In accordance with the invention, a
golf ball is marked with two equatorial O-rings adjacent an
equator of the ball and equally spaced therefrom, which are in a golfer's
full view of the top side of the ball when the ball is accurately aligned to its desired initial starting line and a golfer is properly positioned to putt. The polar regions of the ball are also imprinted with a pattern which is essentially invisible to the golfer when properly positioned to putt. When the ball is aligned to a particular starting direction, and properly struck precisely and squarely and rolls purely in that starting direction, the equatorial O-rings will roll without wobble, and the polar O-rings will remain essentially invisible to the golfer. But when side spin is imparted to the ball at
impact, the equatorial O-rings (circumferential lines) will appear to wobble as the ball rolls, and the polar O-rings will become periodically visible and emphasize the appearance of wobble. The quantity of the polar region imprints which become visible and obvious, and which enhance the appearance of wobble as the ball is rolling, provides an indication of the extent to which side spin has been imparted to the ball by the putting
stroke. This feedback to the golfer after every putt, as to the magnitude of the apparent wobble (i.e. amount of side spin) his or her
stroke imparted at
impact, allows the golfer to differentiate between good and poor putting strokes. Such learning will inevitably help the golfer improve his or her putting. A putter for use with the ball marked as described above includes a
central region which simulates the appearance of a
golf ball cover. Two lines are printed on this
central region converging from the back of the putter toward the front surface with the lines adapted to be aligned with the equatorial O-rings on the ball. The regions of the upper surface of the putter contiguous to the
central region may be printed or painted with a
coating that simulates grass.