It's on the putting green that rounds are won or lost in golf. Perfecting your putting alignment could make the difference between making a putt and watching it lip out. And the good news is, perfecting alignment isn't as difficult as it may seem. Equipped with a few essential putting alignment drills, some proper tools to guide you along, and a consistent practice schedule, you will be off on your merry way to converting your putting game into one that yields that sweet two-putt consistency.
Why Alignment Matters in Putting
One of the most important things in putting is alignment. Not even the greatest stroke can deliver its effect when the aim is off. Whatever great stroke there is, a slight misalignment makes the ball move off from the target line intended. Correct alignment will assure that the putter face, body, and target line are all working together in harmony for better putting performance.
A well-aligned putt inspires confidence, and with confidence comes ways of making more putts. When you're properly aligned, there is no questioning of your target, and as such, the full concentration remains on the stroke. This sometimes is all one needs to deliver a great putting game.
The Tools You Need for Putting Alignment
To achieve better alignment on your putts, you will be needing the following:
1. Putting Golf Balls: Special flat putting golf balls will be real value in alignment drills. The immediate feedback that you get from a misaligned stroke will let you reset your aim and tempo.
2. Alignment Aids: Tools like alignment rods or training mats featuring visual guides allow you to practice keeping the putter and your body aligned relative to the target position.
3. Mirror or Video Feedback: You'd be surprised how many alignment issues you can't feel but can see.
By integrating these tools into your daily practice, you will speed up your improvement and build a bedrock for a more consistent putting stroke.
Putting Alignment Drills to Transform Your Game
Here are some practical putting alignment drills to get you started. The alignment drills target different aspects to help you build consistency and precision in your putting.
Drill 1: The Gate Drill
The Gate Drill is a classic exercise that trains you to hit putts on your intended line. Great for fining your alignment and stroke.
1. Place two tees or alignment rods a few inches apart, creating a gate for your putting golf ball.
2. Position the gate about 12-18 inches in front of your ball.
3. Practice stroking the ball through the gate without hitting the tees.
This drill offers immediate feedback on your alignment and stroke. If the ball does not go through the gate readjust your aim or stroke until it does cleanly.
Drill 2: String Line Drill
The String Line Drill is an easy, yet very effective, way to visualize your putting line.
1. Setup a string line between two points across your target line.
2. Position your putting golf ball under the string.
3. Practice putting down the string, while maintaining proper alignment throughout your stroke.
This will help ingrain the putter face square to your target line and assist in properly aligning up your putter face.
Drill 3: Mirror Alignment Drill
This is a good drill to check your posture and setup.
1. Place a putting alignment mirror on the green.
2. Place your ball in the designated spot on the mirror.
3. Use the mirror to check the alignment of your eyes, shoulders, and putter face toward your target.
This drill is excellent for building a consistent setup, which is crucial for superior putting strokes.
Drill 4: The Two-Putt Challenge
Consistency is what makes a putter great. The Two-Putt Challenge helps you work on speed control and alignment.
1. Set up several targets at varying distances, like 6 feet, 12 feet, and 18 feet.
2. Two-putt from any distance, but make sure your first putt leaves you with an easy second putt.
3. Count your number of three-putts and reduce that number over time.
This drill incorporates alignment with distance control, both crucial for mastering the greens.
Drill 5: Clock Drill
The Clock Drill sharpens your alignment and boosts your confidence on shorter putts.
1. Set up balls in a circle around the hole, each 3 feet from the hole, resembling the numbers on a clock.
2. Hit each ball in, moving around the clock from 12 o'clock.
3. Progress to 6-foot and 9-foot distances as your consistency increases.
The Clock Drill challenges alignment at different angles and helps ingrain proper aim and stroke mechanics.
Developing a Superior Putting Stroke
Putting alignment drills are only one piece of the puzzle. Smooth mechanics, solid tempo, and learning to read the greens round out the quest for a more consistent putting stroke.
1. MECHANICS: Visualize making a consistent stroke with less wrist action. Think of a pendulum-like motion where your arms and shoulders are fairly still.
2. TEMPO: Practice a smooth back-and-through action. A good drill to achieve this is with a metronome or counting in your head.
3. GREEN READING: Alignment means very little without the ability to read greens. Pay attention to slope, grain, and speed to aim effectively.
Why Flat Putting Golf Balls Are a Game-Changer
Flat putting golf balls are a valuable tool for improving alignment and stroke quality. Their unique design highlights errors in your stroke or aim, providing instant feedback. When used with the drills mentioned above, they accelerate your progress by ensuring you’re practicing correctly.
Putting Tips for On-Course Success
Take these putting tips to the course with you to help translate your practice into better performance:
- Commit to Your Line: Once you've read the green and aligned your putt, commit to it completely.
- Visualize Success: Before stroking the putt, vividly visualize the ball rolling into the hole.
- Focus on Speed: Most missed putts are a result of poor speed applied. Focus on getting the ball to the hole with enough pace to drop in.
The Alignment Advantage: How to Achieve Consistency with Two Putts
The ultimate attainment of any golfer would be two-putt consistency. With alignment drills and practice with items like flat putting golf balls, you can shave off quite a number of putts per round. Patience will remain key to all, along with focusing on small improvements and celebrating the little accomplishments that come in the way.
Conclusion
Improved putting alignment is one of the best ways to shoot lower scores and, more importantly, take confidence to the greens. Equipped with the right tools, putting alignment drills, and practice, the results will be measurable in no time. Go ahead and purchase some flat putting golf balls, use the drills mentioned in this article, and enjoy being a better putter.
Want to be a putting magician? Well, start the magic now, because perfection is attained with real alignment drills using the right tools. Then all the rest shall follow: consistency, mastery over the greens, and a completely different golf game.
