How to Mark Your Golf Balls: Tips, Rules, and Creative Ideas
By: Fin Tait | Edited: Wed 08 Oct 2025
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Marking your golf balls is one of the times in golf where personal flair and pure practicality go hand in hand with each other. Ensuring your ball is clearly yours to avoid a potential two stroke penalty, as well as giving yourself a subtle way to express yourself on the course.
Whether its pattern or number superstitions, specific ball alignment markings or something completely different, here are some different ways people mark their golf balls.
Why You Should Mark Your Golf Ball
The main question surrounding golf ball marking is ‘does it really matter?’ And ultimately, the answer is yes, it does. Many casual golfers may be oblivious to the harsh reality of the rule book, but should you hit the wrong ball during a golf tournament you can incur penalty strokes, or even a total disqualification – not forgetting the awkward conversation that follows. Adding any kind of marking to your ball to make it easier to identify can be much more important than you think!
The Rules Around Marking Your Ball
The R&A and The USGA both want to make it easy for you to identify your balls in a competition, so there are minimal rules around what you can and can’t do when marking your ball. You must, however, ensure that you do not do anything that could impact the flight and performance of your ball. A marker on the surface of the ball is well within the laws, but any thick paint or ink that may fill in the dimples, or stickers that will smoothen the ball's surface are a big no-go. It is also best advised that the marking is kept clean and inoffensive, as to avoid distracting any of your playing partners.
When it comes to the specific rules, markings applied with a felt-tip pen are not contrary to Rule 4.2a, and Rule 6.3a actually encourages players to add an identification mark to their ball to help with identification during a round. There are no restrictions on what kind of markings you can make or how many, as long as the ball’s original manufacturer markings remain visible. This is also reinforced in Rule 7.2, which refers to identifying your ball by seeing your personal mark on it.
Popular Ways to Mark Your Golf Ball
Initials
One of the more common ball markings you will find out on the course, the name initials. Personally, I think it lacks style and flair, but in terms of doing what it needs to do, it does the job. Just hope no one in your group shares the same initials and type of ball – that would be some unfortunate coincidence!
Dots
Another plain and simple method of marking your ball, the dots. Nothing over the top, nothing too out there, but a very simple way of identifying your ball. Any golf readers out there may be familiar with the title ‘Bring me the head of Sergio Garcia’ by Tom Cox. Tom tells the unfortunate story of when playing in his first event as a professional, he was disqualified for playing the wrong ball – all because of the similarity in ball markings!
The Partner Trick
A recent trend in golf has seen golfers (romantic) partners mark their balls for them. Most recently we saw a viral video of Matt Fitzpatrick's wife marking Matt's balls ahead of his play at the Open Championship. It must work, seeing how Matt played across the weekend and securing a sturdy finish high up the leaderboard.
Alignment Lines
These days it seems that the majority of golf balls are manufactured with their own alignment design on them. However, for the people that remain buying the plain golf ball, this one's for you. Adding an alignment line to your ball is an easy way to give you that added support and confidence on the greens. In a recent survey we discovered that 21% of our readers opt to add their own alignment onto their ball. Whether alignment lines actually work can be discussed long into the night, however the added confidence when stood over the ball is always nice.
Custom Stamps
One of the much more creative and imaginative methods on this list, personal golf ball stamps. Giving you freedom to get a consistent design on multiple golf balls until the stamp dies. Whether you want your name, a funny message, or anything else in between, these are a great way to mark your ball – 10/10 for anyone doing this!
Golf Balls Pre-Printed
Adding markings to your golf ball can be a simple yet powerful way to personalise your game, improve alignment, and boost confidence on the greens. While many golfers enjoy creating their own unique lines or symbols, not everyone has the time to add custom markings before every round. Fortunately, many leading golf ball manufacturers now offer a wide range of pre-printed designs and customisation options.
From limited-edition releases to seasonal collections, brands are continually introducing new styles that combine both personalisation and performance. Many also provide online tools for additional ball stamping and logo printing, letting you add your initials or design for a personal touch.
Callaway set the trend with their original Truvis golf ball, which offered a bold, easy-to-see pattern that helped players track spin and roll. Since then, TaylorMade has launched its popular Pix range, and both Callaway and TaylorMade have expanded into creative designs like the Splatter and Soft Ink models - combining visual flair with practical alignment support. Srixon’s distinctive Divide range takes a unique two-tone approach to alignment and visibility, while Bridgestone’s new Mindset golf balls introduce an innovative visual cue designed to aid focus and pre-shot routine.
How the Pros Mark Their Golf Balls
Professional golfers have their own unique habits and superstitions when it comes to marking their balls.
Sergio García often stamps a green “17” on his ball to commemorate his Masters win in 2017.
Scottie Scheffler doesn’t mark his balls at all; he simply requests numbers six, seven, and eight, as they’re rarely used by others.
Matt Fitzpatrick lets his wife mark his balls before competition.
Tiger Woods has his first name printed on his golf balls for instant recognition.
Ultimately, pro players are no different to us when it comes to ball markings, they each have their own preference.
The Psychology Behind Marking Your Ball
Marking your ball can seem like such a small and minor detail, but you'd be surprised by the psychological effects it can have over your game. Not to forget increasing pace of play on the course and helping with your ball alignment. Many pros have their own signature design that they’ve stuck with throughout their career, as well as funny superstitions that helps them out on the course.
Final Thoughts
Marking your golf balls is about more than avoiding penalties - it’s about confidence, consistency, and personality. Whether you use initials, dots, or a custom stamp, the right mark helps you stand out and stay sharp on the course.
So, with all that said, how do you mark your golf balls? Are you a player of tradition, or a player of superstition?
About the author
Fin Tait is a sports journalism graduate and emerging golf writer for Golfshake. Originally from Sheffield, he brings a fresh perspective shaped by a passion for both playing and following the professional game. Fin enjoys early morning rounds and is focused on improving his own performance, working towards consistent scoring milestones. His writing blends personal experience with a growing knowledge of courses, travel, and the evolving landscape of modern golf.
