Perfectstroke Ball Marker and Green Reading System

The Perfectstroke Ball Marker and Green Reading system is a comprehensive method to improve green reading and putting outcomes. It is comprised of a set of three markers that can be used in social play or practice and training, a set of three reference charts and an additional ball marker that can be used in all competitions.
Each of the standard ball markers has indications on either side relating to the amount of slope for any given putt. The indicator dots can either define the exact line of play for a straight putt or for planar breaking putts OR the dots indicate how the putt PLAY’S LIKE relating to the slope combination. For example a putt with a combination of 2% sideslope and 2% downslope on a fast green will play as though it is a 3% sideslope putt as a downslope will make the putt break more. One side has dots indicating the suggested aim’s for putts with slight slopes, with the other side relating to putts with higher slopes and a need to aim at angles further away from the hole. One side of the Perfectstroke marker has four dots and the reverse side has four or five dots depending on the green speed. For putts that only have slight slopes or are planar (an equal amount of side slope for the entire length of the putt) the player will firstly estimate the amount of sideslope, then the amount of up or downslope. The Perfectstroke Ball Markers have dot indicators for line of play as opposed to the Perfect Aim Ball Markers which have lines that indicate where to aim. In our testing of numerous players we found that some preferred to see an aim line rather than a dot. Some players just wanted to use the markers to help their golf in social play, they don’t play competitions. A large number of players found it easier to transition to the legal ball marker for competition having used the dot indicators which are on the Perfectstroke Ball Markers. If a player is wanting to use the Perfectstroke Ball Marker in competition they definitely need to be practicing and training with the line or dot markers regularly to learn how to orient the ball appropriately.

If the player ascertains the putt is in fact planar at 2% right to left then they would choose the side of the marker that has only the four lines, then mark the ball and aim the centre black line directly at the hole. Then they would align a ball that has a straight line marked on it with the 2% line to the left of the centre aim line. No matter what the length of the putt this will be an appropriate aim in degrees to the right or left of the target.
In the act of marking the ball and correctly aligning the ball marker it is important that the player is using a ball with a line on it to assist in accurate aim of both the marker and the ball for a breaking putt. There is a solid black line on the ball marker that needs to be aimed directly at the hole for every putt from any length regardless of the amount of break. The player can firstly aim the ball with a line on it directly at the hole then adjust the marker to the larger line on the ball. After the marker is aimed correctly, directly at the hole, the player can adjust the line on the ball to correspond with the estimated amount of slope for that putt.

The player then lines up the putter relative to the line on the ball and hits the putt as normal.

In order to learn how to accurately estimate the amount of slope on any given putt it is recommended that players uses a digital spirit level or slope measuring app such as a Inclinometer or Tour Read app.

If a player was for instance 3 feet or one metre away from the hole then the aim might be just outside the edge of the hole. This could well relate to being 3 degrees to the right. At 10 feet or around 3 metres away,and playing on a fast green, three degrees to the right might be 12.5 inches or 320mm away from the edge of the hole.

The aim in degrees stays the same regardless of the length of the putt provided the putt is planar (same slope amount across the entire length of the putt) or the putt characteristics stay the same. When a player faces a putt that has a combination of slopes slight adjustments need to be made for the uphill or downhill influences. If a putt has some amount of downhill as well as sideslope the ball should be aligned slightly higher. Conversely if a putt has some amount of uphill influence it will not break as much. A putt with a 2% sideslope and with 2% upslope should be aimed at around 1.5-1.6 increment. With all putts that have combination slopes there will be a need to either do a calculation based off the side and upslope/downslope amount or from memory based off the reference charts.
The reason that there is up to nine reference dots on the Perfectstroke Ball Marker is that with this system a player can accurately aim the ball and putterface even when they are faced with combination slopes including with downhill slopes. A player may be playing on fast green speeds and be faced with a 10 foot putt with a 2% right to left side slope and 2% downslope. In this case the player would need to aim around 10.5 – 11 degrees to the right of the target. The 2% sideslope alone would mean that the player would need to aim around 7 degrees to the right and the 2% downslope would mean they would need to aim a further 4 degrees to the right. We provide charts that you can refer to when practicing that can provide a very accurate suggestion on where to aim or you can learn to do some basic math. With slight side slope and downslopes you can add the full value of the sideslope (2 +50% of the downslope – 2 + 1 = An aim of 3. With greater side and downslopes there will be an increase in the % value given to the downslope. For example a 3% sideslope with a 3% downslope the value added to the downslope increases to 130%.

Once a player has identified the speed of the green relating to either MEDIUM, FAST and TOUR FAST they then choose the one marker for use on that day.

A MEDIUM green speed relates to 8-9 Stimp, FAST is rated a 10-11 and TOUR FAST is rated as 12-13 on a stimp measurement.

Each ball marker has markings on either side relating to the amount of slope for any given putt. One side has dots indicating the suggested aim’s for putts with a slight slope, the other side indicates dots for putts that will usually involve downslopes. If a player was faced with a putt that had planar slopes or upslope combination they would be using the side of the marker which has only four lines. When the putt also includes a downhill element of 2% and above they may need to use the other side of the marker where a putt that is 3.5% sideslope with 4% downslope will require an aim at 12 increment position at a 42 degree angle. Putts that have also have a downslope element will break more and putts that have upslope will break less.

The Perfectstroke Ball Markers with different Stimp Speeds and slope % indicators are not currently legal for use in competition play but can be used for training and learning green reading skills as well as social play. The Perfectstroke Ball Marker with the single aim line is legal for play in all competitions as it does not measure or gauge slope or speed or suggest a line of play.