How to Plumb Bob a Putt

Plumb bobbing is a simple putting technique that helps golfers read the slope of the green using their putter as a vertical guide. Here’s how it works:

Key Idea: Hold your putter vertically to identify how the green slopes and predict the ball’s break.
When to Use: Best for putts between 10-20 feet on well-maintained greens.
Steps:
1. Stand behind the ball and hold your putter at arm’s length.
2. Align the shaft with the ball and close one eye.
3. Observe how the hole shifts relative to the shaft:
  - Hole shifts left = Breaks left.
  - Hole shifts right = Breaks right.
  - Hole aligns with shaft = Straight putt.

Limitations: Plumb bobbing struggles with long putts, complex slopes, and poor lighting. Use it alongside other techniques like walking around the putt and feeling the slope with your feet.

Practice regularly to refine your skills and make this method a natural part of your green-reading routine. For more tips on improving your putting, check out How To Break 80.

Plumb Bob Putting

Understanding Plumb Bobbing

Plumb bobbing in golf takes inspiration from construction, where weighted strings help builders find true vertical alignment. In golf, gravity ensures your putter, held vertically, serves as a dependable guide for reading the green’s break.

Basic Principles

When you hold your putter vertically, it creates a reliable reference line. Gravity keeps it straight, helping you identify the slope of the green. Your putter provides two key reference points:

The vertical shaft acts as your true vertical guide.
The putter head serves as a horizontal marker.

If the hole appears to shift left of the vertical line, the putt will break left. If it shifts right, the putt will break right.

Benefits and Limits

Plumb bobbing can be a helpful tool when used correctly. Here’s a breakdown of its strengths:

Advantage	Explanation
Consistency	Offers repeatable results for reading breaks.
Objectivity	Reduces guesswork and subjective judgment.
Simplicity	Requires nothing more than your putter.
Versatility	Useful for short to medium-length putts.

However, it’s not without its challenges:

Distance Limitations: Works best within 20 feet; accuracy drops on longer putts.
Complex Slopes: Struggles with putts that have multiple breaks.
Lighting Issues: Shadows or poor visibility can throw off readings.
Green Speed: Harder to interpret on very fast or slow greens.

To get the most out of plumb bobbing, use it alongside other green-reading techniques. Walk around the putt, feel the slope with your feet, and combine these insights with plumb bobbing for a more accurate read. With practice, you can incorporate this method seamlessly into your routine.

Getting Ready to Plumb Bob

Now that you understand the basics, setting up correctly is crucial to using this technique effectively. A solid setup helps create a dependable reference point for reading the slope of the green.

Putter Position

Grip your putter firmly and make sure the shaft stays completely vertical. This ensures it serves as an accurate guide for reading the slope and provides steady support for your stroke.

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Step-by-Step Plumb Bobbing

Basic Steps

Stand behind your ball, facing the hole. Hold your putter out at arm’s length, ensuring the shaft aligns with the center of the ball. Keep both eyes open, then close your dominant eye while staying focused on the hole.

Let the putter hang freely, ensuring it remains perfectly vertical. The shaft should appear to bisect the ball when viewed from behind. Wait a few seconds for the putter to stabilize.

Now, observe how the shaft lines up with the hole:

If the shaft appears to shift left of the hole, the putt will break left.
If the shaft appears to shift right of the hole, the putt will break right.
If the shaft stays aligned with the hole, the putt is straight.

Use these visual cues to assess the slope’s severity.

Reading the Results

The key to accurate readings lies in interpreting the putter’s position. A small offset in the shaft indicates a gentle break, while a larger offset points to a steeper slope.

For better accuracy, check the break by viewing the putter not just from behind the ball, but also from the low and high sides of the slope.

Keep in mind that plumb bobbing is most effective for putts between 10-20 feet. Beyond this distance, the technique becomes less dependable due to the increased complexity of the green’s surface.

Fixing Common Errors

If your readings seem off, try addressing these common problems:

Grip Problems

Keep your grip loose enough to let the putter hang freely.
Avoid twisting your wrist while holding the putter.

Alignment Issues

Align your body square to the target line.
Ensure the putter shaft stays vertical.
Position your eyes directly over the ball-to-hole line.

Reading Mistakes

Take your time; don’t rush the process.
Allow the putter to stabilize before making a judgment.
Take multiple readings to confirm accuracy.

Practice these steps regularly on practice greens with known slopes. This will help you improve your confidence and consistency when using this technique.

Best Uses for Plumb Bobbing

Ideal Conditions

Plumb bobbing works best on well-maintained greens with clear alignment markers, calm weather, and steady footing. Its accuracy decreases on uneven or heavily sloped surfaces. Let’s look at the types of putts where this method can improve your green-reading approach.

Improving Your Technique

Training Exercises

To boost your plumb bobbing skills, focus on regular practice combined with immediate feedback. Work on putts from different distances and slopes, then compare the ball’s path to your initial read. This helps sharpen your visual judgment and fine-tune your approach. By practicing this way, you’ll connect the method to real-game scenarios, making plumb bobbing a natural part of your green-reading routine.

Conclusion

Plumb bobbing can improve your putting accuracy by helping you spot subtle breaks on the green. However, it works best when paired with other green-reading techniques. To get the most out of it, focus on executing it correctly and practicing regularly.

To take your green-reading skills further, consider combining plumb bobbing with a well-rounded putting strategy. The Precision Putting Video Course from How To Break 80 offers guidance on blending plumb bobbing with other effective techniques.

Add plumb bobbing to your routine by also walking around your putt and checking the slope from different angles. These steps can help you refine your approach and improve your game.

For more tips on speed control and reading breaks, check out How To Break 80 for detailed guides and video tutorials.