Does a line on your ball really help?

The data is in—and the results might surprise you.

Author

Terence Daniels
December 17, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

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Should You Putt With A Line On Your Ball?

1. The Debate: What’s Better—Line or No Line?

Every golfer looks for an edge when it comes to putting. One of the most hotly debated topics on the greens is whether using a line on your golf ball improves your putting or adds an unnecessary distraction. Thanks to recent data, we can finally see where the numbers land.

2. The Data Breakdown: Line vs. No Line

A test conducted on putts from various distances—5 feet, 10 feet, and 20 feet—shows mixed results when comparing using a line on the ball versus no line. Here’s how the numbers shake out:

5 feet:

  • Line: 124 putts made ✅

  • No Line: 126 putts made

10 feet:

  • Line: 157 putts made

  • No Line: 153 putts made ✅

20 feet:

  • Line: 192 putts made

  • No Line: 185 putts made ✅

Total Putts:

  • Line: 473 putts

  • No Line: 463 putts ✅

At shorter distances (5 feet), the results are practically even. But at 10 and 20 feet, golfers without a line slightly outperformed those using one. When totaled across all putts, no line edged out the line by 10 fewer putts.

3. Why the Difference?

While the line is designed to improve alignment and boost confidence, this data shows it’s not a guaranteed game-changer, especially for putts outside of 5 feet. A few reasons might explain this:

Overthinking Alignment: Relying on a line can sometimes distract focus from feeling and natural rhythm.

Mental Fatigue: Continuously lining up putts may disrupt the flow, particularly on longer distances.

Personal Preference: Some golfers perform better without added visuals.

4. Who Should Use a Line?

While “no line” took the overall win, it’s not one-size-fits-all. Here’s how to decide:

  • If alignment is a struggle—using a line can give you a clear aim point and improve consistency.

  • If you rely on feel and flow—skipping the line might keep your stroke fluid, especially on mid-to-long putts.

5. Final Thoughts: Does the Line Work?

The data shows that not using a line slightly edges out using one, but individual results will vary. If you’re curious, test it yourself: practice with and without a line to see which method suits your stroke.

Are you looking to improve your putting routine? WellPutt offers alignment tools and drills to improve your speed and accuracy.

Bottom Line: The numbers show no line has a slight advantage—but whether it works depends on your game. Test it, tweak it, and trust the process. The hole doesn’t care how you get there as long as the ball drops. MyGolfSpy

Line vs. No Line

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