Nina Caldwell
Plumb bobbing is a technique used in golf to read the line of a putt and determine how it will break. It involves squatting or kneeling behind the ball with a putter hanging vertically in front of the eyes. The golfer then observes how the putter hangs to predict the break of the putt. This technique is particularly useful for reading greens, which is considered one of the toughest skills to master in golf. While plumb bobbing can be an effective tool, it may not always provide accurate readings, especially on slopes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A method used on the putting green to find which way a putt will break |
| How to do it | 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 improve your green reading skills and make more birdies |
| Distance from the ball | Stand about 10 feet or so behind the ball (maybe further back for longer putts) |
| Eye | Close one eye and use your dominant eye |
| Putter | Hold the putter lightly between your thumb and forefinger on the grip |
| Vertical line | Find a known vertical, like the edge of a building, and hold the putter up so you can compare the vertical with the shaft lean |
| Horizontal contours | Kneel on the ground and have the putter hanging vertically to analyse how the contours of the green cross the shaft |
| Slope | If the shaft appears to the right of the cup, the slope you are on should take the ball from right to left. If it appears to the left of the cup, the slope should take the ball from left to right |
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What You'll Learn
How to plumb bob a putt
Plumb bobbing is a technique used in golf to determine the break of a putt. It involves squatting or kneeling behind a ball and holding a putter in front of your eyes to read the line of the putt based on how the putter hangs. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to plumb bob a putt:
Step 1: Check Your Putter
Before attempting the plumb bob technique, ensure that your putter hangs vertically when held lightly between your thumb and forefinger on the grip. The shaft likely won't be perfectly vertical due to its attachment to the head, so you'll need to twist the putter until it is level. Remember this position, as you'll need to hold the putter the same way each time to achieve a true vertical line.
Step 2: Position Yourself Behind the Ball
Stand about 10 feet behind the ball, or further back for longer putts. You should be positioned so that you are looking directly through the ball to the hole in a straight line.
Step 3: Use Your Dominant Eye
Close one eye and use your dominant eye to improve accuracy.
Step 4: Hold the Putter and Read the Line
Hold the putter up towards the end of the grip between your thumb and forefinger, covering the ball with the shaft. If the shaft also covers the hole, the putt will be straight, and the ground is level. If the shaft appears to the right or left of the cup, it indicates the direction of the slope.
Step 5: Analyse the Contours (Optional)
You can also use the plumb bob to analyse the horizontal contours of the green. Kneel on the ground and hold the putter vertically so that it hangs in front of your eyes. Observe how the contours of the green cross the shaft. If they do so at right angles, the green is flat; otherwise, you can identify slopes from left to right or vice versa.
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The history of plumb bobbing
Plumb bobbing is an ancient technique that is older than the game of golf itself. It involves using a plumb bob, or plummet—a weight with a pointed tip on the bottom that is suspended from a string—to establish a vertical reference line.
In golf, the plumb bobbing technique is used on the putting green to determine which way a putt will break. It is particularly useful for identifying subtle breaks on the green, helping golfers to improve their green reading skills and make more birdies.
To use the plumb bobbing technique, golfers must first check that their putter hangs vertically when held lightly between the thumb and forefinger on the grip. They then stand about 10 feet behind the ball, looking directly through the ball to the hole in a straight line. The golfer closes one eye and holds the putter up so that the shaft covers 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 cup, the slope will take the ball from right to left or vice versa.
While some golfers swear by plumb bobbing, others do not believe in its effectiveness. In recent years, the technique has lost some of its popularity due to the development of advanced heat map green reading books and systems like AimPoint. Despite this, many professional golfers have successfully employed plumb bobbing, including Masters Champion Patrick Reed and PGA Tour winner Rickie Fowler.
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Reading the greens
Plumb bobbing is a method used on the putting green to determine which way a putt will break. To do this, the golfer squats or stands behind the ball, holding the putter with the shaft hanging vertically in front of their eyes. The golfer then reads the line of the putt based on how the putter hangs. This technique can be used to determine the horizontal contours of the green, such as slopes from left to right or vice versa.
Before attempting the plumb bobbing technique, it is important to calibrate your putter to zero. This involves finding a known vertical, such as the edge of a building, and holding the putter up to compare the vertical with the shaft lean. The putter should be held lightly between the thumb and forefinger on the grip, and twisted until the shaft and the chosen vertical are level. This is the zero point and it is important to remember this position as it is how the putter should be held each time to ensure a true vertical line when plumb bobbing.
Once the putter has been calibrated, the golfer can stand about 10 feet behind the ball, looking directly through the ball to the hole in a straight line. The golfer should close one eye and use their dominant eye. The putter should be held 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 and how the ball will break.
Plumb bobbing can be a useful guide for reading the greens and improving putting skills. However, it may not work for everyone, and it is important to note that it will not help determine if the putt is uphill or downhill. Additionally, the technique relies on having a true vertical line, so it may be less effective if the slope beyond the golfer is significantly different from the slope they are standing on.
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Finding your dominant eye
Plumb bobbing is a green-reading method in golf that helps determine the break of a putt. It involves standing behind the ball and holding a putter vertically so that the shaft forms a straight line between the ball and the hole. It is important to hold the shaft exactly vertical, with no lean in the legs, hips, or shoulders.
To find your dominant eye for plumb bobbing, follow these steps:
- Stand about three paces or 10 feet behind the ball, ensuring that you, the ball, and the hole are in a perfectly straight line.
- Close one eye and look at the hole with your dominant eye.
- If the hole appears to the left of the shaft, the putt will break to the left, and if it appears to the right, the putt will break to the right.
Plumb bobbing is a technique that has been used by both amateurs and professionals, but it may not work for everyone. It is important to practice and experiment with this method on a putting green before trying it on the golf course. Additionally, plumb bobbing may not be effective for putts with multiple breaks or severe slopes.
By finding your dominant eye and understanding how to plumb bob, you can improve your green-reading skills and make more accurate putts.
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The plumb bob method: gimmick or game-changer?
The plumb bob method is a technique used in golf to determine the line of a putt. It involves squatting or kneeling behind a ball with a putter hanging in front of the eyes and using the putter to read the line of the putt based on how it hangs. While some golfers swear by this method, others find it ineffective. So, is it a gimmick or a game-changer?
The plumb bob method can be a useful tool for golfers who struggle with reading greens. By finding a known vertical and holding the putter up to compare the shaft lean, golfers can get a rough idea of the slope they are standing on and how it might impact their putt. This can be particularly helpful when trying to determine if a putt will break left or right.
However, one of the limitations of the plumb bob method is that it does not account for the slope beyond the golfer. The line of the putt can also be influenced by other factors, such as the moisture level and freshness of the grass, which the plumb bob method does not consider. Additionally, some golfers find that the technique is not precise enough to be helpful, especially on more severe slopes.
Despite these limitations, some professional golfers have found success using the plumb bob method. Masters Champion Patrick Reed and PGA Tour winner Rickie Fowler are both known to utilise this technique. These players are proof that the plumb bob method can be effective when used correctly and with proper calibration.
Ultimately, the effectiveness of the plumb bob method may depend on the individual golfer's skills and preferences. While it may not be a game-changer for everyone, it can be a useful tool in the arsenal for those who find it helpful. Golfers can improve their putting skills by experimenting with the plumb bob method and determining if it enhances their ability to read greens.
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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.
First, you need to calibrate your putter to zero. Then, stand about 10 feet behind the ball, so you are looking directly through the ball to the hole in a straight line. Hold the putter vertically between your thumb and forefinger, towards the end of the grip, covering the ball with the shaft.
Plumb bobbing helps you to read the line of the putt based on how your putter hangs. It can also be used to indicate the horizontal contours of the green.
