Best Golf Training Aids for Putting

Putting training aids can help you stop fearing the putting green and instead feel and see exactly what it takes to get the ball in the hole. Depending on the aid you are trying, you can work on things like swing path, consistency, start line and more. Here are a few of the best golf training aids for putting that work for all skill levels.

Putting Arc MS-3D

The Putting Arc MS-3D is one of my favorite putting aids. When I first got this, I was not sure how much it would help my game. It’s a pretty basic arc, allowing you to run the putter head along it (heel or toe).

However, when I started using the MS-3D Putting Arc, I found that feeling a perfect putt or stroke was much easier. You just set it up, hit a few putts, move and try to feel the differences it has made in your stroke. You get instant feedback and feel.

The device has an adjustable mirror that ensures your head and shoulders are properly aligned. It is made of weather-resistant plastic and works for both left- and right-handed golfers.

I love this one for at-home practice but it’s not great for taking to the course before a round. It’s not very portable.

Who It’s For: Any golfer with an arc-type putting stroke will find the Putting Arc MS-3D can eliminate all questions about your stroke and its consistency.

Eyeline Golf Putting Mirror

While I love the Putting Arc MS-3D for golfers with an arc-style stroke, the Eyeline Golf Putting Mirror is my preferred option for those with more of a straight-back/straight-through approach.

The Eyeline allows you to perfect your alignment. What’s the point of swinging the putter back if you are not lined up to the hole?

In addition, the putting gate keeps your putter on the correct path. This one is a bit more portable. It’s shiny plastic, not glass, so it fits in most side pockets of the golf bag with no trouble.

I think the biggest benefit of the Eyeline Golf Putting Mirror is awareness. If you are still walking up to a putt and just hoping it goes in, it may be time for a change. The Eyeline helps put everything into perspective.

Who It’s For: Golfers with more of a straight-back/straight- through putting stroke who are ready to bring their short game to the next level.

Sure Golf The Connector

I recently tested The Connector from Sure Golf. Although I like it for chipping and pitching practice, it can also be one of the best putting trainers. The Connector ensures a perfect triangle with your wrists at the point of impact. You may know that professionals make this pendulum-type stroke with minimal wrist movement. Are you?

With The Connector, you must maintain those angles through impact. You’ll achieve more consistency in your putting stroke.

The Connector is made with durable and lightweight foam materials. It’s very lightweight and portable but it won’t fit in the golf bag. Perhaps my favorite feature is that it works on other areas of swing mechanics besides putting.

Who It’s For: If you want to work on swing plane, crisper shots and center-line putts, The Connector is a versatile training aid with much to offer.

WellPutt Putting Mat

The WellPutt Putting Mat could be considered more of a putting mat than a training aid, but that’s not the way to look at it. Cameron McCormick, Jordan Spieth’s coach, developed these mats to allow you to practice and improve your putting skills.

Although the WellPutt mats work indoors or outdoors, you may want to improve their longevity by using them only indoors. They come in three different sizes: 10, 13, 26 feet. The WellPutt’s speed is between 10 and 11.5 on the Stimpmeter to replicate medium to fast green speeds.

However, the real key is the 70 exercises in the training app. You’ll be able to work on aiming and speed control and develop a routine that works for your game.

Combine the WellPutt with something like the Putting Arc MS-3D or the Eyeline and you can also work on the consistency of your stroke.

Who It’s For: Any golfer who wants to work on their game at home and doesn’t know where to get started.

HackMotion

I always like to include an option for the tech-friendly golfer. HackMotion will help you understand the numbers related to the inconsistency in your putting stroke. HackMotion measures your wrist angles and shows how much movement these shots have.

Working with HackMotion, I realized how much less consistent my wrist action is than I thought.
I always felt my wrists were quiet and that I was using my larger muscles. HackMotion showed me that I can still work on this.

I’ve found this putting training aid to help me on shorter putts and make more in the seven- to 12-foot range. Another positive is that you can use the HackMotion for full swing training.

Who It’s For: Golfers who like tech and science. If you want data about why your putting stroke isn’t working, you’ll find it here.

Devil Ball

If clubface alignment is a problem in your putting game, the Devil Ball will fix it in seconds. One area of putting that the amateur golfer tends to ignore is the precision it takes to be a great putter. Clubface alignment, face angle and centeredness of the strike must be consistent and solid.

The Devil Ball has flat edges. If you make a mistake, it will be exaggerated. Struck with a square face, the ball rolls straight.

Luckily, this one has a few difficulty levels because it’s not all that easy to work with. The pro level is the most challenging. You can use the Devil Ball indoors and outdoors and it easily fits in the bag.

If you thought your putting stroke was great but your putter needs a change, the Devil Ball may disagree. Get ready for some honest feedback about your stroke.

My only complaint is that you’ll have to switch to a real golf ball at some point. If you think you can make that transition, great—if not, try a different training aid.

Who It’s For: Any golfer looking to improve their putting stroke and consistency can benefit from this. Junior golfers also like it.

GoSports Align Putting Gates

Here’s a cheap one for you if you want to work on your putting game without breaking the bank.

My kids love to set up putting courses around our house so I bought them this device so they could work on their putting alignment and accuracy.

The GoSports Align Putting Gates are simple: putt the ball through the gate. You learn to putt to a very specific target. I like them for learning about speed and break.

There’s a definite relationship between speed and break and you can practice that by setting up the gates a few different ways on the putting green. See if more speed and less break is a better fit for your game.

These are small and portable and work great for indoor and outdoor putting practice.

Who It’s For: If you want an affordable putting trainer to help you improve alignment and your green reading ability, the Align Putting Gates is worth a try.

PuttOUT Pressure Putt Trainer

The PuttOut Premium Pressure Putt Trainer is one of the top putting training aids on the market.

The base of this trainer is the size of a traditional golf hole but it features a parabolic ramp designed to give you feedback on your putt.

If your putt is going to miss, PuttOut rejects it. I’ll be honest. I found this tool a bit frustrating when I first tried it. However, when you get used to it, it does make putting practice more fun.

You can set goals with the PuttOut to help enhance your focus and to put the pressure on. Any training aids for putting that you can use to help increase pressure and make the scenario more like a real golf course experience are valuable additions to your practice routine.

This putting aid folds up and easily fits in the bag.

Who It’s For: If you tend to get bored from putting practice, try adding this to your routine and see if it makes a difference. You’ll improve your stroke, distance control and clubface awareness while having fun on the practice green.

What To Look For In Putting Training Aids?

Before you purchase everything on this list, try to play a few rounds of golf and track your putts. Not just the number of putts but where and by how much you are missing. If you miss every putt to the left by a few feet, your clubface or alignment could be the problem. If you come up short each time, your putting stroke may be flawed due to too much wrist action.

Narrow down where you think your flaws are and then find a training aid that specifically addresses this issue. If you are just inconsistent overall, go for the more versatile aids like the
Eyeline or The Connector.

Here are a few more tips:

• Choose something that will allow regular use. Portable and lightweight aids are great. 
• Nothing is stopping you from being a Tour-level putter so don’t be afraid to invest in putting aids the pros use. 
• Don’t want to invest in a putting aid right now? At least put an alignment stick or two down on the green when practicing to get some idea of your putter face angle and alignment. 
• Finding a tool like The Connector or HackMotion that can work for real-time feedback in other areas of your game is a smart move.

Final Thoughts

If you struggle with your putting, you aren’t alone. It’s an area of my game I’m always trying to improve. Each of these training aids and swing analyzers offers some benefits. Be smart about how often you plan to use them and which ones match the specific needs of your putting stroke.