Practically every golf ball manufacturer out there has an option or design with some type of visual alignment aid implemented into it. However, Bridgestone Golf had been a notable holdout, until now. Previously, the brand stood by the notion that they weren’t going to follow trends for the sake of it, but would entertain such an offering if there was one they believed to be both unique as well as a difference maker.
Apparently, it took Bridgestone staff member Jason Day and his mental coach to get there.
Bridgestone Golf MINDSET Visual Technology
With a name like “MINDSET”, it makes sense that a mental coach was involved with this one. However, it isn’t just any mental coach, it is Jason Day’s mental coach, Jason Goldsmith. The two worked in coordination with Bridgestone golf to create a “graphic pattern” which originates with the three-step mental game process which Day has been using for almost a decade.
“Jason Goldsmith and I worked together to develop a pre-shot technique that went beyond the simple visualization I did when I was a kid,” said Day. “He understood how critical pre-shot visualization was to my game but also knew I needed a more structured, complete routine. The MINDSET process we developed gives me everything I need to perform at my best on every shot.”
You, like me, are surely asking aloud at this point, “but what is it”? Well, that is a complex question. The process which the design is rooted in hinges around three steps: Identify, Visualize, and Focus. Those steps are each represented on the golf ball by three circles. The red outer level coincides with working to “Identify” the shape, trajectory, distance, and club choice of the given shot. Once those decisions are made, the yellow then prompts the golfer to “Visualize” the shot to its entirety within their head. Once there is a picture painted within the mind, the green inner dot should remind the player to “Focus” on execution. Green, of course, also means “go”.
Seem like a lot to follow? Well, Jason Day’s mental coach breaks it down as such:
“The MINDSET process allows anyone to do what all professional and high-level players do, which is to utilize a pre-shot routine that gives them the focus they need to perform at their best,” said Goldsmith. “When we started developing the pattern it consisted of concentric circles only, and there was no flow to the design. After some experimentation we came to the current pattern with three different colored circles with arrows, which provides a natural progression through the process. I’m very happy with the final product and believe it can be effectively used by players of all skill levels to improve their scores.”
The Details
Bridgestone always said that they wouldn’t do any type of “printed golf ball” unless it was unique, and it certainly feels like the Bridgestone Golf Mindset checks that box.
This new MINDSET pattern will be available 2/16/24 and be an option on all four of the 2024 Tour B golf ball models. They will not cost any more as the price per dozen will remain at $49.99.
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Putting MindSet to the test by intentionally making or missing putts….
[IMG alt=”Episode 2 Wait GIF by ABC Network”]https://media0.giphy.com/media/3s39mJ7zXU94mfAq4W/200.gif[/IMG]
It was an unreal experience this morning. I picked anywhere from 3’ to 10’ straight putts that were uphill. I did the 3 step process but I visualized hitting them short, left, right, die in cup and long. I didn’t do the same putt two times in a row. The results were amazing. My body did what my mind visualized…
3’ putts
Short 5/5
Left edge 4/5 (one rolled in)
Right edge 5/5
Die in cup 3/5 (made the other two)
Long 5/5 (all went in but would have gone over for sure)
6’ putts
Short 5/5
Left edge 4/5 (one rolled in)
Right edge 4/5 (one rolled in)
Die in cup 3/5 (2 on line, but short)
Long 4/5 (missed one left)
8’ putts
Short 5/5
Left edge 3/5 (one rolled in and 1 went too far left)
Right edge 3/5 (one rolled in and 1 went too far right)
Die in cup 3/5 (2 on line but short)
Long 4/5 (missed one right)
10’ putts
Short 4/5 (made one ?)
Left edge 3/5 (one rolled in and 1 went too far left)
Right edge 3/5 (one rolled in and 1 went too far right)
Die in cup 3/5 (2 on line but short)
Long 4/5 (missed one left)
Playing again tomorrow and should have the Mindset ball in play for all 18 holes.
I still haven’t gotten around to doing a side-by-side comparison of the Tour B RXS and the RX, I have both, the RX aren’t Mindset, but I really want to compare the two. In the past when I used a premium Bridgestone ball it was always the RX, but I got the RXS for this testing and I’m really liking it. I’ll get around to hitting them both sometime soon and share my thoughts here.
Man, I was focused on the green dot but also thinking when over the ball. My driving reflected that as I didn’t find a fairway all day. I need to get back into the process. I think I lost focus with the prior confidence and let myself get out of the process.
[QUOTE=”Scooby45, post: 12286502, member: 62865″]
Man, I was focused on the green dot but also thinking when over the ball. My driving reflected that as I didn’t find a fairway all day. I need to get back into the process. I think I lost focus with the prior confidence and let myself get out of the process.
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I’m glad you mentioned this [USER=62865]@Scooby45[/USER] because i’m in a similar spot. I believe my successes with Mindset lulled me into a false sense of security. My last couple of rounds, I found myself to be much less intentional with my 3-step process, overall, and have suffered because of it. When I walked through the process I saw much better success than when I was lazy and half-assed (or worse) the process.
I also noticed that while I had little issue remaining intentional when using the non-Mindset version of the ball initially, over the past couple rounds there is drastic difference in my percentage of intentional, focused shots with the non-Mindset version versus when using the Mindset version.
So I have been working in incorporating mindset into my game on the indoor front and this week really provided me a great opportunity to be out on the course and see how it went. I would absolutely love to come in here and say it went great and I was committed to it every shot which lead to some fantastic results. I just can’t do that. It was really easy to revert to my normal pre shot and pre thought routine…even when the logo was visible. I wouldn’t expect for things to be engrained and automatic with the whole 3 step process, and it wasn’t. More golf coming in the near future to see if we can help make it work for my mind.
As for the ball though RXS is pretty darn good. As someone with an avg to slightly above avg swing speed I get some good speed, launch, height, spin, and distance with it. Also enjoy how it feels on wedge shots as well as putts. It’s a good ball…and mindset means I don’t have to carry a sharpie.
League night again tonight and the Mindset RX will be in play. Gonna give [USER=50784]@hadi05[/USER] suggestion of closing my eyes to visualize the shot a go tonight, see if that helps.
[QUOTE=”ddec, post: 12286789, member: 782″]
So I have been working in incorporating mindset into my game on the indoor front and this week really provided me a great opportunity to be out on the course and see how it went. I would absolutely love to come in here and say it went great and I was committed to it every shot which lead to some fantastic results. I just can’t do that. It was really easy to revert to my normal pre shot and pre thought routine…even when the logo was visible. I wouldn’t expect for things to be engrained and automatic with the whole 3 step process, and it wasn’t. More golf coming in the near future to see if we can help make it work for my mind.
As for the ball though RXS is pretty darn good. As someone with an avg to slightly above avg swing speed I get some good speed, launch, height, spin, and distance with it. Also enjoy how it feels on wedge shots as well as putts. It’s a good ball…and mindset means I don’t have to carry a sharpie.
[/QUOTE]
There’s probably something related to having more to think about when you’re out on the course vs. indoors. It definitely took me a few rounds with it before I felt like I was doing it more naturally. It probably is also a little more challenging as you guys are doing some live posting, playing shambles, etc. out there which has a lot more going on than perhaps a solo round.
[QUOTE=”ddec, post: 12286789, member: 782″]
So I have been working in incorporating mindset into my game on the indoor front and this week really provided me a great opportunity to be out on the course and see how it went. I would absolutely love to come in here and say it went great and I was committed to it every shot which lead to some fantastic results. I just can’t do that. It was really easy to revert to my normal pre shot and pre thought routine…even when the logo was visible. I wouldn’t expect for things to be engrained and automatic with the whole 3 step process, and it wasn’t. More golf coming in the near future to see if we can help make it work for my mind.
As for the ball though RXS is pretty darn good. As someone with an avg to slightly above avg swing speed I get some good speed, launch, height, spin, and distance with it. Also enjoy how it feels on wedge shots as well as putts. It’s a good ball…and mindset means I don’t have to carry a sharpie.
[/QUOTE]
It’s amazing to see just how easy and also how much effort the process requires. The more I play, the more I realize the benefits of having the MindSet visual reminder. I’ve even gone so far to have an extra ball in my pocket and I’ll get it out from time to time to help me recenter.
[QUOTE=”TWright971, post: 12286835, member: 11048″]
League night again tonight and the Mindset RX will be in play. Gonna give [USER=50784]@hadi05[/USER] suggestion of closing my eyes to visualize the shot a go tonight, see if that helps.
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Let’s go!
Another good outing today with the Mindset ball, played a course down in the valley that I really like but don’t play often anymore because it’s over an hour away. Played the Mindset ball the whole round, lost another one, one of those where we’re walking around the rough knowing it’s gotta be right here, but never found it. I did find myself slipping on sticking with the process on occasion, even with the Mindset ball, but I’m pretty sure I can lay that on it being a much more social round than normal for me. Played with three friends that I haven’t played with in a really long time, and although the socializing didn’t affect my play that much, I did realize several times after a shot that I had kind of blown through the 3-steps without being really committed to the whole process.
I think I’ll be getting my net set up tomorrow, which means finally getting some time with the Rapsodo MLM2 Pro too. I haven’t spent any time with the Mindset during full swing practice yet, so that will be interesting. It will also be an opportunity to try the RXS and RX balls side-by-side, which I’m really looking forward to, as I’ve always really liked the RX, but hitting the RXS during this Mindset testing has been really good.
Alright so had League last night with the Mindset RX in play. I’ve documented my struggles with visualization and [USER=50784]@hadi05[/USER] had suggested closing my eyes while attempting to as it had helped him. So that is what I went with last night, I gathered my information behind the ball, picked out a target, closed my eyes and tried to visualize the shot I wanted. I will say closing my eyes did help, I would say I was successful in visualizing the shot on about 1/2 of my shots that I attempted. I tried on all tee shots and was successful each time except one. Closing my eyes and visualizing the shot helped clear out the noise and I was able to simply focus on the shot, really stepping up without the running internal dialogue and just focusing on the green dot. The one time I wasn’t able to do it I wasn’t feeling comfortable and should have stepped away, but didn’t and it resulted in my worst tee shot of the day. Overall I really like the process. I do think the process helps and will continue to try to improve on it.
[QUOTE=”TWright971, post: 12287856, member: 11048″]
Alright so had League last night with the Mindset RX in play. I’ve documented my struggles with visualization and [USER=50784]@hadi05[/USER] had suggested closing my eyes while attempting to as it had helped him. So that is what I went with last night, I gathered my information behind the ball, picked out a target, closed my eyes and tried to visualize the shot I wanted. I will say closing my eyes did help, I would say I was successful in visualizing the shot on about 1/2 of my shots that I attempted. I tried on all tee shots and was successful each time except one. Closing my eyes and visualizing the shot helped clear out the noise and I was able to simply focus on the shot, really stepping up without the running internal dialogue and just focusing on the green dot. The one time I wasn’t able to do it I wasn’t feeling comfortable and should have stepped away, but didn’t and it resulted in my worst tee shot of the day. Overall I really like the process. I do think the process helps and will continue to try to improve on it.
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Glad to hear you had success with it and that you had a sense of awareness on the tee when you weren’t comfortable. If I still struggle with visualizing even with my eyes closed, it’s usually because adrenaline is flowing. I’m adding 2 deep breaths in and out (one behind the ball after I’ve gathered my data and the other over the ball) and this has helped me relax a lot. My mind is clear and my body stays loose.
[QUOTE=”TWright971, post: 12287856, member: 11048″]
Alright so had League last night with the Mindset RX in play. I’ve documented my struggles with visualization and [USER=50784]@hadi05[/USER] had suggested closing my eyes while attempting to as it had helped him. So that is what I went with last night, I gathered my information behind the ball, picked out a target, closed my eyes and tried to visualize the shot I wanted. I will say closing my eyes did help, I would say I was successful in visualizing the shot on about 1/2 of my shots that I attempted. I tried on all tee shots and was successful each time except one. Closing my eyes and visualizing the shot helped clear out the noise and I was able to simply focus on the shot, really stepping up without the running internal dialogue and just focusing on the green dot. The one time I wasn’t able to do it I wasn’t feeling comfortable and should have stepped away, but didn’t and it resulted in my worst tee shot of the day. Overall I really like the process. I do think the process helps and will continue to try to improve on it.
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I like that commentary ” Stepping up without the running internal dialogue”. I will try to do better with that tonight. It’s league night so the shots matter.
Ddec let me try this before I untimely lost this ball, and I gotta say, I felt even more distracted and mind busy than I did before.
Feels like you have to be a certain kinda person for this and I’m not sure I’m it. The ball performed well, I just found myself hiding the logo a lot
Played my last round with a different ball. The new ball is probably a better overall fit for me but I did notice that my putting suffered without having the mindset aid.
It’s purely anecdotal but I feel like not having the mindset ball on the green was an overall negative. My speed control was poor and I felt some lack of confidence that I had developed over the past couple weeks of using the mindset ball. I had gotten to where I was rolling missed putts by the hole with the mindset. With the new ball everything was either short or way past.
[QUOTE=”MWard, post: 12288892, member: 3474″]
Ddec let me try this before I untimely lost this ball, and I gotta say, I felt even more distracted and mind busy than I did before.
Feels like you have to be a certain kinda person for this and I’m not sure I’m it. The ball performed well, I just found myself hiding the logo a lot
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I have a putting mat in my office at work. I took a few of the balls there and let a few of my coworkers try them out. Not everyone was a fan of the Mindset logo, but most liked having the logo to focus on and line up their putts.
I play the BX and wasn’t sure what I would think of the Mindset markings because I have tried a Triple Track in the past and hated it. But I didn’t mind these when I checked them out at Golf Galaxy a few weeks ago. I’m sure I will buy some at a point during the season.
[QUOTE=”MWard, post: 12288892, member: 3474″]
Ddec let me try this before I untimely lost this ball, and I gotta say, I felt even more distracted and mind busy than I did before.
Feels like you have to be a certain kinda person for this and I’m not sure I’m it. The ball performed well, I just found myself hiding the logo a lot
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Interesting. Did you find yourself more distracted because of the logo, trying to exactly follow the three step process, all of the above?
There’s probably some element of it being awkward if you naturally have a different flow in your pre-shot routine. Also agree its probably heavily golfer dependent as we all take to things differently.
[QUOTE=”mson, post: 12288943, member: 66070″]
Interesting. Did you find yourself more distracted because of the logo, trying to exactly follow the three step process, all of the above?
There’s probably some element of it being awkward if you naturally have a different flow in your pre-shot routine. Also agree its probably heavily golfer dependent as we all take to things differently.
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Tried it all, I just kept looking down at it and thinking what the absolute heck am I looking at right now man…
[QUOTE=”MWard, post: 12289133, member: 3474″]
Tried it all, I just kept looking down at it and thinking what the absolute heck am I looking at right now man…
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from your perspective is the dot more an oval?
[QUOTE=”Scooby45, post: 12289157, member: 62865″]
from your perspective is the dot more an oval?
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…… Yeah somethin like that
Man, played well but still fighting the over confidence a bit on the tee. Early in the round I was still having swing thoughts once I stepped into the shot. Last two holes I broke myself of it, hit two lovely drives, and had two birdie looks.
My worst approach was when I looked up twice after I stepped in, which I don’t do typically.
For the time being these are going to be a keeper.
[QUOTE=”MWard, post: 12289198, member: 3474″]
…… Yeah somethin like that
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Jokes aside, I can’t use it all for putting. All the lines and colors freak out my feeble mind
[QUOTE=”Scooby45, post: 12289805, member: 62865″]
Jokes aside, I can’t use it all for putting. All the lines and colors freak out my feeble mind
[/QUOTE]
I struggled to line it up as well, I need a line of some sort
[QUOTE=”MWard, post: 12289815, member: 3474″]
I struggled to line it up as well, I need a line of some sort
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Me too, I’ve since drawn a sharpie line in the opposite side of the ball.
[QUOTE=”Scooby45, post: 12289869, member: 62865″]
Me too, I’ve since drawn a sharpie line in the opposite side of the ball.
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I guess it’s a lot like truvis or TT, either you love it or you hate it. And that’s okay.
[QUOTE=”MWard, post: 12289919, member: 3474″]
I guess it’s a lot like truvis or TT, either you love it or you hate it. And that’s okay.
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I love the logo on the tee, but dont on the green. Thankfully I can simply flip it over.
[QUOTE=”Scooby45, post: 12289942, member: 62865″]
I love the logo on the tee, but dont on the green. Thankfully I can simply flip it over.
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I don’t recall hitting a good shot when actually looking at the design 🙁
[QUOTE=”MWard, post: 12290296, member: 3474″]
I don’t recall hitting a good shot when actually looking at the design 🙁
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How many holes? And would you say you already have a a good pre-shot routine? Given you can golf your ball a bit I would think so.
[QUOTE=”Scooby45, post: 12290300, member: 62865″]
How many holes? And would you say you already have a a good pre-shot routine? Given you can golf your ball a bit I would think so.
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Before it went flying off the planet? Uh.. somewhere on the front 9 lol
I do have a steady pre shot routine, yes. Especially of the tee.
Let’s give it another go, shall we
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[QUOTE=”ddec, post: 12291580, member: 782″]
Let’s give it another go, shall we
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Four rounds in…mindset might be a swing and a miss for me on the course. I think I like it more for practice, but when things move a bit faster and we are in play…it’s just tough.
The ball itself is still good and I do like the RXS.
[QUOTE=”ddec, post: 12293145, member: 782″]
Four rounds in…mindset might be a swing and a miss for me on the course. I think I like it more for practice, but when things move a bit faster and we are in play…it’s just tough.
The ball itself is still good and I do like the RXS.
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What makes it tough for you?
Tried a bit of a test and didn’t use the mindset ball this afternoon. I had more big misses with driver than I’ve had all season and was thinking about it even when I tried the process. Tried looking at the back of the ball, but then starting thinking about how I should hit it there.
Back to the mindset ball for me over the weekend.
[QUOTE=”Scooby45, post: 12293583, member: 62865″]
What makes it tough for you?
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Routines are hard to change. Esp when I’ve had basically the same pre shot routine for as long as I can remember.
Think of it similar to working on a new swing move…we can all work on it at the range. When it’s go time, old habits creep back in. For me it’s a struggle.
I’m curious how most of you line up the ball on the tee and green. Is the green “dot” more on top of the ball, or more at the back of the ball? When I try to focus on the ball with the driver now, using any ball, I tend to look at a spot at the back of the ball. I am just not sure how I’d position the graphic were I to use this ball.
[QUOTE=”Phil75070, post: 12293807, member: 22997″]
I’m curious how most of you line up the ball on the tee and green. Is the green “dot” more on top of the ball, or more at the back of the ball? When I try to focus on the ball with the driver now, using any ball, I tend to look at a spot at the back of the ball. I am just not sure how I’d position the graphic were I to use this ball.
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I don’t use it on the green. On the tee I put the arrow on top of the ball which puts the green dot maybe at say 2:00? So not quite on top but not quite to the back. It slides around a little for me though as I’m not super precise with it.
[QUOTE=”Phil75070, post: 12293807, member: 22997″]
I’m curious how most of you line up the ball on the tee and green. Is the green “dot” more on top of the ball, or more at the back of the ball? When I try to focus on the ball with the driver now, using any ball, I tend to look at a spot at the back of the ball. I am just not sure how I’d position the graphic were I to use this ball.
[/QUOTE]
I have been positioning the green dot more towards the back of the ball, not directly on top. It still remains fully visible with arrow pointing in my general intended flight start direction. Similar on green but I spend more time on the arrow direction being more precise. The arrow is closer to being directly on top compared to the green dot.
[QUOTE=”Phil75070, post: 12293807, member: 22997″]
I’m curious how most of you line up the ball on the tee and green. Is the green “dot” more on top of the ball, or more at the back of the ball? When I try to focus on the ball with the driver now, using any ball, I tend to look at a spot at the back of the ball. I am just not sure how I’d position the graphic were I to use this ball.
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I haven’t been that precise each time, but generally try to put the middle of the whole visual straight up for both tee shots and putting. It sets up with the green dot maybe just slightly off center.
[QUOTE=”Phil75070, post: 12293807, member: 22997″]
I’m curious how most of you line up the ball on the tee and green. Is the green “dot” more on top of the ball, or more at the back of the ball? When I try to focus on the ball with the driver now, using any ball, I tend to look at a spot at the back of the ball. I am just not sure how I’d position the graphic were I to use this ball.
[/QUOTE]
I have the green dot slightly titled back. That’s where I like to focus off the tee.
[QUOTE=”Phil75070, post: 12293807, member: 22997″]
I’m curious how most of you line up the ball on the tee and green. Is the green “dot” more on top of the ball, or more at the back of the ball? When I try to focus on the ball with the driver now, using any ball, I tend to look at a spot at the back of the ball. I am just not sure how I’d position the graphic were I to use this ball.
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Like this most of the time…….
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[QUOTE=”OldeDude, post: 12294655, member: 49557″]
Like this most of the time…….
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Exactly how I do it
[QUOTE=”OldeDude, post: 12294655, member: 49557″]
Like this most of the time…….
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That’s about what mine looks like. Maybe I’ll put the arrow a hair more forward.
Between baseball, soccer, and weather I wasn’t able to get to the course last week. As I continue to work through swing changes, I have been spending a a great deal of time swinging a club in the house and working on engraining those feels. Last night I spent about an hour adding Mindset to that routine, mentally “playing” my home course. While my only swing goal was to feel my feels and see good “turf” interaction, my hope is to see the process become even more second-nature than it currently is. For this particular swing session, I had a Mindset ball (logo visible) in a place that I could clearly see it as I lined up for each swing. I started on the hole #1 tee box of my home course and, for repetition purposes, worked my way through the course. It’s impossible to quantify, but I found it easier to stay within my swing without thinking through each position of the process. The more consistent I am with Mindset, the more consistent I seem to be putting a committed swing on the golf ball.
I’ll be getting out again this afternoon, solo round this time, so there will definitely be less distractions than the last time out.
[QUOTE=”Phil75070, post: 12293807, member: 22997″]
I’m curious how most of you line up the ball on the tee and green. Is the green “dot” more on top of the ball, or more at the back of the ball? When I try to focus on the ball with the driver now, using any ball, I tend to look at a spot at the back of the ball. I am just not sure how I’d position the graphic were I to use this ball.
[/QUOTE]
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From my view I have the arrows on the top as a nice visual and then the circles kind of in the that 1-2 o’clock position.
[QUOTE=”Phil75070, post: 12293807, member: 22997″]
I’m curious how most of you line up the ball on the tee and green. Is the green “dot” more on top of the ball, or more at the back of the ball? When I try to focus on the ball with the driver now, using any ball, I tend to look at a spot at the back of the ball. I am just not sure how I’d position the graphic were I to use this ball.
[/QUOTE]
? on the back of the ball for both
[QUOTE=”hadi05, post: 12299017, member: 50784″]
[USER=56094]@Muchmore[/USER] lookie here….
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What am I looking at ?
[QUOTE=”Muchmore, post: 12299065, member: 56094″]
What am I looking at ?
[/QUOTE]
looks like he’s hitting the wrong direction