drawing line on ball

anyone got a tip for drawing a straight line on a ball without buying those $10 stencils? or if you suggest the stencil, which one?

i bought a stencil from walmart for 5 dollers and it comes with sharpie works great and have made more putts since i have been using it

I would personally recommend a line 'em up, as long as you don't lose it you will have it forever. You could buy one of the cheaper ones off ebay, but sometimes they don't work with sharpies so the line isn't that long. Or just try a steady hand.

Just find something that fits a golf ball, like an egg cup or toilet roll tube.......Steve

I bought a stencil thingy for drawing lines on golf balls. It's green plastic that allows half the ball to sink within it and leaves the other half of the ball exposed. Doesn't work very well and I wouldn't recommend it.

the orange plastic ring from a Gatorade bottle cap that separates from the cap when you unscrew the lid for the first time.

[quote name='TheShaun' timestamp='1279862574' post='2594057']
anyone got a tip for drawing a straight line on a ball without buying those $10 stencils? or if you suggest the stencil, which one?
[/quote]

If you start putting a lot better, will you ever again think about what you paid for the stencil and a sharpie? Just buy one, and throw it in a plastic ziplock bag with all of your tees and markers and whatnot. You'll have it forever, it'll help, and you you won't care about the cost after the very first round of the line being helpful.

I need to start doing this and reading grees a little better.

The number one thing holding my putting back is my line...my distance is good 90% of the time but my line is what always causes me to miss putts.

I stopped doing it and have better results. It interferes with my flow of stroke at times . Makes it more mechanical, specially when i am trying to roll the ball on an imaginary track to the hole .

[quote name='Ezgolfer' timestamp='1279889983' post='2594278']
I stopped doing it and have better results. It interferes with my flow of stroke at times . Makes it more mechanical, specially when i am trying to roll the ball on an imaginary track to the hole .
[/quote]


+1 I stopped as well and my putting has improved.

MB

Not only do I use the line, I pair it up with one of these alignment ball markers.

http://cgi.ebay.com/COIN-PUTTINGTOOL-Compare-Scotty-Cameron-Ball-Tool-/180536325234?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a08cdb472

But if you are concerned with cost, you could draw a line on a coin. Just kidding!

Didn't think to check wally world. thanks. I find the line helpful within 10 feet. Outside of that i prefer to look at white only on the ball.

i got one with my SM bag. works great.

[quote name='TheBoomer ' timestamp='1279890510' post='2594292']
[quote name='Ezgolfer' timestamp='1279889983' post='2594278']
I stopped doing it and have better results. It interferes with my flow of stroke at times . Makes it more mechanical, specially when i am trying to roll the ball on an imaginary track to the hole .
[/quote]


+1 I stopped as well and my putting has improved.

MB
[/quote]


+2

i did it for years and then as soon as i stopped, EVERYTHING about putting got easier for me. but that's just me. i was becoming way too beholden to the line and worried about the line (as if the line could NOT be wrong) -- instead of relying purely on my own instincts and feel. i could see how it would help an already finely tuned putter, but i would not necessarily recommend it specifically for someone who is struggling with consistency and comfort on the greens.

[quote name='TheBoomer ' timestamp='1279890510' post='2594292']
[quote name='Ezgolfer' timestamp='1279889983' post='2594278']
I stopped doing it and have better results. It interferes with my flow of stroke at times . Makes it more mechanical, specially when i am trying to roll the ball on an imaginary track to the hole .
[/quote]


+1 I stopped as well and my putting has improved.

MB
[/quote]

+2 .... No lines on putter and I place the ball with 'clean white side' up. My putting improved. I found my concentration on the other aspects of putting was more valuable. Plus it 'can' speed up play.

[quote name='ssp' timestamp='1279893713' post='2594371']
[quote name='TheBoomer ' timestamp='1279890510' post='2594292']
[quote name='Ezgolfer' timestamp='1279889983' post='2594278']
I stopped doing it and have better results. It interferes with my flow of stroke at times . Makes it more mechanical, specially when i am trying to roll the ball on an imaginary track to the hole .
[/quote]


+1 I stopped as well and my putting has improved.

MB
[/quote]

+2 .... No lines on putter and I place the ball with 'clean white side' up. My putting improved. I found my concentration on the other aspects of putting was more valuable. Plus it 'can' speed up play.
[/quote]

truth. i actually putt with my ball's aiming line parallel to my putter face, set in the general direction the ball starts. has worked wonders improving the "imaginary track" mentioned above.

sorry... i think we've threadjacked a bit here.

Yeah, I've had one of those old school "line 'em up" (only one slot in it, not 4 or whatever) for years and years. I constantly use it while putting, and don't have much intention on going away from it unless the putting really starts to slip, which it has been the past few rounds...

+1 to the gatorade ring guy...I was thinking the exact same thing when I opened this thread up.

Everyone has to do what works best for him. For me, with my astigmatism in my right eye, I know that I just don't see my putting line properly over the ball. I pretty much have to set the line on my ball to my putting line, or else my eyes and mind play tricks on me over the ball. For, me, it's easiest to set the line on the ball, and then ONLY think about the speed once over the ball.

Setting the line on the ball also allows me to compare how things FEEL vs. how I visually lined things up (from low behind the ball) initially. Sometimes I'll add a little more break once over the ball, and the line acts as a guide as to just how much I'm changing the path compared to what I saw from behind the ball. More often than now, though, I find that my initially lining up of the line on the ball is/was the way to go.

Just do what works for you. And if the line works, then get one of those stencils and be done with it.

I've been using the line for years but after reading some comments here, I think I'll go without it for a few rounds and see how it goes.

[quote name='KMeloney' timestamp='1279897999' post='2594503']
Everyone has to do what works best for him. For me, with my astigmatism in my right eye, I know that I just don't see my putting line properly over the ball. I pretty much have to set the line on my ball to my putting line, or else my eyes and mind play tricks on me over the ball. For, me, it's easiest to set the line on the ball, and then ONLY think about the speed once over the ball.

Setting the line on the ball also allows me to compare how things FEEL vs. how I visually lined things up (from low behind the ball) initially. Sometimes I'll add a little more break once over the ball, and the line acts as a guide as to just how much I'm changing the path compared to what I saw from behind the ball. More often than now, though, I find that my initially lining up of the line on the ball is/was the way to go.

Just do what works for you. And if the line works, then get one of those stencils and be done with it.
[/quote]


That makes a ton of sense, especially with your astigmatism. but what's interesting about it is that the same things you list as benefits, I would list as negatives. Especially having the second thoughts over the ball. It's great (and impressive) that you are comfortable making the adjustments once over the ball, but I would say for most (and definitely for myself) that's dangerous. And not dangerous in a way that means the putt won't go in, but dangerous in the way that you now have two lines to choose from. The line on the ball and the line you're feeling in your head. Even if you make the proper adjustment, you now may have an aiming line on your putter out of sorts with the ball line -- something i could never deal with, because no matter how confident I was in lining up the putt from behind the ball, I still needed to get over it and see it/feel it exactly how it looks from my putting position, the precise moment i am to take the putter back. know what I mean?

But aside from all that, I do totally believe everyone needs to go with what works for them. I just wanted to throw my experience out there for those who have the same issues I do. I think sometimes people see the line on the ball as the end all/be all of their putting alignment when really, for some, like myself, a quick and relaxed glance at the hole is more effective than a lot of additional pre-shot alignment tools.

I know what you guys are talking about when standing over the ball and think about making adjustments...however, from what I've experienced, any time I make a change (i think it needs to go a bit more left) i'll miss it to the left, as the line i picked out behind the ball was spot-on...

I find lines helpful on putts about 15 feet and in. Anything longer I usually don't bother and just think speed.

Why not just use the logo or writing on the ball? The Pro V1 line has <ProV1> on the side of it and works fine when I want a line.

[quote name='RookieBlue7' timestamp='1279904485' post='2594727']
Why not just use the logo or writing on the ball? The Pro V1 line has <ProV1> on the side of it and works fine when I want a line.
[/quote]

This is what i was thinking.. don't most balls already have a line on there?

[quote name='Marrrk' timestamp='1279899423' post='2594563']
[quote name='KMeloney' timestamp='1279897999' post='2594503']
Everyone has to do what works best for him. For me, with my astigmatism in my right eye, I know that I just don't see my putting line properly over the ball. I pretty much have to set the line on my ball to my putting line, or else my eyes and mind play tricks on me over the ball. For, me, it's easiest to set the line on the ball, and then ONLY think about the speed once over the ball.

Setting the line on the ball also allows me to compare how things FEEL vs. how I visually lined things up (from low behind the ball) initially. Sometimes I'll add a little more break once over the ball, and the line acts as a guide as to just how much I'm changing the path compared to what I saw from behind the ball. More often than now, though, I find that my initially lining up of the line on the ball is/was the way to go.

Just do what works for you. And if the line works, then get one of those stencils and be done with it.
[/quote]


That makes a ton of sense, especially with your astigmatism. but what's interesting about it is that the same things you list as benefits, I would list as negatives. Especially having the second thoughts over the ball. It's great (and impressive) that you are comfortable making the adjustments once over the ball, but I would say for most (and definitely for myself) that's dangerous. And not dangerous in a way that means the putt won't go in, but dangerous in the way that you now have two lines to choose from. The line on the ball and the line you're feeling in your head. Even if you make the proper adjustment, you now may have an aiming line on your putter out of sorts with the ball line -- something i could never deal with, because no matter how confident I was in lining up the putt from behind the ball, I still needed to get over it and see it/feel it exactly how it looks from my putting position, the precise moment i am to take the putter back. know what I mean?
[/quote]

Yep, I know exactly what you mean. My last sentence was an attempt to express that most of the time the line on the ball WAS the correct line to take all along. I should have also said that if I add more break, it's usually after stepping back behind the ball and re-evaluating things. It's really not an over-the-ball adjustment alone, because, again, I know that I can't line things up visually that way.

The more time I tweak the break over the ball vs. where I've lined up the ball and then MISS, the more I'm inclined to simply trust the line. So, I'm honing in on being able to trust the line all of the time.

I too used to put lines on my balls to help with alignment. It ended up becoming too much of a PITA (even with the stencil) and only helped minimally. Most of the time it would waste time by trying to align my ball with the hole.
I now do a simple 1-2 practice puts for tempo and alignment then putt. So far I have been 1 putting and 2 putting like a champ.

[quote name='hayzooos' timestamp='1279903380' post='2594679']
I know what you guys are talking about when standing over the ball and think about making adjustments...however, from what I've experienced, any time I make a change (i think it needs to go a bit more left) i'll miss it to the left, as the line i picked out behind the ball was spot-on...
[/quote]

+1

[quote name='rickpal14' timestamp='1279906642' post='2594800']
[quote name='hayzooos' timestamp='1279903380' post='2594679']
I know what you guys are talking about when standing over the ball and think about making adjustments...however, from what I've experienced, any time I make a change (i think it needs to go a bit more left) i'll miss it to the left, as the line i picked out behind the ball was spot-on...
[/quote]

+1
[/quote]

i felt the same way when i did use the line, it was always better to stick with the original aim. which brings up another interesting point:

i want to hit my putt at the height of my confidence about the line. and i think i'm the type that's always going to be lining up the putt based on feel right up until the last second; right before i pull the trigger. so i absolutely cannot have anything i thought 30 seconds before being even remotely permanent (like the aiming line on the ball) -- because there will almost always be debate in my head, right or wrong.

so, for a player like me, the line actually over-complicates things instead of simplifying things, which i know it does for many a great player.

Used the line, like I usually have been lately, and/but committed to the line, and did some of my best putting ever yesterday. Do whatever works!

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/TruShot-Golf-Balance-Point-Finder/dp/B000EQGUFE"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/TruShot-Golf-Balance-Point-Finder/dp/B000EQGUFE[/url]


I cannot see the point in lining the ball unless it is balanced. Every top Pro balances the heavy spot and lines it that way.

Buy one of these gizmos and job is done - let it spin, the centrifugal spin puts the heavy spot on the equator and as it is spinning touch your pen thereon to make a perfect line.