Why This Simple Marking Makes Putting Easier

A lot of golfers already use a line on their ball, and that definitely helps with aim. But there’s a piece most people don’t realize. Just because the ball is aimed correctly doesn’t mean your putter face is square to it. When you stand over the ball, it’s surprisingly easy for the face to be a little open or a little closed without noticing.

Part of the reason is visual. It’s very hard to judge whether two lines meet at exactly 90 degrees. Good luck eyeballing the difference between 88 degrees and 90 degrees. Your eyes just aren’t built for that. But they are very good at seeing whether two long lines are parallel. That’s a much easier check.

That’s what makes this marking so effective. The perpendicular line gives you something to match your putter face to. Now instead of trying to judge an angle, you’re just matching two lines. If they look parallel, you’re square. If they don’t, you’ll see it immediately.

Once that’s in place, putting gets simpler. You can trust that the ball is starting where you intend, and focus on making a good stroke and controlling speed. Clean, square contact leads to a more consistent roll and more putts starting on line.

And for anyone wondering, this is completely legal under USGA rules. You’ll see plenty of PGA Tour players using this exact marking every week. It might seem like it should be illegal… but it’s not.