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Alignment Marks on Balls


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Just an informal survey & comments:  

Do you use ball alignment marks (either manufactured or self inflicted) when putting?  

I prefer a clean ball and while I sometimes play a triple track Cally - I place my ball on the opposite side.  Maybe old school, but I find alignment marks distracting (tried to use it for a period of time, but didn't find my putting improved measurably using alignment... I can close pull my putter across the line as easily with or without the lines ;)). 

Just curious how many find the lines on balls advantageous to your success on the greens.

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I always line up the side stamp when I'm putting, but don't line up off the tee. When I'm putting, it's mostly as a final visual check as I'm setting up. My routine is to read the line and pick my aim point then line up the side stamp to that aim point. Then I set up next to the ball for three practice strokes and then address the ball. Because I'm (extremely) right-eye dominant, I've learned not to trust my reads when I'm standing over the putt so if I see something other than where my side stamp is pointing, I either trust the side stamp or I back off and take another look.

I have tried using alignment markings like drawing a full circle around the ball and even splurged for the Align XL from golfballs.com, but I find those extremely distracting and they don't help my read based on my routine. Bonus: the more prominent the alignment marking, the more perfect it has to be. Even the slightest bit of wobble will make you think you hit a bad putt when it could really be that some paint was applied incorrectly by 1 degree. Not good for my confidence when I see the wobble...

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I line up my ball when putting on my intended start line. I also line up off the tee, but not straight on my line - I place the ball with something like a logo or my ball mark on the inside rear so I can visualize hitting the ball from the inside to help not lunge at the ball or come OTT.

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I don’t use alignment aid. The only marks I put on my ball is to identify them while in play especially if I dont have the personalized ones with me

Driver: PXG 0811 X+ Proto w/UST Helium 5F4

Wood: TaylorMade M5 5W w/Accra TZ5 +1/2”, TaylorMade Sim 3W w/Aldila rogue white

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I don't use alignment marks or line the ball up in any particular way.

Driver: :mizuno-small: ST190 9.5* Fujikura Atmos Blue 5S
Fairway Wood: :mizuno-small: ST190 15* Fujikura Atmos Blue 6S
Hybrid: :mizuno-small: CLK 17* Fujikura Speeder EVO HB
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2 hours ago, russtopherb said:

I line up my ball when putting on my intended start line. I also line up off the tee, but not straight on my line - I place the ball with something like a logo or my ball mark on the inside rear so I can visualize hitting the ball from the inside to help not lunge at the ball or come OTT.

Great comment russ.. I was just working on moving my focus to the front of the ball (from my normal back edge) to help a tendency to hit the big ball first.  I'm going to try the logo focus tip.

2 hours ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

I don’t use alignment aid. The only marks I put on my ball is to identify them while in play especially if I dont have the personalized ones with me

Agreed RB, a dot or two depending on how I feel that day.

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2 hours ago, greggarner said:

Bonus: the more prominent the alignment marking, the more perfect it has to be.

That is an interesting unintended side effect of marking.  Great comment GG

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I putt with an alignment mark.  The balls I use don't come with one so I add one with a black sharpie marker and marking tool.  After aligning the mark in line to my intended putting line I focus on putting through the line, like hammering a nail into a board (common swing thought).  The reason for this swing thought is to putt through the ball and not just hit the ball.  This promotes me to release the putter and make a smooth stroke.  I have another method to gauge speed that seems to work for me.

I also put a dot by the number in gold sharpie marker to the left of the alignment line (first dimple lower right of the number). 

Ball alignment mark.jpeg

Driver:  TaylorMade 300 Mini 11.5° (10.2°), Fujikura Ventus Blue 5S Velocore

3W:  TaylorMade M4 15°, Graphite Design Tour AD DI 7S

Hybrid:  TaylorMade Sim2 2 Iron Hybrid 17°, Mitsubishi Tensai AV Raw Blue 80 stiff

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I used to putt with a line and then switched to no mark.  Thought was that I would putt better by seeing the curve of the putt and not putting at an intermediate target or point left/right if the hole.   Probably okay for lag putting,  but considering going back to a line on putts that are 15’ and in to see if that helps my midrange putting. 

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On 8/9/2021 at 10:41 AM, Tiftaaft said:

Just an informal survey & comments:  

Do you use ball alignment marks (either manufactured or self inflicted) when putting?  

I prefer a clean ball and while I sometimes play a triple track Cally - I place my ball on the opposite side.  Maybe old school, but I find alignment marks distracting (tried to use it for a period of time, but didn't find my putting improved measurably using alignment... I can close pull my putter across the line as easily with or without the lines ;)). 

Just curious how many find the lines on balls advantageous to your success on the greens.

Finally someone else who does this. On the tee and green I find a blank side and put that facing up. I find all marks distracting too.

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I use a line for putting and on the tee box. ( always a blue line )

 On putting I read the line and pick my aim point then line up the line to that aim point. Then I set up next to the ball for three practice strokes and then address the ball.

On the tee box I line up the line on the ball with the spot I want to hit in the fairway. I want a small target to aim for. My course has many tee boxes that are angled to draw you into hitting away from the fairway. I find it easier to focus on my ball alignment. Square myself to the ball, practice swing once, address the ball and swing.

It's what works for me! 

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2 hours ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

My course has many tee boxes that are angled to draw you into hitting away from the fairway.

The grounds crew are pretty devious at my course as well!!  

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3 hours ago, DiscipleofPenick said:

Finally someone else who does this.

I'm glad I'm not the only one!  🙂

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No marks, no lines, and oftentimes I putt the ball after not having touched it all. Makes no difference to me how it’s oriented.

Driver: Ping G430 Max 9*, Ping Tour 70X

Fairway: Ping G425 15*, Ping Tour 70X

Hybrid: Ping G425 22*, Ping Tour 80X

Irons:  Ping i230 4-GW, TT DG X100

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I do not use a line on my ball.  I mark my ball with 6 dots on different areas of the ball (basically all sides).  I do use the dots as focus points when putting (one of the dots at the top) as it helps me maintain a steady head thru the stroke.  I do not use it as an alignment tool.   I also use it on the teeing box by placing one of the dots on the inside rear quadrant where I can see it.  Again, I focus on that dot during my swing.  With a dot on all sides of the ball, one dot is almost always visible when the ball is in play.

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  • 2 weeks later...

For longer putts (12+ feet) I don’t use an alignment mark of any kind, but I use the manufacturer marking on putts inside of that. I’ve gone back and forth with using the alignment marking on the tee, not sure I can find a discernible difference. 

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I had tried using the preprinted mark years ago, abandoned it after lousy results and then read an article on golf digest that most people actually aim for more break than what they thing they are.

 

So I went back to using the mark on the ball, played for a little more break and finally got it.....I never looked back.

I NEVER uses sharpie, the line is never as clean as the factory line.

 

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No. Tried Triple-Track but it really screws me up. I prefer to find my line then a nice smooth stroke.

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On 8/12/2021 at 10:59 AM, caeye0710 said:

First time MGS poster here after spending years at another forum site, also a "Certified Club Junkie"

I was just going some research on the MG3 being released early next month. IMO, what a sharp looking wedge! I've admittedly been a Vokey guy my entire life, so doubt I'll be making a move considering my SM8's are waiting for their first round (just swapped new ones in after a year with my first set of SM8). 

While looking at the MSRP for the new MG3 ($179 for stock options), it got me thinking: Are OEM's going completely off the rails with prices on new equipment?

I don't remember which model it was, but I remember that I could walk in to a shop and get three new wedges for $327 plus tax ($109 MSRP). It's gotten to the point where buying three new TM wedges would be $578 after tax here in NC (NEARLY $600!).

Let me add to that by saying: I understand. Over time, costs related to materials and shipping increase. One can argue that even production costs increase, although as a Process Improvement Consultant in the Manufacturing industry for close to a decade, I don't know if that rings true as much as we think it does due to the automation process nowadays (although I'll admit there has to be some merit to it). Doesn't mean I'm an expert in the Behind-The-Scenes production of golf equipment, but a lot of my clients have remained stagnant in their production process over the years due to robotics and automation processes, so I would think it would ring somewhat true to golf equipment OEMs.

Back to the topic: Are we getting to a point where it's going to eventually be too expensive to get the latest and greatest equipment? In 2004, Drivers hit a $500 MSRP for the first time (TM R7, Titleist 905 Series, etc.). The R7 was the first driver to be listed at $500 (I think) and I recall people throwing a fit. Titleist quickly followed suit on the 905 series, although I specifically remember our Titleist rep at my club back then mentioned that the initial MSRP was going to be $409 until TM came to market and announced the R7 at a higher price point.

 Nowadays, $550+ is the norm. Over 17 years that difference doesn't add up to much, but what happens in another 15 years?

Stock drivers listed at $800?

Stock FW's at $500?

Iron sets off the rack at $2,000?

Wedges at $200 a piece?

Putters (too many variables here honestly, but let's say $400 average)

That means if you want to revamp an entire bag, you'll be dropping somewhere in the neighborhood of $4,300 if you stick to stock options and don't get fitted for upgraded shafts and specs.

Maybe I'm just completely off base here and my opinion is wrong, but I'd be curious to here what some of you folks think. 

Feel free to roast me if I sound like an idiot 😆

 

 

On 8/9/2021 at 11:41 AM, Tiftaaft said:

Just an informal survey & comments:  

Do you use ball alignment marks (either manufactured or self inflicted) when putting?  

I prefer a clean ball and while I sometimes play a triple track Cally - I place my ball on the opposite side.  Maybe old school, but I find alignment marks distracting (tried to use it for a period of time, but didn't find my putting improved measurably using alignment... I can close pull my putter across the line as easily with or without the lines ;)). 

Just curious how many find the lines on balls advantageous to your success on the greens.

I like to see white only.

 

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I am now a convert to lines.  I used to like nothing but white and was a very good putter.  Average putts per round in the high 20's and low 30's.  I am now 74 and still have very good vision but the lines have made me a better putter.  I now average in the mid to high 20's.  It takes about a month to get used to the lines but it really gives you a benefit. 

Can not use multi colored lines--the new maxfli uses just black lines and it really a very good ball for marking purpose.  I have the confidence that the line is correct and I have become a much more aggressive putter.  I play an avx 90% of the time so I had to come up with a way to mark them and have designed a plastic piece with cut outs that let me put three thin black lines on the ball or I just line up the titlies avx marking and put two black lines on the ball.  It works wonders for me.

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I'm very surprised no one has mentioned the guy that lines up his 15 foot putt using the line on the ball and then doesn't like it and realigns it. Then he knocks it 3 feet by and goes through the lining up procedure all over again.

I used to use a line, but just got to the point I wanted to speed up my routine a bit. I became self conscious of the time it took.

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On 8/9/2021 at 10:41 AM, Tiftaaft said:

Just an informal survey & comments:  

Do you use ball alignment marks (either manufactured or self inflicted) when putting?  

I prefer a clean ball and while I sometimes play a triple track Cally - I place my ball on the opposite side.  Maybe old school, but I find alignment marks distracting (tried to use it for a period of time, but didn't find my putting improved measurably using alignment... I can close pull my putter across the line as easily with or without the lines ;)). 

Just curious how many find the lines on balls advantageous to your success on the greens.

I do mark my balls with a Single solid black line. It serves two purposes for one. For one, I get to see where I'm striking the ball on my clubs and I also use it on the greens to aid in my alignment for putting. 

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I have a tendency to use lines that the mfgr has or the triple. I believe it has helped me in that I concentrate on hitting the ball to see the end over end result. That concentration is what is helping.

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I tried to use a two line stencil that I could put over the arrow on the ball, it confused me more and made feel like I "had to" line up the ball so perfectly to make my line.  too much stress focused on the lines rather than the putt itself.  I was averaging 32-33 putts this way...I've always putted with the the logo pointing to the line and when I went back to that, it freed me up in the 10-15' range, I felt I relied more on my read and my feel to square the blade and make a stroke to the line I was seeing/feeling.  I'm averaging 28-31 this way.  

Perhaps some dedicated practice on this method with the lines might eliminate the anxiety of being lined up 'correctly' or a different type of line pattern might help, but I also noticed that I was slow AF on the greens lining it up.  I hate to play tournaments with guys that change their ball like 20 different times on a 5' putt because their lines aren't right...40 second clock ticking...

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3W: Srixon ZX 15*, HZRDUS Smoke Black HandCrafted 6.0 

5W: Callaway Rogue Sub Zero 18* TC serial, HZRDUS Yellow  70g

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5i: Srixon ZU85 26*, Recoil F4 95X

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Being a "feel" putter, trying to use an alignment mark only serves to make me try and be extra exacting, which causes some tension, which leads to missing the damn putt anyway.   Although, if you prefer to look at the ball instead of the hole when making a putt, it would seem to make some sense to use a mark to ensure you start it on the desired line.     

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I have been on both sides of this.  It does take a little practice to make your routine fast enough so it isn't an issue and depends on how fast and giving your group is.  If there are a lot of generous gimmies then it seems to slow things down, cause everyone is playing pretty fast (<3.5 hours).  The other thing is if you want to use the line, allow yourself a little deviation on the line.  I used to adjust and adjust and that got slow and tedious.  But now I have just given myself a little more tolerance on the alignment.  I do think that aiming is very important because if you aren't lined up correctly then you are already going to miss or make subconscious compensations to correct.

But really it is the following:  Are you putting well however you do it now?  Make lots of 4-6 footers?  slide it just by the hole when you miss from 20 feet?  Putting less than 30 putts a round?  Don't mess with anything.   Work on other parts of the game.

But if you are struggling, especially with direction, especially with inside 6 feet, give it a chance.  Most pros use them, take that for what it is worth.  

Cheers

Tigger

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I use alignment lines on my golf balls.  I started off playing golf using the Callaway Triple Track balls but switched to Srixon Z Star balls.  I add my own alignment line to the Srixon balls and I feel the line helps my putting.  

Driver: Callaway Big Bertha B21 Graphite RCH 55
Woods: Callaway Epic Flash - 3W, 5W, 7W, 9W Graphite Evenflow Project X 5.5R
Irons: Callaway Apex 19 - 5-9, PW, AW, SW Graphite Project X Catalyst 60
Putter: Odyssey O-Works Red Marxman
Ball: Srixon Z Star
GPS: Shot Scope V3 GPS Watch
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I guess I am in the minority on this, yes i use a line on the ball, you can't convince me that the average person has a better view of the line looking down, sideways, and with one eye at a different angle than having both eyes level and behind the ball looking at the hole.   Once you have it lined up you just need to worry about the speed of the putt, of course you need to hit it square, but that is true no matter how you line it up.  I could be wrong, but most pro's I see putting on TV, line their putt up with a line on their ball from behind, certainly not all but a majority.  In my opinion putting is hard enough, taking the 2nd guessing out of lining up your putt while standing over your ball just seems to make a difficult process easier.

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