Spiral Putting Drill

✅ What you need: 6 golf balls, a putting mirror (optional — but highly recommended)
✅ Time required: 10–15 minutes
✅ Purpose: Groove your stroke, build confidence on short putts, and add pressure to your practice
✅ Difficulty: Intermediate — simple setup, high payoff

How to Do this Drill:

Set up six golf balls in a spiral pattern around the hole — one each at 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 feet. Mix up the angles: include left-to-right, right-to-left, and straight putts.

The goal is to make all six putts in a row. Miss one, and you start back at the beginning.

To take it up a notch, start with a putting mirror to dial in your setup. Match the line on your putter to the guide line on the mirror. Check that your eyes are in the right spot — directly over or slightly inside the ball if that’s your preference.

Once everything looks and feels good, ditch the mirror and move into the spiral.

Rory's Spiral Drill

What this Drill Will Help You With

The Spiral Drill does more than just prep your stroke — it preps your mind. With the “make all six or start over” rule, you create real pressure and real focus — just like you’ll need out on the course.

This drill will help you:

Eliminate short-putt anxiety
Build confidence with every make
Create a repeatable, tour-level warm-up routine
Learn to handle pressure and stay locked in over the ball

No more mindless warmups. Just a proven routine from one of the best — and a clear path to better putting.

About this Drill

This routine is inspired by Rory McIlroy, who’s been using this exact warm-up sequence for years — and it’s no coincidence that he’s also one of the best putters on Tour when he's rolling it well.

Before every tournament round, Rory begins on the putting green. He checks his setup with a mirror, then hits the spiral. No shortcuts. No “just getting loose.” He doesn’t move on until he makes every single putt.

Oh — and that mirror he uses? It’s the EyeLine Putting Alignment Mirror. He’s been using it consistently for over a decade. If we could recommend just one training aid for golfers of any skill level, this would be it. It’s that good.