3 things Michelle Wie West says to look for when using this popular putting aid

Michelle Wie West is retired from the LPGA Tour, but that doesn’t mean she’s not practicing. The five-time LPGA winner posted a series of putting drills on her Instagram story, giving an inside look at each drill and why she does it. One of the drills involved a popular putting training aid: a putting mirror. You’ve probably seen them before, and you might even have one. But do you know how to effectively use it?

Wie West says in her post that when she’s using the putting mirror—she's using a PuttOut mirror similar to this one—she’s looking out for these three key things.

Square eyeline

When you address the ball with the mirror on the green, you’ll see how your eyes are oriented. If your head is tilted, you’ll see your eyes aren’t in line with the target line, which will affect your ability to read the putt.

Eyeline just inside the ball

The mirror is also going to show you where your eyes are in relation to the positioning of the ball. So, you might see your eyes are beyond the ball, directly over the outside of the ball. Sean Foley has said that this can change how you perceive the line. If you’re too far over the ball, you’re going to think the cup is farther left that it actually is.

Wie West is saying that she gets the most accurate view of the line by setting her eyes slightly inside the ball, which is not uncommon for pros.

Head staying still throughout the swing

Watch your head in the mirror as you make your stroke. Does your head move? It’s common for amateurs to pick their head up too soon, top teacher Joe Plecker says. Pulling your head up can cause you to come out of your posture, opening the putterface.

Next time you use a putting mirror, keep these three keys in mind and you'll have a more focused, and more productive, putting session.