So you use a line on your ball...

[BenHoganSlam1953]

Once you have lined up your ball to the target how do you square the putter face to the target?

 

For example, do you have a line on your putter that you match to the line on the ball? Curious how people line up the putter face after they align the ball.

 

Well if you are going to use a line on the ball you would make the face of the putter create a perpendicular line to the line on the ball.

Failing that, most putters also have a perpendicular line on the top to the putter head (to the putter face) that you would use to extend the line on the ball, making it go through the line on top of the putter head.

 

Personally, I have putted with and without the line on the ball and my percentages did not change.

The only thing that changes my percentages is whether I am seeing the line of the putt and reading the speed of the greens correctly.

[mjguzik]

Use a line on the ball for short putts -- less than 10 to 12 feet -- with negligible break and a putter that has a clean top line. By sight of the two together I can see if it is perpendicular. On longer low percentage or on shorter breaking putts, I'll use the unmarked portion of the ball and make it more of a feel putt. Reason for this is that ball speed or pace of the putt will be more important than my alignment. When I stray from this combination, my putt count usually goes up. When I stay with it and commit -- stop second guessing myself -- it is some other aspect of the game for that round. Works for me, yet results for others may vary.

[thepinkbomber]

Use a line on the ball for short putts -- less than 10 to 12 feet -- with negligible break and a putter that has a clean top line. By sight of the two together I can see if it is perpendicular. On longer low percentage or on shorter breaking putts, I'll use the unmarked portion of the ball and make it more of a feel putt. Reason for this is that ball speed or pace of the putt will be more important than my alignment. When I stray from this combination, my putt count usually goes up. When I stay with it and commit -- stop second guessing myself -- it is some other aspect of the game for that round. Works for me, yet results for others may vary.

Interesting...I have also been debating on using a line for putts for higher percentage lengths and no line outside. It seems logical. Even though line is less important for the longer putts the line does help me insure the putter is centered exactly on the sweet spot which does help with the longer putts. I do return the putter where it was at address (a good thing) so if its off a little then it will return off a little. Maybe there is a different method to guarantee I am exactly on the sweet spot with out the line for longer putts?

[thepinkbomber]

Anyone else use the line for shorter putts and no line for longer putts?

[Obee]

I line the line on the top of my putter with the line on my ball to make one continuous line.

 

Since I committed to training my eye to use the line on all short putts (inside 10 feet?), my putting has gotten ridiculously better. I went from missing an average of 1.5 short putts (2.5 to 4 feet) per round to missing one of those every 5 rounds. Unbelievable difference for me.

 

Here were they keys for me:

1. Complete commitment to using the line at all times on short putts
   
2. Line up the line with my read (i.e., if I read the putt as "a ball outside left," then I'm aligning the line on the ball a ball outside left)
   
3. Confirm that the line on the ball does, indeed, match my read (by using the shaft on my putter as a "straight line" and lining up the line on the ball with the shaft).
   
4. Once I have confirmed that the line matches my read: Voila! Putt made!
   

Now I will say this: it takes a good 5 - 10 rounds of putting this way to not constantly second-guess yourself. I was always a "face aimed well left on a straight putt" guy, and so the line -- even when aligned perfectly to the center of the hole -- never looked correct to me. I always felt that my putter was aimed improperly (too far to the right) at first.

 

Well now I don't. I have literally re-trained my eyes, but it took a while.

 

The other thing is that I had to adjust my putting stroke to get the ball in the center of the hole when the face was aimed at the center. You see, if your putter is usually aimed left at address, and you are effectively "blocking" all of your putts, then using a straight line is not going to help you because you have a sh*tty stroke! LOL!

 

So after realizing that my aim was so far off (which I figured out very quickly by using the line and having a couple friends stand behind me while I putted while using the line), I realized, "Well, guess I'm going to have to develop a better, more repeating stroke, too!"

 

So I did that. :-)

 

I can't begin to tell you what this has done for me overall mindset on the golf course. I can't wait to "show off" my new putting prowess. It's kind of ridiculous, actually. I used to watch guys that banged their short, straightish putts dead into the back of the hole with such envy. "They must just be naturally gifted," I thought. Well finally I realized it was my sh*tty mechanics and the need to always see some break in my putts that was killing me.

 

I started watching the best putter at my club (a nationally ranked 52 year old mid-amateur nearing senior status), and I just copied a lot of the things he did, which was what lead me to using the line.

 

I'm sort of rambling now, but I just want you all to know that if you struggle with straight putts and are always looking for an edge to aim it that you can become a dead eye on straight "must make" putts. It will take some significant readjustment, but you can do it.

[powerpushfade]

Ban the line!!!!!

[dg_1983]

Never tried the cross line perpendicular to the aim line on the ball, makes sense, will try it.

 

Start, middle or end of the aim line for the cross line? :) Devil in the details....

[thepinkbomber]

Ban the line!!!!!

Why?

[farmer]

I line the line on the top of my putter with the line on my ball to make one continuous line.

 

Since I committed to training my eye to use the line on all short putts (inside 10 feet?), my putting has gotten ridiculously better. I went from missing an average of 1.5 short putts (2.5 to 4 feet) per round to missing one of those every 5 rounds. Unbelievable difference for me.

 

Here were they keys for me:

1. Complete commitment to using the line at all times on short putts
   
2. Line up the line with my read (i.e., if I read the putt as "a ball outside left," then I'm aligning the line on the ball a ball outside left)
   
3. Confirm that the line on the ball does, indeed, match my read (by using the shaft on my putter as a "straight line" and lining up the line on the ball with the shaft).
   
4. Once I have confirmed that the line matches my read: Voila! Putt made!
   

Now I will say this: it takes a good 5 - 10 rounds of putting this way to not constantly second-guess yourself. I was always a "face aimed well left on a straight putt" guy, and so the line -- even when aligned perfectly to the center of the hole -- never looked correct to me. I always felt that my putter was aimed improperly (too far to the right) at first.

 

Well now I don't. I have literally re-trained my eyes, but it took a while.

 

The other thing is that I had to adjust my putting stroke to get the ball in the center of the hole when the face was aimed at the center. You see, if your putter is usually aimed left at address, and you are effectively "blocking" all of your putts, then using a straight line is not going to help you because you have a sh*tty stroke! LOL!

 

So after realizing that my aim was so far off (which I figured out very quickly by using the line and having a couple friends stand behind me while I putted while using the line), I realized, "Well, guess I'm going to have to develop a better, more repeating stroke, too!"

 

So I did that. :-)

 

I can't begin to tell you what this has done for me overall mindset on the golf course. I can't wait to "show off" my new putting prowess. It's kind of ridiculous, actually. I used to watch guys that banged their short, straightish putts dead into the back of the hole with such envy. "They must just be naturally gifted," I thought. Well finally I realized it was my sh*tty mechanics and the need to always see some break in my putts that was killing me.

 

I started watching the best putter at my club (a nationally ranked 52 year old mid-amateur nearing senior status), and I just copied a lot of the things he did, which was what lead me to using the line.

 

I'm sort of rambling now, but I just want you all to know that if you struggle with straight putts and are always looking for an edge to aim it that you can become a dead eye on straight "must make" putts. It will take some significant readjustment, but you can do it.

I had the same problem, but aimed right rather than left. It does take practice to learn to trust the line.

[powerpushfade]

Ban the line!!!!!

Why?

 

Just something else to slow the game down. Puts the mark behind the ball, adjusts the line, steps over the ball, line doesn't look right, marks ball again, adjusts the line (again), gets over the ball (again)...rinse and repeat. It's ridiculous.

[farmer]

Ban the line!!!!!

Why?

 

Just something else to slow the game down. Puts the mark behind the ball, adjusts the line, steps over the ball, line doesn't look right, marks ball again, adjusts the line (again), gets over the ball (again)...rinse and repeat. It's ridiculous.

Players back off putts all the time, line or no line.

[powerpushfade]

Ban the line!!!!!

Why?

 

Just something else to slow the game down. Puts the mark behind the ball, adjusts the line, steps over the ball, line doesn't look right, marks ball again, adjusts the line (again), gets over the ball (again)...rinse and repeat. It's ridiculous.

Players back off putts all the time, line or no line.

 

I would be willing to bet that players who use a line back off more frequently than those who do not and that their routine is longer.

[farmer]

Ban the line!!!!!

Why?

 

Just something else to slow the game down. Puts the mark behind the ball, adjusts the line, steps over the ball, line doesn't look right, marks ball again, adjusts the line (again), gets over the ball (again)...rinse and repeat. It's ridiculous.

Players back off putts all the time, line or no line.

 

I would be willing to bet that players who use a line back off more frequently than those who do not and that their routine is longer.

From my experience, not so, but you have to trust the line. I looked at your avatar, but what is it?

[Obee]

Ban the line!!!!!

Why?

 

Just something else to slow the game down. Puts the mark behind the ball, adjusts the line, steps over the ball, line doesn't look right, marks ball again, adjusts the line (again), gets over the ball (again)...rinse and repeat. It's ridiculous.

Players back off putts all the time, line or no line.

 

I would be willing to bet that players who use a line back off more frequently than those who do not and that their routine is longer.

 

Probably true.

 

I am a very fast player, even though I take longer than I used to, I'm still very fast.

 

At our 7100 yard 75.7/146 course, we routinely play 5 in less than four hours.

[Roody]

I would be willing to bet that players who use a line back off more frequently than those who do not and that their routine is longer.

 

I've used the line for years. I'm so comfortable and trusting of it that I rarely back off and re-align. Also, I am usually "lining it up" while the other players in my group are putting, so I am almost always ready when it's my turn. As long as you're ready to hit when it's your turn, you could be baking a cake out on the course for all I care.

[powerpushfade]

I would be willing to bet that players who use a line back off more frequently than those who do not and that their routine is longer.

 

I've used the line for years. I'm so comfortable and trusting of it that I rarely back off and re-align. Also, I am usually "lining it up" while the other players in my group are putting, so I am almost always ready when it's my turn. As long as you're ready to hit when it's your turn, you could be baking a cake out on the course for all I care.

I would play with you any day Roody. Someone who is preparing prior to their turn. Wish all my playing partners could grasp this concept. Still think it should be illegal. My avatar is a University of South Carolina Gamecock.

[deadsolid...shank]

Ban the line!!!!!

Why?

 

Just something else to slow the game down. Puts the mark behind the ball, adjusts the line, steps over the ball, line doesn't look right, marks ball again, adjusts the line (again), gets over the ball (again)...rinse and repeat. It's ridiculous.

 

 

People will just line up the logo on the ball then (probably won't play Callaway!)

 

All four of our group use the line. We're a little over three hour group.

 

The line won't make players slow. Fast players using the line will still be fast. Slow players not using the line will still be slow.

 

It really might take a couple seconds for each player in our group to line up the ball.

[diddle]

I use the line and it helps tremendously on short putts. It does feel uncomfortable sometimes when you are over the ball and think "no way that is even close to what it looked like from behind the ball" but I've learned to trust it and I make more putts...

 

It does take a few seconds more sometimes to line it up but I've learned to move quickly and study the green in a timely fashion. And it does save time if you are making more of those short putts... I pay very close attention to all the small subtle slopes, bumps, inconsistencies, indentations, grain, ball marks etc... along my line, especially around the hole. I want to know exactly how the ball will react as it rolls across my line... So once I've studied the green and lined up my ball, I can forget about the line and focus only on distance and a positive stoke...

[MeikoKaji]

I line the line on the top of my putter with the line on my ball to make one continuous line.

 

Since I committed to training my eye to use the line on all short putts (inside 10 feet?), my putting has gotten ridiculously better. I went from missing an average of 1.5 short putts (2.5 to 4 feet) per round to missing one of those every 5 rounds. Unbelievable difference for me.

 

Here were they keys for me:

1. Complete commitment to using the line at all times on short putts
   
2. Line up the line with my read (i.e., if I read the putt as "a ball outside left," then I'm aligning the line on the ball a ball outside left)
   
3. Confirm that the line on the ball does, indeed, match my read (by using the shaft on my putter as a "straight line" and lining up the line on the ball with the shaft).
   
4. Once I have confirmed that the line matches my read: Voila! Putt made!
   

Now I will say this: it takes a good 5 - 10 rounds of putting this way to not constantly second-guess yourself. I was always a "face aimed well left on a straight putt" guy, and so the line -- even when aligned perfectly to the center of the hole -- never looked correct to me. I always felt that my putter was aimed improperly (too far to the right) at first.

 

Well now I don't. I have literally re-trained my eyes, but it took a while.

 

The other thing is that I had to adjust my putting stroke to get the ball in the center of the hole when the face was aimed at the center. You see, if your putter is usually aimed left at address, and you are effectively "blocking" all of your putts, then using a straight line is not going to help you because you have a sh*tty stroke! LOL!

 

So after realizing that my aim was so far off (which I figured out very quickly by using the line and having a couple friends stand behind me while I putted while using the line), I realized, "Well, guess I'm going to have to develop a better, more repeating stroke, too!"

 

So I did that. :-)

 

I can't begin to tell you what this has done for me overall mindset on the golf course. I can't wait to "show off" my new putting prowess. It's kind of ridiculous, actually. I used to watch guys that banged their short, straightish putts dead into the back of the hole with such envy. "They must just be naturally gifted," I thought. Well finally I realized it was my sh*tty mechanics and the need to always see some break in my putts that was killing me.

 

I started watching the best putter at my club (a nationally ranked 52 year old mid-amateur nearing senior status), and I just copied a lot of the things he did, which was what lead me to using the line.

 

I'm sort of rambling now, but I just want you all to know that if you struggle with straight putts and are always looking for an edge to aim it that you can become a dead eye on straight "must make" putts. It will take some significant readjustment, but you can do it.

Great stuff, obee. I love your contributions and will call you obee wan from now on. Can i add a couple of things because for me it is identical but also involves head tilt. i could line up the line to the target from behind the ball but not beside the ball. i could not 'see the line' now matter how i tilted or closed one eye, etc...

 

but, by putting one hand below my eyes and tilting my head down (create a double chin) until the ball and line come into view i could finally 'see straight' and get into the proper alignment. it fixed standing too close or far away as well as head tilting (one eye above the other). my top of head to my shoulders is basically horizontal now. my head can turn back and forth on the line and i still 'see it'. now, when i play, i have total confidence that my setup is correct.

 

i hope this helps others too.

 

no more backing off putts for me either and stroke is confident and people say, "wow you try to make everything" confidence is key.

 

i think head position is a big part of that.

 

secondly, i think a center shafted putter like a SeeMore basically ensures proper setup. i think putters with bend in the shaft or heel shafted tend to force or fix compensations

[Obee]

I line the line on the top of my putter with the line on my ball to make one continuous line.

 

Since I committed to training my eye to use the line on all short putts (inside 10 feet?), my putting has gotten ridiculously better. I went from missing an average of 1.5 short putts (2.5 to 4 feet) per round to missing one of those every 5 rounds. Unbelievable difference for me.

 

Here were they keys for me:

1. Complete commitment to using the line at all times on short putts
   
2. Line up the line with my read (i.e., if I read the putt as "a ball outside left," then I'm aligning the line on the ball a ball outside left)
   
3. Confirm that the line on the ball does, indeed, match my read (by using the shaft on my putter as a "straight line" and lining up the line on the ball with the shaft).
   
4. Once I have confirmed that the line matches my read: Voila! Putt made!
   

Now I will say this: it takes a good 5 - 10 rounds of putting this way to not constantly second-guess yourself. I was always a "face aimed well left on a straight putt" guy, and so the line -- even when aligned perfectly to the center of the hole -- never looked correct to me. I always felt that my putter was aimed improperly (too far to the right) at first.

 

Well now I don't. I have literally re-trained my eyes, but it took a while.

 

The other thing is that I had to adjust my putting stroke to get the ball in the center of the hole when the face was aimed at the center. You see, if your putter is usually aimed left at address, and you are effectively "blocking" all of your putts, then using a straight line is not going to help you because you have a sh*tty stroke! LOL!

 

So after realizing that my aim was so far off (which I figured out very quickly by using the line and having a couple friends stand behind me while I putted while using the line), I realized, "Well, guess I'm going to have to develop a better, more repeating stroke, too!"

 

So I did that. :-)

 

I can't begin to tell you what this has done for me overall mindset on the golf course. I can't wait to "show off" my new putting prowess. It's kind of ridiculous, actually. I used to watch guys that banged their short, straightish putts dead into the back of the hole with such envy. "They must just be naturally gifted," I thought. Well finally I realized it was my sh*tty mechanics and the need to always see some break in my putts that was killing me.

 

I started watching the best putter at my club (a nationally ranked 52 year old mid-amateur nearing senior status), and I just copied a lot of the things he did, which was what lead me to using the line.

 

I'm sort of rambling now, but I just want you all to know that if you struggle with straight putts and are always looking for an edge to aim it that you can become a dead eye on straight "must make" putts. It will take some significant readjustment, but you can do it.

Great stuff, obee. I love your contributions and will call you obee wan from now on. Can i add a couple of things because for me it is identical but also involves head tilt. i could line up the line to the target from behind the ball but not beside the ball. i could not 'see the line' now matter how i tilted or closed one eye, etc...

 

but, by putting one hand below my eyes and tilting my head down (create a double chin) until the ball and line come into view i could finally 'see straight' and get into the proper alignment. it fixed standing too close or far away as well as head tilting (one eye above the other). my top of head to my shoulders is basically horizontal now. my head can turn back and forth on the line and i still 'see it'. now, when i play, i have total confidence that my setup is correct.

 

i hope this helps others too.

 

no more backing off putts for me either and stroke is confident and people say, "wow you try to make everything" confidence is key.

 

i think head position is a big part of that.

 

secondly, i think a center shafted putter like a SeeMore basically ensures proper setup. i think putters with bend in the shaft or heel shafted tend to force or fix compensations

 

Thank you for the kind words. Love your contribution here. Head position is, indeed, a big deal. Are used to tilt my head also. Never really thought of that as something I needed to fix. I think I stumbled on this new way of putting and it kind of fixed itself....

[thepinkbomber]

Curious if anyone else experienced the lines not matching from behind and the side of the ball...

 

So I switched to a line on the ball two decades ago. I have trained myself to aim very straight behind the ball through deliberate practice. Just setup a line the line on the putter to the line on the ball and I would be perfectly aligned was the theory.

 

I now have the ability to verify if the face is square. I was actually aiming a little left every time until now.

 

Now that I know what a square face actually looks like when I setup to a ball that was aligned straight from behind and verified by others after the setup line visually looks like it is pointing left a little at setup.

 

This happens whether my eyes are over the ball, outside the ball, or inside the ball by varying amounts. I am right eye dominant strong and right handed.

 

I have removed the parallax affect with the line to the target by doing the line test and finding the right place inside the ball but that doesn't change the line itself.

 

I think my solution in this case is to use no line which is a strong habit that will need to broken and relearn how to aim the face square without a line unless someone else has found a way around this.

[Need2golfalot]

I'm left eye dominant and am aiming the putter left of the target. I got a spin balancer that draws the line and I like. Making more short putts but still miss putts left.

 

Gotta use spin balanced golf balls so I'm stuck with the line. Sometimes it's hard to get line pointed right when placing on the ground.

[Galanga]

I am experimenting with a line on the ball again as I am a very spotty putter - mostly because I am not confident in my aim. Most difficult part, as many have said, is getting square to the line as you setup and seeing that the line looks good from the setup position. I think feeling the line is right when you are over the putt is key to me making a confident putt - I have trouble trusting it if it doesn't look good.

 

A positive side effect of using a line for me, is that it forces me to pick a no-doubt read and commit to it. Gotta pick an aim point and live and die by it. I can't just walk up there and give it a hit and a hope with a general read about which I have made no certain commitment.

 

Taking a page from MeikoKaji's book, I notice that when I raise my eyes to the horizon (MeikoKaji did the same but used his hand to block sight of the ball until his head was well bent down) and then lower them so I can see the ball the line looks right. Don't know why, but, it helps. I notice this helps me align the ball from behind as well, because, my early efforts were often poorly aimed.

 

I also have the line around 1/2 the circumference of the ball. I put my putter against the line on the back of the ball and that is my "nail". And, I look at the line on the front of the ball and try to drive the "nail" through the line on the front of the ball. Helps me be square and solid through the ball instead of arcing off the path.

 

Working it.

[juliette91]

I find that if I am very particular about the line on my ball pointing at my aimpoint, and I'm very particular about my putter line being lined up to the ball. I can often get the ball started on line.

 

My putting performance has improved drastically because I introduced these 3 things. It baffles me the stats say other wise.

 

https://www.golfclub...pg_egdetail.jpg

 

Lovely putter to line up with this method

 

I second this technique. Caveat: I'm a natural LH who putts RH so lining up the putter is not natural. Using a line on the ball significantly helps me. A great thing about using a line on the ball is that it can quickly show you if your ball is turning end over end without any sidespin. This seems to me to be critical. Many say the hard part is lining up the line on the ball with your aim point, that it is very difficult to do perfectly. I agree this part is the hardest part but if you are flexible you can stand far enough behind the ball so your hand holding the ball is stretched to almost its max. That will put your eye much lower to the ground and give you a much better lining up visual.

 

Use the line first to get accustomed to rolling the ball end over end. Once you can get the ball rolling end over end, then work on accurately lining up the ball line with your aim point. Actually, because you're low to the ground when lining up the ball line you have a much better visual perspective of the putting line than when you are upright looking down on the ball.

[Galanga]

I struggle lining the line on the ball to my aimpoint. Takes several rinse and repeat cycles to get right. Frustrating, takes more time than I like and diminishes my confidence in the alignment. I took one of those poker chip ball markers and put a straight black line across it with a Sharpie. In practice, I notice I can line up the line on the poker chip from squating behind the line - get it right pretty much every time. I then line the ball line up to the line on the chip and go. Works well. When playing you of course can't move the orientation of the mark unless you put the ball back down it its spot. I think because the chip is flat it makes it much easier to align. You can buy a mark w line on it - I splurged on an Aimpro for $5. But, I suspect it won't be significantly better than a poker chip w a line on it. Of course, some folks dislike the size of a chip, But, that's another kettle of fish.

[sui generis]

I like a line all the way around the ball. Using a normal red Sharpie on my Supersoft, I find that half way through the round the line begins to smear and/or wear off. In Lowes the other day I saw a Sharpie Extreme, so I bought one. So far it doesn't seem to smear as badly.

[juliette91]

I struggle lining the line on the ball to my aimpoint. Takes several rinse and repeat cycles to get right. Frustrating, takes more time than I like and diminishes my confidence in the alignment. I took one of those poker chip ball markers and put a straight black line across it with a Sharpie. In practice, I notice I can line up the line on the poker chip from squating behind the line - get it right pretty much every time. I then line the ball line up to the line on the chip and go. Works well. When playing you of course can't move the orientation of the mark unless you put the ball back down it its spot. I think because the chip is flat it makes it much easier to align. You can buy a mark w line on it - I splurged on an Aimpro for $5. But, I suspect it won't be significantly better than a poker chip w a line on it. Of course, some folks dislike the size of a chip, But, that's another kettle of fish.

 

That's a good suggestion for those who find lining up the rounded line on the ball to be too difficult. I'm going to try that to see if it makes lining up any easier. So say you initially mark your ball with this poker chip behind the ball---or something else big enough so a line bisecting it would be long enough to be effective. You're saying you couldn't really re-orient it to the aiming point when it was your turn to putt because that would be moving the ball mark?

[Galanga]

You can only reorient the chip after you replace the ball. Reorient w ball in place and then orient the ball to line on the chip. Seems a little silly to have to put the ball down, but, that is the rule. Otherwise, you would be charged w moving the mark which would cause you to not put the ball in the right place. Cameron did a ball marker somewhat akin to this 5-7 years ago (had the same alignment function), but it cost circa $40-60.

[Sun Devil]

Curious how many pros use the line (or their line) with their putting?

[sui generis]

Curious how many pros use the line (or their line) with their putting?

 

Do you have a television set? Turn it on one Saturday afternoon and watch the circus for an hour or two. Then report back as to how many tv pros don't use a line or the line. My guess is the number who don't line up the ball will be zero. :taunt: