Trident Align Full Metal Adjustable Ball Marker – Review
DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS, AT NO COST TO YOU. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.
Trident Align Full Metal Kit – Best Price when reviewed: £28.45 / $34.99
I have been using the Trident Align Full Metal Ball Marker since the start of the 2024 season and can confidently recommend it! In this review, I’ll talk through why this handy little golf gadget might just give you the competitive edge you’re looking for.
Don’t want to read the full article? Skip straight to the section you want here:
What’s In The Box
The Trident Align is available in two main versions, the more affordable plastic version, or the more robust full metal version. I bought the Trident Align Full Metal Kit version (£29.95/ $39.99). You can purchase each part separately, but I’d highly recommend buying one of the kits where you receive everything you need to get going straight away.
The full metal kit contains:
- Trident Align Full Metal Ball Marker
- Trident Align Golf Ball Stencil Tool
- Handy Carry Pouch
- Sharpie Black Marker Pen
Does Using a Line Improve Putting?
Most professional golfers use some form of marking on their golf balls to help with their aim while putting. The theory is that when stood directly over the ball a golfer lines their putter up with the line on the ball and then focuses on getting the distance correct without having to worry about the line at the same time.
Prior to 2024, I had been using an Odyssey 2-Ball putter and hadn’t found that using a line on a golf ball helped me at all. Sadly, after 25 years, the face on my 2-ball putter started disintegrating and I had to purchase a new putter. When I changed putters, after much testing, I changed to the LAB Golf Directed Force 2.1 which I found gave me a much more consistent strike and a better stroke with my putts. The downside is that I didn’t feel it was as easy to align as the 2-Ball, so I looked at what I could do to improve this.
I had toyed with a line on my golf balls before. I struggled with lines using the two-ball putter. Aside from not making my direction any better, I always felt that lining up the putts took a long time. I was conscious I was slowing play down. That distracted me and I felt like I was worrying about that rather than solely thinking about holing the putt.
On top of the speed I also struggled to line the line on a golf ball up with the hole. Using the Trident Align Ball marker, without a ball for distraction, makes perfect sense to me. I’m no longer lining up a curved line, just the straight line on the marker.
Read on to the end to see exactly how much using a line has helped my putting this year.
Trident Align Technique
Using the adjustable ball marker I now have a new routine when I get to the green.
- Repair my pitch mark (or someone else’s if I haven’t made one).
- Mark my ball using the adjustable ball marker, aligning the marker to roughly where I first think the putt may need to be headed.
- I then step back, read the putt and move the adjustable top plate to my final line. This is usually while my playing partners are looking at their putts or coming onto the green.
- Place my fully marked-up ball in-line with the adjustable ball marker and stand behind the ball to make sure I’m 100% happy all the lines match up. At this stage, I may make minor adjustments to the ball itself.
- Remove the ball marker.
- Make a practice swing.
- Address the ball, line the putter up with the markings and then I forget about the line and 100% concentrate on the length of the putt.
- Knock the ball in the hole!
Quick and Simple Alignment
The patented shape of the Trident Align guide design, both on the ball, and on the marker helps to align the two very quickly. Line the marker up and then match up the markings on the ball in seconds.
Design Build & Quality
The Metal Trident Align Marker is the premium version. A less robust plastic version is also available at a lower price. The plastic version will certainly still do the job, but the metal version is much sleeker and feels better quality. The construction of the full metal base plate offers greater stability and makes it feel more sturdy than the cheaper version and I feel confident it will last me for a very long time.
In the second iteration of the Trident Align the manufacturer has added two stability studs to the bottom of the marker. This helps provide new stability and more grip to the base than the original Trident Align markers, ideal for tightly mowed or faster greens.
Do you need The Trident Align Ball Marker for Every Putt?
It’s a personal preference, but I would say no. I don’t tend to use the ball marker on shorter putts. I still line the ball up, but I tend to use my standard ball marker.
On longer putts, where any tiny difference will be magnified, the marker comes into its own. The level of adjustability on the marker means that once placed on the ground I only need to move the top plate, not the black base unit of the marker.
Why is Trident Align Better than a Standard Line on a Golf Ball?
Golfers using a standard line on a golf ball are not giving themselves the full picture. The line might be facing the right direction, but if it isn’t fully perpendicular to the ground then the ball will not go on the correct target line. The physics behind this alignment system is simple. The extra line, set at 90 degrees to the aim line allows a golfer to ensure the long vertical line is perfectly positioned with the ideal starting line.
The “D” shape of the Trident Align guide helps to quickly align the ball with the marker and the line perpendicular to the aim line allows a golfer to easily line the putter face up at the back of the ball.
Instant Feedback
Using any line on a golf ball gives a golfer instant feedback as to the direction of their putt. If the putt has been hit exactly in the direction of the aim line then the ball will roll end over end, keeping the line in the centre of the ball. If it is mishit then a golfer will know straight away because the ball won’t be rolling end over end.
Trident Stencil
The Trident Kit comes with a handy stencil. The stencil clips onto the ball allowing golfers to simply mark their ball with the included Sharpie Marker.
Colourful Design
There’s nothing that says you have to draw the Trident Align on a golf ball in black. Why not jazz it up a little using different colour marker pens?*
*I prefer darker colours since they give the best contrast.
Is Trident Align Legal?
Unbelievably yes it is! The Trident Align feels like cheating to me, but it is approved for use by both the USGA and R&A. Golfers can happily use Trident Align in tournament play without fear of punishment or breaking any of the rules of golf.
Invented by a PGA Professional
Trident Align was designed by PGA Professional Enda McLoughlin. Enda set out to design a ball marker that would:
- Allow golfers to start the process of adjusting and fine-tuning their aim as soon as they begin to read their putt.
- Allow golfers to adjust the aim of the ball marker without the ball needing to be in position on the green.
- Provide golfers with a start line they can have ultimate confidence in.
- Ensure the centre line on the golf ball sits perfectly at 90 degrees (no tilt/ lean) through Trident Align’s patented design.
- Perfectly match up the putter face squarely to the back of the ball on every putt.
How to buy the Trident Align Full Metal at the Cheapest Price (£25.99 / $34)
Online prices change all the time, but when writing this article the cheapest I found this product was at HOTGOLF where the full pack worked out £28.45 (using discount code HOT5). It’s worth checking each of the sites below to see where today’s best price is. BE CAREFUL to make sure you’re buying the right version. The one I purchased was the Trident Align Full Metal Kit, you can buy the marker on its own and also the plastic version for cheaper.
Check the latest price for Trident Align Full Metal Kit now:
Game-Changing Putting Gadget
The Trident Align system has been a game-changer for me. The unique design of the markings, in conjunction with the adjustable ball marker really speeds up the alignment process. I was a relatively good putter already, but the Trident Align system makes sure that I start the ball on the intended line every time.
Obviously, I might still read the putt wrong, or put a bad stroke on it, but for me anything that gives me an advantage on the green is worth every penny. Never before have I realised how many times I misread a green. Previously I’ve always assumed I may have mishit the putt but with Trident Align I see the ball rolling end over end much more often than with a standard line.
The proof is in the pudding! In 2024 my putting went from +0.6 shots gained to +3.7 against a 10 HCP benchmark*. Through a combination of the new putter and the Trident Align I’ve gained over 3 shots per round. Who doesn’t want lower scores?
*Benchmark stats from Shot Scope data over 23 rounds of golf.
I would wholeheartedly recommend any golfer to give Trident Align a try. This premium ball marker might just take your putting game to the next level, save you a shot, and win you a competition! Have you used Trident Align? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Looking for a compact putting mirror? Checkout our review of the Trident Transform Mirror.
Bye for now!
Last Updated on 18/12/2024 by StripeyGreenTV
