For the average golfer, the key to putting mastery is the hardest test of all. While driving range may be flashy and approach shots are satisfying, it's putting that most often makes or breaks your score. One of the biggest culprits of skulled putts? Terrible alignment. The bad news is that by employing the right alignment putting drills, you can stand up and order every shot with confidence—and two-putt with regularity—or better.

Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a seasoned amateur, working on your putting alignment can drastically improve your consistency on the green. In this post, we’ll explore effective putting alignment drills, the benefits of using specialized putting golf balls—like flat balls—and how to make putting perfection your reality.

Why Alignment Matters in Putting

Before diving into drills, let’s understand why alignment plays such a crucial role. When you’re misaligned, even a technically perfect stroke will send your ball off target. Poor alignment often causes compensations in your stroke—like overusing the hands or pushing and pulling the putter—which only makes things worse over time.

That's why alignment is less of an issue of configuration, but more of a matter of creating consistent, reliable mechanics that can hold up under pressure. The best news is that alignment is the easiest part of getting into correct to practice—once you know how to practice correctly.

Equipment Tip: Practice with Flat Balls for Feedback

Flat balls—or flat-sided putting golf balls—are an essential tool for alignment practice. These specially designed balls exaggerate any errors in your stroke and alignment. If you’re slightly off, they won’t roll straight. It’s instant feedback and a powerful training aid.

This flat ball drill permits you to focus on face square and face alignment. When you can roll a flat ball in a straight line, rolling a standard ball straight is second nature.

Drill #1: The Gate Drill

Purpose: To improve direction of stroke and face alignment

How to Do It:

1. Stand two tees, the width of a putter head apart, 2 feet in front of your ball.

2. Position a flat ball behind the gate.

3. Attempt to stroke the ball through the gate cleanly without striking the tees.

Why It Works: This drill trains your stroke to be straight through impact and rewards clean alignment. If you’re off even slightly, the flat ball will either veer off or fail to pass through the gate.

Drill #2: Chalk Line Drill

Purpose: Visualize the target line and reinforce body alignment

How to Do It:

1. Place a chalk line on the green or string between two tees.

2. Position your putting ball along the line and your stance and putter face parallel to it.

3. Practice stroke along the line, making the ball roll end-over-end over the chalk.

Why It Works: Simple putting alignment practice to establish muscle memory and ensure eyes, shoulders, and putter face are in alignment together as a unit.

Drill #3: Mirror Alignment Drill

Purpose: Check eye location and shoulder alignment

How to Do It:

1. Place a putting mirror on the green with your flat ball positioned.

2. Use the line on the embedded square to line your eyes and shoulders directly over the ball.

3. Play strokes putts looking for consistency.

Why It Works: Most alignment issues start with head position and posture. A mirror enables you to stop yourself and get into a repeatable setup.

Drill #4: Clock Face Drill

Purpose: Improve directional consistency from various angles

How to Do It:

1. Position tees 3 feet in a circle around a hole—picture the face of a clock with the hole in the middle.

2. Putt from every tee location using a putting ball or flat ball.

3. Count your makes and make alignment adjustments if you observe patterns of misses.

Why It Works: This drill illustrates how alignment can shift depending on slope and angle. Practice from multiple directions to improve your alignment and increase confidence.

Drill #5: Alignment Stick Drill

Purpose: Set up correctly and find stroke direction

How to Do It:

1. Set one alignment stick down your target line.

2. Set a second stick across your toes to verify stance and body alignment.

3. Practice setting the target line with flat balls for added feedback.

Why It Works: Sticks provide a visual indication where your stroke and body should go. With flat balls, you have alignment and mechanics of the stroke provided as well.

Adding These Drills to Your Routine

Alignment drills should be practiced every day. Here's how you can include them in your weekly golf practice routine:

• Day 1-2: Practice setup drills like the mirror or chalk line drill.

• Day 3-4: Add stroke-path drills like the gate or alignment stick drill.

• Day 5: Practice a full circuit using your flat golf ball, pushing yourself on each segment.

• Weekend: Take the practice out onto the course and measure your 2-putt percentage.

Alternating drills prevents boredom and ensures your skills are being developed in an even manner.

The Role of the Right Golf Ball in Alignment Practice

Not every golf putting ball is the same. The standard balls will not give you immediate feedback regarding stroke quality or face angle. That is where flat golf balls come into play. Their unconventional shape forces you to hit the ball dead on if you are to witness a straight roll. If consistency is an issue, flat ball practice can immediately identify flaws—and rectify them.

Squeezing in alignment practice with flat balls in your bag makes the drills more challenging and successful. When you go back to playing with a regular ball, the improved alignment habits will translate perfectly.

Conclusion: Perfect Alignment = Lower Scores

Good putters do not come naturally, they are made through repetition, feedback, and smart practice. Putting alignment drill, especially in the context of flat balls and mirrors, is the fastest way to lop strokes off your game.

Sinking your practice and swing starts with identifying your weaknesses and addressing them one drill at a time. The best news? It doesn't require a high-tech simulator or an hour or two on the range—just your putter, some basic tools, and a passion for more accurate putting.

So grab your putting ball, roll out the flat balls, and start your quest to putting perfection today.