Site line or dot?

[KGolfCT]

Any preferences out there? Been fence sitting on a custom build for the top line, can't decide between site line, dot, or leaving it blank. 

 

I've played putters with flange lines and one with a site dot a long time ago, can hardly remember. I have a few older Newports that are blank in the cavity and top line. Been leaning towards a dot on the top line, but I haven't yet fully committed.

 

What do you have on yours? Prefer? Why?

 

[MattM97]

If you're indecisive can always go blank, draw on a dot or line and if you like it just send it back to the maker to add a line or dot. 

[SBH9458]

24 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

If you're indecisive can always go blank, draw on a dot or line and if you like it just send it back to the maker to add a line or dot. 

@KGolfCT This is a great way to give yourself options of the future.  
 

As for me, lines are the only way to go.  The others never really did work for me.  

[KGolfCT]

38 minutes ago, SBH9458 said:

@KGolfCT This is a great way to give yourself options of the future.  
 

As for me, lines are the only way to go.  The others never really did work for me.  

 

Thanks, honestly was initially going to have a site line put on the top line, but the more I've been thinking about it, site dot or blank will likely be the outcome. I'm curious why and what people prefer. When I've used putters with flange lines, it's been helpful, but not something I always paid attention to when I'm on the course. The site dot may help with strike, maybe. I've always loved the look of a clean putter at address.

 

I am having the builder go blank for now, but I have a little time to add a dot in the next couple weeks.

 

Anyone else?

 

Thank you!

 

 

[GQ0208]

I have put a circle or X on my customs to let me know where the middle is. I find a line either on top or back is a distraction to me because I use the face of the putter to aim. To me, the line never seems correct for my aim point and causes me to push or pull putts to try to compensate based on what brain thinks. 

[MerryTex]

I've always felt more comfortable with a dot. Having a line can cause me to be indecisive and make second guesses. With a dot, I just align the face or sometimes the flange that frames the ball, and then let a rip. The dot frees up my thinking and stroke and I have found that I putt better with a dot compared to having a line - whether that's on the top line or the flange. 

[KGolfCT]

7 minutes ago, GQ0208 said:

I have put a circle or X on my customs to let me know where the middle is. I find a line either on top or back is a distraction to me because I use the face of the putter to aim. To me, the line never seems correct for my aim point and causes me to push or pull putts to try to compensate based on what brain thinks. 

 

Likewise, I always use the face to aim and set up to my putting target. Flange line hasn't been a distraction, but it's also something I just don't pay attention to. Wish more makers would consider making flange lines optional or just not put on, but probably not at all cost effective. Thanks for the reply.

 

[jtmagic]

I have always preferred a line.  When I visualize putting, it is translated in my head as a line (not a spot) and I think that has influenced my preference for line on putter.  

[Dabetic]

1 hour ago, MattM97 said:

If you're indecisive can always go blank, draw on a dot or line and if you like it just send it back to the maker to add a line or dot. 

You really need to get your hands on each to see what works for you..this is a very personal decision, and having been in your shoes, I just don't think you can take advice from other people on this.

 

If you don't try out your options, then I'd go with what @MattM97 said. I tried a dot, and for all the times I liked it, there were also times I looked down and had no idea what I was looking at. So I got a naked putter to start from "zero" and see what I thought. Similar deal. So I put a top line on it with nail polish.

 

You can try all the options with a naked putter + nail polish. FWIW mine has stayed on >1yr now...figured it would have rubbed off by now but nope! Once you land on a decision you can get it customized but I'm just fine w the polish at this point

[MattM97]

26 minutes ago, KGolfCT said:

 

Thanks, honestly was initially going to have a site line put on the top line, but the more I've been thinking about it, site dot or blank will likely be the outcome. I'm curious why and what people prefer. When I've used putters with flange lines, it's been helpful, but not something I always paid attention to when I'm on the course. The site dot may help with strike, maybe. I've always loved the look of a clean putter at address.

 

I am having the builder go blank for now, but I have a little time to add a dot in the next couple weeks.

 

Anyone else?

 

Thank you!

 

 

 

If you're using the face to aim and find an alignment on the top rail of the putter helps it's really just personal, a dot or topline isn't subjectively better it's what you like better. I don't really like dots myself, I could use one but prefer a topline or nothing, someone else could be the opposite. 

[dj6627]

Dot

[KGolfCT]

6 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

 

If you're using the face to aim and find an alignment on the top rail of the putter helps it's really just personal, a dot or topline isn't subjectively better it's what you like better. I don't really like dots myself, I could use one but prefer a topline or nothing, someone else could be the opposite. 

Makes sense. I like to hear different thought processes about why people prefer different set ups, sometimes sheds light on things I wasn’t aware of. I may end up putting a removable dot on a Newport I have to experiment with and without an aid on the top line. 

[Donahue2]

I have always used a line on my putter until I switched to a SC newport beach with no alignment at all. I statistically had my best season with it (tournaments/qualifying) I really loved it. I recently ordered a Spider tour all blacked out but with a black dot, so I have something to help line it up but not something that will catch my eye too much. excited to try it out. But as of late I have not been a big fan of the line.

Edited February 11 by Donahue2

[Jim53]

What is the best way to find the center of the putter face? I have a naked Toulon that I like but would try a sharpie dot to see if it is any difference.

[MattM97]

8 minutes ago, KGolfCT said:

Makes sense. I like to hear different thought processes about why people prefer different set ups, sometimes sheds light on things I wasn’t aware of. I may end up putting a removable dot on a Newport I have to experiment with and without an aid on the top line. 

 

A lot of people will say "I just like the look" some will actually deep dive and figure out what they aim best. It should be what you aim best and what you like the look of. I'm lead eye dominant and use the face or lead edge of the putter to aim and found out in testing that adding an alignment on the top rail helps me on shorter putts where it's irrelevant on longer putts for the most part. Why I did a line over a dot is because I don't really like dot alignments, they're either too small or too big and I just like a line more. 

 

I came to this conclusion from a lot of research on my end and also a tour level fitting but most won't do that, hence why the suggestion of a naked putter and adding temporary alignment is a good way to go cause you can draw whatever and see what works best. There are guys who have ended up with a ball width alignment on the top rail cause it what had them aiming best and they never would have thought about that.  

[MattM97]

2 minutes ago, Jim53 said:

What is the best way to find the center of the putter face? I have a naked Toulon that I like but would try a sharpie dot to see if it is any difference.

 

This is the least scientific way but it's not bad.

 

Hold the putter by the shaft gently with the face pointing towards you, grab a ball and tap along the face, if you're extreme heel or toe the putter will twist when tapped with the ball, when you get close to center it will not twist when the ball smacks it.

 

This isn't the most accurate way but it's close without pulling the shaft and balancing the head on a nail or beam. It will get you close enough. 

[Unteachable]

When I went to ping for the PLD fitting we found out pretty quickly that a top line or dot was best for me. 
 

I always had found myself getting distracted and watching the flange line in the backswing. 
 

I was scared to commit to a dot so I went with a small top line on the first one. 
 

the second one that I ordered at a lighter weight I went with the dot and I love it. 
 

right handed left eye dominant 

[Sean289]

I would go dot or blank. A few years back, I bought the DJ Spider Tour Black. That putter didn’t have any alignment aids. It made me realise that aim so much better with the vertical lines. 

[wjets]

Try this.

[wjets]

Side view 

[iteachgolf]

Find someone who understands how to do a comprehensive fitting. Will be best money you can spend

[KGolfCT]

19 minutes ago, wjets said:

Side view 

A little too busy for my preference, but nice stick. 

 

[Phabs]

As long as it’s on the top line I don’t care. 

[hammergolf]

Sight line on top flange is my first choice. Line in back flange is second choice. 

[spinnywedge]

I've used both but prefer a dot now. I use the line on my ball to line up putts, and I naturally like to set up with my putter face a touch open. Having a site line and trying to match it to my ball line just isn't as comfortable, but I don't think I putt much better with one or the other.

[Glock917]

It depends on how you aim with a specific putter, in your case a newport.

 

To me newports having soft edges and lines I do not use them to align everything up like I would do with a newport 2 

Plus the cavity being longer than the width of the ball I do it less so and more with the face thus would be more of a blank or dot.

 

I prefer a line when the edges are straight and sharper where things line up especially a smaller length cavity that is the width of the ball.  That lines up well with a line on the topline. 

 

Never understood the line on flange. I use the lines of the top and bottom edges of the flange cavity so do not need one in the middle. Plus I am right eyed or trail eyed dominant too with a pretty weak left eye and can't stand the flange line haha

[MK7Golf21]

depends on the type of putter for me. The mallets, like a TM spider, I actually like a line and helps me to line it up. On blades a flange line doesn't do anything for me and prefer a dot. Be prepared though, once you get a dot on a blade and like it, it becomes very difficult to find other blades with dots for a sight line. Most retailers just throw a flange line on them. 

[KGolfCT]

31 minutes ago, MK7Golf21 said:

depends on the type of putter for me. The mallets, like a TM spider, I actually like a line and helps me to line it up. On blades a flange line doesn't do anything for me and prefer a dot. Be prepared though, once you get a dot on a blade and like it, it becomes very difficult to find other blades with dots for a sight line. Most retailers just throw a flange line on them. 

 

Talked with the builder and leaving the top edge blank for now. I'll pics up a small magnetic circle to put on the top to test out when I get it. Easier to add a site dot after then remove one. Thanks!

 

[BYK]

Neither. 
 

Naked. 

[Tar_Heel_93]

On 2/11/2025 at 8:42 AM, KGolfCT said:

Any preferences out there? Been fence sitting on a custom build for the top line, can't decide between site line, dot, or leaving it blank. 

 

I've played putters with flange lines and one with a site dot a long time ago, can hardly remember. I have a few older Newports that are blank in the cavity and top line. Been leaning towards a dot on the top line, but I haven't yet fully committed.

 

What do you have on yours? Prefer? Why?

 

Use a sharpie and put a dot on 1 Newport and a line on the other one. Practice with each and see which one works better. Remove the sharpie marks with solvent once you are done. Good luck with your choice.