Wasting time lining up the ball marking with the hole

Su Campu

I hate time wasting in general, but this one really frustrates me. Anyone else? People who mark their ball and spend an age lining the line/text on the ball with the hole/target on every putt, even 6 footers. It wastes so much time and is frustrating to be in the group behind waiting to hit in.

MP62

Su Campu wrote: »

I hate time wasting in general, but this one really frustrates me. Anyone else? People who mark their ball and spend an age lining the line/text on the ball with the hole/target on every putt, even 6 footers. It wastes so much time and is frustrating to be in the group behind waiting to hit in.

To be fair that's not time wasting imo, you may not be aware of it, but you play almost half your shots on the green, so it follows logic that you are going to spend more time on the green.

m r c

Su Campu wrote: »

I hate time wasting in general, but this one really frustrates me. Anyone else? People who mark their ball and spend an age lining the line/text on the ball with the hole/target on every putt, even 6 footers. It wastes so much time and is frustrating to be in the group behind waiting to hit in.

Agree with you on taking an age to do it but this helps to square the putter face to the target line and more than a few instructors teach this. It only needs to take to take max 5/6 seconds I think the people you talk about would be slow anyway.

pistolpetes11

Su Campu wrote: »

I hate time wasting in general, but this one really frustrates me. Anyone else? People who mark their ball and spend an age lining the line/text on the ball with the hole/target on every putt, even 6 footers. It wastes so much time and is frustrating to be in the group behind waiting to hit in.

Very acceptable in my book , well within limits ,

I like to walk to front and back of my ball/marker and give the line a quick look , usually 5-6 seconds each side , sometimes there may be a tricky break that requires a little more time ,

Most important part of the game IMO and is justified to take a few extra seconds.

On the other hand the lads who take well over a minute on the tee box really bother me , Line her up , practice swing and tip her down, some lads I have being playing with in opens lately have been taking an age over there shots, I think some of them have a nervous tick , dancing on the spot , bouncing the driver up and down off the ground , all whilst trying to stay on line to hit the dam thing !

bustercherry

Another nonsense post about time wasting and IMO petty. If the group on the green are keeping up with the group in front; I couldn't care how long it takes to line up putts, nor should you. Further it doesn't take an age to line up markers; I suspect anyone slow at this, is slow in general with the rest of their play.

Henry Ford III

I can't see the point in doing this tbh.

It's just another variable that if not done accurately will ensure a putt is missed.

Jazzzman

If this kind of stuff bothers you then you need to rethink your attitude on the course.

People who take practice swings on the other hand...

newport2

Not time wasted at all.

Had tried it before a few years and didn't work for me. Gave it another shot there about a month ago due to a thread on here and it has worked really well. Surprisingly, it really improved my putting pace, as with the arrow lined up, pace is the only thing I have to focus on when putting, I can forget about the aim once lined up.

The time I spend lining them up is easily justified by the time saved on the number of second and third putts I don't have

PRAF

Su Campu wrote: »

I hate time wasting in general, but this one really frustrates me. Anyone else? People who mark their ball and spend an age lining the line/text on the ball with the hole/target on every putt, even 6 footers. It wastes so much time and is frustrating to be in the group behind waiting to hit in.

Agree with the sentiment re time wasting but I think there are more obvious targets to go after than those who line up their putts.

I use the method above but I don't think it takes that much time, especially if I'm holing my putts as a result!

IMO the more obvious targets are not being ready to play when its your turn, not knowing the most basic rules (especially about hitting provo's when your ball may be lost), excessive practice swings, poor standard of play (therefore hitting 10 or 20 more shots per round and lots more time looking for lost balls). Another one that slows down play is people worrying too much about who's honour it is off the tee.

Su Campu

I agree with all the sentiments and I know it is a little petty, but as someone said, you take a lot of your shots on the green so it all adds up over a round. I just get particularly psised off as yes, these are usually the guys who are slow in the rest of their play, and when you're losing ground to the group in front and have a group up your ass then it does become a distraction when it comes to your own putt. I'm all for lining up putts and I even quickly line the ball marks up myself on my first putt, but I don't delay in doing it, will not do it for a 6 footer and don't think anyone else needs to either. I think in some cases it's another example of some people trying to look like a pro.

Myksyk

Yeah gotta say that I've started doing this and actually only do it for maybe 8 footers and in. I find it very useful ... my ability to perceive the correct line standing over the putt side on seems to be 'impaired' shall we say, so I need to do this and it definitely helps. I am aware it is a possible source of annoyance so I have become quite good at doing it quickly. What made it clear that I might need it was the fact that when I lined it up and I knew for definite that I was lined up for say, the left edge, it NEVER seemed right standing over the ball. That showed me how poor I was at aiming just based on my own assessment. If you're going to consistently find those extra three shots on a course to lower your handicap its going to be on or around the green so I'm ok with people taking their time there. As long as they don't pi$$ around in other places where there's no excuse.

PRAF

Myksyk wrote: »

Yeah gotta say that I've started doing this and actually only do it for maybe 8 footers and in. I find it very useful ... my ability to perceive the correct line standing over the putt side on seems to be 'impaired' shall we say, so I need to do this and it definitely helps. I am aware it is a possible source of annoyance so I have become quite good at doing it quickly. What made it clear that I might need it was the fact that when I lined it up and I knew for definite that I was lined up for say, the left edge, it NEVER seemed right standing over the ball. That showed me how poor I was at aiming just based on my own assessment. If you're going to consistently find those extra three shots on a course to lower your handicap its going to be on or around the green so I'm ok with people taking their time there. As long as they don't pi$$ around in other places where there's no excuse.

Possible problem with doing it quickly - I once lined up my putt when another guy was away first. He had a 15 foot putt, slightly downhill. I was about 10 feet away on the other side of the hole but not directly on his line. He hitts a terrible putt, way off line and way too fast. He hits my ball and wasn't too pleased as it cost him a scratch!

Myksyk

PRAF wrote: »

Possible problem with doing it quickly - I once lined up my putt when another guy was away first. He had a 15 foot putt, slightly downhill. I was about 10 feet away on the other side of the hole but not directly on his line. He hitts a terrible putt, way off line and way too fast. He hits my ball and wasn't too pleased as it cost him a scratch!

Ha! Well no I wouldn't line it up until it was my turn tbh!

PRAF

Myksyk wrote: »

Ha! Well no I wouldn't line it up until it was my turn tbh!

Yep, I'm a bit more conservative about this now. I will still line up a putt IF I can do so without distracting a playing partner AND so long as there is basically zero chance of another players putt hitting my perfectly lined up ball!!

Dtoffee

Golf is not a race, players are allowed to line up their putts and I would always recommend doing so. Unless they are losing a hole to the group in front, theres no reason to get into a flop sweat about a player lining up his putt on the green ahead of you.

Delays are always going to happen on a golf course, I treat them as an opportunity to relax and refocus on what I need to do.

alxmorgan

Su Campu wrote: »

I agree with all the sentiments and I know it is a little petty, but as someone said, you take a lot of your shots on the green so it all adds up over a round. I just get particularly psised off as yes, these are usually the guys who are slow in the rest of their play, and when you're losing ground to the group in front and have a group up your ass then it does become a distraction when it comes to your own putt. I'm all for lining up putts and I even quickly line the ball marks up myself on my first putt, but I don't delay in doing it, will not do it for a 6 footer and don't think anyone else needs to either. I think in some cases it's another example of some people trying to look like a pro.

I have to say you must be waaayyyy more confident over 6 footers than I am. You're talking about them like they're a gimme

Su Campu

alxmorgan wrote: »

I have to say you must be waaayyyy more confident over 6 footers than I am. You're talking about them like they're a gimme

I'm the world's worst at them but I wish it were simply down to my alignment! You've never seen someone slam closed a clubface on a putt like I do! :rolleyes: I wish it were a case of me lining up my "Srixon" to the hole and in she goes!

As I said, there's nothing wrong with lining it up, my problem is with people taking an age to do so. It can be done quickly, as others have also pointed out.

Whyner

If you're going to have a rant at least be a little clearer on what you're moaning about.

I line all my putts up, it's called a routine. So you're point is that you played with some slow players? Imagine that!

I take it you never said anything to them during or after the round?

Su Campu

Whyner wrote: »

If you're going to have a rant at least be a little clearer on what you're moaning about.

I line all my putts up, it's called a routine. So you're point is that you played with some slow players? Imagine that!

I take it you never said anything to them during or after the round?

The thread title says "wasting time" lining up the ball....i.e. people not doing it efficiently and holding up play needlessly. Others can do it without holding up play so they should too.

I don't think the course is the place for telling someone how to line up their putt but I will tell them to pick up the pace in general if we're falling behind and hope that they will cut out the unnecessaries.

TheDoc

Su Campu wrote: »

I hate time wasting in general, but this one really frustrates me. Anyone else? People who mark their ball and spend an age lining the line/text on the ball with the hole/target on every putt, even 6 footers. It wastes so much time and is frustrating to be in the group behind waiting to hit in.

There is a reason its done.

ProV1 balls, where it says "Prov" is exactly on the line where the two halves of the ball are joined. The "joint" is visible on every ball, but the Prov patented having the name of their ball on the joint.

So the reason you see people lining it up, is because that is the point where the ball will roll truest.

Apologies if someone posted this already, but this is the actual reason people do it. Well, it should be the reason, if they arn't being posers.

I've moved away from Prov1's and back to Srixon AD333's and I mark a blue line on the ball joint ( nice little tool i got on ebay for like 2 quid years ago).

While it might be annoying for you and you consider it slow play, its just as annoying when someone doesn't understand the reason it is being done

I'd be much happier someone taking time with this, then the horrendously long pre shot routine alot of high handicap golfers user....

newport2

Su Campu wrote: »

I agree with all the sentiments and I know it is a little petty, but as someone said, you take a lot of your shots on the green so it all adds up over a round. I just get particularly psised off as yes, these are usually the guys who are slow in the rest of their play, and when you're losing ground to the group in front and have a group up your ass then it does become a distraction when it comes to your own putt. I'm all for lining up putts and I even quickly line the ball marks up myself on my first putt, but I don't delay in doing it, will not do it for a 6 footer and don't think anyone else needs to either. I think in some cases it's another example of some people trying to look like a pro.

I'd find it more important to line up a six-footer than a twenty footer to be honest. With a six footer I'm generally pretty sure of my line and want to be 100% sure that my putter is going to start it on that. With a 20 footer it's an approximation and my pace is more important tbh.

TheDoc

newport2 wrote: »

I'd find it more important to line up a six-footer than a twenty footer to be honest. With a six footer I'm generally pretty sure of my line and want to be 100% sure that my putter is going to start it on that. With a 20 footer it's an approximation and my pace is more important tbh.

In fairness, I don't see the problem with doing it in all putts. I know I do.

I'd be interested to hear the specific time frame its taking people to do it. Your taking less then 3-5 seconds for me to bend down, line the ball the way I want and up again.

If someone is down there acting the maggot for ages lining it up then yeah, I'd be annoyed. But I have to say I've never experienced anyone acting the mickey with it.

And to be honest at this stage its second nature, I have the ball a certain way in my hand, so when its placed, the line is going where I need it, so its no different, or longer, from anyone else placing their ball down.

Su Campu

TheDoc wrote: »

In fairness, I don't see the problem with doing it in all putts. I know I do.

I'd be interested to hear the specific time frame its taking people to do it. Your taking less then 3-5 seconds for me to bend down, line the ball the way I want and up again.

If someone is down there acting the maggot for ages lining it up then yeah, I'd be annoyed. But I have to say I've never experienced anyone acting the mickey with it.

And to be honest at this stage its second nature, I have the ball a certain way in my hand, so when its placed, the line is going where I need it, so its no different, or longer, from anyone else placing their ball down.

I would say that this guy in the video is taking too much time, 5 seconds to line it up. Doesn't sound much but if each player of a fourball did this on each putt then it would become a little too much to take.

Or maybe I'm just expecting too much....:rolleyes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb55ylQ9EgQ

alxmorgan

To be fair to the OP wasting time is the essence of the issue and lining up the putts may just be the most obvious recent instance of this they experienced. And I don't think too many will saw slow play is not an issue

On the flip side a few weeks ago we had fallen a bit behind the group in front and we all agreed we needed to catch-up. So we did easily enough and then had to wait for the group in front for a minute or two.
The group behind then started to give us guff when we passed them coming back off the green as they were getting pressure from behind. What exactly did they think all 4 of us were doing standing around on the fairway ? Doing our nails ? Think before you accuse

ManwitaPlan

One of the things I have been surprised by having started recently is how much people focus on this “slow play” thing.

Now I am acutely aware of the importance of not faffing about. As a beginner I am very conscious of not making any faux pas and I play as fast as possible but it seems like it has got to the stage now where golfers are not just pissed of at slow play (actual slow play e.g. taking ten minutes to look for a ball, standing around chatting instead of taking your shot, not being ready to take your shot) it has become that people are pissed off at anybody who does’nt rush around the course.

I would say I am around average when it comes to pace. I don’t take a lot of practice swings or take an age lining things up but if somebody feels they need to in order to play well I wouldn’t really care....whats an extra minute waiting on the tee box????

I think people need to distinguish between slow play and slow players. Slow play is unnecessary and is inconsiderate towards other golfers..slow players just happen to take a little longer over shots...no big deal...I can spare an extra 18 minutes on a golf course on a Saturday with the sun out....The game is supposed to be relaxing ffs!!!

Some people just need to chill, take a step back and let people play at their own pace.

alxmorgan

ManwitaPlan wrote: »

One of the things I have been surprised by having started recently is how much people focus on this “slow play” thing.

Now I am acutely aware of the importance of not faffing about. As a beginner I am very conscious of not making any faux pas and I play as fast as possible but it seems like it has got to the stage now where golfers are not just pissed of at slow play (actual slow play e.g. taking ten minutes to look for a ball, standing around chatting instead of taking your shot, not being ready to take your shot) it has become that people are pissed off at anybody who does’nt rush around the course.

I would say I am around average when it comes to pace. I don’t take a lot of practice swings or take an age lining things up but if somebody feels they need to in order to play well I wouldn’t really care....whats an extra minute waiting on the tee box????

I think people need to distinguish between slow play and slow players. Slow play is unnecessary and is inconsiderate towards other golfers..slow players just happen to take a little longer over shots...no big deal...I can spare an extra 18 minutes on a golf course on a Saturday with the sun out....The game is supposed to be relaxing ffs!!!

Some people just need to chill, take a step back and let people play at their own pace.

Fine in theory but put 3 slow players together and thats the bones of an extra hour and now we're talking 5 hour round.
Kevin Na is just a slow player as is Ben Crane but that doesn't absolve them
You're right that there is no need to rush around but playing at whatever pace you choose is fine as long as you're prepared to let everyone through who would like a 4 hour round and piss your partners off into the bargain no doubt.

Su Campu

My club has a strict guideline of 4 hours for a 3-ball. This is possible as long as everyone is plays at a reasonable pace. No one is asking that people rush their shots, only that they cut out the faffing about in between. Taking too much time over lining up the ball is for me one of the many things that some people can cut down on. I'm not bothered about how many practice swings they take (within reason).

An extra minute on the tee box is not ok if it can be eliminated (especially when it's pissing rain, as it was on Sunday morning). :mad:

TheDoc

Noticed in my place recently people have gotten horrendously slow, 5 hours + to get a round in some days, its shocking stuff

Almaviva

Time wasting or no, is the line on the ball to help alignment not bunkum anyway? Is a 1.68" long line going to help you to point along the correct line anymore than a 4" or so putter face? Someone do the trigonometry, but surely it is impossible to align the ball to such tiny fractions of a degree that it has any useful relevance to a hole 20 ft away.

pistolpetes11

TheDoc wrote: »

Noticed in my place recently people have gotten horrendously slow, 5 hours + to get a round in some days, its shocking stuff

Myself and a mate played the open in Edmondstown on Monday morning , we took the first slot out which was 8 am , a club member decided to join us ,

Turned out he was the clubs competition secretary, was 60 odd and was using a golf buggy because he had a chest infection or something along them lines,

3HOURS and 20MINUTES for the round , he would scout ahead , find you ball , drive back down to you to hurry you along ,

Didnt bother me to much but the playing partner was pulling his hair out !

2 ball behind us , lost 2 holes on us and we caught the 3 balls that were out on a casual round that went out at 7.30AM

Alrite Chief

Jaysus what a small thing to be 'the thing that really frustrates you'. That 2 seconds it literally takes me ads 18 x 2 seconds to my round (only do it on the first putt when i lift, clean and replace. Dont pick up my ball a second time unless its in the way). Not much of an impact on the 4 hours rule for a 3 ball in your club. Poor play is the only one true thing that really slows a round down if you ask me. Which we've all been guilty of at one stage or another im sure.

WHIP IT!

The Work Society I play in has a 'ready golf' rule that, unfortunately, is not always (or sometimes even 'often') adhered to... in theory, the first person to putt on a hole should putt out and get out of the way (within reason - ie, if, like me, your second putt is often from 5/6 feet, you're afforded a bit of grace to mark it and gather your thoughts!)... and 'the honour' is supposed to be largely ignored - whoever's first up on tee box should blast away and 'keep it moving'.

When adhered to, I find it keeps the pace of play a much more acceptable level.

Another thing I find, regarding 'the honour', it annoys me when people kind of insist on figuring out who's up first, who's next etc etc, wasting time... it's only important in a match if you ask me. And if someone is a shorter hitter who won't reach the group in the fairway anyway, let em get up and tee off first. Or if someone's a particularly long hitter, leave em til last all the time (if everyone in the group is comfortable with this obviously)... Makes sense and I find this is where the real 'slowness' comes from in a round of golf - it's more of a problem than people who spend alot of time over the ball etc...

TrapperChamonix

Almaviva wrote: »

Time wasting or no, is the line on the ball to help alignment not bunkum anyway? Is a 1.68" long line going to help you to point along the correct line anymore than a 4" or so putter face? Someone do the trigonometry, but surely it is impossible to align the ball to such tiny fractions of a degree that it has any useful relevance to a hole 20 ft away.

That's the very reason I stopped doing it

Quahog217

This if done properly shouldnt add any extra time to a putt, i have it lined up when my partner is putting then i step in and hit it. Probably quicker than most putting routines!

GreeBo

Almaviva wrote: »

Time wasting or no, is the line on the ball to help alignment not bunkum anyway? Is a 1.68" long line going to help you to point along the correct line anymore than a 4" or so putter face? Someone do the trigonometry, but surely it is impossible to align the ball to such tiny fractions of a degree that it has any useful relevance to a hole 20 ft away.

I'm looking at the ball when I putt, not the putter face.
I focus on trying to swing along the line on the ball, this helps to avoid problems when my feel etc are misaligned.
Also, look at it another way, the further away the hole is the more important those fractions of degrees become.

Almaviva

GreeBo wrote: »

I'm looking at the ball when I putt, not the putter face.
I focus on trying to swing along the line on the ball, this helps to avoid problems when my feel etc are misaligned.
Also, look at it another way, the further away the hole is the more important those fractions of degrees become.

But you must aim the putter face itself. The angle of the putter face is far more important than the path of the putter through the ball (I cant remember the detals, I think about 90%, not the source, Pelz maybe? Try it though - holding theputter face square you can swing well off line and the ball will hardly deviate).

My main point is though that it is not possible to align the line on your ball with sufficient accuracy to be of any benefit to you. Yes, it might help you sming the club along the line on the ball, but it that line is not aimed correctly, then whats the point?

PRAF

Almaviva wrote: »

But you must aim the putter face itself. The angle of the putter face is far more important than the path of the putter through the ball (I cant remember the detals, I think about 90%, not the source, Pelz maybe? Try it though - holding theputter face square you can swing well off line and the ball will hardly deviate).

My main point is though that it is not possible to align the line on your ball with sufficient accuracy to be of any benefit to you. Yes, it might help you sming the club along the line on the ball, but it that line is not aimed correctly, then whats the point?

The lining up of the ball might not be 100% accurate (or anywhere close to it) but for me it is more accurate and gives me better results than when not doing it. Definitely agree that it offers little or no advantage on the longer putts, those are always more about pace than line. However, it does help me on the shorter putts (say from 5 feet to 10 feet)

GreeBo

Almaviva wrote: »

But you must aim the putter face itself. The angle of the putter face is far more important than the path of the putter through the ball (I cant remember the detals, I think about 90%, not the source, Pelz maybe? Try it though - holding theputter face square you can swing well off line and the ball will hardly deviate).

My main point is though that it is not possible to align the line on your ball with sufficient accuracy to be of any benefit to you. Yes, it might help you sming the club along the line on the ball, but it that line is not aimed correctly, then whats the point?

I aim the putter perpendicular to the line on the ball.
I understand that the line on the ball might not be pointing exactly at my target, but its likely to be more accurate than my attempt at aiming the putter face penpendicular to my target standing over the ball. Its similiar to why snooker players get their eyes down close to the cue. Its much easier to line something up if you are looking along it to your target.

I would be willing to guarantee that everyone can point a line on their ball with more accuracy than they can align the centre of their putter to their target, at any distance.

In summary , I dont think anyone thinks its 100% accurate but its more accurate than not doing it.

GreeBo

PRAF wrote: »

The lining up of the ball might not be 100% accurate (or anywhere close to it) but for me it is more accurate and gives me better results than when not doing it. Definitely agree that it offers little or no advantage on the longer putts, those are always more about pace than line. However, it does help me on the shorter putts (say from 5 feet to 10 feet)

I agree with your first part, but then dont see how you can say it offers no advantage on longer puts, when clearly on a longer putt the margin for error is much lower?

I would argue that its far more important on long putts.
1 degree out over 20feet means you get no where near the hole, 1 degree over 3 feet is irrelevant.

PRAF

GreeBo wrote: »

I agree with your first part, but then dont see how you can say it offers no advantage on longer puts, when clearly on a longer putt the margin for error is much lower?

I would argue that its far more important on long putts.
1 degree out over 20feet means you get no where near the hole, 1 degree over 3 feet is irrelevant.

Don't get me wrong, it's part of my routine so I do it on all my putts (except tap ins). However, for me, pace is more important on longer putts. If I 3 putt, its more likely I underhit or overhit rather than aimed wrong.

Su Campu

See that's all assuming you read the green properly in the first place anyway!!!! :pac:

pistolpetes11

Su Campu wrote: »

See that's all assuming you read the green properly in the first place anyway!!!! :pac:

Dont go there ,

The weight (pace)on my putting has been excellent lately but have been having a terrible time of it trying to get the read of the greens ,

Stackstown last week being a prime example , only started looking either side of the line after a horror show with the putter up there ,

mags1962

Aren't all putts straight anyway so line the ball up straight, along the line, and just get the pace right and if it doesn't work why do all the top players do it?

TheDoc

So can I just ask, as I've posted it twice and there seems to be no reaction to it or acknowledgement.

We are all aware that lining up your put, to the hole, is a PHYSICAL benefit, due to how balls are pieced together?

Yes?

Just as you tee your ball on the teebox, you SHOULD be lining up your ball on the green. Your only burdening yourself if you dont.

On the Prov its where it says Prov. It is the only ball that has this. ProV1's have a patent that allows them to print the ball name on the point where the balls shell connects, ridiculous I know, but its worth just looking at for a " O **** " moment.

You can easily spot where the shells connect on any ball, if you look closely you will see two lines of dimples running parallel to each other. This is the balls equator (spellcheck?) You can pickup a ball marker for €2. You put the ball in, line up the equator and with a marker you have a line that gives you the truest roll. If your not doing this, I highly recommend doing it. Especially if you use a softer ball.

Su Campu

People keep saying lining up the marking with the HOLE, it should be lining it up with the LINE of the putt! No point lining it up with the hole on a breaking putt!

Su Campu

TheDoc wrote: »

So can I just ask, as I've posted it twice and there seems to be no reaction to it or acknowledgement.

We are all aware that lining up your put, to the hole, is a PHYSICAL benefit, due to how balls are pieced together?

Yes?

Just as you tee your ball on the teebox, you SHOULD be lining up your ball on the green. Your only burdening yourself if you dont.

On the Prov its where it says Prov. It is the only ball that has this. ProV1's have a patent that allows them to print the ball name on the point where the balls shell connects, ridiculous I know, but its worth just looking at for a " O **** " moment.

You can easily spot where the shells connect on any ball, if you look closely you will see two lines of dimples running parallel to each other. This is the balls equator (spellcheck?) You can pickup a ball marker for €2. You put the ball in, line up the equator and with a marker you have a line that gives you the truest roll. If your not doing this, I highly recommend doing it. Especially if you use a softer ball.

Kind of like the stitches on a cricket ball?

GreeBo

Su Campu wrote: »

People keep saying lining up the marking with the HOLE, it should be lining it up with the LINE of the putt! No point lining it up with the hole on a breaking putt!

tbf I think thats a given...

TheDoc

Su Campu wrote: »

Kind of like the stitches on a cricket ball?

Can't say I'm familiar with cricket. I know with football that for a freekick, corner or peno, you'd always line the ball up so your strike the point where the pump goes in, as that is the hardest area on the ball, and gets the best release.

In Rugby its something similar.

Like in American football how when you throw the ball, the stitches are always facing the sky.

Same with golf, on the green, the ball should always have the connection of the two shells, used as the guideline for your roll

Webbs

TheDoc wrote: »

Can't say I'm familiar with cricket. I know with football that for a freekick, corner or peno, you'd always line the ball up so your strike the point where the pump goes in, as that is the hardest area on the ball, and gets the best release.

In Rugby its something similar.

Like in American football how when you throw the ball, the stitches are always facing the sky.

Same with golf, on the green, the ball should always have the connection of the two shells, used as the guideline for your roll

How much effect does this have on say a 10 foot putt lining up on equator or not? Genuine question as I personally cant see there being any real effect over a short distance with a ball with no discernable seam (unlike say a cricket ball) .

TheDoc

Webbs wrote: »

How much effect does this have on say a 10 foot putt lining up on equator or not? Genuine question as I personally cant see there being any real effect over a short distance with a ball with no discernable seam (unlike say a cricket ball) .

Golf digest had an article YEARS ago, remember reading it at home.

Essentially every distance bar the ones you could tap in with a feather.....

Su Campu

In aviation we have the 1 in 60 rule, where a 1 degree error in heading means you'll be 1 mile off track after 60 miles travelled. So if you line up the marking on your ball even 1 degree off it will mean the ball will be about 1 inch off line on a 5 ft putt.