Putting a line on your ball distracting or not helping

Unfollow Thread

By Matthew A

  • 0 Likes
  • 29 Replies
  1. Matthew A

    Matthew A
    El dorado hills, CA

    Do any of you find that putting a line on your ball is distracting or doesn't really help my putting at all.

  2. Cath D.

    Cath D.
    Carlsbad, CA

    What TPI has found out is that if you are a visual putter, the line can be distracting especially if it doesn't match up exactly as you see it.  However, if you are more of a mechanical putter, the line will help free up your stroke so that it is one less thing to think about when putting. 

  3. Steve N

    Steve N
    Sarasota, FL

    According to putting guru DS, there should be no line on the ball because it distracts you from focusing on visualizing the path of the ball into the hole.  He says that when you use a line you worry about whether the line is aimed correctly, instead of focusing on what matters most ---- seeing the line of the putt.

  4. Mike C

    Mike C
    Dallas, TX

    Cathi, Titleist Club Concierge said:

    What TPI has found out is that if you are a visual putter, the line can be distracting especially if it doesn't match up exactly as you see it.  However, if you are more of a mechanical putter, the line will help free up your stroke so that it is one less thing to think about when putting. 

     
    This is an interesting topic and the comments both for and against are in line with Cathi's comments from TPI.  Personally, I prefer to put the alignment aid on my intended line to ensure I start the ball on the correct line.  I can also see where this would be a distraction for some who prefer no alignment aid and pick a spot on the line to start their putt.  I guess after I read a lot of these comments I fall into the school of a mechanical putter.  Once I set the ball down with the alignment arrow on my line, I feel I am free to just focus on speed and putting a good stroke on the ball.
  5. William B

    William B
    Opa Locka, FL

    I have been putting ever since using a line over the ProV stamp. It helps me aim better and forget about where to aim for the highest point in the putting curve line. I play to a 1 if that helps. Also play better with a Putter with a sight dot (009). Recently got an IBRM which has a flange line and it helps me to confirm that I'm aiming at the correct line.

    Just my $0.02

  6. Steve G

    Steve G
    Willoughby, OH

    I do both and don't see any difference
  7. Curtis M

    Curtis M
    moline, IL

    I find it very helpful, if you can ready the putt properly.  Line or no line if your read is wrong, nothing is going to help!

  8. Bomber3

    Bomber3
    Lake St Louis, MO

    Military

    Matt,

    There was a similar post made a couple weeks ago (late June) with multiple replies.  You might want to scroll down and take a look at the post and all the replies.

    I definitely find using the putting line or the Titleist script for lining up my putt to be distracting.  I tried to use both the line and text in the past, but found that it just didn't work for me.  I like to read my putt, pick a spot for my line from behind my ball, place my ball so no lines or text are showing, line myself up and pull the trigger.


    Barry

  9. Golf4evr

    Golf4evr
    Talbott TN

    Well I find if you point the Titleist name or the aim line to the point of the line I want my putt to take, that my putter alignment line will be in align with my stroke. If the name or alignment line waver or do not roll in a straight line and wobble, then I did not make a straight clubface strike on the ball! if I hit the ball with an open or closed face the ball line will not roll straight to line I wanted to hit. And even if you make a good distance stroke and you miss your line then you don't have as good of a chance to sink the putt.Your head should be still at impact anyway and staring at the alignment line or Titleist name will keep you from moving your head and keeping your eyes on the ball. But , try striking a ball with the line and see how straight the line stays.
  10. Tracy C

    Tracy C
    Bluefield, VA

    I find that the line on the ball helps me. I am able to concentrate more on the speed of the putt which helps free my stroke .
  11. Tracy C

    Tracy C
    Bluefield, VA

    I believe the line is very helpful. I line it up and then concentrate on the speed. It allows me to have a free stroke. I believe that the fewer things running through the mind the better.
  12. Myron G

    Myron G
    Fort Washington, MD

    Military
    Matthew, The line can be a distraction. To be honest, I am moving away from using the line exclusively, to only using it when the putting line is inside the cup. For those flat 3 and 4 footers, the line really helps me. But for anything a ball or more outside the cup or that slippery downhill breaker, I find the line distracting. Especially, when I get over the ball and it appears that I do not have enough or have played too much break. At that point the guessing game begins, trust the line you saw behind the ball or adjust for what you are seeing now. I was pretty happy with my 28 putts on this past Saturday using the line only on short straight putts. From reading this thread, it appears I am more of a visual putter, than a mechanical.
  13. Spudstarch

    Spudstarch
    Walnut Creek, CA

    Myron G said:

    Matthew, The line can be a distraction. To be honest, I am moving away from using the line exclusively, to only using it when the putting line is inside the cup. For those flat 3 and 4 footers, the line really helps me. But for anything a ball or more outside the cup or that slippery downhill breaker, I find the line distracting. Especially, when I get over the ball and it appears that I do not have enough or have played too much break. At that point the guessing game begins, trust the line you saw behind the ball or adjust for what you are seeing now. I was pretty happy with my 28 putts on this past Saturday using the line only on short straight putts. From reading this thread, it appears I am more of a visual putter, than a mechanical.

    I'm stealing this technique from you.

    Thanks!

  14. Derek V

    Derek V
    Phoenixville, PA

    Myron G said:

    Matthew, The line can be a distraction. To be honest, I am moving away from using the line exclusively, to only using it when the putting line is inside the cup. For those flat 3 and 4 footers, the line really helps me. But for anything a ball or more outside the cup or that slippery downhill breaker, I find the line distracting. Especially, when I get over the ball and it appears that I do not have enough or have played too much break. At that point the guessing game begins, trust the line you saw behind the ball or adjust for what you are seeing now. I was pretty happy with my 28 putts on this past Saturday using the line only on short straight putts. From reading this thread, it appears I am more of a visual putter, than a mechanical.

    I agree with Myron.  If it's a straight put I think the line helps.  Using it on breaking putts is detrimental (imo) since your speed determines the correct line.  You could have it lined up correctly, but if you hit it too hard or too soft your "correct" line doesn't even matter.

  15. Jesse P

    Jesse P
    Lenexa, KS

    I agree with Myron.  This is exaclty what I do as well.

  16. FourWiggle

    FourWiggle
    Kingsport, TN

    Matthew A said:

    Do any of you find that putting a line on your ball is distracting or doesn't really help my putting at all.

    No, just the opposite.  IMO if my line is on target and my putter is lined-up with that line, it takes a lot of the guess work out of  aiming and let's me just stroke the putt.

    The only thing I don't like about the line is removing the marks from my AP2s and wedges... :-)

  17. brian p

    brian p
    Los alamitos, CA

    i personally find it very distracting to put while looking at anything on the ball. i always move it when i mark it to the blank part so i see nothing. it actually clears up what i'm looking at.

  18. 808HACKER

    808HACKER
    Leonia, NJ

    brian p said:

    i personally find it very distracting to put while looking at anything on the ball. i always move it when i mark it to the blank part so i see nothing. it actually clears up what i'm looking at.

     Ditto for me.  I'm a feel player and I usually like to stare at a white ball before putting and don't like to be staring a line.  Some people take forever to line up a putt using them lines.

  19. Z

    Z
    Santee, CA

    I have tried using a line on the ball for putting on and off, and have come to the conclusion that it does more harm than not. I always seem to second guess myself, and often find it difficult to set the ball down perfectly without it rolling ever so slightly on the green, which in turn throws off the whole point of lining it up with a line. 

  20. Alex M

    Alex M
    Pleasant Hill, MO

    I am impartial. Sometimes when I'm sitting at home I get board. I find a ball and a Sharpe on the table next to me. Before you know it I have drawn a smiley face or line around the ball. It dosen't really affect me just fun to look down a see a face on the ball. It has turned my rounds around a few times.
  21. Allen L

    Allen L
    Clarington, OH

    I think its just a fad.  Is there a pro who's putting stats improved because of the line?  I did give the line a couple weeks try and saw no improvement in my putting.  I'm still better at 10' than 3'.  The line isn't distracting its more a nuisance to me than anything.  I putt by sound, pick a line, hope I get the speed right and then hear that thrilling clunk as the ball hits bottom.

  22. Eric D

    Eric D
    San Diego, CA

    My son draws a big blue line on his Pro V1 and uses it on all but the longest lag putts.  It works for him - he just finished a two-day tourney with 29 putts the first day and 27 the second, including a few putts from the fringe.  He won the tourney with his putting!

  23. Rex F

    Rex F
    Frankfort, KY

    I have tried both putting with a line and putting without. What I have found is that I was so preoccupied with the line it negatively affected my putting. I no longer have a line and in fact hate logo balls because I like to place the ball in the outing green so all I see is white !
  24. Brian S

    Brian S
    Zionsville, IN

    I actually started using the line this year, but for a different reason. I've always struggled with my line on the tee box, mainly because the markers don't always point to the fairway. Using the line there has helped me find more fairways for sure. However, I don't obsess over getting the line perfect. I know where it's aimed and where I need to line up in relation to the line. Since it worked so well off the tee, I've started doing the same on the green. I usually try to point the line at the hole, and if I need to play for some break, I adjust my aim accordingly, but not the line. The benefit is that since I'm not really trying to roll the ball on the line, I can play the break by feel as I've always done.
  25. Michael B

    Michael B
    Bronx, NY

    I do not use a putting line, not because it is a distraction, but because I have a different routine. I read my line, take my practice swing, then I replace the ball with the Titleist script facing up. I look at the script and putt. It may sound strange, but it works for me.

  26. Clifford M

    Clifford M
    Lousiville, KY

    I don't think there's a right or wrong answer to this question.  The real key is what allows you to make more putts.  If you are a good visualizer, it's a distraction.  If you're not (and that's not a pejorative statement) use the line.  Personally, I visualize well, so I find the line a distraction.  Conversely, a friend with whom I play a lot isn't a good visualizer and he uses the line all the time.  We make about the same number of putts from a given distance, so it's a wash.  We've talked about the why of each of us doing it the way we do it.  He says it takes the guess work out of the line once he gets over the ball.  IOW, by reading the line and matching the speed he intends in his head from a read he gets from behind the ball; he thinks one variable is removed.  On the other hand, I "see" the line in my head from behind the ball; I feel the speed when I'm over the ball and I like the clean look of no lines, logos or distractions when I look down at the ball.  At the end, it's as I said in the first sentence, there's no right or wrong answer to this question and I would suggest going with both on the practice green and figuring out which is more comfortable for you.  Which method allows you make more putts?  Go with the one that does.

  27. Tommy C

    Tommy C
    ANAHEIM, CA

    It's all about a personal preference on having a line on your golf ball. For me I need to have a line on the ball for putting. I was able to shave 7 stokes off my putting because of the line. The only problem with a line is from all the woods, irons, and wedges making their mark on the line. When I'm playing competitively I will switch to a new ball every 9 holes or until I hit it into the water. Does anyone use a marker other than a sharpie? 

  28. Gordon B

    Gordon B
    Tucson, AZ

    Matthew A said:

    Do any of you find that putting a line on your ball is distracting or doesn't really help my putting at all.

    i have used a line for years, and one problem I had was wanting to watch the ball roll to see if the line wobbled. Had to really work to get past that. Also have heard of people who put the line perpendicular to the line so the putter face is parallel to the ball when square. 

  29. patrick s

    patrick s
    paramus, NJ

    A line on your golf ball is an aid that helps to line-up your putt to the point you visualized and helps you to hole your putt.
  30. Jay  W

    Jay W
    big spring, TX

    if you make it that way 

    i just lay my ball down the way it comes out of my hand and it still rolls the same direction i hit 

    hope that helps woolf

Please login to post a comment.

Sign In

Haven't registered for Team Titleist yet?

Sign Up