Pro Tip: How to Align Your Golf Ball on the Green

Padraig Harrington, Wilson Staff Tour Player, demonstrates how to properly align your golf ball on the putting green.

Properly aligning yourself and your ball on the putting green can be nerve wracking. Padraig Harrington says not to worry— remain confident by aligning either a hand drawn line or the logo of your golf ball with the hole.

Harrington explains how most professional golfers draw a line on their golf ball— a little black line. You can also use the logo on the ball if that is easier. You need to align the logo or hand drawn marker with where you want to aim.

Harrington suggests you put the ball down and don’t worry if it’s 100% accurately aligned with the hole. The key to executing this alignment is confidence.

For example, Harrington aligned his ball slightly to the right lip of the hole, from there he made sure to aim his swing slightly left of his line. He didn’t adjust the ball alignment, rather he adjusted himself to the ball.

This will give you a lot of confidence about where you are lining up on the green.

Harrington explained, “It gives you confidence in where you’re starting the ball, how you’re reading the greens, how much break you’re going to give. This is a great drill to start as a kid. It just gets easier the more you do it.”

Updated September 20, 2023