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Back to the Basics: Strike a Pose in the Mirror to Improve Your Putting

By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on

With shorter days now here and winter’s cold breezes on the horizon, a large portion of the country is saying good night to the golf season. This doesn’t mean that your goals of getting better and the work you put in needs to stop. There is plenty that can be done, right in the comfort of your own home, to help keep you progressing on your journey to better.
The one area of the game that a majority of amateur golfers need considerable work on is with the flat stick. And of all the different nuances of the game, putting may be the one where most, regardless of their handicap, can realistically aspire to attain close to Tour levels of success.
While seemingly simplistic, putting statistically is an area that shows wide gaps between the best, and the; well, let’s just say, the not so good.
The following at-home practice setup will help you dial it in with your putting this off-season…
Mirror, Mirror…Strike a Pose
This winter, get yourself accustomed to getting in front of a full body mirror so you can check your set up from down the line and face on. Have a camera or your phone handy too so you can record yourself, after you get set up and start hitting putts.
Set up in your putting stance in front of the mirror and work on the following:
  • Bend slightly forward, getting your eyes set over the ball.
  • Have a fairly wide base, with your feet spread apart. Your width will vary based on the length of the putt. The wide base will help keep you stable. Remember, we want limited body movement in a putting stroke.
  • Your arms will hang down from your shoulders, but you will have your elbows slightly bent in towards your body, near the bottom of your rib cage.
  • Your ball position will be almost up to your lead armpit.
As you get set and start stroking putts, a triangle will form which is created by the shoulders at the top, and the arms hanging down and the hands gripping the club. You will “Rock” this triangle back and trough evenly while your head and body remain steady as can be. It is important to remember that unlike the full swing, your body does not rotate in putting.
At this point, after you have stroked a few putts, have someone put a piece of white masking tape on the mirror across where your head would be in the reflection. You can even make a box around your head with the tape on the mirror. Record your reflection in the mirror as you hit putts. As you watch the playback, see how steady your head stays
Does it stay in the box? Does the top of your head stay on the line? Or does it come up? The steadiness of the head and body should stay in place the entire stroke and for a few seconds post follow through…hold that finish with the putter’s clubhead facing squarely toward your intended target, while you still remain steady with your body.
Working on a good solid setup with the body, and staying steady throughout the stroke during your winter off-season will pay big dividends come next spring.

Brendon R. Elliott, PGA

Sorrento, FL

Brendon Elliott

Director of Instruction, Freelance Golf Writer

[Brendon Elliott, PGA](https://brendonelliott.com/), is an award-winning PGA Professional, player-development coach and nationally recognized golf writer with three decades of experience in the golf industry. As of 2026, he has been a PGA Professional for 17 years and has earned more than 25 PGA Section and Chapter honors for his work in coaching, education and player development. In 2017, he received the PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. ## Coaching Competitive Teenage Golfers Through [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home), Brendon specializes in working with competitive teenage golfers who want to improve their performance, better understand their games and prepare for the demands of high school, junior tournament and college golf. His primary focus is [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching), which allows him to remain actively involved in a player’s development regardless of location. Rather than relying on occasional lessons or isolated swing fixes, Brendon works with players throughout their competitive journey. His coaching covers much more than the golf swing. Players receive ongoing guidance in structured practice, short-game development, putting, course management, tournament preparation, performance analysis, goal setting and the mental and physical habits required to improve over time. Using video analysis, virtual coaching sessions, performance data and regular communication, Brendon helps each player understand what to work on, why it matters and how to make meaningful progress between practices and tournaments. Brendon accepts only a limited number of in-person students in Central Florida. His priority is building long-term [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching) relationships with competitive teenage golfers and their families. The goal is not simply to help a young player hit better shots. It is to help that player become more prepared, more accountable and more capable of navigating everything competitive golf demands. Brendon’s career has included serving as a head golf professional, general manager, college golf educator, career development director, academy owner and longtime junior golf leader. He founded Little Linksters Golf Academy in 2008 and led the organization for more than 16 years before selling the academy in late 2024 and launching [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home). ## Golf Writing and Media Brendon is also a nationally recognized and prolific golf writer and storyteller. He is the Senior Golf Writer for [Athlon Sports](https://athlonsports.com/author/brendon-elliott) and has written extensively about professional golf, instruction, player development, equipment, golf history and the people shaping the game. His work has also appeared with PGA.com, GolfWRX, PGA Magazine, MyGolfSpy and several other prominent golf media outlets. Through [One More Roll Golf Media](https://onemorerollgolf.com/), Brendon provides editorial content, feature writing, consulting and media services throughout the golf industry. His background as a coach and educator shapes the way he writes, while his work as a writer strengthens the way he coaches. He understands how to explain complicated ideas clearly, ask better questions and connect the technical, strategic and personal sides of golf.