Alignment Marks on Balls

[BostonSal]

45 minutes ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

I don’t look at my line over the ball. I read once I determine line and speed I find an intermediate target and line my putter up to that then square myself to the putter. 

Where is your putter aimed at?

Greg wants me to say "the hole" and that would be a correct answer, assuming insignificant break.  

But in many instances, "the wrong place" would also be a correct answer in as much as the ball will find an alternate destination point.

 

The real question is, does the orientation of the dimples actually affect the roll

or is the ball placement important only for alignment purposes to those who align by ball markings?

They do print "Boston Sal" on my ball.

I suppose I could use that as an alignment aid.

But generally, I already do exactly what you do with a spike mark or an off-color blade of grass or whatever.

Lining up "Boston Sal" straight at the spike mark might not be a bad idea.

[RickyBobby_PR]

6 minutes ago, BostonSal said:

Greg wants me to say "the hole" and that would be a correct answer, assuming insignificant break.  

But in many instances, "the wrong place" would also be a correct answer in as much as the ball will find an alternate destination point.

 

The real question is, does the orientation of the dimples actually affect the roll

or is the ball placement important only for alignment purposes to those who align by ball markings?

They do print "Boston Sal" on my ball.

I suppose I could use that as an alignment aid.

But generally, I already do exactly what you do with a spike mark or an off-color blade of grass or whatever.

Lining up "Boston Sal" straight at the spike mark might not be a bad idea.

Doubt the alignment has any impact.

Putting is a combination of choosing the line and the speed for the line to get the ball in the hole. If either is off the balls not going in the hole. 
 

[BostonSal]

1 minute ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

Doubt the alignment has any impact.

Putting is a combination of choosing the line and the speed for the line to get the ball in the hole. If either is off the balls not going in the hole. 
 

Funny how one notices that over the decades!

[Donn lost in San Diego]

Nope.  I do put a big red or purple magic marker slash for visibility and ID.  I putt long putts looking at the hole.  On shorter (7 ft or less) if I can see the hole out of the corner of my I see the ball but I don't stare at, I look more at the putter head to keep it straight.  It is interesting to see how much angle at impact there is even on small back-stroke putts.

[assybish]

nope ..don't align at all ever .. use my eye and imagination 

[obiwan45]

I always add alignment marks and find they help me hit the ball on the line I intended.

[John Bachman]

I just like to see the white of the ball

[Rick_92128]

My two cents....

100% on the tee and green. I use a solid line with a perpendicular set of dots  It has absolute helped as I've dropped about 6 strokes off my handicap this year.

On the tee I use the solid line to make sure my club face is square. The dots show me where I'm aimed.

On the green I use the solid line to roll end over end on my target line. I make sure it is aligned with the line on my putter head. 

Arccos says I'm playing as a 4.1 HCP putting and 10.5 driving.  

[Michael M.]

2 hours ago, TBS said:

I find that picking a blade of grass or an old pitch mark to help me with start line is much easier then the line. For short putts, I like to line it up, especially if I'm not feeling super confident on the practice green pre round. I like it because speed is less of a concern because I like to putt confidently on shorter putts. 

I am with TBS and surprised more haven't mentioned it. 

My putting improved significantly when I started focusing on a blemish in the green in front of the ball (how far ahead depends on length of putt but usually around 2" to 6") and stroking through the ball to the blemish.  The only time I have run into trouble is when the greens are so perfect I don't have something to focus on or it is less obvious when standing over ball.  Having said that . . . I play public courses so that only happens once or twice a year.  Ha ha ha.  But if I am nervous I will use an alignment line on the ball but only so I can then pick a blemish once standing over the ball.  If I focus on hitting the ball with the line on my putter meeting the line on the ball . . .  I get into real trouble with bad strokes.  

[Steve Gawron]

I had a retinal detachment in my dominant eye which really threw me putting for a loop. (about 8 -12 putts more a round)

I have tried alignment on ball logos, spin balance of golf balls, and even floating golf balls in Epson salt solutions to find balance spots.  The bottom line is that it is a poor workman who blames his tools.  The best solution I have found is to increase practice time.  Just my opinion.

[PetePetros]

Never....I just want to see the  white of the ball. Don't want to see any writing or lines. Old school I guess 

[6bills67]

oddly. i aim the ball on the tee so i hit the "label" and can see the "T" of Titleist, yet i like a clean look on the ball when i putt so i focus on my intended line.

[painter33]

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 find the ball’s seam for drives but avoid seeing anything but white when I putt. I find all marks to attract too much attention over the line I’ve determined for the ball rolling to the hole. I only fill in the “e” in Titleist to mark my ball as it is the least visually distracting. Plain is good. 

[Geezer]

I put a line on the ball for putting purposes but don't use it on my tee shots.

[Bluesman57]

On 8/23/2021 at 5:41 PM, Tom the Golf Nut said:

...snip...

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

Sometimes I'll angle the tee markers when I change them on Sunday mornings.  But only the green and reds. I play the whites, and that stuff messes me up!

[Sox Fan]

I prefer a blank space on the ball showing when I putt.  Do not put any extra lines on my ball, just a one dimple dot in a certain area for identification purposes.

[Thegolfdean7]

I use it, I have come to realize that after you decide your line all that’s left is distance. Trying to see the line and feel the distance at the same time is hard.

[Dules]

I had a "putting lesson / fitting" where I used a line on the ball, put a laser behind it & found I consistently lined a cup left of what I thought was correct.  Using the number as an aid I got within a cup.   Pro said what do I usually do & I said I prefer a blank spot on the ball in alignment aid.  He said " you are a feel putter". Your mind compensates for misalignment in that you feel the line you want while not looking like you are set to the line.   People hate putting behind you in scrambles!   Something I have heard before.  

[jgolfski]

If i am playing in a tournament, i spin my golf balls with Check-n-Go and always add my own marks that i focus on when putting.

If i am just playing a casual round i do not use the balls i spin check and i use the marks already present on the ball, whether it be a manufacturers alignment, logo, mfg name , etc.

This is just my personal process and i'd have to say, i do seem to sink more putts in tournaments than others in my group regardless of putt distance.

[mongo312]

Tried using an alignment mark but found myself spending way too much time making sure it was lined up exactly at my target.  Easier to orient the line on my putter to square it to the target.  Also found it distracting in the fairway when the line was off to one side or across the top of the ball.