Quote:
Originally Posted by OnePutt
Coralpro; you completely miss the point of using a line on the ball. When you get over your ball, you have to look at your intended line, then align the club to that line, then make a correct length stroke to roll the ball the correct distance. That makes for 3 things you have to do when you get over your ball. By aligning my ball with my intended line before I step up to the ball. I only have 2 things left to do. Align the face of my putter to the line one the ball. then make the correct length stroke. Seems pretty simple to me. If you have 3 things to do, and I only have 2 things to do only over the ball. YOU have 1 more thing to get wrong than I do. Odds are in my favor I'd say....
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You're still doing the same 3 steps, just doing the first one from a different position. Those who use a line on the ball squat down, look across their ball and down what they think the putting line is, and then try to align that little 1 inch or so line up with the putting line they determined. And there's not a thing in the world wrong with using that technique if it works for you. It's also never been proven that it is the best technique overall.
I have personally tried it, and found it takes me longer and lessens my accuracy. It is also tough on my knees trying to squat or kneel down and place the ball on the line. I find myself getting over the ball aligning the putter to the ball and then when I look to the hole to gauge distance I start noticing if the alignment is right. I found this especially true on sloped greens with breaking putts. So if it looked wrong, I'd squat back down, mark the ball, align the mark again, stand up, get putter aligned to ball, etc. Without using a line, I (that's ME, personally) can read the green as usual (same as with a line or not) and determine the line, place my putter behind the ball and aligned along the line I chose, then take my stance. Once over the ball and checking for distance, if I notice any alignment error I can immediately adjust the putter and my stance, and make the stroke.
I have found this works great for me, and have yet to play with anyone using a line on their ball who can consistently putt better than I do, especially when it comes to making putts over 10 feet. When I get paired up with anyone, usually the first thing about my game they comment on is my ability to read greens and make putts. Unless I get lucky and crush a great drive off the first tee! I played one day with an older gentleman who said he'd been a teaching pro at a small course in upstate New York before retiring to Florida. He asked my handicap, and I told him I don't have one officially, but average in the low 90s. After about 6 holes, I'd already made 3 putts over 15 feet, all of them breakers and to save par, and he told me,"Son, you putt like a scratch golfer, but make up for it with the rest of your game!"
