How to line up a put

[Johnny Par]

I have a line on my golf ball. When I put, I try to line up the line on my ball to the direction I want my put to go. This requires me to step back, bend down and try and read the break. I proceed to adjust the ball, etc...

I see pro's on TV. They seem to be able to do all this just by crouching over the ball.

Am I missing something here? Sorry for the newb question.

[SiberianDVM]

I use a line on my ball. I visualize the line the ball will roll, then pick out the apex, then the starting line. Aim the ball line at that.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

[SilverUberXeno]

It is difficult to get the line perfectly on to where you want to hit the shot. I use a line too, but I use it as a frame of reference if I don't get it perfect. For example "Just inside the line on that side."

[Sandpiper3]

They have the line straight on top in their hand before they put it down onto the green, and lots use an intermediate target to line it up, like a discolouration or somethin in the green. Then they know its right on whatever theyre lined up at, but lots of them also do crouch back to recheck afterwards too.

[eclark53520]

Originally Posted by SiberianDVM

Sometimes it works, most times it doesn't.

Yeah, thats how it works for me...

[Johnny Par]

ok. I see. So the line doesn't need to be lined up perfectly, etc... just really a guide.

Sheesh, I must have driven my playing partners crazy. Here's my routine:

replace marker on green with ball. step back and crouch to see line. go to ball and adjust. step back and crouch to see if the line is lined up. If not, repeat above.

[DaKineHawaiian]

Never follow what you see on TV...rule #1...haha, jus jokes. But playing golf is like selling something. You can pick up a lot of different things other players do and follow there ways, but it never works. But pick up things and adjust them to your style and BLAOW 350 yard drive...wow! haha, ok sorry! Find your own style and adjust the pro's style to your liking.

[slickpitt]

I don't place the ball in any specific way to line the putt up. When I do that I find I concentrate too much on the alignment instead of fundamentals and getting the speed right.

[MCDavis]

I read the putt from behind, pick a spot between the ball and the cup along my line that I want the ball to pass over, and then I putt the ball. If the ball has an alignment mark, I use it. Otherwise, I don't put marks on my balls.

[BStone]

I line up the ball with the blank side facing up, I hate seeing anything on the ball when I am putting. This way I can focus on hitting my spot and feeling how hard I want to hit it, I am not tied up looking at a line.