s, the Rules do not limit the type of markings a player may put on the ball (i.e. arrows, lines, words, etc). Additionally, there is no penalty for using such lines to "line up" prior to a stroke on the putting green or any place else on the course.”

So, my friend was righ

I have a friend who always marks his ball with a black line. He then uses this black line to help line up his drives and his putts. I was playing with him not long ago. I hadn't thought much about his ball marks until we reached the fifth green. He marked his ball, picked it up, cleaned it, and placed it on the green with the black line aimed towards the hole. I wondered to myself, is that really legal, or is it illegal as I thought it gave him a sort of an advantage over me?

Here is a pop quiz

1. It is permissible to mark one's ball, so long as is not marked in a way that gives one golfer an unfair advantage over another.

2. It is permissible to mark your ball any way you wish, including lines, logos, printed names, dots and triangles.

3. You can mark the ball any way you wish but if you use a line or series of dots to line up your drive or your putt, there is a one-stroke penalty.

I was surprised to learn that the correct answer is #2. The Rules of Golf are clear. “ Rules 6-5 and 12-2 state that each player should put an identification mark on his ball. Thus, the Rules do not limit the type of markings a player may put on the ball (i.e. arrows, lines, words, etc). Additionally, there is no penalty for using such lines to "line up" prior to a stroke on the putting green or any place else on the course.”

So, my friend was right

up, cleaned it, and placed it on the green with the black line aimed towards the hole. I wondered to myself, is that really legal, or is it illegal as I thought it gave him a sort of an advantage over me?

Here is a pop quiz

1. It is permissible to mark one's ball, so long as is not marked in a way that gives one golfer an unfair advantage over another.

2. It is permissible to mark your ball any way you wish, including lines, logos, printed names, dots and triangles.

3. You can mark the ball any way you wish but if you use a line or series of dots to line up your drive or your putt, there is a one-stroke penalty.

I was surprised to learn that the correct answer is #2. The Rules of Golf are clear. “ Rules 6-5 and 12-2 state that each player should put an identification mark on his ball. Thus, the Rules do not limit the type of markings a player may put on the ball (i.e. arrows, lines, words, etc). Additionally, there is no penalty for using such lines to "line up" prior to a stroke on the putting green or any place else on the course.”

So, my friend was righ

ball, so long as is not marked in a way that gives one golfer an unfair advantage over another.

2. It is permissible to mark your ball any way you wish, including lines, logos, printed names, dots and triangles.

3. You can mark the ball any way you wish but if you use a line or series of dots to line up your drive or your putt, there is a one-stroke penalty.

I was surprised to learn that the correct answer is #2. The Rules of Golf are clear. “ Rules 6-5 and 12-2 state that each player should put an identification mark on his ball. Thus, the Rules do not limit the type of markings a player may put on the ball (i.e. arrows, lines, words, etc). Additionally, there is no penalty for using such lines to "line up" prior to a stroke on the putting green or any place else on the course.”

So, my friend was righ

e a line or series of dots to line up your drive or your putt, there is a one-stroke penalty.

I was surprised to learn that the correct answer is #2. The Rules of Golf are clear. “ Rules 6-5 and 12-2 state that each player should put an identification mark on his ball. Thus, the Rules do not limit the type of markings a player may put on the ball (i.e. arrows, lines, words, etc). Additionally, there is no penalty for using such lines to "line up" prior to a stroke on the putting green or any place else on the course.”

So, my friend was righ

s, the Rules do not limit the type of markings a player may put on the ball (i.e. arrows, lines, words, etc). Additionally, there is no penalty for using such lines to "line up" prior to a stroke on the putting green or any place else on the course.”

So, my friend was right and, you know what? I think I’ll start marking my balls with straight black lines.