Putting · Drill
Use a Mirror to Groove Your Putting Setup
Part of our putting programs. Build a program with it
The off-season is a great time to fix your putting setup. Use a full-length mirror. Look from the front and from the side. Film it too. Bend forward so your eyes are over the ball. Take a fairly wide stance so your body stays quiet. Let your arms hang, elbows tucked lightly near your ribs. Play the ball forward, near your lead armpit. Then rock your shoulders, arms and hands back and through as one piece.
The drill
- Set up facing a full-length mirror.
- Eyes over the ball.
- Wide, steady stance.
- Elbows lightly tucked.
- Rock your shoulders as one unit.
Why it works
A putter swings best when the setup removes extra moving parts. Eyes over the ball let you see the line square to your target, and a wider stance keeps your lower body still. Arms that hang and elbows lightly tucked let the shoulders rock the putter as one unit, so the face stays square through impact. A mirror shows you these positions, which are hard to feel on your own.
Common mistakes
- Standing too upright, so your eyes sit inside the ball line.Bend forward from the hips until a ball dropped from your eyes lands on or just inside the ball.
- Pinning the elbows hard into your ribs.Let the arms hang and keep the elbows only lightly tucked so your shoulders can rock freely.
- Letting the hands or wrists move the putter instead of the shoulders.Keep the triangle of arms and shoulders fixed and rock it back and through as one piece.
How you'll know it's working
- In the side view, your eyes are over the ball and your head stays still during the stroke.
- In the front view, your lower body stays quiet and only your shoulders move.
- On the green, the ball starts on your chosen line and contact feels centered on the putter face.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Hold your setup in the mirror without a ball and make slow strokes until the positions feel familiar.
Harder: Make strokes with a ball and film from the front and the side, then compare each setup position to your mirror check.
Common questions
Where should the ball be in my putting stance?
Play it forward, near your lead armpit. This helps the putter reach the bottom of its arc and start rolling the ball smoothly.
How wide should my putting stance be?
Take a fairly wide stance so your body stays quiet. It should feel steady, with no sway as you rock your shoulders.
