abstract: Rod guides having four axial flutes separating four axial ribs are telescoped over sucker rods for water wells. The bore of the guides have a taper or bell from a tight fitting or snug fitting cylindrical section within the guides toward a bell or flare end. The adhesive fills the annular space between the bell or flare and the sucker rod to form a wedge to attach the guide to the sucker rod. Two guides on each joint of the sucker rod are aligned so that five sucker rods may be formed into a bundle with the guides staggered on different rods of the bundle to prevent interference and so that the rods nest into the flutes of the guides to form a compact bundle before the rods are bundled for shipment.