Putting Mirror Drill: Align Your Shoulders
Align your shoulders
Give your shoulders a quick alignment check before your putter gets all the blame. This is Putting Card 14 in the Golf Practice Made Fun App. Use a putting mirror to check your shoulder setup, then play a round of short putts.
The mirror gives you a reference before the stroke. Check your shoulders, settle into your normal routine and roll the ball. Your score is the number of putts holed out of 18.
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Watch the shoulder-alignment lesson
Mister One Putt demonstrates several uses for a putting mirror in Perfect Your Putting: 9 Ways with a Putting Mirror. The shoulder-setup section starts at 3:40; the player below opens at that point.
Step 1. Set your shoulders
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Choose a short putt | Pick a fairly straight putt on the practice green. Use the same starting spot throughout this round. |
| Aim the mirror | Lay the mirror flat and point its centre guide along your intended start line. Set the ball in the position intended by the mirror’s design. |
| Set the putter face | Use the face-alignment marks to aim the putter face square to that start line. |
| Check your shoulders | Use the shoulder guides and reflection to check that your shoulders run parallel to the start line. Keep a comfortable stance. |
Check the mirror’s aim before checking your shoulders. A mirror aimed across your chosen line gives you the wrong reference.
Step 2. Roll short putts
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Make your normal stroke | Once your setup is checked, roll the ball with your usual putting stroke. Avoid holding your shoulders rigid just to match a reflection. |
| Watch the result | Notice the starting direction and whether your pace suits the putt. Score the putt only when it finishes. |
| Pause and reset | Before the next attempt, check your start line, putter face and shoulder position again. Take time to aim rather than raking another ball into place. |
| Keep the task consistent | Use the same putt and mirror position. Changing distance and slope midway makes your final score harder to compare. |
Use the mirror before each stroke, then give the putt your attention. You are practising a repeatable setup, not trying to freeze yourself over the ball.
Step 3. Play 18 and score
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Complete 18 attempts | Work through all 18 putts. Pause between attempts to check your setup and choose the line and pace. |
| Score each result | Award 1 point for a putt holed and 0 for a miss. A miss does not restart the round. |
| Record your total | Add the points and record your score out of 18 in the App or on the free practice sheet. |
| Leave a useful note | Write down your putting distance and one setup cue that helped. Use the same conditions next time when comparing scores. |
Your practice record
| Part of the round | Record |
|---|---|
| Putts 1–9 | ___ holed / 9 |
| Putts 10–18 | ___ holed / 9 |
| Total | ___ holed / 18 |
| Distance and setup cue | ____________________________ |
Score putts holed. A good-looking setup is useful feedback, but it earns no extra point in this drill.
George’s Practice Tip
Stand up and rebuild your setup after every few putts. That checks whether you can find the position again, rather than simply stay in it.
Use one clear cue, such as “shoulders parallel”, then get on with the putt. The mirror is a practice aid, not an audition for a passport photo.
FAQs
What equipment do I need?
A putter, a ball and a putting mirror with shoulder-alignment guides. Use it on a practice putting green or a suitable putting mat.
What does “shoulders parallel” mean?
The line across your shoulders runs in the same direction as the intended start line. On a breaking putt, that start line can point away from the hole. Begin with a fairly straight putt to make the check simpler.
Can I use a small eye-position mirror?
Only if it gives you a useful shoulder reference. Some small mirrors mainly show your eyes and putter face. If you cannot see or check your shoulders, use a mirror designed for that purpose.
Should I look at the mirror throughout the stroke?
Use it to check your setup before the putt. Then make your normal stroke without craning your neck or forcing an uncomfortable posture.
How do I score the 18-putt round?
Score 1 for each putt holed and 0 for each miss. Complete all 18 attempts, add your points and record the total out of 18. Keep the distance and surface similar when comparing rounds.
How is this different from Putting Card 13?
Card 13 focuses on finding a repeatable eye position and counts matching setups. Card 14 focuses on shoulder alignment and records putts holed. They share the mirror illustration, but have different practice records.
What drill do you recommend I do next?
Try Putting Mirror Drill: Find Your Eye Position to check your eye position. Then use the Putting Gate Drill to practise starting the ball on your chosen line.
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