The purpose of the conjoined STX Putter Balls is a straight-forward one. If they are impacted straight on with a perfectly square putter face, they will roll dead straight. If they are impacted with an open or closed putter face, or with a pushed or pulled stroke, they will roll poorly – very poorly. Like two wheels on a single axle, they will scoot left or scoot right. Push only on the left wheel (ball) and the tandem will veer right. Push only on the right wheel (ball) and the unit will twist off to the left. Equal force must be applied to both wheels (balls) to have the pair roll forward on a straight line.
The object with this contrivance is to learn how to make a putting stroke that goes dead square down the line through impact. However, there is a serious rub to this double-ball putting, practice approach. A player may align his stance to perfection. He may align his putter’s head perfectly. He may make a dead-on perfect stroke, but, and it’s a big but, if the double-balls are set up a tad out of whack, they will roll asunder. It does a player no good whatsoever to aim precisely at a cup if the balls, themselves, are not also aimed there – and that is a tougher task than might be imagined.
A regular golf ball need not be aligned at all, unless of course, a balance or alignment line has been added to the ball by the player. After all, golf balls are spheres. They don’t care where the target is. The player has to make certain that he aligns himself, his stroke and his putter’s head to the target, but that’s it. The ball is round. There is no point in shifting it one way or the other. It will roll in any direction along which it is propelled. Alas, no such convenience exists with the STX Putter Balls. They not only need to be aligned square to the target line; they need to be precisely aligned square to the target line. Anything less and it is pointless to proceed.
Now, in theory, a player can practice with the STX Putter Balls using no specific target. He can just square the face of his putter against the balls and putt away. This will help the player learn to create a smooth, straight stroke. The problem here is: Straight to where? What reference points will the player have? How will he know what goes where and why? Will he be practicing an open stroke? A closed stroke? Who knows?
We would suggest that anyone using the STX Putter Balls for any extended period of time use chalk or thin cord to mark a target line on his green or carpet. Then, he should carefully mark a perpendicular positioning line for the face of his putter. The double-balls may then be accurately aligned along the positioning lines before each practice putt.
If a player follows the above procedure, and if he does so many times, he has no choice but to become an infinitely superior putter of golf balls. If, on the other hand, he just fiddles with the balls putting them willy-nilly, it will be hit or miss as to whether he actually improves his stroke. The exception to this comes for players who own large-headed putters that have strong vertical and perpendicular alignment lines on their crowns (see photo above). These players will have a much easier time of it. They may not need any alignment indicators on their putting surfaces. The ones on their putter might suffice.
Lastly, the STX Putter Balls have an aspect to them that elevates them above most training aids. They are cheap – really cheap. If a player proves too neurotic or too insecure to continue practicing with them, he is out very little in the way of pocket money.
STX Putter Balls are available in various pro shops throughout the land.
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