Trevor Ng
Plumb bobbing is a technique used in golf to determine the break of a putt. It involves squatting or kneeling behind a golf ball and holding a putter in front of the eyes, allowing the player to read the line of the putt based on how the putter hangs. This method can help golfers identify subtle breaks on the green and improve their putting skills. However, some golfers find it challenging to master, and it may be less effective for longer putts with multiple breaks. Nonetheless, plumb bobbing can be a valuable tool when used correctly and is employed by professionals like Jim Furyk and Rickie Fowler.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A method used on the putting green to find which way a putt will break |
| Process | Squat down behind the ball with your putter hanging in front of your eyes, and read the line of the putt based on how your putter hangs |
| Purpose | To identify subtle breaks on the green and improve green reading skills |
| Effectiveness | Some golfers find it useful for identifying breaks, while others consider it a waste of time |
| Technique | Stand about 10 feet behind the ball, close one eye, and use your dominant eye to look directly through the ball to the hole in a straight line |
| Considerations | The putter shaft must hang straight down due to gravity, and the technique may be less effective for longer putts with multiple breaks |
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What You'll Learn
Plumb bobbing helps identify breaks on the green
Plumb bobbing is a technique used in golf to determine the break of a putt on the green. It involves squatting or kneeling behind the ball and holding the putter in front of your eyes, allowing you to analyse the contours of the green and predict the direction of the putt.
When plumb bobbing, it is important to hold the putter lightly, allowing it to hang vertically due to gravity. By twisting the putter between your thumb and forefinger, you can find the point where the shaft is level with the chosen vertical line. This technique provides a true vertical reference, enabling golfers to identify subtle breaks on the green that may be difficult to discern by eye alone.
The key to effective plumb bobbing is to position yourself correctly. It is recommended to stand about 10 feet behind the ball, looking directly at the hole in a straight line. Closing one eye and using your dominant eye can also improve accuracy. This technique allows golfers to compare the shaft lean of the putter with the vertical line, helping to identify any slopes or breaks on the green.
Plumb bobbing can be particularly useful when facing challenging putts with multiple breaks. By blocking the straight line from the ball to the hole, golfers can identify if one side appears higher than the other, indicating the direction of the break. This method can provide valuable insights that may be missed by simply observing the green from different angles.
While plumb bobbing can be a helpful tool, it may not always be practical during a round of golf. Some golfers may find it time-consuming or prefer other methods, such as using their feet to read breaks or employing the Aimpoint system. Ultimately, the effectiveness of plumb bobbing may vary between individuals, and it is essential to find a method that suits your style and comfort level.
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It can be used to find the horizontal contours of the green
Plumb bobbing is a technique used in golf to determine the contours of a green and predict the break of a putt. It involves squatting or kneeling behind the ball with the putter hanging vertically in front of the eyes. By observing how the putter hangs and how the contours of the green cross the shaft, players can identify subtle breaks and determine if the putt will move left to right or right to left.
To effectively use plumb bobbing to find the horizontal contours of the green, follow these steps:
- Stand about 10 feet behind the ball, ensuring you are looking directly through the ball to the hole in a straight line. For longer putts, you may need to position yourself further back.
- Kneel or squat down, closing one eye and using your dominant eye.
- Hold the putter lightly in your fingers, allowing it to hang vertically in front of your eyes. Ensure that your hands do not affect the putter's position; it should be plumb due to gravity.
- Twist the putter between your thumb and forefinger until you find the point where the shaft and the chosen vertical are level.
- Observe the position of the putter head in relation to the contours of the green. If the shaft crosses the contours at right angles, the green is flat. However, if the shaft leans to the left or right, it indicates a slope in that direction, helping you identify the break on the green.
- Additionally, if the hole is covered by the shaft, the putt will be straight. If the hole is left or right of the shaft, it indicates the direction of the break.
Plumb bobbing can be a valuable tool when used correctly, helping golfers improve their green-reading skills and make more accurate predictions about the break of the putt. It is particularly useful when having trouble visualizing breaks by just looking at the green. However, some golfers find it challenging to master, and it may not be as effective for longer putts with multiple breaks.
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Plumb bobbing is a method to line up putts
Plumb bobbing is a method used on the putting green to determine which way a putt will break. It is a technique used to line up putts. To plumb bob, you must squat or kneel down behind the ball with your putter hanging vertically in front of your eyes. The putter should be held lightly in your fingers so that your hands don't affect it, allowing it to hang straight down due to gravity.
From this position, you can read the line of the putt based on how your putter hangs. This technique can help you identify subtle breaks on the green and improve your green-reading skills. It is important to note that plumb bobbing may not be as effective for longer putts with multiple breaks.
To ensure accuracy when plumb bobbing, it is crucial to find a true vertical line. This can be achieved by locating a known vertical reference point and holding the putter up to compare it with the shaft lean. Then, twist the putter between your thumb and forefinger until the shaft and the vertical reference point are level.
Once you have found this level position, remember where the putter head is positioned. This is how you should hold your putter each time you plumb bob to ensure consistency and accuracy.
Plumb bobbing can be a useful tool when you are having trouble seeing a break on the green. It provides a general idea of the putt's line and can give you the confidence to become a better putter.
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It involves finding a true vertical line
Plumb bobbing is a method used on the putting green to determine the direction of a putt. It involves finding a true vertical line by squatting or kneeling behind the ball with the putter hanging vertically in front of your eyes. The key to achieving a true vertical line is to hold the putter lightly with your thumb and forefinger, allowing it to hang straight due to gravity. This technique is used to identify the subtle breaks on the green and analyse the horizontal contours. By finding a known vertical reference point, you can twist the putter to find where the shaft and the vertical line are level. This position of the putter head indicates the direction of the putt.
When plumb bobbing, it is important to stand about 10 feet behind the ball, looking directly through the ball to the hole in a straight line. Closing one eye and using your dominant eye can help with accuracy. This method can be particularly useful when having trouble seeing a break from different angles.
While plumb bobbing can provide valuable information about the green's contours, it may be less effective for longer putts with multiple breaks. It is also important to note that the technique relies on finding a true vertical line, which can be challenging to ensure.
Overall, plumb bobbing can be a useful tool for golfers to improve their green-reading skills and make more accurate putts, but it must be done correctly to be effective.
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Plumb bobbing is a last resort to see if there's a break to the putt
Plumb bobbing is a method used in golf to determine the break of a putt. It involves squatting or kneeling behind the ball and holding the putter in front of your eyes, allowing you to read the line of the putt based on how the putter hangs. While some golfers find it useful, others consider it a waste of time.
Plumb bobbing can be particularly helpful when you're having trouble seeing a break on the green. By using the plumb bob, you can identify subtle breaks and improve your green-reading skills. It can give you a general idea of the break's direction, helping you make more informed decisions about your putt.
To plumb bob effectively, it's crucial to hold the putter correctly. You should stand about 10 feet behind the ball, close one eye, and use your dominant eye to look through the ball to the hole in a straight line. Hold the putter lightly in your fingers, allowing it to hang vertically due to gravity, and twist it between your thumb and forefinger until the shaft and the chosen vertical are level.
However, plumb bobbing may not be as effective for longer putts with multiple breaks. Some golfers express concern about the accuracy of the technique, worrying that their putter shaft might not be hanging straight down. Additionally, it is recommended to consider other factors, such as the slope of the green, whether it's uphill or downhill, and the grain of the grass.
In conclusion, while plumb bobbing can be a helpful last resort for identifying breaks on the green, it may not be necessary if you can read the putt from different angles or use other techniques like Aimpoint.
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Frequently asked questions
Plumb bobbing is a method used on the putting green to determine which way a putt will break.
Plumb bobbing is done by squatting or kneeling down behind the ball with your putter hanging in front of your eyes. You then twist the putter around between your thumb and forefinger to find the point where the shaft and the chosen vertical are level.
Plumb bobbing can help golfers identify subtle breaks on the green and improve their green-reading skills. However, it only works if done correctly. Some golfers find it useful, while others consider it a waste of time.
You can use plumb bobbing when you're having trouble seeing a certain break on the green.
Some professional golfers, like Jim Furyk, use plumb bobbing to line up their putts.
