What is your preferred Sight-Line on you putter and why? What is preferred length? What are you gaming?

[kupur]

My collection is TP Mills Mings, Piretti 801s and Rattler from LaMont Mann.  All of my sticks are 34.25 cut length, playing a little over 34.25, I am thinking about going 34.75.  I was rolling new Ping PLD Anser at 35" and loved it.

 

Sight-Lines: 

TP Mills: Top Line 

TP Mills: Top Dot (Circle) 

Piretti: Top Line 

New Ordered Piretti: Dot 

Ratter: Flange 

 

I just sold an 801 with Flange and finding that it's been distracting me.  Creating a sliding swing vs smooth swing with a nice finish release.  

[Motoboss]

I just got a Ping Vault 2 Anser in stealth finish and first thing I did was black out the flange sight line. Just too distracting. I would prefer top line dot but the blacked out line works.

[jonradus]

35” with site line. I match the site line up to the line on the ball for putts ~8 feet or shorter. Putts any longer, I don’t use the line on the ball or the putter site line. I use the force and I just focus on the top line and the ball in relation to the hole. I’m 5-10 with normal size arms (note: my hands are bigger than Kenny Pickett’s hands) and I have no idea how people use putters 34” or shorter. 

Edited April 26, 2022 by jonradus

[Pmookie]

Edel EAS 1.0, no lines, 37”

Edited April 26, 2022 by Pmookie

[Phabs]

Sight dot… because tiger uses one.😂

 

Top line second.. 

 

Hate flange lines and any other sort of alignment aid but I can’t aim to save my life with anything naked. 

[MPAndreassi]

Flange line:

-Scotty Champion’s Choice Newport 2 

-Byron Morgan 620

-Swag Handsome Too

-Scotty Phantom 9.5

-Scotty Red X5

 

Top line:

-Bettinardi Innovai 6.0

 

Above are all 33” and varying head weights for different green speeds.   

 

Finally I have a White Hot OG 2-Ball built like their old Tank putters. ~400g head, 36” and a little counterbalance. 

[kb7]

Naked Putters

Mack Made My Jewel

SC Newport

 

Topline X

Cushman Custom 2 Step

 

Flange Line

Bettinardi BB8W (no paint fill)

SC X5 Flow Neck (no paint fill)

 

 

All play around 34"-34.25". Prefer no sight line. Definitely do not like flange lines but can still use them. The topline sight X is not bad. I basically want shoulders that frame the ball, or a small mark on the topline at the sweet spot.

[LoopySwing13]

Blank (no alignment) on my NP1 classic. Play it 35.25” and am 6’2” tall.

 

I always used to play some form of alignment but realized I prefer a blank cavity to a ball with a line on it

[jah7838]

I prefer the site line on top.  I have a White Hot OG 7s, which has 3 dots instead of the line, but those work just fine.  It plays at 35", along with my Kingston KP1 that plays at 35" to the end of grip.  The KP1 has the site line on top as well.  I just find that easier to line up on shorter putts.  

[Binson]

I like a thick top line so I can use the face of the putter to aim, but no actual sight lines.  I don't mind having a sight dot on the top line though, or if it's almost a box like on an old Zing.

 

Any actual lines tend to have me focus way too much on "lining up the putter with the ball". I heavily prioritize getting the right distance over direction, as the right distance allows for more errors in direction.  So, lack of lines helps me stay within my putting philosophy.

[14max]

Edit: I have a mix of sight line (top line/ball-width flange, single flange only, & top line only).  My favorite is probably the top line/ball-width flange because it forces my eye to focus on the target line a bit more.  My preferred length is currently 35" but I may go longer as I get older.

Edited October 17, 2023 by 14max

[MattM97]

All putters that could see play time for me have a flange line, but I've noticed maybe based on a setup change or something I'm aiming just outside the cup a lot of the time so have to remember to aim what feels to be inside the cup. 

 

My next few putters I'm going to get a topline, maybe see if that helps a bit. But most of my aiming is actually done with a line on the ball so I could potentially go naked if I want and maybe add a line in the future. But I like some sort of line on my putter. 

[Nebraska]

Edel  E5 Black No marks.

[Cropps]

Definitely prefer a top line rather than a flange line.

I find it slightly frustrating that the default for regular retail blades are with a flange line.

[VA golfer]

i have found multiple sightlines allows me to aim better. i putted with a Ram Zebra for about 20 years. I have had many many putters since. I recently purchased a SIK DW I ordered it with 3 sightlines. I have been putting really well with it.

[Yoshifan151]

Using a Son of a GOAT at 34" with a sight dot. I always felt with flange lines I tried to focus on it too much and keep my path straight but the dot allows me to swing and arc naturally. 

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by Yoshifan151

[North Butte]

My preference is for no lines, dots, marks, alignment aids, logos, no nothing visible at address. But that's never going to happen with buying putters made nowadays so I usually settle for whatever markings the manufacturer wants to put on there and I do my best to ignore them. Modern putters are also too heavy IMO but again, good luck with finding one that's not fairly heavy among current models.

 

But it's one reason why I keep going back to my collection of classic Anser putters made half a century ago. No marks on the topline or flange, not even a bunch of writing and logos and sole. My stroke is really better suited to a face-balanced mallet but I love the simplicity (and the light weight) of the old Ansers. 

 

As for length, I'm fine with 34" or 35" or anywhere in between. Anything over 35" is a no-go for me but I can do OK with one as short as 33", it just means bending over a bit more than is comfortable.

[nitram]

Single white line in the middle of the flange

 

34-inches

 

009 Prototype

[dfwcanuck]

12 hours ago, Yoshifan151 said:

Using a Son of a GOAT at 34" with a sight dot. I always felt with flange lines I tried to focus on it too much and keep my path straight but the dot allows me to swing and arc naturally. 

 

 

This ^

 

Dot keeps the stroke natural. I find myself trying to keep the sight line going straight back and straight through with a putter designed to open and close. 

Also, 34" length because I like to keep my arms as soft as possible but as straight as possible. Anything shorter or longer I am compensating. 

[Jarlaxle]

I strongly prefer a single line on the top line of the putter. 

 

My gamer is a 2022 Cameron Phantom X 5, 35" (I'm 6'3")

[Itsjustagame]

Strke Lab Exo 7 at 35". Has dots/lines and structural elements that are all sight lines.

[SantoroMT]

Gamer: Scotty Cameron Futura X5 - Flange Line - 35"

 

Back Up: Scotty Cameron Newport Original - Naked - 34"

 

Time Out Closet: Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 Heavy Head - Top Line - 35"

[kupur]

Love the dialogue and very interesting that majority of folks are less favorable of flange and off the shelf are flange.  It confirms what I am doing with my own collection.  Tomorrow (Thursday 28th) going for a putter fitting to see what length I should be playing.  I realize my grips also play a factor as  my SS 1.0 Tour is just a little longer than my GP SNSR 104 grip.  I tend to grip down pretty low however now I am standing a bit taller. 

 

New 801r with dot. 

 

[Motoboss]

Where you going for your fitting? Please report back you findings and fitter recommendations.

[kupur]

2 hours ago, Motoboss said:

Where you going for your fitting? Please report back you findings and fitter recommendations.

I am going to a TrueSpecGolf.  I have a local Club Champion as well.  Years past I went to Club Champion and know the folks there...selected TrueSpec to check out there supposedly start-of-art putting area.  Also, wanted to go where someone didnt know me or my style.

 

my collection are all the same style heads, anser, rounded shoulders and similar weights.  I keep similar specs so I can interchange my putters without minimal disruption.  

[adamnbomb]

Prefer the sight dot and playing a Nike Method 001 at 35.25". 

 

Had a Newport 2 with the flange line and always felt I was aiming it left of the target, but with the dot its more of a point of reference 

[North Butte]

3 hours ago, adamnbomb said:

Prefer the sight dot and playing a Nike Method 001 at 35.25". 

 

Had a Newport 2 with the flange line and always felt I was aiming it left of the target, but with the dot its more of a point of reference 

I do have that same problem that the flange line seems "off" a bit from my usual way of aiming the putter face (like you'd aim an iron).

 

But the biggest problem is, I have an irresistible urge to follow the putter back and through with my eyes and try to keep the line aiming down the target line. You'd think after years and years of trying I could just ignore it but I find it hard to avoid that habit. And of course the putter does not actually aim down the line during the backstroke, it stays square to the path of the stroke not to the initial aiming direction. So that tendency to keep it "square" really screws things up.

[ExTrumpet]

I like the original 2Ball (without the line) a lot.  I really like a slant neck too.  I guess I need to shop for one of those 2Ball slant necks!

 

I also love the Ping Zing 2 BeCu with the sight line.  I've removed all the other paint, so the line is all that remains.  But it may be the slant neck that I like as much as the sight line.  I just like the way it flows.  But the 2Ball alignment is just almost automatic...and why it gets significant bag time!

Edited April 28, 2022 by ExTrumpet

[kupur]

Had my putter fitting today.  Turned out to be more of a conversation, rolled a few putts and walked out with the same set up I have been gaming....

 

34.25" Length 

3* Loft 

69* Lie 

 

First few rolls the guy thought I should go shorter, which was incredible uncomfortable with the stance....after loosing up a bit, rolled a few more and he said I was fine...The good part, didn't charge me, confirmed my mental thoughts but wasted my time..ha! 

 

Just regripped my Mills and Piretti to Ping PP58 Mid-Size and the putters feel amazing.   New 801 should arrive this weekend and have my PLD in a few weeks. 

[cccdad]

Does anyone have a V or arrow head top line for aiming?  If you do, any pictures?

thanks

Brian