Plumb Bob: Your Proven Putt Guide

Ever feel like your golf game is just a little off? Hitting the ball well, but still missing those crucial putts? You’re not alone! Many golfers struggle with reading greens and getting the ball to roll true. It can be frustrating, right? But what if I told you a simple, old-school tool could be your secret weapon? We’re talking about the plumb bob. It might sound a bit old-fashioned, but it’s a favorite among pros for a reason. It’s a surprisingly effective way to gauge slope and find your perfect putt line. Stick with me, and by the end of this guide, you’ll feel confident using a plumb bob to take strokes off your game.

What Exactly is a Plumb Bob and Why Use It for Putting?

A plumb bob is quite simple, really. It’s just a weight on a string. That weight hangs straight down, perfectly vertical, no matter what. Think of it as nature’s level. In construction, plumbers and builders use it to make sure walls are straight up and down. For putting, we use that same principle to check how a green slopes away from the ball.

Why bother with it on the golf course? Well, greens aren’t always flat. They have subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle!) slopes, or breaks, that will pull your putt off course. Eyeballing these breaks can be tricky, especially from behind the ball. A plumb bob helps you find a truly vertical line, which then helps you see that slope more clearly. It gives you an objective reference point, taking the guesswork out of reading the green. It’s about seeing the true break, not just what you think you see.

The Essential Tools You’ll Need

Getting started with the plumb bob method is easy. You don’t need a whole tool chest. Here’s what you’ll want:

• A Plumb Bob: You can buy golf-specific plumb bobs, which are usually smaller and lighter. Or, you can get a basic hardware store plumb bob. Even a heavy nut or washer tied securely to a long piece of string or fishing line will work in a pinch! The key is that it’s heavy enough to hang straight and the string is thin and light.
• Your Golf Ball: The focal point of your putting strategy!
• Your Putter: Of course, you need something to strike the ball.
• A Golf Green: Preferably one with a putt you want to make!

That’s it! Simple, right?

How to Use a Plumb Bob: A Step-by-Step Guide

Using a plumb bob to read your putt is a straightforward process. Follow these steps, and you’ll be seeing greens like a pro in no time.

Step 1: Position Yourself Behind the Ball

Start like you normally would. Stand behind your ball, looking towards the hole. Get a feel for the general lie of the land and the direction of the putt.

Step 2: Place the Plumb Bob

Now, take your plumb bob. Hold the string just in front of your ball. You want the weight to hang freely below your hands, a few inches in front of the center of your ball. Don’t let the weight touch the grass yet. It should be dangling.

Step 3: The Critical Observation

This is where the magic happens. As the plumb bob hangs perfectly vertical, look at where the string is in relation to your ball and the hole.

• If the ball is uphill: The plumb bob string will likely hang directly over the center of your ball, or even slightly towards the uphill side. This means the ground is sloping upwards from your ball.

• If the ball is downhill: The plumb bob string will likely hang noticeably to the side of your ball, often towards the lower side of the slope. This shows the ground is sloping away from your ball.

• If the ball is on a side slope (the break): This is what we’re really looking for. Observe where the end of the plumb bob hangs relative to your ball. If the ground slopes from right to left, the bob will hang to the left of your ball. If it slopes from left to right, it will hang to the right. The greater the distance the bob hangs to one side, the steeper the break.

You’re essentially using your ball as a marker. The plumb bob lets you see if the ground around your ball is higher or lower than the midpoint of the putt.

Step 4: Walk to the Low Side of the Putt

Now, take your plumb bob with you. Walk to the side of the putt that you’ve identified as being the “low” side based on your plumb bob observation. You want to be roughly halfway between your ball and the hole, but on the side where the plumb bob indicated the ground was lower.

Step 5: Repeat the Plumb Bob Test

Hold the plumb bob again, this time letting the weight hang down in front of your ball from this new position. The crucial part here is to position yourself so that the plumb bob string, when hanging vertically, appears to be exactly aligned with your ball and the hole. This confirms you’ve found the true line where the ball will roll straight towards the hole without breaking.

Step 6: Visualize Your Putt

Once you have the plumb bob aligned, you’ve found your intended line. The end of the plumb bob hanging in front of your ball should now be pointing directly at another point on the green that leads to the hole. This is your target line. Take a mental note of where that plumb bob weight is hanging. That’s where you want to aim your putt.

Step 7: Step Away and Putt

Carefully step away, pick up your plumb bob, and take your normal putting stance. Visualize the line you just confirmed. Trust the information you gained. Step up to the ball and roll it smoothly along that intended line.

Seeing the Break: Common Scenarios and How the Plumb Bob Helps

Let’s dig a bit deeper into how the plumb bob works in different green situations.

Downhill Putts

When you have a downhill putt, gravity is your main challenge. You need to hit it softly enough not to run past the hole.

Plumb Bob Observation: From behind the ball, if the green breaks sharply downhill to one side, the plumb bob will hang noticeably away from the uphill side, towards the downhill side.
Your Action: You’ll likely need to aim uphill of the hole to compensate for the ball rolling back down. The plumb bob helps you quantify just how much uphill you need to aim by showing you the actual slope.

Uphill Putts

Uphill putts require more power. The slope works against the ball’s momentum.

Plumb Bob Observation: From behind the ball, the plumb bob will typically hang very close to the center of your ball or even slightly towards the “uphill” side, indicating less of a side break or a pure uphill motion.
Your Action: You just need to hit it harder. The plumb bob here is more about confirming there isn’t a significant side break that you might miss when focusing on the uphill nature of the putt.

Sidehill Putts (The Break!)

This is where the plumb bob really shines. When the green slopes from left-to-right or right-to-left, it can be tricky to judge.

Plumb Bob Observation: Stand behind your ball. If the green slopes from your right to your left, the plumb bob weight will hang to the left of your ball. If it slopes from your left to your right, it will hang to the right. The further it hangs from center, the steeper the break.
Your Action: After identifying the direction of the break, you’ll walk to the low side, halfway between your ball and the hole. Then, from that position, you’ll adjust your standing position until the plumb bob string appears to align perfectly with your ball and the hole. The point where the bob hangs in front of you from this adjusted position is your true starting line. You’ll aim to putt the ball slightly uphill and towards the high side, letting gravity bring it down towards the hole.

Combined Breaks and Contours

Real greens are rarely just one simple slope. They can have uphill sections that then break sideways.

Plumb Bob Observation: Use the plumb bob at different points along your putt’s path. You might find the initial break is one way, but halfway to the hole, it changes.
Your Action: The plumb bob helps you break down the putt into sections. You might need to adjust your aim as you go from the ball to the hole. Focusing on one section at a time can make complex putts much simpler to manage.

Thinking About Plumb Bobbing: Pros and Cons

Like any tool, the plumb bob has its advantages and disadvantages. It’s good to know them so you can decide if it’s right for your game.

Tips for Mastering Your Plumb Bob Putt

Using a plumb bob is a skill, and like any skill, it improves with practice. Here are some extra tips to help you master it.

• Practice on the Practice Green: Before you take it out on the course, spend time on the practice green at your local course. Experiment with putts of varying breaks. This is a great way to build your feel for how the plumb bob works.
• Check Multiple Perspectives: While the halfway point is good, sometimes it helps to check the plumb bob from directly behind the ball and also from beside the ball on the low side of the putt. This gives you a more complete picture of the green’s contour.
• Consider Wind Conditions: If it’s windy, the plumb bob might be less reliable. In very windy conditions, you might want to rely more on your eyes and experience, or use a lighter, less swingy plumb bob if you have one.
• Don’t Forget the Pace: The plumb bob primarily helps with the line. Remember that pace control is just as important, if not more so. Ensure your read takes into account how hard you need to hit the putt. A gently rolling ball will break more than one hit with more speed. Refer to resources like USGA Rule 10: The Game, Player Conduct and the Rules of Golf, which touches on players taking advice and using various methods to prepare for a stroke, including green reading.
• Feel the Slope with Your Feet: While the plumb bob is objective, don’t ignore your own sense of feel. You can often feel significant slopes with your feet while walking from your ball to the hole. Use this as confirmation or a starting point for your plumb bob reading.
• Trust Your Reading: Once you’ve used the plumb bob and determined your line, trust it! Don’t second-guess yourself during your stroke. Commit to the line the plumb bob helped you find.

Alternative Green Reading Techniques

While the plumb bob is a fantastic tool, it’s not the only way to read greens! Many golfers use a combination of methods. Understanding these alternatives can help you find what works best for you.

Frequently Asked Questions about Plumb Bobbing

Let’s tackle some common questions golfers have about using a plumb bob on the green.