Draw a Line on the Ball or No Line?

[KC Golf]

Got a question to start the week.  

Do you draw a line on the ball or no line? Why?

I tried having the line on my ball for 2 years but went back to no line.  Putting okay without the line particularly for long putts.  But thinking about going back to a line for short putts.  

Thoughts?

[Parshooter36]

I go back and forth on this one.  I really don't like using the line because I feel like I spend way too much time lining it up.  But, there is definitely an added level of confidince standing over a 5 footer knowing all you have to do is get the ball rolling on that line and it should hit the hole.

[knightsofnii]

No line. My ADHD and OCD brain would blow a gasket trying to align 1 inch with 10ft. I'm doing my best currently to shorten my routine and suck at golf a little faster

[TG8]

1 minute ago, Parshooter36 said:

I go back and forth on this one.  I really don't like using the line because I feel like I spend way too much time lining it up.  But, there is definitely an added level of confidince standing over a 5 footer knowing all you have to do is get the ball rolling on that line and it should hit the hole.

I like the idea of it but find most balls “model” text line does the job for me when lining up

[KC Golf]

14 minutes ago, Parshooter36 said:

I go back and forth on this one.  I really don't like using the line because I feel like I spend way too much time lining it up.  But, there is definitely an added level of confidince standing over a 5 footer knowing all you have to do is get the ball rolling on that line and it should hit the hole.

I totally agree with you.
I just don’t know whether a line works or not. 

I am thinking of adding back the line and seeing through Arccos if my putting stats improve on short putts.

[tony@CIC]

I definitely use a line on the ball for putting but now also on the tee. Watching the ladies on the LPGA tour, I see several ladies that line up their ball on the tee, and that practice has worked well for me. 

[KC Golf]

7 minutes ago, tony@CIC said:

I definitely use a line on the ball for putting but now also on the tee. Watching the ladies on the LPGA tour, I see several ladies that line up their ball on the tee, and that practice has worked well for me. 

I hadn’t noticed that.  So they line their hand drawn line on the tee box?  I usually just use the ball manufactures line.  That’s interesting.  

[tony@CIC]

31 minutes ago, KC Golf said:

I hadn’t noticed that.  So they line their hand drawn line on the tee box?  I usually just use the ball manufactures line.  That’s interesting.  

I don't know whether they hand draw a line or use the manufacturers line - but just noticed a number of them like Lydia Ko will align the ball off of the tee - I starting doing that because I tend to be misaligned off of the tee. 

[cnosil]

I am a line player.   Did a line for a long time, then switched to seeing nothing, and now I am back to a line.   I feel like it helps me get a little better setup.   I also recognize that there are enough imperfections in the green that thinks like a aimpoint and using a line are only going to be so perfect and just be good enough.  This keeps me from stressing over the perfection of where the line points.  

[TylorJudd]

3 hours ago, KC Golf said:

Got a question to start the week.  

Do you draw a line on the ball or no line? Why?

I tried having the line on my ball for 2 years but went back to no line.  Putting okay without the line particularly for long putts.  But thinking about going back to a line for short putts.  

Thoughts?

I don't draw a line because I use a 2ball. The provided line from the factory great for me

[RickyBobby_PR]

No line. I like a clean look on the ball when I putt. I aim the putter to my intermediate target 

[MIGregB]

I've line up the ball for many years as I, too, have trouble aligning myself otherwise. I tried over-writing the mfg model designation but found little difference from just using the printed line/model designation. I loaded up on Maxfli balls last winter that has a distinctive line (parallel lines above & below the model designation) that also matches the direction of the spin balanced equator, so they make it easy. But I try to go one step farther by picking out a small divot/grass clump/dirt patch to align behind the ball to provide a longer and easier to see line. To no one's surprise, that doesn't always work! 

[revkev]

The last two balls that I've used already have a line on them.  I do use the line and I do aim it at an intermediate target.  I'm far more focused on the target than the line though.  

[Blueberry_Squishie]

I always use a line for putting and will take a lot of convincing to change. My putting stats improved significantly (make percentages for 2m and 3m putts up by about 10%) when I changed and have stayed there.

[Gusset]

No line for me. To my thinking, my eyes need to be directly over the ball to see correctly to get the line on my putter aligned with the line on the ball. When I tried it, I didn't think I was getting that alignment correct and it threw me off.

I have to say, though, that a good roll from someone that uses a line is fun to watch.

[The_Captain]

I never was a fan of drawing a line on my balls due to my ocd and lazyness, so i just use the markings already on the ball. but then learning about CG of balls being off a little conpared to markings, i think i would us the cg finder to mark my ball so i know i would be getting a true aligned spin, but then i look at my handicap and tell myself "im not that guy, pal, im not that guy" 

Edited August 15, 2023 by The_Captain

[Tom the Golf Nut]

I’m a line player. Always a blue line. I use it for putts and on the tee box.
On the tee box I pick a spot in the fairway or a tree on a dog leg. I align my line up with that and just focus on swinging down the line on the ball.

I just played with a guy yesterday and he noticed what I was doing but said nothing until the 18th tee after I hit and he said, “Do you ever get tired of splitting the fairway?”  A quick grin and followed by a nope. I just find that it works for me.

[JerryB]

I don't draw anything myself but I'll use whatever is available, be it manufacturer's marks or something already drawn on a found ball.  I do fiddle with aligning the ball on the green but it doesn't feel excessive and does give me confidence when I can match the ball line and my putter line.

[WaffleHouseTour]

I specifically hide the line while putting - as others have said, I am unsure that the line is pointed at my target, obsess over it (btw is it perfectly oriented or slightly rolled to or away from me in addition to the sim) and blow a gasket. But the idea of doing it off the tee… may have to try that.  Yeah, may not feel confident pointing it at something twenty feet away, but 365 yards, sure. 

[KC Golf]

I really appreciate the feedback to my question.  Please keep it coming.  

If anyone has Arccos or other stats on their short putts with the line or no line,I would be curious to hear about it, too.

I agree that for long putts no line is definitely better.  It’s the short putts with breaks that I am not sure if it improves your putting or not.  

I also have always used the manufactures line on drives.  I am not sure why you wouldn’t use that on drives.  Have not tried driving a ball with a hand drawn line. But I think that might be a little distracting for me.

I am going to try a line and no line (a few rounds each) and see how my putt stats look for 10 ft or less putts.  That area of short putting is just not great for me.  But I think it’s my green reading and speed vs the aim, but that’s a guess.  My aim this year looks fairly good when I try a rail or ruler on the practice green.

The quest for better putting continues….

[cnosil]

1 hour ago, KC Golf said:

 

  It’s the short putts with breaks that I am not sure if it improves your putting or not.  

 

My opinion on this is that it depends on read putts.  Do you see the line the ball travels on and judge that way or do you find a spot like aimpoint does.   I basically look at slope and based on some aimpoint/vector putting theory pick a spot and line the line on my ball to a spot.  Essentially eliminating the concept of break since everything is a straight putt.  If you see the line of the putt and try to roll the ball along that curve a line on then ball may not be beneficial.   It comes down to feel and mechanics and how you gather information. 

[Itzpiiz]

The balls I use have lines on them so don't need to draw, but I use this for every putt. I focus on that line in comparison to the line on my putter to ensure I'm taking it away square to where I want to aim. Although my putting has a long long way to go, I do feel this makes an impact. I don't take practice putts per se, but I do take a practice take away, pause, and make sure the take away is square to where I want to go

[KC Golf]

After a brutal putting day yesterday, I am seriously considering the line again…

I guess Titleist thinks I am an ideal victim that needs to spend big dollars for these lines.

[Haro]

I don’t use on the green. I get obsessed with line that speed goes out the window 

I have tried it on the tee and like it   I can go out full speed and just focus on line. 

[KC Golf]

After a frustrating weekend of horrible putting.  It was not all and, but it was really poor on short putting… I am going to try the line for 5 rounds to see if it works any better for 6 feet or less putts.  No line use for long putts.  Will see…  

[Snowmonkeys1310]

On 8/14/2023 at 9:18 AM, KC Golf said:

Got a question to start the week.  

Do you draw a line on the ball or no line? Why?

I tried having the line on my ball for 2 years but went back to no line.  Putting okay without the line particularly for long putts.  But thinking about going back to a line for short putts.  

Thoughts?

Yes, I draw a line on my ball. There are times I don't use it on shorter putts (inside a foot or two), but they are rare.

Personally, I know that spending time picking and, more importantly, committing to a line helps me. Once I am committed to my line I have taken that variable out. There's still a need to hit a good putt but the line is taken care of.

Another benefit to using the line on the ball is that it helps assess your putting game and potential flaws in your stroke or your green reading ability.

For example, I had a period where I kept missing right-breaking putts under the hole. I was able to tell that I was opening the face (pointing it more at the hole as I am a right-handed golfer). I was able to be confident in that assessment since I (1) knew where the line on the ball was pointed before setting up, and (2) I had aligned my putter with the line on the ball. There was a possibility I was under-reading putts as well, but, once I was more deliberate in keeping the face square on right-breaking putts I have a had a lot more success.

[KC Golf]

Played a match yesterday and didn’t have time to practice with a line so putted no line.  Best putting stats wise according to Arccos yesterday with no line.  Stroked gainedputting which almost never happens for me,  Even short putts.  

Now Re-thinking the line.  Yesterday I only putted when I committed to an exact line with a view on pace.  Also spent more time reading longer putts too. Seemed to work well for me. Sigh.  Not sure what to do now…

[Snowmonkeys1310]

On 8/27/2023 at 10:16 AM, KC Golf said:

Played a match yesterday and didn’t have time to practice with a line so putted no line.  Best putting stats wise according to Arccos yesterday with no line.  Stroked gainedputting which almost never happens for me,  Even short putts.  

Now Re-thinking the line.  Yesterday I only putted when I committed to an exact line with a view on pace.  Also spent more time reading longer putts too. Seemed to work well for me. Sigh.  Not sure what to do now…

Sounds like the answer may just be to get committed to what you want to do. That's usually the best course of action for all golf shots. 

If the line helps you get there then you should absolutely use it. If being a bit more deliberate in your prep process before hitting a putt gets you there, then do that.

[Another Steve]

Both. I draw a line and use it if i am serious about my round (align on both the tees and greens), but if it’s a friendly/leisure type round with nothing on the line then I don’t worry about it. 
 

i can get putts pretty close without and do practice a bit that way - especially lag putts, but i proved to my self that I have better alignment with than without. 
 

 

[Another Steve]

On 8/15/2023 at 1:34 PM, cnosil said:

My opinion on this is that it depends on read putts.  Do you see the line the ball travels on and judge that way or do you find a spot like aimpoint does.   I basically look at slope and based on some aimpoint/vector putting theory pick a spot and line the line on my ball to a spot.  Essentially eliminating the concept of break since everything is a straight putt.  If you see the line of the putt and try to roll the ball along that curve a line on then ball may not be beneficial.   It comes down to feel and mechanics and how you gather information. 

I do both of these techniques, and weirdly enough, when i am putting my best my mind literally sees a yellow stripe for the balls path to the hole that i set the line on the ball on to ensure i can send it on down the yellow brick road.