How do you mark your ball for identification?

[BuckeyeNut]

This pic is dated, but my mark never changes!  Nobody takes "my ball" by accident.................

 

[Austin_Sachs]

When marking for tournaments, I put two orange dots below the number. When practicing I tend not to mark, but might change that this year to help practice like you compete.

[Ernest Jones]

I embed some bark in the dimples. 

[ppine]

a small green pine tree.

It seems to be the people from adjacent holes that sometimes are the most likely to pick up your ball. They may have made a bad shot and are in a hurry to get back in play.

[Lihu]

4 hours ago, Ernest Jones said:

I embed some bark in the dimples. 

Yes, I also found this to be the most effective method to prevent ball theft.

[Fourputt]

19 hours ago, Ernest Jones said:

I embed some bark in the dimples. 

Then too, there is nothing like a little cart path road rash.  

[Fourputt]

Here is mine, from Tin Cup:

[Pretzel]

I put one green dot on each side of the Titleist logo. It's nice because the new balls have a dimple pattern that perfectly places a smaller sized dimple just to either side of one of the Titleist scripts (and I've noticed that they stamp each ball in the same place relative to the dimple pattern, which is actually really convenient).

I used to do a single black dot underneath the number until I played in a tournament with a playing partner who did the same thing a couple years ago. I had a green sharpie with me that I use to mark my hole-by-hole scores and he had nothing, so I found two dimples on either side of the script, filled them in, and have been marking my balls that way (minus the black dot under the number, I ditched that) ever since.

[Traveller]

Rule 6-5 states: "The responsibility for playing the proper ball rests with the player. Each player should put an identification mark on his ball."

note that it says "should" and no mention of a penalty if you don't. 

 

[Pretzel]

1 hour ago, Traveller said:

Rule 6-5 states: "The responsibility for playing the proper ball rests with the player. Each player should put an identification mark on his ball."

note that it says "should" and no mention of a penalty if you don't. 

 

There is, however, a penalty if you cannot identify your ball with certainty during the round. If you cannot identify your golf ball with certainty you are required to declare it lost and proceed under the lost ball rules. Marking your ball allows for certain identification of your ball in all circumstances where your ball can be found.

[gregsandiego]

2 hours ago, Pretzel said:

I put one green dot on each side of the Titleist logo. It's nice because the new balls have a dimple pattern that perfectly places a smaller sized dimple just to either side of one of the Titleist scripts (and I've noticed that they stamp each ball in the same place relative to the dimple pattern, which is actually really convenient).

I used to do a single black dot underneath the number until I played in a tournament with a playing partner who did the same thing a couple years ago. I had a green sharpie with me that I use to mark my hole-by-hole scores and he had nothing, so I found two dimples on either side of the script, filled them in, and have been marking my balls that way (minus the black dot under the number, I ditched that) ever since.

Why do most feel like they must create some unique code marking? I use a "G" for my name with an orange sharpie.

The problem I do have is the orange seems to wear off quickly. 

[Golfingdad]

20 minutes ago, gregsandiego said:

Why do most feel like they must create some unique code marking? I use a "G" for my name with an orange sharpie.

The problem I do have is the orange seems to wear off quickly. 

I don't understand your question. If it's not unique then how could you identify it?  Secondly, I've never seen a ball marked with an orange G before.

[WillM]

I mark my ball with three red dots above and right of the "Titleist"

Got it from the movie Predator :)

 

[Traveller]

1 hour ago, Pretzel said:

There is, however, a penalty if you cannot identify your ball with certainty during the round. If you cannot identify your golf ball with certainty you are required to declare it lost and proceed under the lost ball rules. Marking your ball allows for certain identification of your ball in all circumstances where your ball can be found.

Agreed

[djfajt71]

I put my initials over and under the Callaway insignia on both sides of the ball. 

[saevel25]

Usually one line above and below the name on the ball. 

[freshmanUTA]

Two or three straight lines to black out the brand. If I can't see that they're Prov1x's I'm not worried about losing them.

[iacas]

I color the dimple the # is in with whatever color sharpie I feel like at the time. On both sides. Simple but I've never seen someone else do this.

I did just get a four-pack of tin-cup.com cups, though. So we'll see if that changes things.