Do You Draw a Line Around Your Ball?

[ChetlovesMer]

I found an old magazine article from 15 years ago in which Tiger Woods claims drawing a line around your ball, and lining that ball up using the line before putting will save you as many as 3 strokes per round.... Felt like a lot to me. 

Anyhow, I am one of those guys who likes to have a line on his ball and I do line it up before putting... not sure I'm saving as much as 3 strokes per round, however.

How many of you draw a line around your ball, or do you use the ball's logo to line up, or do you not care and just putt it. 

[iacas]

I've tested over a hundred people. Almost none of them could point the line inside the hole from 12-15 feet.

Hence, the line actually impairs your ability to aim, or doesn't help you at all.

I just use the white part of the ball.

[klineka]

IIRC, @iacas tested this (might have been in LSW? Cant remember for sure) and found that it made no difference whether any sort of line was used or not. 

I used to line up the mark on the ball, like the "Chromesoft" or the "ProV1" with my intended line, but now I prefer looking down and not seeing any logo or alignment aid. 

Edit: Yup what Erik said.

Edited January 3, 2019 by klineka

[DeadMan]

I use a line and use it line myself up on all putts. I am trying to break myself of that habit, though. Right now, I'm only using it to line up on short putts (6 feet or less, I'd say) and on long putts (over 40 feet). It probably doesn't actually help me on those putts, but it feels like it does. It still would be best to break myself of the habit entirely, I'm sure. I'm working on it.

[dennyjones]

9 minutes ago, klineka said:

IIRC, @iacas tested this (might have been in LSW? Cant remember for sure) and found that it made no difference whether any sort of line was used or not. 

I used to line up the mark on the ball, like the "Chromesoft" or the "ProV1" with my intended line, but now I prefer looking down and not seeing any logo or alignment aid. 

Edit: Yup what Erik said.

Echo...👍

[phillyk]

I just randomly place the ball.  I think the only balls that would bother me visually, are neon colored and the soccer balls. I do see a lot of people try to use a line or logo and when I watch them putt, the ball almost never starts on that line. 

[JetFan1983]

I used to do this but felt after a large enough sample that it impeded my ability to aim. I now just pick an imperfection on the ground on my intended line and just aim at that. It’s faster and it works. 

[Piz]

I line up the logo, on short putts, when I am putting poorly.  It gives me something positive to think of.  Most of the time I don't bother.

[rehmwa]

I mark green lines on my ball (that stock cross template so they are straight and neat and repeatable) so I can ID it from a distance.  In no way do I use these for putting.  I don't even avoid the lines while putting (eg using the white) the ball just goes down any which way - it's like they don't exist - round ball and flat face of the putter, what's on the ball doesn't seem to bother or help me.  As long as it's clean......

I tried to use the lines after watching pros - it's annoying and zero value added.

Edited January 3, 2019 by rehmwa

[Lihu]

1 hour ago, ChetlovesMer said:

I found an old magazine article from 15 years ago in which Tiger Woods claims drawing a line around your ball, and lining that ball up using the line before putting will save you as many as 3 strokes per round.... Felt like a lot to me. 

Anyhow, I am one of those guys who likes to have a line on his ball and I do line it up before putting... not sure I'm saving as much as 3 strokes per round, however.

How many of you draw a line around your ball, or do you use the ball's logo to line up, or do you not care and just putt it. 

I line up to the logo, but that’s only because I’m used to targeting stuff from shooting sports. The alignment is right on, but breaks or the grain affects the direction so much I know it’s a pretty useless thing to do. So, after I setup the shot with Aimpoint using the “targeting” method I hope for the best. It’s just a habit that I know doesn’t really help...

The reason why most people can’t line things up with a logo is the ball is on the ground. Unless, you’re used to shooting with iron sights in a low prone position you won’t be able to line up accurately.

Image: Camilo Villegas' Spider-Man Pose for Reading Greens

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Found on Google from thoughtco.com

 

[boogielicious]

I try to put it down with the least amount of marking. I aim my putter, not the ball. I also think it makes folks pre-putt routines longer.

[Shindig]

I used to use something straight, such as the writing of "Bridgestone e6" on my ball, to line up with where I intended to start it.  Then I took Erik's challenge and discovered that I don't actually line mine up straight, so I was adding noise to the procedure.  Now, if I even pick up the ball to move it, I try to see as much blank as possible, and I use landmarks (well, blemishes etc) to line myself up.

[Patch]

I voted other.

I have one those ball spinner things that allows me to put a ring around the ball. However, I don't use it for aiming purposes very often.  I use it more so for identifying my ball when needed.  . 

What I depend on most when putting is getting my putter face aligned properly to roll the ball on my chosen line. Perpendicular ro my chosen line if you will. 

The line on the ball, might help a little (very little) when aiming, but it does not roll the ball straight. The putter face, used in conjunction with putting stance is what controls where the ball rolls. 

[Melly9]

I line my practice balls so I can judge my stroke making sure I’m getting a pure roll. Gamer balls no line. 

[saevel25]

21 hours ago, iacas said:

I've tested over a hundred people. Almost none of them could point the line inside the hole from 12-15 feet.

Was this test at Golf Evolution? If so, it just validates it even more since that is an artificial putting green.

22 hours ago, ChetlovesMer said:

found an old magazine article from 15 years ago in which Tiger Woods claims drawing a line around your ball, and lining that ball up using the line before putting will save you as many as 3 strokes per round.... Felt like a lot to me. 

Not buying it. Maybe it's a mental thing for Tiger.

For most people, they will struggle to line it up. If a golfer is putting on poor greens, you could spend minutes trying to get the ball to lay right to get it to line up.

Lines can make the golfer aim incorrectly, so it might do harm.

[ChetlovesMer]

5 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

Not buying it. Maybe it's a mental thing for Tiger.

In the article Tiger explains that when putting you have to worry about hitting the right speed and on the correct line. He said that if you line up the ball with an alignment line, then when you are putting you only have to worry about the speed. So, you've removed 50% of the thoughts clouding your mind. You can focus completely on speed. 

I have to admit I put a line on my ball, and I use it for putting. I'm not sure if I (or if Tiger for that matter) would make or miss any more or fewer putts if it wasn't there. 

[saevel25]

3 minutes ago, ChetlovesMer said:

In the article Tiger explains that when putting you have to worry about hitting the right speed and on the correct line. He said that if you line up the ball with an alignment line, then when you are putting you only have to worry about the speed. So, you've removed 50% of the thoughts clouding your mind. You can focus completely on speed. 

I tried a line once and I found myself constantly rechecking the alignment of the ball. If the ball was on an bad green, then it could be impossible to line up the putt. For me, it was way more of an annoyance.

Maybe Tiger needed a different putter ;).

[p1n9183]

On putts outside 10 feet i just aim left or rigth to the hole with my body and focus everything on speed.     

On shorter putts first i align the clubface to my target with the line on the putter. Then i take my stance for that clubface angle. Afterwards i search for a spot 1 foot ahead of the ball in the line with the clubface angle. And i putt trying to roll the ball over that spot. If i hit the spot thats a good putt even if i miss the putt.