Alignment mark on golf ball

irish bloke

Was watching the golf recently (Ken Brown I think), and he was on about alignment marking of the golf ball.

He said all the pros do it and that all amateurs should. Basically its just a half moon object thats placed over a golf ball and you scribe a marker around half of the balls equator.

Was watching Tiger at the range on Saturday night and he and his caddy pulled one of these things out and started marking golf balls in the same manner.

Anyway, Ken Brown was saying that its the best way to align putts.
Picked one up in Nevada Bobs yesterday for small money and was wondering does anyone use this, whats their alignment method and their opinion of this method in general.

newport2

irish bloke wrote: »

Was watching the golf recently (Ken Brown I think), and he was on about alignment marking of the golf ball.

He said all the pros do it and that all amateurs should. Basically its just a half moon object thats placed over a golf ball and you scribe a marker around half of the balls equator.

Was watching Tiger at the range on Saturday night and he and his caddy pulled one of these things out and started marking golf balls in the same manner.

Anyway, Ken Brown was saying that its the best way to align putts.
Picked one up in Nevada Bobs yesterday for small money and was wondering does anyone use this, whats their alignment method and their opinion of this method in general.

My carry bag came with one connected, don't use it though. Tried and it didn't work for me. Possibly should have persisted with it though. Not all pros do either, some see the curving line to the hole and try to hit along that, as opposed to determining an exact direction to hit it.

GreeBo

newport2 wrote: »

My carry bag came with one connected, don't use it though. Tried and it didn't work for me. Possibly should have persisted with it though. Not all pros do either, some see the curving line to the hole and try to hit along that, as opposed to determining an exact direction to hit it.

The curving line of a putt (the break) is what happen naturally. Every putt is a straight putt at a target that is not necessarily the cup, then gravity/grain does the rest. You can see this clearly when they AimPoint during some of the U.S. tournaments.

irish bloke

Therefore do you think it’s a good thing to mark the ball like this. Do you do this?
I’ld say standing directly behind the ball trying to aim this line up to a 30 ft putt with 8ft of break would be quite difficult.
Or is it after you read the putt, pick an object approx 1ft in front of your ball that is your line and align the mark up with this?

There is many a time I have read a putt, stood over it to hit it and changed the line as it didn’t feel right from overhead. Surly this type of approach would help?

newport2

GreeBo wrote: »

The curving line of a putt (the break) is what happen naturally. Every putt is a straight putt at a target that is not necessarily the cup, then gravity/grain does the rest. You can see this clearly when they AimPoint during some of the U.S. tournaments.

There's two lines of thought on lining up though. Like you say, some golfers like to pick a point, say a foot right and two feet beyond the hole which they think will replicate the curve. Other putters like to see the line to the hole and hit the ball along it, aiming along the curve they see as opposed to focusing on a specific point. These type of putters generally don't use an alignment

slave1

Meaning to get one of these for ages so just picked a cheap one up offa flea bay.

newport2

irish bloke wrote: »

Therefore do you think it’s a good thing to mark the ball like this. Do you do this?
I’ld say standing directly behind the ball trying to aim this line up to a 30 ft putt with 8ft of break would be quite difficult.
Or is it after you read the putt, pick an object approx 1ft in front of your ball that is your line and align the mark up with this?

There is many a time I have read a putt, stood over it to hit it and changed the line as it didn’t feel right from overhead. Surly this type of approach would help?

Definitely worth trying it out, works for a lot of people.

I think these markers (link below) are a good idea if you're trying to use a line. You mark your ball initially on roughly the line you think you should hit it. Then, while the other players are putting, you can stand back and reassess it from a few different angles. Then, when replacing your ball you make any slight adjustment with the line on the ball relative to the marker that you need.

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/AimPro-Alignment-Ball-Marker-Hat-Clip-White-Magnetic-Golf-Accessory-NEW-/130711062340?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e6efc8744

spacecoyote

[QUOTE=irish bloke;79285867There is many a time I have read a putt, stood over it to hit it and changed the line as it didn’t feel right from overhead. Surly this type of approach would help? [/QUOTE]

This is one of the worst things for me to do. I find I have much more successful days with the putter if I line myself up from behind, step up to the ball and commit to that line.

I find that usually when I start adjusting when I'm over the ball the indecision starts to creep in and I don't tend to hit confident putts.

Almaviva

Have tried it a few times but find it impossible to get a sufficiently accurate line with exactly the same weight distrbution of ink around the ball. Really knocks the ball out of kilter and becomes impossible to control, and behave eratically. Same reason I dont mark my ball. The chances of putting your dots, x, etc on the ball without disrupting its balance are too high. Golf is tough enough without trying to play with an unbalanced ball.

link_2007

Almaviva wrote: »

Have tried it a few times but find it impossible to get a sufficiently accurate line with exactly the same weight distrbution of ink around the ball. Really knocks the ball out of kilter and becomes impossible to control, and behave eratically. Same reason I dont mark my ball. The chances of putting your dots, x, etc on the ball without disrupting its balance are too high. Golf is tough enough without trying to play with an unbalanced ball.

Seves Three Iron

A lot of balls come with arrow markers on them as part of the manufacturing process, for alignment purposes. Pro Vs certainly do anyway. As far as I know the Srixon's also have this. I find them too small tho and have to add on a bit extra with a sharpie.

newport2

spacecoyote wrote: »

This is one of the worst things for me to do. I find I have much more successful days with the putter if I line myself up from behind, step up to the ball and commit to that line.

I find that usually when I start adjusting when I'm over the ball the indecision starts to creep in and I don't tend to hit confident putts.

I find this a bit too, looks different when you're standing over it. Annoying to watch, but I can understand why Jim Furyk stands over the ball, lines up and then backs away to take one last look at it.

Goldenjohn

spacecoyote wrote: »

This is one of the worst things for me to do. I find I have much more successful days with the putter if I line myself up from behind, step up to the ball and commit to that line.

I find that usually when I start adjusting when I'm over the ball the indecision starts to creep in and I don't tend to hit confident putts.

+1, definitely I find it more accurate to align from behind the ball rather than over the ball. Commit to it and pull the trigger. Think I read in a magazine somewhere they were also suggesting this as the best method as it's more accurate ..peripheral views and all that sort of jazz..

PARlance

Almaviva wrote: »

Have tried it a few times but find it impossible to get a sufficiently accurate line with exactly the same weight distrbution of ink around the ball. Really knocks the ball out of kilter and becomes impossible to control, and behave eratically. Same reason I dont mark my ball. The chances of putting your dots, x, etc on the ball without disrupting its balance are too high. Golf is tough enough without trying to play with an unbalanced ball.

Have you considered completely covering the ball with ink?

You have to be careful not to go over previous coloured areas (to avoid the dreaded weight distribution issue)
But once you master it, its a great tool for a windy linx course.
I spent months and months trying to perfect a low punch shot until it all clicked and I got colouring.
The added weight gained ensures you'll never get the ball too far off the ground.
The greensmen are never too impressed though, the extra weight creates divots the size of craters

Mister Sifter

Almaviva wrote: »

Have tried it a few times but find it impossible to get a sufficiently accurate line with exactly the same weight distrbution of ink around the ball. Really knocks the ball out of kilter and becomes impossible to control, and behave eratically. Same reason I dont mark my ball. The chances of putting your dots, x, etc on the ball without disrupting its balance are too high. Golf is tough enough without trying to play with an unbalanced ball.

This caused me no end of problems for a long time. Solution: I now only mark the ball on one side. If you google it, you'll be able to work out the weight per dot/mark. Then you can adjust your aim i.e. aim an extra 1mm or 2mm or so left or right. I started doing this 6 months ago and haven't missed a single putt since.

PARlance

Mister Sifter wrote: »

This caused me no end of problems for a long time. Solution: I now only mark the ball on one side. If you google it, you'll be able to work out the weight per dot/mark. Then you can adjust your aim i.e. aim an extra 1mm or 2mm or so left or right. I started doing this 6 months ago and haven't missed a single putt since.

How about marking all the ball except an area representing the line... the reverse of the conventional way!
The additional weight on the ball will negate the effect of any slope, grain etc on the green. All you have to do is aim straight at the hole.
You may need to increase you swing speed when putting to somewhere just shy of 100mph to compensate for added weight.

Will stop now

staker

On the plus side if you were to mark only half the ball it would negate the need for awkward chips on the green through the shoulders.
Becoming accustomed to the new curved putting line may take a while but any awkward shaped greens would be a thing of the past plus any straight line putts will look far superior hitting the hole on a curved line.

Mister Sifter

Is it possible to buy a curved alignment tool? Would be handy for when there's a break in the putt.

idle

Some comic gold going on here

ryaner777

In case anyone still wants one they have them for €2 in sports direct in finglas and blanch

http://www.sportsdirect.com/dunlop-ball-marker-and-pen-set-870059

irish bloke

ryaner777 wrote: »

In case anyone still wants one they have them for €2 in sports direct in finglas and blanch

http://www.sportsdirect.com/dunlop-ball-marker-and-pen-set-870059

Yip, thats the one I picked up..

irish bloke

Almaviva wrote: »

Have tried it a few times but find it impossible to get a sufficiently accurate line with exactly the same weight distrbution of ink around the ball. Really knocks the ball out of kilter and becomes impossible to control, and behave eratically. Same reason I dont mark my ball. The chances of putting your dots, x, etc on the ball without disrupting its balance are too high. Golf is tough enough without trying to play with an unbalanced ball.

Really?? doesn't seem to bother Tiger and the boys too much.

Almaviva

irish bloke wrote: »

Really?? doesn't seem to bother Tiger and the boys too much.

Unfortunatly there is a pretty wide gulf between their talent and mine. They can cope with it, I cant. Similar situation with rain. You really have to hand it to the pros how they can keep their game going when the clubs get wet. The swing weight change due to water on the clubhead makes it impossible for me to keep my tempo. Game goes to ruin.

(BTW you guys with the ink all over your balls - do you weigh them before you play to ensure they are still legal? Not insinuating anything here. Just wondering.)

SnowDrifts

Almaviva wrote: »

Unfortunatly there is a pretty wide gulf between their talent and mine. They can cope with it, I cant. Similar situation with rain. You really have to hand it to the pros how they can keep their game going when the clubs get wet. The swing weight change due to water on the clubhead makes it impossible for me to keep my tempo. Game goes to ruin.

(BTW you guys with the ink all over your balls - do you weigh them before you play to ensure they are still legal? Not insinuating anything here. Just wondering.)

You have to be joking right? You think that the pros adapt to weight imbalances caused by ink markings on their balls? I don't know what you are smoking but I really would like to have some.

newport2

SnowDrifts wrote: »

You have to be joking right? You think that the pros adapt to weight imbalances caused by ink markings on their balls? I don't know what you are smoking but I really would like to have some.

He coloured in one side of his cigarette with a ball marker to give it the Clint Eastwood tilt in his mouth due to weight displacement. The fumes from the ink are known to cause nuttiness.

PARlance

Better tell the lads over on the GAA and Soccer forum to stop writing their clubs names on their balls in future.
I'd be deeply concerned that they are blissfully unaware of the implications.

I was busy last night, ensured a perfectly even distribution of ink.... Have't weighed them yet though

slave1

More trolling here than in the new Hobbit film :rolleyes:

TheDoc

irish bloke wrote: »

Was watching the golf recently (Ken Brown I think), and he was on about alignment marking of the golf ball.

He said all the pros do it and that all amateurs should. Basically its just a half moon object thats placed over a golf ball and you scribe a marker around half of the balls equator.

Was watching Tiger at the range on Saturday night and he and his caddy pulled one of these things out and started marking golf balls in the same manner.

Anyway, Ken Brown was saying that its the best way to align putts.
Picked one up in Nevada Bobs yesterday for small money and was wondering does anyone use this, whats their alignment method and their opinion of this method in general.

This is very easy to do and doesnt require any mega tools.

Alignment is done where the ball connects together.
A golf ball is in two halves and then joined together.


Next time you have a prov1, look at where its written. Its over the exact line where the two halves join. This is intentional and I believe patented by Titleist. This will give the ball its best and truest roll.

On other golf balls, if you look closely you can see where the ball joins its two halves, and then you can mark a line, as the dimples are typically straight.

When I'm aligning my ball at my marker, I'm not doing it needlessly and I'm not doing anything silly, I'm aligning the joint of the ball to point down the line I'm going to hit the putt.

kagni

TheDoc wrote: »

This is very easy to do and doesnt require any mega tools.

Alignment is done where the ball connects together.
A golf ball is in two halves and then joined together.


Next time you have a prov1, look at where its written. Its over the exact line where the two halves join. This is intentional and I believe patented by Titleist. This will give the ball its best and truest roll.

On other golf balls, if you look closely you can see where the ball joins its two halves, and then you can mark a line, as the dimples are typically straight.

When I'm aligning my ball at my marker, I'm not doing it needlessly and I'm not doing anything silly, I'm aligning the joint of the ball to point down the line I'm going to hit the putt.