Putting Aids

[micha]

whats your feeling about putting aids including the called the thing?

[iacas]

I don't use anything except occasionally an alignment stick or a yardstick. 😄 

[dennyjones]

I recommend using a metal yardstick and a couple of tees to create gates to putt through.

[ChetlovesMer]

I use a putting mirror often. Mine also lets you put the tees in it to set up barriers on either side of your putter to make sure I'm striking the ball near the center of the putter face. 

In fact, I putt with the mirror at least weekly on my indoor mat. Opinions are like backsides; Everyone has one and everyone thinks everyone else's stinks. But in my opinion it really helps. I have a tendency if left unchecked to get my eyeline way inside the target line. Using a putting mirror regularly keeps my set up way more consistent. I don't know if I can back it up with any data but "I believe" it has lead to far greater putting consistency over the past few years. 

I also like gates. There are a few gate drills I think help. Basically day-15 of the 30-day Covid Challenge: Check it out here:

I actually have a set of putting gates, which my mom got me for Christmas about 10 years ago. But you can use anything from golf balls to soup cans. 

I also have a "Perfect Putt" and I like it but wouldn't swear by it. I will say it travels well and I've been known to bring it with me on trips and putt in my hotel room with it. 

Lastly, I have a set of Devil Balls. 

Amazon.com

I'm not impressed with the Devil Balls. I actually don't like them at all. If you'd like the set I have I'll send them to anyone who's willing to pay the shipping. 

[Sclaffer]

+1 for the mirror

[Typhoon92]

.+2 on the mirror.  I also like a little putting gate for the head.

[mdl]

I've never used an aid. I dramatically improved my putting with two things. First, I realized I'd let my hands drift too far forward and it was messing up my eye for lining up to my close alignment point on the line to my aim point (I don't use the aim point system but do my reads by finding where I think I should try to hit the ball to for it to end up rolling in the hole). I set up a few cues for myself around setup to make sure my hands were in the right place. Second, I found a stretch on the shitty, thin carpet over concrete in my basement that didn't break. Then I set up two alignment sticks end to end (obviously in a straight line), and laid down a cup on its side at one end. Then I just put a golf ball the same distance from the alignment sticks as the center of the cup and lined up and tried to roll the ball parallel to the alignment sticks into the cup over and over and over. I've been solid at distance control since I got fit for my putter. Ingraining a feel for whether I've lined up correctly when I take a glance at my aim point has dramatically improved my putting. I'm no pro or anything, but I putt well for the number of rounds I get in these days.