Plumb Bob

[chipsandegg]

Hi all,
Could someone please explain to me what Plumb Bobbing is done for, how to do it and does it work. I am having real problems with my reading of greens and the Greenkeeper at the club said i should try doing this as it may help.
Thanx for any help in advance

 

[birdieman]

If you are strugglng to see the slopes of the green firstly line up the putt then you crouch down and hold the putter out in front of you by the end of the handle and let it hang freely so the shaft will be vertical. Close one eye and look at the shaft and then the green a few times. You can then see the slopes relative to the vertical putter shaft and hopefully be able to judge the break of the putt better.

You'll be surprised sometimes how much slope you didn't see before plumb bobbing especially if the surrounding land is sloping too.

 

[Leftie]

As BM said, but in it's basic form you stand a way behind the ball with the ball and hole directly in line with your master eye. Hold your putter up by the top of the grip so that it lines up vertically through the ball.

If the hole then appears (say) to the right of the putter you know that the overall break of the putt is left to right by approximately the deflection shown (subject to pace).

Be aware though that this gives an approximate average break. There could be 2 or more breaks within that line. Also, for some unfathomable reason, it doesn't always work

 

[RGDave]

Nice one guys....I've never been able to suss it out.

I'll print these off and give it a go.

 

[Region3]

This might sound obvious but just in case...

Your putter will not hang vertical whichever way the head is pointing.
Before you try it on the course, test it at home lining up with a door frame or anything else that you trust to be vertical, to see exactly where you have to hold it to get the shaft to hang properly.

 

[USER1999]

Guy I play with plumb bobs. Every club in the bag, every shot. I need a gun. I am going to kill him.

 

[RGDave]

Before you try it in the bedroom, line it up with a door frame or anything else that you trust to be vertical, to see exactly where you have to hold it to get the shaft to hang properly.

OK...will do.

 

[RGDave]

Guy I play with plumb bobs. Every club in the bag, every shot. I need a gun. I am going to kill him.

Are you sure he's not cocking the club in his hands to view the line of the shot?

If he's really plumb bobbing, call me and I'll do the job for you.

www.we-rid-the-world-of-annoying-geezers.com

 

[bobmac]

plumb bob?

No thanks, dont like plumbs

 

[Ethan]

Plumb bobbing cannot possibly work. It could give an idea of the degree of slope on the point on which you are standing, but nothing about the rest. I think it is a psychological crutch, like Fred Couples' tug at the sleeve before hitting.

 

[Dodger]

It works and I use it...it's just that I cannot putt for toffee!

 

[Herbie]

I dont have much faith in plumb bobbing, for one reason its not that accurate, for another it can create mental conflict between natural first impressions and the plumb method itself. Read what you see I say and don't add a mechanical device.

When the pro's play, they often take a lot of advice from their caddy who strangely don't use the plumb bob method.

 

[Region3]

I find what works for me is imagining which way water would run if it were on the green.

 

[Imurg]

It works and I use it...it's just that I cannot putt for toffee!

Dodger - I refuse to believe that someone can play off 2.6 and not be able to putt for toffee.