Dot or no line on Putter

[braincramp52]

For you guys that prefer putters with no sight lines, what advantages (if any) do you feel it gives you to have a dot or no line at all?

[JunkerJorge]

A dot or top line is my preference. A flange line influences my alignment and can distract me during the stroke. However, without a sight dot I tend to set up with the ball too far toward the toe.

[bladehunter]

A flangeline tends to catch my eye and cause me to watch the backswing. I mean we don’t have long lines on any other club. Why putter ?

 

Ive used them but never stayed long.

[braincramp52]

I get this. I have to admit that sometimes I catch myself watching my backstroke.

[hdgolf44]

It's odd, to me it depends on the finish and style of the putter and how it frames the ball to my eye.

I've got a couple MgBr PINGs (Anser 2 with no sightlines and an Anser 3 with a line) and I find the weathered bronze-coloured finish without the sightline on the 2 a bit harder to align than the white line on the 3. Must be how the contrast sets up against the colour. On other putters, I find that a crisp black finish suits my eye better and am comfortable without anything on it, but anything that is silver (neutral) I have a harder time with.

I'm not the biggest fan of dots, I prefer lines, but always willing to give the benefit of the doubt when I try them out or game them.

[James the Hogan Fan]

I do not have any sighting aids on my putter. What follows may sound ludicrous, but it is what I have thoroughly convinced myself and has given me confidence.

Basically I've decided that within say 1/2" inch either heel or toe side of center, the impact point of the ball on the face doesn't really matter so long as the face is square to the intended target and the path is down the target line. Think of your typical 3-4 footer. Does catching the sweet spot really matter? I very seldom leave those short, so as long as line is good, speed will probably be acceptable.

From longer range it gets more complicated, because speed takes precedence, but at those distances (15'+) I know where about the sweet spot of the putter is, and can focus on that with a bit more room for error on line.

I would like to think in spite of the above approach, my actual stroke has developed to the point where I am finding the same part of the face repeatedly and I am not using my "mental tolerance". I usually make something in the 10-15' range every round, so something is going right.

I guess to summarize I would say a line or dot would cause me to focus on something I currently disregard and add a level of complication to the putting process.

[DrJACOB]

"Keep your eye on the Fruit" to quote Caddyshack 2 or "Keep you eye on the BALL" to quote every little league coach ever.

I have putters with and without alignment Aids. I seem to putt better with the line. I use the line to aim the ball at address only and watch a spot on the golf ball during a back swing. Not distracted or watching the dot/line during a stroke but to each their own.

Yes, not as aesthetically pretty to look at however it has a purpose. I wouldn't expect to shoot a gun accurate without sights. I will say that once I had a SC Dell Mar III and the best result were to place the line outside the ball to get a better roll. Heel shafted putters center on gravity tend to be more towards the heel and the line was more central placed.

It is interesting of T.P. Mills finds the center of gravity of the putter head and was first to place an Oval one the top line. He also placed a cross hair on the face were it balanced on a peg. Therefore the center of gravity is where the Oval and cross hair intersect. My Handmade Mills has just the cross hair on face and clean top line and I can line that up well. Again it was placed a little more towards the heel.

Summarize by a dot is good enough for Tiger Woods but does not necessarily placed symmetrically for best results.

[luke1333]

Less distractions for me with no line or just a tiny dot for me. All my blades are either naked or a tiny sight dot. Mallet I like a line for the bigger putter though. Odd combo I know lol

[JoshB10]

I used to have a putter with dot & another with a line. I've never been a great putter, golf coach used to call me "Stone Hands", but since making the switch to a putter with no lines or dots, my putting has improved dramatically. I've always viewed putting as such a "feel" thing and believe having nothing to line up makes me think less & just stroke it. I have also quit using a line or evening lining my ball up, I simply just place the ball down, logo up & stroke it.