Miles Bennett
The plumb bob is a technique used in golf to line up putts and read greens. It is a simple method that has been used for thousands of years, even mentioned in the Bible, and is still used today by professionals such as Masters Champion Patrick Reed and PGA Tour winner Rickie Fowler. The plumb bob involves holding the putter up with one eye closed, so that a straight line is formed from your eye to the hole. This can help you to identify subtle breaks on the green and improve your green-reading skills.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To help identify subtle breaks on the green and improve green reading skills |
| How to do it | Stand about 10 feet behind the ball and look directly through the ball to the hole in a straight line. Close one eye and use your dominant eye. Hold the putter lightly between your thumb and forefinger on the grip and twist it until the shaft is vertical. |
| What to look for | If the shaft covers the hole, the putt will be straight. If it appears to the right/left of the cup, the slope will take the ball from right to left/left to right. |
| Other uses | The plumb bob can also be used to analyse the horizontal contours of the green. |
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What You'll Learn
How to hold the putter
To hold the putter in the plumb bob style, the first step is to check that the shaft of your putter hangs vertically. Hold the putter lightly between your thumb and forefinger on the grip. You will likely need to twist the putter around until you find the point where the shaft is vertical.
To check for verticality, find a known vertical, such as the edge of a building, and hold the putter up so you can compare the shaft lean with the vertical. You can also use a door jamb in your house as a reference, as they are usually plumb and level.
Once you have found the plumb position, mark or remember this position, as this is how you must hold your putter each time to have a true vertical line when plumb bobbing.
When using the plumb bob method, you can hold the putter high up, with your non-dominant eye closed. If the hole and flag line up, it is a straight putt. If the shaft is lined up with the hole and the ball is to the right of the shaft, it will break right to left. Conversely, if the ball is to the left of the shaft, it will break left to right.
You can also kneel on the ground and have the putter hanging vertically to analyse how the contours of the green cross the shaft. If they cross at right angles, the green is flat.
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Finding a known vertical
When using the plumb bob technique in golf, it is important to first find a known vertical. This is because the shaft of your putter will likely not hang vertically when held lightly between your thumb and forefinger on the grip, due to the shaft generally not going into the very centre of the head. This results in some tilting.
To find a known vertical, look for a vertical edge, such as the edge of a building. Hold your putter up so that you can compare the vertical edge with the shaft lean. Twist the putter around between your thumb and forefinger until the shaft and the chosen vertical are level. Remember this position, as this is how you must hold your putter each time to have a true vertical line when plumb bobbing.
It is also possible to use the plumb bob to determine the horizontal contours of the green. Kneel on the ground and let the putter hang vertically. This will allow you to see how the contours of the green cross the shaft. If they do so at right angles, the green should be flat, with any slopes from left to right or vice versa being easier to identify.
Additionally, you can stand about 10 feet behind the ball (further back for longer putts) so that you are looking directly through the ball to the hole in a straight line. Close one eye and use your dominant eye. Hold the putter towards the end of the grip and cover the ball with the shaft. If the shaft also covers the hole, the putt should be straight, and the ground should be level. If the shaft appears to the right or left of the cup, the slope will take the ball in that direction.
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Analysing the contours of the green
Understanding the Basics
Firstly, it's important to recognise that the contours of the green refer to its slopes and undulations. These contours impact the direction and speed of your putt, influencing how hard you need to hit the ball. By analysing the contours, you can determine if your putt will be going uphill or downhill and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Visualising the Green
When you're standing over the ball, take a moment to visualise the green's contours. Look at the green from different angles, especially from the low side, to get a 3D sense of the slopes. Crouch down so that your eyes are closer to the ground, as this will help you see the contours more clearly. Step back far enough so that you can see both your ball and the hole in your peripheral vision, giving you a fuller picture.
Using Technology
Take advantage of modern technology to aid your analysis. There are several golf apps, such as GolfLogix and Garmin Golf, that offer Green Contour data. These apps provide colour-coded maps, slope direction indicators, and even slope percentages to help you understand the contours of the green. This data can be accessed on your smartphone or compatible devices, giving you valuable information to plan your approach shots effectively.
The Plumb Bob Technique
The plumb bob technique is a traditional method to analyse the contours of the green. To do this, stand about 10 feet behind the ball, looking directly at the hole in a straight line. Close one eye and use your dominant eye. Hold the putter lightly between your thumb and forefinger, ensuring the shaft hangs vertically. If the shaft covers the hole, the putt will be straight. If it appears to the right or left of the hole, it indicates the direction of the slope's break.
Practise and Observation
Improving your ability to analyse green contours takes time and dedication. Spend extra time during your practice sessions specifically on green reading. Observe how professional golfers approach slope reading and try to emulate their techniques. By combining the use of technology, the plumb bob method, and a keen eye for detail, you'll become a master at analysing the contours of the green.
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Mastering green-reading skills
Understanding the Basics
Before attempting any advanced techniques, it's crucial to understand the fundamentals of green-reading. This includes recognizing that every putt has a "high point," which is the spot on the green where the ball starts to move towards the hole. To find this point, crouch down behind the ball and examine the green from a low angle. This will help you determine the ideal path for your putt.
Practicing Plumb Bobbing
Plumb bobbing is a valuable technique to add to your arsenal. It involves using a putter or another object to align with the ball and the hole, allowing you to assess the slope of the green and predict how it might influence the direction of your putt. To master plumb bobbing, follow these steps:
- Check Your Putter: Ensure that when you hold your putter lightly between your thumb and forefinger, the shaft hangs vertically. Most putters won't do this automatically due to the shaft not being centred in the head.
- Find a Known Vertical: Find a vertical reference point, such as the edge of a building. Hold your putter up and compare the shaft lean to this vertical line.
- Twist and Adjust: Twist the putter between your thumb and forefinger until the shaft and the vertical line are level. Remember this position, as it's how you should hold your putter each time to ensure a true vertical line when plumb bobbing.
- Position Yourself: Stand about 10 feet behind the ball, looking directly through the ball to the hole in a straight line. Use your dominant eye by closing one eye.
- Analyse the Slope: Hold the putter towards the end of the grip, letting the shaft hang vertically and covering the ball. If the shaft also covers the hole, the putt will be straight. If the shaft appears to the right or left of the hole, it indicates the direction of the slope.
Embracing Nuances and Adjustments
When mastering green-reading, it's essential to understand that different greens have unique characteristics. Evaluate factors such as the speed, firmness, and moisture level of the green, as these will affect the ball's movement. Additionally, consider the grain of the grass, as it influences the direction in which the ball breaks. By combining plumb bobbing with other green-reading techniques, you'll develop a comprehensive understanding of these subtleties.
Consistent Practice
Finally, remember that practice is crucial. Spend time on the putting green, refining your skills and embracing the nuances of different greens. The more you practice, the more consistent your putting performance will become. Don't be afraid to make mistakes; instead, use them as learning opportunities to master your misses.
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Using the plumb bob as a slope indicator
To use the plumb bob as a slope indicator, you must first check that the shaft of your putter hangs vertically. To do this, hold the putter lightly between your thumb and forefinger on the grip and find a known vertical, like the edge of a building, to compare the shaft lean with. Twist the putter around until the shaft and the chosen vertical are level.
Once you have found this point, remember the position of the putter head. This is how you must hold your putter each time to ensure a true vertical line when plumb bobbing.
Now, stand about 10 feet behind the ball, looking directly through the ball to the hole in a straight line. Close one eye and use your dominant eye. Hold the putter up towards the end of the grip, covering the ball with the shaft. If the shaft also covers the hole, the putt will be straight, and the ground will be level. If the shaft appears to the right or left of the cup, this indicates the direction of the slope.
It is important to note that the plumb bob method may not always provide an accurate indication of the break. If the slope of the green beneath the golfer is different from the slope between the ball and the hole, the plumb bob method can give an incorrect reading.
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Frequently asked questions
A plumb bob is a weight, similar in appearance to a spinning top, with a string tied to its centre. When the weight is allowed to hang freely, gravity will automatically find "plumb".
Stand about 10 feet behind the ball, so you are looking directly through the ball to the hole in a straight line. Close one eye and use your dominant eye. Hold the putter up towards the end of the grip, covering the ball with the shaft. If the shaft also covers the hole, the putt should be straight.
Using a plumb bob can help you identify subtle breaks on the green and improve your green-reading skills. It can be especially useful when you are having trouble seeing a certain break.
Before using the plumb bob technique, check that the shaft of your putter hangs vertically when holding it lightly between your thumb and forefinger on the grip. Find a known vertical, such as the edge of a building, and compare the shaft lean to it. Twist the putter until the shaft and the chosen vertical are level. This is how you should hold your putter each time to ensure a true vertical line when plumb bobbing.
