Aiming the Ball / Use of a line.

[bargolf]

I have recently read a number of articles and comments claiming using a line on the ball when putting is of no benefit .

 

I have a question.

 

If this is absolutely true then why are there so many straight line putting aids?

[jt2gt]

Don't know but I am finding line on ball is better for me than line on putter. Line on both was a no no, Line on putter aiming to spot w/ no line on ball a bit better and line on ball w/ naked putter best. So that's what I am goin with lately. :D

[SunkTheBirdie]

I have recently read a number of articles and comments claiming using a line on the ball when putting is of no benefit .

To PGA Pros ?

 

It helps me alot.

Gives me confidence about my line ... and I just worry about the weight.

I've also practiced it and it's part of my game now.

 

My golf bag always has a sharpie !

 

 

I stand just the perfect distance behind the ball (after I have lined it up) and double check sometimes.

- I can see the hole and the line and my ball ... and it is a nice double check.

 

The line is to help you aim not line up to the ball.

or at least that is how I use it.

[Ri_Redneck]

I have a long site line on my putter and prefer only that. I tried the line on the ball thing, but it seemed to take forever to get it lined up just right. This way I site in from putting position and let it go. Get's me around the course with less stress.

 

BT

[Boricua Golf]

I use a line on my golf ball (have for over 20 years), so for me it is a must, that being said, most my buddies don't use a line and putt well, so it comes down to personal preference and confidence, if it feels like a distraction, then don't, if it is helping you putting stats, then go for it...there is no right or wrong way here, try it out and make the best decision for your game, good luck.

[Ghost of Snead]

Personal preference only ...

 

Even if from behind you get the line what you think is exactly right, when you stand over the putt the line may seem off if your eyes are not directly over the ball.

 

IIRC it was Iteachgolf who recently posted on the line not making a difference, but I don't remember which thread.

[bargolf]

So do any of you who do not use a line or think it is not valuable use a straight line putting aid?

[Socrates]

Personal preference only ...

 

Even if from behind you get the line what you think is exactly right, when you stand over the putt the line may seem off if your eyes are not directly over the ball.

 

IIRC it was Iteachgolf who recently posted on the line not making a difference, but I don't remember which thread.

I agree. I do use the line from time to time especially on real long putts. Since my eyes are usually inside the line, I have to fight my brain because it is telling me that the line doesn't seem to agree with where I think I am looking.

[dlam]

I have recently read a number of articles and comments claiming using a line on the ball when putting is of no benefit .

 

I have a question.

 

If this is absolutely true then why are there so many straight line putting aids?

Don't know but I am finding line on ball is better for me than line on putter. Line on both was a no no, Line on putter aiming to spot w/ no line on ball a bit better and line on ball w/ naked putter best. So that's what I am goin with lately. :D

 

I have an outside DTL stroke and I find that the line on the ball helps

When my stroke gets too outside to in cut stroky then I prefer the line on the putter

But not both lines together

[Psyber]

It's essential to my putting. I line my putt up with it and once I find my line the only thing I focus on is a good stroke where the line is aimed.

[bluedot]

I think we need to be careful about absolute statements about what does or does not work, and the putting line on a golf ball is a great example.

 

The line on the ball works for some people, and I think most of us have seen really good putters using a line. I think research shows, though, that the line does NOT work for many golfers because of properties of their vision. One of my best buddies in the first category; I'm in the second.

 

So if the line DOES work for you, understand that that doesn't mean everybody else should do what you do. Conversely, if the line does NOT work for you, understand that for other golfers, the line is an essential part of good putting.

[dg_1983]

For me it has helped a lot in conjunction with Aimpoint.

 

Aimpoint made me realize I started everything to the right of my intended line (previously I just put a missed putt down to a bad read). I worked on my stroke path, and then finally face at impact.

 

I have a tendency to aim the face to the right of my start line if I don't use a line, the line on the ball brings my face alignment into order.

 

Of course the result speak for themselves but I would ask - why wouldn't it work? Does it just confuse folks when they look at it, and it looks off? The line to me always looks left, but I learned to trust it coz my instinct is off!

 

I'm not a bad putter, but always looking to sink more.

 

The line for me has more of an impact the closer the putt. I find it amazing for banging in 3 footers. to the point that I don't even look at the hole while over a 3 footer. I just line up to the ball line and pull the trigger - I don't need any bad thoughts and I KNOW that line is good and from 3 feet 99% of putts are the same stroke.

[Roadking_6]

For me I can't use either I have determined. I recently got a naked putter. I pick out a spot a few feet in front of my ball and then focus on squaring my face to that spot. My putting has improved vastly in the recent month. I have always had a line on my putter and felt like I wasn't putting the ball on the line where I felt I was aiming.

 

Thought using the line on the ball could help. But I would line my ball up and when I stood over top of it, I could not get my mind to believe what I was seeing when standing over the ball. It felt like I was aiming 2 feet left. Instead of stopping and realigning the ball, I would just decide to hit right of that line and wouldn't line up the putter line and the ball line.

 

Grabbed a naked putter and stopped using the line on the ball and really takes a lot of second guessing out of the equation. I pick my spot (may not always be the right spot) and make a confident stroke. I am rolling the ball directly over my tartget spot and even has helped with my speed as I can focus on that once I am 100% on my line.

 

Not saying this will work for everyone, but for me, I know what I need.

[mackepa]

I draw a line on my ball but I use it for less than 10% of my putts. usually its used on mid range putts breaking left to right as I have trouble lining up left to right putts for some reason.

[pusb365]

If I use a line, when I get over the ball the line looks like it's pointing too far left.

 

What does that mean? Eyes inside or outside the line? Tilted head?!

[dg_1983]

I think its your eyes and vision rather than setup. I don't think there is anything that you can do it make it look correct!

[Golfonthemind]

Read the same article and tried puttting without it, didn't go well maybe I'm just a sissy. I'll take my set up and then look at the hole and for whatever reason move the face a little bit, look back down and wonder " am I lined up right". I like using the line simply because if I completely miss my intended spot I for sure know it was me not my alignment. For laid back let it happen kind of people I'm sure no line is just fine.

[jslane57]

I purposely put the ball down with an empty side up. No alignments marks. Why? If the line looks sideways I then have to fiddle or lose confidence when I'm ready to make the putt. Also, I prefer to put more emphasis on speed control that directional control, for me I hole far more putts this way, and the line messes with me. Clearly lots of pros do the line thing, so there is something to it, but it is not for me...

[bluedot]

If I use a line, when I get over the ball the line looks like it's pointing too far left.

 

What does that mean? Eyes inside or outside the line? Tilted head?!

 

My understanding it that this is the case for about 60% of golfers, and I'm one of them. For me, the line not only looks pointed left, but also tilted toward me, even though I KNOW that neither one of those things is true. I found it impossibly distracting, but I know some really, really good putters who don't have this "problem". (This may be another example of what's called Parallax Error, but I'm not sure of that.)

[Obee]

I started using a line on 100% of my short (inside 6 feet?) putts, and it has helped me immensely.

 

It took me a good month or so of commitment and practice become confident that the line was aimed correctly, but now that I'n confident, the results are amazing.

[Roadking_6]

If I use a line, when I get over the ball the line looks like it's pointing too far left.

 

What does that mean? Eyes inside or outside the line? Tilted head?!

 

My understanding it that this is the case for about 60% of golfers, and I'm one of them. For me, the line not only looks pointed left, but also tilted toward me, even though I KNOW that neither one of those things is true. I found it impossibly distracting, but I know some really, really good putters who don't have this "problem". (This may be another example of what's called Parallax Error, but I'm not sure of that.)

Im glad I am not the only one. I will take the time to line it up, and when I stand over the ball, I just cannot get comfortable. I think to myself that I totally missed the mark with the alignment so I overcompensate and aim way out right. Just does not work for me whatsoever. I know it's an optical illusion but if I am not standing over the ball thinking I have a good read and a good line, I have about 0% chance to make it. Line just messes with me too much to mess with it

[Psyber]

If I use a line, when I get over the ball the line looks like it's pointing too far left.

 

What does that mean? Eyes inside or outside the line? Tilted head?!

 

Sometimes my line looks wrong when I stand over it but that's ok because I know I picked my line from behind the ball. Once I make that decision my only goal is to square up to that line and square my putters line to the ball line. Kind of like how feel isn't real in the full swing what your eye sees standing over ball isn't always real either.

[bluedot]

If I use a line, when I get over the ball the line looks like it's pointing too far left.

 

What does that mean? Eyes inside or outside the line? Tilted head?!

 

Sometimes my line looks wrong when I stand over it but that's ok because I know I picked my line from behind the ball. Once I make that decision my only goal is to square up to that line and square my putters line to the ball line. Kind of like how feel isn't real in the full swing what your eye sees standing over ball isn't always real either.

 

I've heard other people say the same thing as you; the only thing I can assume is that there are degrees of this property of vision, just like there are degrees of other physical characteristics. It also may be that some people are wired to better compensate for what they are seeing; I just don't know. I DO know that I worked on using the line for a long time; it just made too much sense to me, and I REALLY wanted it to work. It just doesn't for me.

[iteachgolf]

I think we need to be careful about absolute statements about what does or does not work, and the putting line on a golf ball is a great example.

 

The line on the ball works for some people, and I think most of us have seen really good putters using a line. I think research shows, though, that the line does NOT work for many golfers because of properties of their vision. One of my best buddies in the first category; I'm in the second.

 

So if the line DOES work for you, understand that that doesn't mean everybody else should do what you do. Conversely, if the line does NOT work for you, understand that for other golfers, the line is an essential part of good putting.

 

Nobody said anything absolute. Was stated that for most it offers no benefit and for some it actually makes them worse. It also helps some people. The largest percentage it neither helps nor hurts. If it helps then keep doing it obviously. But if it doesn't help you're in the majority and it isn't a sign that anything is wrong.

[deadsolid...shank]

I like it. All I have do make sure the sight line on my putter is lined up with the one on the ball. Then at least I know my putter is square and lined up correctly (I have a bad tendancy to leave the putter sitting open, so this really helps).

[bluedot]

I think we need to be careful about absolute statements about what does or does not work, and the putting line on a golf ball is a great example.

 

The line on the ball works for some people, and I think most of us have seen really good putters using a line. I think research shows, though, that the line does NOT work for many golfers because of properties of their vision. One of my best buddies in the first category; I'm in the second.

 

So if the line DOES work for you, understand that that doesn't mean everybody else should do what you do. Conversely, if the line does NOT work for you, understand that for other golfers, the line is an essential part of good putting.

 

Nobody said anything absolute. Was stated that for most it offers no benefit and for some it actually makes them worse. It also helps some people. The largest percentage it neither helps nor hurts. If it helps then keep doing it obviously. But if it doesn't help you're in the majority and it isn't a sign that anything is wrong.

 

Yes, and if you go back and reread my posts, I think you'll see that I'm one of the ones that says "that for most it offers no benefit and for some it actually makes them worse." I'm not sure what part of what I've written was unclear or confusing; I even referenced a 60% figure for being unable to use the line that was given to me by a guy that is a putting instructor for a number of Tour players. Sorry if my first sentence was alarming to you somehow.

[bluedot]

I think we need to be careful about absolute statements about what does or does not work, and the putting line on a golf ball is a great example.

 

The line on the ball works for some people, and I think most of us have seen really good putters using a line. I think research shows, though, that the line does NOT work for many golfers because of properties of their vision. One of my best buddies in the first category; I'm in the second.

 

So if the line DOES work for you, understand that that doesn't mean everybody else should do what you do. Conversely, if the line does NOT work for you, understand that for other golfers, the line is an essential part of good putting.

 

Nobody said anything absolute. Was stated that for most it offers no benefit and for some it actually makes them worse. It also helps some people. The largest percentage it neither helps nor hurts. If it helps then keep doing it obviously. But if it doesn't help you're in the majority and it isn't a sign that anything is wrong.

 

Yes, and if you go back and reread my posts, I think you'll see that I'm one of the ones that says "that for most it offers no benefit and for some it actually makes them worse." I'm not sure what part of what I've written was unclear or confusing; I even referenced a 60% figure for being unable to use the line that was given to me by a guy that is a putting instructor for a number of Tour players. Sorry if my first sentence was alarming to you somehow.

 

Not offensive just correcting your implication that what was said was in any way absolute.

 

Thanks for the "correction". Do you find it a burden to need to "correct" innocuous statements on internet forums, and then parroting EXACTLY what the body of the post said? Do you ever fall off of your high horse and hurt yourself?

 

Jeez...

[iteachgolf]

I think we need to be careful about absolute statements about what does or does not work, and the putting line on a golf ball is a great example.

 

The line on the ball works for some people, and I think most of us have seen really good putters using a line. I think research shows, though, that the line does NOT work for many golfers because of properties of their vision. One of my best buddies in the first category; I'm in the second.

 

So if the line DOES work for you, understand that that doesn't mean everybody else should do what you do. Conversely, if the line does NOT work for you, understand that for other golfers, the line is an essential part of good putting.

 

Nobody said anything absolute. Was stated that for most it offers no benefit and for some it actually makes them worse. It also helps some people. The largest percentage it neither helps nor hurts. If it helps then keep doing it obviously. But if it doesn't help you're in the majority and it isn't a sign that anything is wrong.

 

Yes, and if you go back and reread my posts, I think you'll see that I'm one of the ones that says "that for most it offers no benefit and for some it actually makes them worse." I'm not sure what part of what I've written was unclear or confusing; I even referenced a 60% figure for being unable to use the line that was given to me by a guy that is a putting instructor for a number of Tour players. Sorry if my first sentence was alarming to you somehow.

 

Not alarming or offensive. It was implying something that I nor anyone else said. What you wrote could certainly be confusing because it implies that absolute statements were made, which wasn't the case.

 

What I say is often misconstrued so I was just making sure my position is absolutely clear as well as what other had said

[BenHoganSlam1953]

I've gone back and forth on using it - in the end I am better without it. Especially since I now pick my line based on the cup (middle/edge/two cups left, etc.).

[Obee]

I found that in order to be confident using the line, I had to do two things: one I had to confirm that the line was correct by using the shaft of my putter to create a straight edge that I line up with the line. Too, I had tostrike the ball with a more square face. If you pot open to closed or closed to open, or wipe the ball, or block your pots, the line will not help you much. At least that has been my experience and the experience of some of my best friends who have tried it. Forgive any spelling errors. I am dictating.