Ball Markers on the green

[drdel]

After over 40 years of golf I cannot remember ANY time that I've ever had a discussion with my PPs and their choice of markers !!! Is this the start of 'woke' golf !!!

 

[Swango1980]

Use a poker chip if you like. All I'll ask is move it a putter head or two if its in my line.. Hardly the end of the world or a hardship!

Where is the issue???

Generally no issue. However, it can become an issue when you have a long breaking putt. You don't know the exact line, and the line could be quite different depending on how hard you hit it. So, if there is a massive poker chip roughly on or near the line you see, you could still quite easily hit the damn thing depending on how hard you hit it, and how close to the your predicted line you hit it. So, what might have ended up a still decent putt, could have been wildly deflected by the poker chip it hit.

In those situations, it can be difficult to know exactly how far you want the marker moved. Once, I had a putt that was probably about 50+ foot and a fairly big right to left break. I had to ask the guy with the poker chip marker to go at least a couple of club lengths to the right just so I could be sure it was out of the way. Sadly, he insisted in using the club head, so he had to measure out 10-20 club heads (not sure the exact number, but it was ridiculous). Had he had a flat marker, I'd have had no issue at all.

 

[Orikoru]

Generally no issue. However, it can become an issue when you have a long breaking putt. You don't know the exact line, and the line could be quite different depending on how hard you hit it. So, if there is a massive poker chip roughly on or near the line you see, you could still quite easily hit the damn thing depending on how hard you hit it, and how close to the your predicted line you hit it. So, what might have ended up a still decent putt, could have been wildly deflected by the poker chip it hit.

In those situations, it can be difficult to know exactly how far you want the marker moved. Once, I had a putt that was probably about 50+ foot and a fairly big right to left break. I had to ask the guy with the poker chip marker to go at least a couple of club lengths to the right just so I could be sure it was out of the way. Sadly, he insisted in using the club head, so he had to measure out 10-20 club heads (not sure the exact number, but it was ridiculous). Had he had a flat marker, I'd have had no issue at all.

Haha, that is ridiculous. Might as well have just used the putter-length to measure it surely? I'm with you, on a long breaking putt a flat coin isn't too much issue if you roll over it, but a poker chip you would want well out of the way. In fact half the time I don't even mark my ball if it's not near anyone's line, so a poker chip marker would be fairly redundant.

 

[ger147]

I have no alternative but to use my Kingsbarns poker chip sized ball marker. Since being fitted for it, my average number of putts per round has dropped by 3.7, I can't putt with any other ball marker.

 

[Swango1980]

Haha, that is ridiculous. Might as well have just used the putter-length to measure it surely? I'm with you, on a long breaking putt a flat coin isn't too much issue if you roll over it, but a poker chip you would want well out of the way. In fact half the time I don't even mark my ball if it's not near anyone's line, so a poker chip marker would be fairly redundant.

It was. I think in his head, he felt there was only 1 line, and that simply moving it 1 putter head would be enough (as if he was moving it out of the way before I hit a 10 foot putt). So, I think he was trying to be pig headed that that was enough. Except, after he refused that request, I made sure he continued to move it until I was happy.

To be fair, it has only happened once in the 15 years I've been playing, although there have been several times were I've been uncomfortable that I could easily hit the marker, but just gone anyway.

 

[hines57]

There are rules, there is etiquette and there's simple common sense.

Golf relies very much on etiquette and you'd have thought that common sense would have told him that

 

[carldudley]

I use a bespoke one from Sawyer Golf, they're large in diameter but not too chunky to disturb the roll of a ball.

One benefit I do find of people using the poker chips, is that I can see them clearly so I can make sure I don't step in their line (interesting no one has mentioned this). The tiny ones are impossible from any distance.

 

[clubchamp98]

I have a pitch mark repairer like a flick knife it has a nice small magnetic marker on .
I do have a poker chip one .
It’s better for finding and picking up with my big fingers.
I use it away from the hole but closer use the small one.
Common sense seems to go out the window when some people put their golf shoes on.

 

[clubchamp98]

I use a bespoke one from Sawyer Golf, they're large in diameter but not too chunky to disturb the roll of a ball.

One benefit I do find of people using the poker chips, is that I can see them clearly so I can make sure I don't step in their line (interesting no one has mentioned this). The tiny ones are impossible from any distance.

Yes that depends on the colour I find.
My mate uses a green one from St. Andrews he loses it himself sometimes.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I use one that came with my Asbri golf pitch mark repair tool, neither too big nor too small.

If a fellow player's marker needs more than 1 putter head distance moving I let them go first, and if I can't be sure of the line my ball might take then thats down to my inablity to read the green, nothing more.
To start to ask for greater distances is bonkers....let them putt out first.

 

[Slab]

Generally no issue. However, it can become an issue when you have a long breaking putt. You don't know the exact line, and the line could be quite different depending on how hard you hit it. So, if there is a massive poker chip roughly on or near the line you see, you could still quite easily hit the damn thing depending on how hard you hit it, and how close to the your predicted line you hit it. So, what might have ended up a still decent putt, could have been wildly deflected by the poker chip it hit.

In those situations, it can be difficult to know exactly how far you want the marker moved. Once, I had a putt that was probably about 50+ foot and a fairly big right to left break. I had to ask the guy with the poker chip marker to go at least a couple of club lengths to the right just so I could be sure it was out of the way. Sadly, he insisted in using the club head, so he had to measure out 10-20 club heads (not sure the exact number, but it was ridiculous). Had he had a flat marker, I'd have had no issue at all.

Just out of curiosity, how much bigger than a poker chip is a "massive poker chip"?

 

[Jacko_G]

Generally no issue. However, it can become an issue when you have a long breaking putt. You don't know the exact line, and the line could be quite different depending on how hard you hit it. So, if there is a massive poker chip roughly on or near the line you see, you could still quite easily hit the damn thing depending on how hard you hit it, and how close to the your predicted line you hit it. So, what might have ended up a still decent putt, could have been wildly deflected by the poker chip it hit.

In those situations, it can be difficult to know exactly how far you want the marker moved. Once, I had a putt that was probably about 50+ foot and a fairly big right to left break. I had to ask the guy with the poker chip marker to go at least a couple of club lengths to the right just so I could be sure it was out of the way. Sadly, he insisted in using the club head, so he had to measure out 10-20 club heads (not sure the exact number, but it was ridiculous). Had he had a flat marker, I'd have had no issue at all.

Never seen a "deflected" putt that goes "wildly" off line, you may get a hop or a bounce but never a deflection that makes your ball miss wildly.

Also if you ask for a ball marker to be moved by two putter heads and you still hit it I suggest you go and see your PGA professional for a putting lesson!

 

[Crow]

Really. I think you may be only thinking of very specific situations (such as comparing the media attention about Patrick Reed versus the attention the media gives the British Olympic Cycling team.

Tune in to watch the golf, and you almost get a never ending commentary about how fantastic these guys are, as golfers and as human beings. Marvelling over the athleticism of the big hitters, the finesse of the short game specialists, etc. Whereas, as a non-cyclist, my only perception of cycling is that they are all drug taking cheats, until the Olympics come along and they are fantastic for a few weeks.

You are correct in one area, that you will get a lot of older golfers than professional cyclists, and that cyclists will almost exclusively be fit as a fiddle, whereas golfers can get away with holding a bit extra weight. But, that is nothing to to with "being shown in a positive or negative light", that is just the nature of both sports.

Sorry, I went off on a rant and assumed that people would know what I was on about!

When I said TV and media I was thinking not of sports news reports and programmes but when golf is shown in a TV drama or a general news programme.

 

[Deleted member 23270]

Generally no issue. However, it can become an issue when you have a long breaking putt. You don't know the exact line, and the line could be quite different depending on how hard you hit it. So, if there is a massive poker chip roughly on or near the line you see, you could still quite easily hit the damn thing depending on how hard you hit it, and how close to the your predicted line you hit it. So, what might have ended up a still decent putt, could have been wildly deflected by the poker chip it hit.

In those situations, it can be difficult to know exactly how far you want the marker moved. Once, I had a putt that was probably about 50+ foot and a fairly big right to left break. I had to ask the guy with the poker chip marker to go at least a couple of club lengths to the right just so I could be sure it was out of the way. Sadly, he insisted in using the club head, so he had to measure out 10-20 club heads (not sure the exact number, but it was ridiculous). Had he had a flat marker, I'd have had no issue at all.

Sounds like you need to work on your putting rather than worry about the size of the marker

 

[Swango1980]

Never seen a "deflected" putt that goes "wildly" off line, you may get a hop or a bounce but never a deflection that makes your ball miss wildly.

Also if you ask for a ball marker to be moved by two putter heads and you still hit it I suggest you go and see your PGA professional for a putting lesson!

Incorrect there. But, it may take some sort of lesson in mathematics to explain that, for a long breaking putt you could actually hit a range of putts with massively different lines, that all result in a comfortable 2 putt in the end. Depends on pace and the level of break along the way. Also, if your putt hits something along the way, even a small deflection can result in a massively different outcome if it still has a reasonably long way to go.

Anyway, who actually sees the entire line from ball to cup anyway for a long putt? It's not like we are playing golf on the Playstation. I bet most just pick a spot in the distance, and try and hit it there at the correct pace, and let the slope do the rest. And, if you get the pace wrong, again massive difference in outcome. I don't want another variable like a poker chip to make things even worse. To put in perspective, if I ever had a long breaking putt, and somebody used a tee peg to mark their ball in the region of my line (but not on the line I think is the correct line), even if I visualised the "correct" line, I can't guarantee I am either right, or I'll get the pace perfect to hold it. So, I'd be pretty pissed off if my ball ended up hitting it and stopped it dead, when I may have at least ended up with a 3-4 foot putt from the hole next.

 

[Swango1980]

Sounds like you need to work on your putting rather than worry about the size of the marker

Putting and chipping is generally my strong point. It's my ball striking that is the killer

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

When first I saw players using a poker chip I'd think - what a k**b - trying to impress me with the idea that he goes to a casino...

Then I found out that they were being branded with stuff nothing to do with gambling - then sold and given away as ball markers...

I have to admit that maybe I still harbour a little bit of that original feeling

 

[Jacko_G]

Incorrect there. But, it may take some sort of lesson in mathematics to explain that, for a long breaking putt you could actually hit a range of putts with massively different lines, that all result in a comfortable 2 putt in the end. Depends on pace and the level of break along the way. Also, if your putt hits something along the way, even a small deflection can result in a massively different outcome if it still has a reasonably long way to go.

Anyway, who actually sees the entire line from ball to cup anyway for a long putt? It's not like we are playing golf on the Playstation. I bet most just pick a spot in the distance, and try and hit it there at the correct pace, and let the slope do the rest. And, if you get the pace wrong, again massive difference in outcome. I don't want another variable like a poker chip to make things even worse. To put in perspective, if I ever had a long breaking putt, and somebody used a tee peg to mark their ball in the region of my line (but not on the line I think is the correct line), even if I visualised the "correct" line, I can't guarantee I am either right, or I'll get the pace perfect to hold it. So, I'd be pretty pissed off if my ball ended up hitting it and stopped it dead, when I may have at least ended up with a 3-4 foot putt from the hole next.

You need a putting lesson.

 

[robinthehood]

I'm not

Haha, that is ridiculous. Might as well have just used the putter-length to measure it surely? I'm with you, on a long breaking putt a flat coin isn't too much issue if you roll over it, but a poker chip you would want well out of the way. In fact half the time I don't even mark my ball if it's not near anyone's line, so a poker chip marker would be fairly redundant.

I wouldn't want to hit any marker with a putt. Whether that's a poker chip or a 1/2p coin. If there is a slightest chance of hitting it then I'll ask it moved. Be that 1 or 100 putter heads .

 

[Pathetic Shark]

I have a range of Tampa sports poker chip markers and depending on the season and the success of the team involved, I use one of them.
BUT
each of them comes with a removable insert that becomes no bigger than a 5p piece if I am close to the hole. Best of both worlds.