Line up the ball on the green?

[MMiller]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeNut

it takes feel to be a good putter.  No line on the ball will give that....................

........but having great feel and a line on the ball might make one an even better putter.

[Jimdangles]

I sometimes line it up but it really doesn't make a huge difference to me. sometimes I clean it, a little grass stain doesn't matter. If I'm marking my ball its most likely because I don't want to be in someones line or I am just being polite and taking it out of their peripherals also.

[rustyredcab]

Always mark my ball with lines. A plus sign of lines. Makes it easiest ball to identify and I use the lines to line up putts and tee shots. Get the line pointed on my intended line, line up the putter (or clubhead) to match the lines on the ball. Once I have the line, only distance is an issue. I should be able to start the ball on that line almost every time.

I do not take much time. I may take longer than some lining up the ball, but I do not take practice strokes or wander around reading a putt when it is my turn to play. My mark has geometry on it too (not plane color -- currently an Illini block I) so that I can be lining up the mark in my head before my turn and simple set the ball nearly perfectly on my intended line. I step back, confirm or adjust the ball, pick up my mark. Put the putter in line with the line on the ball. Set my feet on a parallel line to the line on the ball. Look at my spot for distance. Look at the ball. See the spot for distance in my mind. And stroke the putt.

Lining up a putt does not take much time especially if it allows you to hit a good putt. Lining up three putts takes time.

I use the same line up method for tee shots. I use the line to make sure I am setting up correctly on my intended line. I may not hit them all straight, but I never hit one where I wanted only to find out I was lined up wrong.