Simple But Interesting Question Regarding Your Putter

[geekoman]

I hate sight lines...PERIOD!  That is why my Drivers and fw's have nothing on top...........I don't think I have ever used a sight line!  The biggest problem is that most do not learn how to properly align themselves if they depend on sightlines.  And worse...if the manufacture has the head (any head) open or closed...the sight line becomes a Major problem for the golfer............whether they know it or not!  I use the leading edge to align toward target and I beg others to do the same!

At least give me a simple site dot!!!

Geekoman!

I mean, even Tiger goes for the dot.

 

Tiger Woods......................What does he know?  He has been lucky!!!   


(for the last 10 years...LOL)

[bl8d]

regardless of the putter in my hand ,I use its leading edge as the sightline because it is the longest line on the putter. The longer the leading edge,the more accurate the squaring up to the target line.
Some,if not all of my putters, have a mark on the top but I use them to center the ball only. They are of little use in sighting up to the hole unless it is in your peripheral range.

[bma725]

Can't pick.  I've found the best look for me to be the Bobby Grace Amazing Grace MOI, which has no real top line or flange, since it is all one level but it has a line that runs the entire body of the putter.  Right now, I'm using a prototype from his pre-Macgregor days, which has the gray body, and a red sightline that runs the entire body of the putter.  Then I use a red line on the ball, so it appears that there is one long red line pointing to the target.

[Desmond]

Can't pick.  I've found the best look for me to be the Bobby Grace Amazing Grace MOI, which has no real top line or flange, since it is all one level but it has a line that runs the entire body of the putter.  Right now, I'm using a prototype from his pre-Macgregor days, which has the gray body, and a red sightline that runs the entire body of the putter.  Then I use a red line on the ball, so it appears that there is one long red line pointing to the target.

I'd call that one sight line along the flange for these purposes.

[Dave1]

I have two putters that I am buddies with.......(many others have been shown the door....)

Neither one can stay my best friend for more than a few months at a time though. One is a long time bro, a 32" Ping Anser 2 and the other is a 32" designed by Cleveland blade. These guys are good workers but, get the job done in different ways.....

My Anser 2 has a line that I can use and that seems to work well most times but, I leave a few more of these short than I'd like....

The Cleveland blade is a good looking brute and is clean with no line. It's more of a general face aim up and has a solid strike feel with more roll out with the same stroke.....

My problem is my Anser is better inside 6 feet and my blade is better after 20 feet......

For me the line works best for shorter puts. But, since I don't get many of those......

[Backspin9]

I like a line on the flange. No dots. I never seem to be able to trust a line on the ball when I line it up so I have been using only a dot on the ball and then lining up the putter on the target line. Seems to work pretty good -- for me at least. 

[SunsetBeach_CustomPutters]

I have used them all, but I prefer it either nekked or with a line on the flange.

[albsterama]

Second Question

1. Do you like to see nothing on the ball at address when you putt

2. Do you use a line or logo on the ball to line it up.

3. Do you draw your own line?

4. Are you anal retentive like me and balance the ball with a Check N' Go and draw the line? 

1. Nope
2. Yep
3. Yep see 4.
4. Yep. Scary, we have something in common...

 

[HoosierGolfer]

Using traditional heel shafted blades, I like a clean topline.  I have a wide variety of putters in my collection, most of which I have gamed at one time or the other, that have lines, dot, oval, circle etc. and I putt just as well without anything.  I do mark my ball with a line which I align to the line I want to putt to, but I just look down and try and keep the face of the putter square to the ball.
I use a Yes Nicky from time to time which has a double sightline which I like somewhat, so I can go either with or without.

[punchtheballout]

I have two putters that I am buddies with.......(many others have been shown the door....)

Neither one can stay my best friend for more than a few months at a time though. One is a long time bro, a 32" Ping Anser 2 and the other is a 32" designed by Cleveland blade. These guys are good workers but, get the job done in different ways.....

My Anser 2 has a line that I can use and that seems to work well most times but, I leave a few more of these short than I'd like....

The Cleveland blade is a good looking brute and is clean with no line. It's more of a general face aim up and has a solid strike feel with more roll out with the same stroke.....

My problem is my Anser is better inside 6 feet and my blade is better after 20 feet......


For me the line works best for shorter puts. But, since I don't get many of those......

-  I also use Ping Anser 2, i've tried it in a long putt, i disagree with your view because its still accurate for me even if it is a long putt!

[Dr.Green]

Two ball putter guy .....no marks on the ball nor do I line it up.

[punchtheballout]

At least give me a simple site dot!!!

Geekoman!

I mean, even Tiger goes for the dot.

 

atleast a single dot! just a little guide

[laydehgolfer]

when i first tried the two ball putter back in 2003, I never changed putter again, before that I use a Ping answer putter

[BigLeftyinAZ]

I dont know what I like.Still experimenting with it.

[Bandonista]

Pretty interesting questions as well as answers. I've had an interesting conversation regarding similar questions with a clubmaker who specializes in putters. (Hope it is okay to leave him anonymous at this point in case I misrepresent his information). This clubmaker has a background in engineering and optics. His findings would indicate that we are better at aligning a putter face to a target without any specific marking on the topline. Given our tendency to project sight lines from binocular vision and our positioning to the side of the target line, our projections tend to be off because we don't fully compensate for this optical reference. Sounds confusing but it basically means we're better off lining things up from behind or down the line than we are in address position or parallel to the target line. Viewing alignment markings from address tends to accentuate our misperception. If you ever want to check, find a laser device (hardware store has devices for leveling that could work or some golf outlets have special devices for just this purpose) and a reflective surface to attach to your putter face. You'll probably be pretty surprised to find where you're actually aiming your putter face.

Anyway, my experience has proven his theory to be correct. I am much more comfortable without any alignment dots, dashes or lines. Still gotta get the ball in the hole though!

[Schmeidecki]

My Vons ss putter has the site dot, great putter, don't get much run on the message boards but I can't get it out of my bag. 

[HoosierGolfer]

I game a thirty + year old magnesium bronze Ping Anser which is bare.  No line, no dot, no nothing.  Works well for me.

[MATTB]

I prefer my SC Newport putter with no markings, dots or lines over any other putters I have used. I have worked in the construction industry for 30 years and have developed a good eye for plumb & square. I have on occasion used the ball alignment aid for longer range putts, however mostly prefer just squaring the putterface to the line i want to roll it on. I turned my SC Newport 2 putter with the line on it into a belly putter that I sometimes use when I feel my putting stroke is off or for just putting practice.

[Shoe]

I've been a single line on the flange guy for about three years since converting away from the old 8802. In the course of fitting someone for a new putter grip last month, I got hooked by a 2-ball.

[jimbonecrusher]

I like using both a sight dot only or a putter with a sight line.  Depends on what I think I need.  After reading an interesting article by David Orr, a very well known putting instructor that works at a course about 45 minute from em, he says that amateurs tend to aim left, and pros tend to aim a bit right of the intended target.  Either way, he believes that less is more when it comes to putter alignment aids.