No Sight line / dot. What are the benefits?

[Zen golfer]

This is a very interesting topic, thanks to all the contributors. I use an old Ping Anser putter with no sight lines of any kind on the putter. I also occasionally use an old Spalding Anser clone as well which has sight lines. I prefer the old Anser as the cleanness of the face makes me more relaxed when putting which often helps me get nearer the hole.

 

When I started playing golf I used the following putting philosophy : If you are on a long putt RELAX and  just hit the ball instinctively and try to roll it up to the hole. When you are nearer to the hole you adapt a new method : Take care with direction of face keep movements more controlled and lift heel of putter up a little RELAX -then swing gently with a smooth stroke.

It mostly worked but now my putting is awful as I have started to watch instructional videos and line up this and that and I am getting worse.

So basically if the sight lines make you tense and less instinctive cover them up and see what happens? Don't overthink just RELAX and swing !

 

Rgds

[theothertwo]

I am sure this has been mentioned but some of the old great putters such as the Ping Anser, Bullseye and the Wilson 8802 did not have sight lines or dots.  I use a Slighter Seattle (like an Anser 2) with a sight dot and a Ping Anser with no sight line/dots.

[blue 22 golf]

An interesting thread .....if y'all want another heavily-data based "opinions" on the subject of head shape/hosel/lines/dots/ shaft offset/ grips and the resultant affect on aim and alignment and performance, I suggest pulling up David Edel's YouTube video series - "The putting roadmap"

 

Please understand I have been thru at least 4 putter fitting in past 10 years - all with same recommendations -

- significant toe hang for strong arc stroke

- 4* flat lie

- 3* loft - 34.5 " length (new measurement method) 

- Pingman PP58

- Ping Zing TR w/ dot on topline and lines on the flange

- Overlapping putter grip

 

After multiple viewings of Mr Edel's videos, I made changes to my putter setup

- Ping Anser Milled

- No alignment aids

- Round Edel Slim putter grip (Claw grip w/strong left hand)

- Std lie  and loft

Results have been:

* Aim /alignment both improved by 50% laser measured

* Putt start line is now spot on 99%

* Stroke is significantly smoother and stroke path is repeating on 'path board' with new grip set-up (research says I am not fighting my body type/ arm and hand path - See Mike Adams )

[ousuxndallas]

I honestly don't know how anyone could use a putter without a sightline. How do you know if your putter is aimed square? Just bizzare. 

 

But that's the beauty of golf, it let's everyone be an individual! 

[MattM97]

26 minutes ago, ousuxndallas said:

I honestly don't know how anyone could use a putter without a sightline. How do you know if your putter is aimed square? Just bizzare. 

 

But that's the beauty of golf, it let's everyone be an individual! 

 

Use the top line or leading edge, if it's square you're square. But that needs to work for your eye.

 

Edit: Even the trailing edge can be used as alignment. Eyes are weird.

Edited March 27, 2021 by MattM97

[Yoshifan151]

2 hours ago, ousuxndallas said:

I honestly don't know how anyone could use a putter without a sightline. How do you know if your putter is aimed square? Just bizzare. 

 

But that's the beauty of golf, it let's everyone be an individual! 

I have a dot on my putter and I use the bend on my hosel (plumber neck) to line it up. For me the face looks slightly closed when I line up, but I'm left eye dominant so that might have something to do with it? Same thing with flange line putters I have used before so I know how to line it up with my sight dot putter now.

[mogc60]

I focus on the top line or face. I prefer a naked putter but honestly don’t really pay attention to lines or dots. I also like the ball naked with nothing showing when I putt. I look at the top line and see a road toward the hole with no center line. Kindof the high line and the low line. This has always worked great for me. Putting is so feel and vision oriented for me and attempting to be perfect doesn’t work for me. Some people are much more robotic and it works for them. Putter choice is the same way. Some people focus on lining up the ball and the the markings on the putter and it works. I have a very fast and consistent routine that is simple and fits my personality. I think that’s an important thing to be aware of. 

[jac1292]

FWIW I did a SAM putter fitting and I aligned consistently 1-2 degrees closed with mallets that had sightlines/alignment aids even though my eyes were directly over the ball. Best alignment for me was with a double wide anser style head with a single line on the top line.