What is Triple Track Technology on Golf Balls?
Golf ball manufacturers continually innovate with new constructions and materials seeking to optimize performance. One recent advancement that has proliferated across numerous brands is the addition of triple-track alignment technology on golf balls.
But what exactly is a triple track on golf balls and how does it work? In this article, we’ll examine the origins, purpose, and claimed benefits of triple-track alignment aids.
You’ll understand why this technology keeps appearing on more models and how it aims to improve your putting accuracy.
History of Triple Track Golf Balls
Triple track technology traces back to a 2018 Callaway Golf patent filing for an “Alignment Feature for a Golf Ball” outlining engraved lines or printed graphics to help golfers align putts more accurately.
Callaway first implemented triple track in 2019 on its ERC Soft golf balls featuring two blue lines flanking a red line encircling the entire ball. They touted easier alignment helping golfers start putts online.
Seeing the market potential, other major brands have followed with their own triple track offerings like TaylorMade TP5 and Srixon Q-Star Tours now also displaying some form of triple track alignment.
How Triple Track Aids Alignment
Triple track golf balls utilize sets of three parallel lines ringing the entire ball to assist proper setup and alignment when putting:
- Two identical lines/graphics on ball equator at opposite poles.
- Contrasting different color center lines along the ball equator between them.
- Having lines extend around the entire ball allows aligning to the hole from any position.
- Angles formed by tracks help square the ball to the target.
- Centerline acts as a visual guide for the ideal starting line.
The added perspective and alignment cues provide confidence over traditional single-line balls.
Claimed Benefits of Triple Track
Manufacturers and many golfers report the following benefits from using triple track alignment technology:
- Sets the ball in perfect perpendicular alignment to the target line.
- Focuses awareness on squaring up putts properly.
- Provides confidence you are starting putts on the right line.
- A repeatable system leads to more consistency in holing putts.
- Contrasting colors grab focus and enhance concentration.
- Useful training aid to ingrain ideal setup fundamentals.
Both tangibly and psychologically, the added alignment perspective helps.
How Triple Track Aims to Improve Accuracy
On traditional single-line balls, imperfect alignments can creep in unnoticed:
- An angled ball setup means putts start offline.
- Crooked backswing and followthroughs reflect misalignment.
- Eyes subconsciously gravitate to dominant visual cues like logos.
- Distractions cause loss of concentration on proper setup.
By providing a more accurate perspective through contrasting guidelines, triple track technology helps overcome these deficiencies and ingrain proper technique.
Examples of Triple Track Golf Ball Models
Some leading golf ball models incorporating alignment-enhancing triple track:
Usage spans many brands and categories including tour, premium distance, women’s, and matte finish balls.
Rules Governing Allowable Markings
Under the USGA rules, golf ball markings must adhere to strict specifications to be legal:
- Cannot unduly assist with aiming or alignment beyond just identifying the ball.
- Graphics, colors, and lines must be uniform around the entire circumference.
- No electronic or digital features aiding play are allowed.
- Manufacturer name and brand required on the ball surface.
Triple-track designs meet all legal requirements provided they extend fully around the ball.
Testing Validates Accuracy Improvements
Beyond anecdotal benefits, golf ball companies rigorously test triple track claims:
- Callaway – Found triple track improved alignment accuracy by 2-3x in robot and player testing.
- TaylorMade – Reported triple track balls putts up to 21% more online than sidestamp balls.
- Srixon – Triple track improved alignment consistency over standard balls in player studies.
The added alignment references quantifiably improve alignment, especially under pressure.
Advantages May Vary by Player Skill Level
Interestingly, Srixon’s studies found triple track benefits varied by players’ skill level:
- 76% more accurate for high handicappers (10+)
- 38% improvement for mid handicappers (6-10)
- Only 9% better for low handicappers (0-5)
This indicates recreational players derive significantly more advantage from alignment cues than highly skilled golfers.
Potential Drawbacks to Triple Track
While benefits have been proven, triple track markings also come with some compromises:
- Extra side stamping can marginally increase ball weight.
- Stamping necessitates fastidious quality control to avoid scrapes.
- Posted $5-10 retail price premiums over standard models.
- Too much reliance on an alignment system risks becoming a crutch or distraction.
For most players though, any minor compromises pay dividends through holing more putts.
Maximizing Triple Track’s Alignment Value
To make the most of triple track’s alignment enhancements:
- Use the centerline to position the ball in line with the target and hole.
- Focus on squaring clubface perpendicular to tracks.
- Let tracks guide proper address fundamentals but maintain focus on the hole.
- Avoid distracting colors not benefitting your eye focus.
- Use balls with tracks for practice drills ingraining proper setup position.
With smart incorporation, triple track technology delivers measurable putting improvement.
The Future with Triple Track
Given rapid adoption across brands, triple-track alignment systems appear on their way to becoming standard features integrated into most golf ball product lines.
As materials costs decrease through economies of scale, the usefulness of triple track even for recreational players ensures continuation. The triple track provides easy alignment advantages applicable at all skill levels without truly affecting ball flight.
Expect the visibility and popularity of triple track balls to keep increasing across retail shelves and pro shop offerings as more brands showcase their own integrated variations.
So stay tuned to see triple track potentially become golf’s next must-have innovation included across every golf ball series.