Teeing Alignment

[iPutt]

Now I know most people use the alignment aid on the golfball for putting, but does anyone else use this on the tee box? I've always done this but realized this season that no one else really does. I actually squat down and align the line on the ball to my target on each tee shot. I guess I really have to ask if this is illegal? Thanks for the help.

[JetFan1983]

It's not illegal and I do it on every tee box. I've never seen someone else do it either that I've been grouped with.

I first saw Villegas's former caddy do it on every tee box at Q-School in 2010 (can't remember his name, but he missed his card and was on the Nationwide last year) and thought it was a great idea since I used to have the problem of aiming too far to the right. I haven't had an alignment problem since.

We could always use an intermediate target a few feet in front of the ball too, but I like the alignment aid more, especially if I'm allowed to use it to my advantage. I use an intermediate target for every other shot (approach, chip, putt).

I don't use the aid on the putting green because I need to focus more on speed than I do starting it on the correct line. I used to focus too much on starting line and would often have very poor speed. That's just me though.

[RPMPIRE]

I've slowly stepped away from using an alignment aid on the ball and mostly use intermediate targets on more focused objects or points, like trees in the distance, a blade of grass, or just an imaginary point up to 6 feet in front of me. I still draw a line on the ball but I mostly use it to see the rotations on the ball during a putt.

There are actually a few people I know that use the alignment aids on the tee. Some being a line or some just face the logo of the ball towards the face of the club.

[BuckeyeNut]

I'm the opposite......

When I putt, I turn the ball so "all white" shows.......a line on the ball is a distraction for me.  The chances are, it's not aimed perfect anyway because I don't have the patience to align, and realign...etc, etc....to make it right. It takes work to get that line perfect=slow play.  I'm a feel putter.....I feel the line and pick an intermediate target between me and the hole and I let it flow... .'nananananana' .....feel the ball, be the ball. My target is somewhere between me and the cup....not a line on the ball.

On the tee box...I stand behind my ball and pick a target....I step up....and let-it-rip.  I don't think about much.  Just my target downrange....I don't think about much when swinging the BIG DOG except for good tempo.....

[JetFan1983]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeNut

I'm the opposite......

When I putt, I turn the ball so "all white" shows.......a line on the ball is a distraction for me.  The chances are, it's not aimed perfect anyway because I don't have the patience to align, and realign...etc, etc....to make it right.

Agreed. Same for me when putting.

[iPutt]

Originally Posted by JetFan1983

We could always use an intermediate target a few feet in front of the ball too, but I like the alignment aid more, especially if I'm allowed to use it to my advantage. I use an intermediate target for every other shot (approach, chip, putt).

I do exactly this, I think that I just like to have the alignment because even if it isn't perfect (Like BuckeyeNut said), it's one less thing that I need to think about while I stand over my shot and can focus completely on feel or speed or whatever everyone else is talking about. I guess to each his own though and I was just more concerned about the legality of it since I don't think it's widely used.

[RPMPIRE]

There is a tour player (can't remember his name) that writes one-word swing thoughs on his ball. The most recent one I saw was "Relax" right in big, green letters. Don't know if this is legal, but this is off topic.

[newtogolf]

I use alignment on driving and putting.  On the tee box I only use it with my driver or 3 wood to line up the ball with the alignment graphic on the club.  On putts I'm not anal about targeting, the line again helps to ensure I strike the ball in the center of the putter.

[mdl]

Quote:

There is a tour player (can't remember his name) that writes one-word swing thoughs on his ball. The most recent one I saw was "Relax" right in big, green letters. Don't know if this is legal, but this is off topic.

Nice.  I like this.  I might start writing "SMOOTH" on my balls!

Originally Posted by BuckeyeNut

I'm the opposite......

When I putt, I turn the ball so "all white" shows.......a line on the ball is a distraction for me.

Me too.  If the markings on the ball are busy enough or clearly not linear, I'll often just play it as I happen to put it down (on the tee or on the green), but some days I'll feel more distractable and actively turn the ball so only white shows.