Provided herein are patient-specific surgical guiding tools for positioning on a socket of a ball-and-socket joint, e.g., an acetabulum. The guiding tools comprise a central contact element fitting within the socket and one or more lateral contact elements fitting on the rim of the socket. The guiding tools allow accurate positioning of surgical tools such as alignment elements, according to a pre-operational planning. Methods for the manufacture and use of said guiding tools are also provided.