Using a line when putting?! Best practices!!! 

Yes, I’m 68 years old and have always been a good putter. This year, I struggled until I added a line to my ball. It may not be for you, but worth a try if you are in a slump. I really get the small percentage of situations where you may have to go with your instincts rather than the line you have chosen. Great video!

I used the line last golf season and it helped me a lot even tho I struggled sometimes and still used the line it has improved my golf game a lot

Spent ages looking for a YT vid that covered ALL aspects of this (I find it hard to do the alignment) and Mike’s was the best I found. I now know it’s just requires more practise so that’s my winter putting practise sorted!

Despite the fact I am 50 years of age, this was my first full, serious year of what I would call competent golf. In other words, it was the first season I would not have been embarrassed to play anywhere, anytime except perhaps with the very best golfers. I do use the line and exactly for the reasons stated here, I am confident that I can line the ball up and that way, once I'm standing over the shot I know all I have to do is make it roll end over end and it will go in. I haven't used the line on longer puts because as of now, the harder I have to hit the ball, the less often I can keep that line rolling true. I will work on that next season :) Cheers from Canada!

I was a professional 10 years ago and used a long putter without using the line. Now an just getting back into the game with a small 33 scotty I use the line for every putt and now put better then when I was a pro to be honest. A lot of confidence in my first 6 rounds using it

I’m a line guy for most of the time. The only times I don’t use the line is on putts over 15 ft where I’m trying to lag one close. With those I use my judgement and feel to just get one within a few feet. Great video!

I don’t use the line, though agree it helps my alignment. The reasons I don’t use it are (1) I find it takes a long time to line it up correctly (likely as a result of not practicing it), and (2) I have an old knee injury which flares up by the end of a round if I’m squatting low to aim the ball the whole round. So what I usually do is turn the ball so that all I see is white when I look down. Working on knee physio this winter so hopefully by spring I can try aiming the ball again!

Great video! Thank you! So, I’ve practiced with the line on a practice green and have noticed that my misses are a lot tighter. I think that lining my putt helps me focus a little more as far as direction goes. There are times when I use this method during a round; the line looks great from behind the ball, but as soon as I step over it - what I feel in my feet and what I see from over the ball, are totally different. There have been times where I actually did NOT go back to my ball and realign the putt and made the modification over the ball just to see if what I saw behind the ball was wrong. Sometimes I was wrong, and sometimes I was right. My theory is: I almost have to line the ball according to what I’d like to see WHEN standing over the ball as opposed to behind the ball, factoring green undulation, e.g., have the line pointed in the direction where I want the ball to start, but slightly tilt the ball line towards me - especially with a right to left putt. As of recently, I’ve committed to lining my putts to foster better habits on greens during my rounds. Any insight would be great!

Mike, I really like this lesson. I like using the line, but like you say, on a breaking putt, when I use the line, it looks like I'm not giving the ball enough room to break. And it's true. When I try to trust the line in that situation, and go against my instincts, I'll miss on the amateur side. Thanks for sharing Mike.

When i get new balls i always draw a line and of course always use it. It helps me aim right path. Now i can't put without line. 😁

Excellent video!!

I use a crosshair that I draw on my ball. This gives me a target on the ball to align with a similar crosshair etched on the top of my putter. I agree with you about the utility of the ball line on putts 10 feet or shorter. For putts 30-40 feet long I don't place as much emphasis on the contact point between the ball crosshair and the putter crosshairs. For these putts I'm more concerned with maintaining alignment of my overall stroke with the target line. Thanks for posting. Good information.

right eye dominant players love left to right breaks and left eye love right to left breaks

Mike, Nice video. I"ve just started using the line on my ball and have a question for you. Many golfers, even tour pros, don't seem to put their head directly over the ball. I don't either. And, consequently, I fell as though I'm looking at a line that is slightly crescent-shaped, right? And, I'm guessing, it will not act as a reliable directional tool. Can you "square" this me and offer some advice?? Thx

I don’t use a line currently due to the fact that I like to play off of how I feel the putt is rolling vs having to stick hard to a line on the ball if that makes sense. Great video

What do you align with? The hole or an intermediate target?

I have used the line before but it appeared to be pointing left from my target so I removed it from my putting and now I’m seeing improvements.

No! -used to do it! Now I trust to instinct! At a distance it's a golf shot! Nearer the hole it's about YOU making a calm swing ! I lift the heel of the putter and bring it in close to my body and gently swing! Putting is very individual - don't listen to all the gurus if everything is working for you ! Practice +++++++++ ! Good luck! Enjoy your golf !

Yes pretty much all the time

If it is a right to left putt and the line is say right lip…..when I get over the putt it looks center Other putts look right I have tried head position Closing one eye Etc 5 handicap. Pretty good putter

Is it legal to use a line on the ball? Or is it just for practic?

I personally don't use a line to putt. I've noticed that most, if not all, people who use the line take way too long to putt. They line it up, back off, line it up again, back off..repeat, repeat, repeat......then miss....I don't mean to be a downer, but I believe most golfers would be better off with using an intermediate point for alignment. It's just as accurate and free's you up to make a good stroke. The line has a tendency to make a mid to high handicapper try to swing straight through the ball and not allow for a free flowing swing.

No i never used it before. Looking at video's now if and how to use it.

I draw line all of my balls. I have used line when putting about 4 years now so without lining putting feels odd. Its my routine.

I use the line 99% of the time .

Use line 6/8 ft. Outside that no line

that's because you're right eye dominant.

No. I spend Way too much time on it since i cant get it to aim as i want. Frustrating cos i see a lot of benefits if getting it to work.

Mostly good tips except your last one of not practicing with the line on the practice green. Of course you need to practice on the practice green and not just use it on the course. You need to build up your confidence and skill and then take it to the course.

U're too good to putt. Ball allignment is my biggest problem to score low. Everytime I allign my ball then move to putting stance I will feel it is not allign correctly even after I have a look again lol. I usually just trust my caddy to tell me which way to go

I use a line but when I’m over the ball line appears left, by several inches!