How to make a Target Line

[Shorty]

D. Pelz defines a target line as a straight line that passes through the hole and which is perpendicular to the ball-hole line. The post [Putter’s Target] describes the Putter’s Target as consisting of two parts: (1) Target Line, and (2) Target Surface. The Putter’s Target is centered over the hole and aligned with the actual target line.
The Target Line consists of a Line part and a Support part [see Attached Thumbnail]. The Line part is a color striped 1/2 in PVC pipe that is centered over the hole. At its center is a black band with the width of the hole. Along the target line on either side of the hole band are bands of color alternating with white. It is suspended above the green far enough to allow a ball to pass underneath, and it is supported on the green at both ends by a Support part.
The Line part has 3 bands of colored tape wrapped around it (black, red, and green). Each band is 4 in. wide using 1-1/2 in plastic tape made by 3M Corp. This is how to wrap the colored tape: For each color band, two strips of tape are wrapped along the edges of the 4 in. band. A third strip is wrapped along the center of the band which then will overlap the other two strips by 1/4 in.
The Line part is fastened at its ends with pipe straps to the Support part, which is just a 2x2 piece of wood.

[BrianW]

Re: How to make a Target Line

And your point is?

[bdbl]

Re: How to make a Target Line

Tell me thats not the authentic voice of Pelz.

After all the recommendations on here I was considering getting one of the "Bibles"; I think I just changed my mind.

[Shorty]

Re: How to make a Target Line

Tell me thats not the authentic voice of Pelz.

After all the recommendations on here I was considering getting one of the "Bibles"; I think I just changed my mind.

Dave Pelz originally referred to the target line in his 1994 paper: “A study of golfers’ abilities to read greens,” that was printed in Science and Golf II. Proceedings of the World Scientific Congress of Golf. Edited by A.J. Cochran and M.R. Farally. Figure 1 of the paper (see attached) shows this line which is used to define true-breaks. The definition of Break is given by
“Distance AH, between ball-hole line and aim line, measured along a line perpendicular to ball-hole line.”
In his book Dave Pelz’s Putting Bible (2000), he refers to the result of this 1994 study. For instance, he shows Fig. 7.4.1, (see attached) with this caption:
“When I measured 1,500 golfers, they read, on average, less than a third of the true break, set-up to about two-thirds of the break (dashed line), then in-stroke compensated to start their putts almost on the true-break aim line (white wide line).”
Also, in 1995 he wrote a follow up to his 1994 paper the article entitled: “The Amazing Truth About Putting, Your success in putting is determined by how you aim and how you stroke. Beleive it or not, you’re doing them both all wrong. And I can prove it.” This was published in Aug. 1995 by Golf Magazine.

[BrianW]

Re: How to make a Target Line

Shorty: And your point is?

Robin:

Pelz is very scientific but you you will get a lot from his books, the Short Game Bible is very good.

[Shorty]

Re: How to make a Target Line

And your point is?

The Target Line serves interest of two types of putters as described by Palmer as referenced in post [Target line is not a new concept in putting]. He stated in his book Arnold Palmer’s Book of Putting
“Are you going to (1) visualize the line to the hole and seek to direct your putt along that track? Or are you going to (2) adhere to the school of thought which holds that all putts are straight and that the best technique is to convert your assessment of the putt into a phantom hole, or target point, and start the ball at that spot?”
Dave Pelz in his book Dave Pelz’s Putting Bible, calls the first type as “apex putters” and the second type as “target line putters.” The Target Line benefits mainly target line putters but it would also benefit apex putters.
Apex putting is the way most players first learn to putt.
Their putting procedure is:
1) The player imagines an ideal ball track that passes through the hole.
2) They then estimate the visual break which is the maximum deviation that the ball has from a line between the ball and hole (base line).
3) They then line up in direction of apex and attempt to putt the ball to pass through the apex spot.
A fundamental problem with apex putting is that the ball leaving the club face does not follow the ideal ball track. The true aim line for ideal ball track actually has a higher initial slope. This has the likelihood of missing below the hole, a.k.a. "amateur side". The inability to predict the true aim line for the ball track has led to the solution of using subconscious compensations. This includes set-up alignment and in-stroke compensations during the stroke itself.
Students of Pelz are instructed to (1) move the visual break distance to the target line and then (2) multiply this segment by three to locate the true aim point. Using the Target Line during practice putting would help them in the process of learning his problem solution method.