How to aim off the tee without an alignment stick

Use the line on your ball as your alignment stick. Tee the ball with the line pointed down your start line, set the club face square to it, then set your feet, hips and shoulders parallel to it. The line shows you where you're aimed before you swing. It doesn't change ball flight.

Why aim from the ball

Before you change your swing, check where you were aimed. On the range, you can lay an alignment stick on the ground and set up to it. In a round, you can't: the Rules of Golf don't let you set an object down to help you aim or take your stance (Rule 10.2b(3)). The tee markers won't do it for you either. They mark where you can tee up, not where to aim.

You tee the ball up yourself, so it's the one thing on the tee you can point exactly where you want.

How to line up a tee shot with the line on your ball

1. Stand a few steps behind the ball and pick your start line: where you want the ball to start, not just where you want it to finish.
2. Find a spot on that line a foot or two in front of the tee: a divot, a leaf, a darker patch of grass. Your target is 250 yards away. The leaf is 18 inches away. Aim at the leaf.
3. Tee the ball and turn it so the line points at that spot. Step back behind it and check. Turn it again if it's off.
4. Walk in and set the club face square to the line, at 90 degrees to it.
5. Set your feet, hips and shoulders parallel to the line.
6. Look at the target once, look back at the line, and swing.

If you play a draw or a fade

These are for a right-handed swing. Flip them if you swing left-handed.

• Point the line where you want the ball to start, and set the face square to it, the same as for a straight shot.
• For a draw, aim your feet and shoulders a little right of the line. For a fade, aim them a little left.

The line marks where the ball starts. The curve is up to your swing.

Check it on the range: a 10-ball test

This needs ten balls with a line on them, so do it where you're allowed to hit your own.

1. Pick a target on the range, like a flag or a yardage sign.
2. Hit five balls with the line turned away from you, so you can't use it. For each one, note where it starts: left of your target, on it, or right of it.
3. Hit five more with the line pointed at a spot on your start line and the face square to it. Note where each one starts again.

If more start on target when you use the line, it's doing its job for you. If the count is the same, the line is optional off the tee.

To train your eye first, lay an alignment stick on the ground along your target line and tee a ball beside it with the line pointed the same way. Look down from address: that's what aimed looks like. Then take the stick away and use the line.

When the line won't help

• It won't fix a slice or a hook. If the ball starts on your line and then curves off it, that's your swing, not your aim. The stripe shows your line. It doesn't change ball flight.
• It won't help if it distracts you. If the line pulls your eye at address, tee the ball with the line turned away. It's still there when you want it on the green.

Which Thick ball has the line?

Both. Every Thick ball has a full alignment stripe built in.

• Moon Shot: the one for most people. Three layers: a rubber core and a resin mantle. Urethane cover.
• Moon Shot Pro: the one that spins. Four-layer construction holds ball speed across swing speeds. Urethane cover.

Can't decide? Try Both has 6 of each.

Not sure which one fits your game? Find Your Ball

Line up your putts too: Does a line on a golf ball help putting?

Shipping, returns or which ball? The FAQ has short answers.

By Erin Wiratunga