DIY Putting Aids That Actually Work (And Won’t Break the Bank)

Last week I was shopping online and looking at this tiny putting mirror. Fifty-nine dollars. For a mirror with some lines drawn on it. I stared at it just thinking about my credit card balance. Then I had this moment of “what if I just made this stuff myself?” Turns out, I should’ve thought of this sooner. Most golfers already have everything they need to make DIY putting aids just sitting in their garage or that random box of golf accessories they never organized.

I started experimenting with basic household items, and here are two that made a real difference in my game.

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Gate Drill with Tees (Humbling But Effective)

The first time I saw this technique, my buddy Jake was doing it at his house. Two golf tees stuck in his carpet, swinging his putter through them like some kind of carnival game. I thought he was being ridiculous, but then I tried it.

The concept is simple: place two tees just wider than your putter head and try to swing through without clipping them. It immediately reveals flaws in your stroke path and face angle at impact.

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Setup instructions:

• Position two tees about putter-width apart (add a small buffer so you don’t get discouraged immediately)
• Place the ball behind the “gate”
• Focus on making clean passes through the opening

When I first started, I made the gate too narrow because I’m competitive and overconfident. Big mistake. Start with a wider gate to build confidence, then gradually narrow it as your consistency improves.

This drill will humble you quickly, but that’s exactly what makes it valuable for identifying stroke issues.

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DIY Putting Mirror (Three Dollars vs. Sixty Dollars)

Remember that overpriced mirror I mentioned? Well, I didn’t buy it.

Instead, I went to a second-hand store the next day and found a small vanity mirror for three dollars. Got home, grabbed some painter’s tape, and drew a centerline with a Sharpie. Instant putting mirror.

Materials needed:

• Mirror (approximately 12 inches works well)
• Painter’s tape and permanent marker for alignment lines
• About five minutes of your time

The purpose is to check your eye position at address. Most golfers set up incorrectly and then struggle with aim as a result. When I first used my homemade version, I discovered my eyes were positioned about six inches inside the ball line. No wonder my putts were going sideways.

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Read More:

• Fix Your Slice Or Hook Shots At Home – At Home Golf Drill
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Place the ball on the centerline and look down into the mirror. Your eyes should be directly over the ball or just slightly inside. If they’re way off to one side, you’ve identified a major setup flaw that’s been sabotaging your putting.

You can add shoulder alignment lines later with more tape if you want to get fancy. But honestly, just correcting your eye position makes a huge difference in your ability to aim putts accurately.

Total cost: three dollars. Satisfaction level: way higher than spending sixty bucks.

The Bottom Line

These DIY solutions won’t turn you into a putting wizard overnight, but they’re cost-effective ways to identify your actual problems. I thought I had tempo issues but turns out I just couldn’t aim properly.

Three months later, I’ve gone from three-putting most greens to two-putting the majority. Start with these homemade aids to diagnose your issues, then decide if investing in professional equipment makes sense for your game.

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