How to Plumb Bob Your Putt

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Short Game Mastery

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Quick Answer

• Plumb bobbing a putt is a technique using a weighted string to visualize the precise break of a breaking putt on sloped greens.
• This method helps golfers see the exact line the ball should travel by revealing the true fall line of the green.
• It requires a plumb bob tool and careful observation to accurately read the slope’s impact on your putt.

Who This is For

• Golfers who struggle with reading subtle or significant slopes on the green and want to improve their putt accuracy.
• Players looking for a reliable visual aid to understand how gravity will affect their ball’s roll, especially on breaking putts.
• Anyone aiming to refine their green reading skills and gain a more intuitive understanding of putting lines.

What to Check First

• Your Plumb Bob Tool: Ensure you have a dedicated plumb bob, which is essentially a weight attached to a string. It needs to be long enough to hang from your head to near the green surface. Some golfers improvise with a putter shaft, but a proper tool is best for accuracy.
• Green Slope: Before you even pull out your plumb bob, assess the green. Is there a noticeable slope? If the green is relatively flat, the plumb bob technique won’t offer much benefit and might even overcomplicate things. Trust your eyes and feel on flatter surfaces.
• Wind Conditions: Wind is the arch-nemesis of the plumb bob. Even a light breeze can cause the string to sway, rendering your reading inaccurate. If it’s gusty, it’s best to skip the plumb bobbing and rely on other green reading methods. Wait for calmer air for a true reading.
• Your Position: Stand behind the ball and face the hole. Your perspective from this angle is crucial for aligning the plumb bob correctly. Ensure you have a clear, unobstructed view of both your ball and the hole.

How to Plumb Bob Your Putt: Step-by-Step Plan

1. Establish Your Stance: Position yourself behind the ball, facing the hole. Get comfortable and take a moment to observe the general slope of the green. This initial look helps set the stage for what you’ll see with the plumb bob.

• What to look for: A clear line of sight from your ball to the hole, and an understanding of the general direction of the slope.
• Mistake to avoid: Rushing this step or standing too far to the side, which can distort your perception of the slope before you even use the tool.

2. Hold the Plumb Bob Overhead: Hold the plumb bob string taut directly above your head. Allow the weight to hang freely. The goal is to create a perfectly vertical line from your eye level down to the green. It’s like creating an imaginary line from the sky straight down.

• What to look for: The string hanging perfectly still and straight down. It should not be swinging or angled.
• Mistake to avoid: Letting the string swing or holding it at an angle. This will create an inaccurate vertical reference and lead to a misread of the green’s slope. Keep it steady and let it settle.

3. Align with the Hole: Slowly move the plumb bob side-to-side, keeping the string directly overhead, until the hanging weight visually aligns with the very center of the hole. This is a critical step for establishing your reference point.

• What to look for: The plumb bob’s string appearing to just touch the exact center of the hole. It should look like the string is directly in line with the hole’s middle.
• Mistake to avoid: Misaligning the string with the hole. If you aim for the edge of the hole or are slightly off-center, your entire reading of the break will be incorrect. Patience here pays off.

4. Observe the String’s Position Relative to the Ball: Once the string is aligned with the hole, observe where the string hangs in relation to your ball. The distance between the string and your ball indicates how much the green slopes away from your intended putt line.

• What to look for: The gap between the string and your ball. If the string is directly over your ball, the putt is straight. If the string is to the left of your ball, the slope is pulling the ball to the right, and vice versa.
• Mistake to avoid: Not accurately assessing the distance between the string and your ball. This is where you translate the visual into a putting strategy.

5. Determine Your Aiming Point: The observed gap between the string and your ball tells you how much you need to aim away from the hole to compensate for the slope. For example, if the string is a putter head’s width to the left of your ball, you’ll aim about that far to the right of the hole.

• What to look for: A clear understanding of how much you need to adjust your aim based on the string’s position. The plumb bob essentially shows you the “fall line” – the path gravity would naturally take.
• Mistake to avoid: Aiming directly at the hole after using the plumb bob. The plumb bob shows you the true line, which is rarely straight at the hole on a breaking putt.

6. Consider the Putt’s Pace: While the plumb bob is excellent for reading the line, it doesn’t tell you the speed needed. You still need to judge the pace of your putt based on the distance and the severity of the slope. A faster putt will break less than a slower one.

• What to look for: A balanced understanding of both line and speed. The plumb bob helps with the line, but your feel for the green’s speed is equally important.
• Mistake to avoid: Focusing solely on the line and neglecting the pace. A perfectly read line with the wrong speed will still miss the hole.

7. Visualize and Execute: With the correct line and estimated pace in mind, step away from the plumb bob, take your normal putting stance, and visualize the ball rolling along the determined path. Execute your putt with confidence.

• What to look for: A smooth stroke and commitment to your read.
• Mistake to avoid: Second-guessing your read after putting the plumb bob away. Trust the process and your preparation.

How to Plumb Bob Your Putt: Understanding the Break

The plumb bob method is a powerful tool for how to plumb bob your putt accurately because it removes a lot of the guesswork involved in reading greens. When you hold the plumb bob directly overhead, the string hangs in a true vertical line, dictated by gravity. This line represents the “fall line” of the green.

When you align this fall line with the hole, and then observe where it falls in relation to your ball, you’re essentially seeing how the slope is pulling the ball. If your ball is uphill from the fall line, it means the slope is pushing the ball away from the fall line. Conversely, if your ball is downhill from the fall line, the slope is pulling it towards the fall line.

This technique is particularly useful for putts that break significantly. On subtle breaks, your natural green reading skills might suffice, but on more pronounced slopes, the plumb bob provides a definitive answer. It helps you understand the magnitude of the break. For instance, if the string is a full clubhead’s length away from your ball when aligned with the hole, you know you’ve got a substantial amount of break to play. This visual cue is often more reliable than trying to discern subtle contours with just your eyes.

Remember that the plumb bob shows you the true line the ball will follow due to gravity. However, the speed at which you hit the putt will influence how much the ball breaks. A faster putt will resist the slope more than a slower putt. Therefore, while the plumb bob is invaluable for determining your aiming point, you must still pair it with a good feel for distance and pace control. For a deeper dive into refining this skill, explore resources on How to Plumb Bob a Putt for Better Reading.

Common Mistakes

• Not Holding the Plumb Bob Directly Overhead — This is a cardinal sin. If the string isn’t perfectly vertical from your eye level, the reference line you create will be skewed. This throws off the entire reading of the slope.
• Why it matters: It leads to an inaccurate visualization of the true fall line, meaning you’ll aim incorrectly and likely miss the putt.
• Fix: Consciously focus on keeping the string directly above the crown of your head, ensuring a true vertical drop.
• Allowing the String to Swing — A swinging plumb bob is a useless plumb bob. Wind, or even a slight tremor from your hand, can cause the weight to oscillate, making it impossible to get a stable reading.
• Why it matters: A moving string provides a blurry and unreliable target, making you guess where the true fall line is.
• Fix: Hold the string taut and steady. Wait for the weight to completely settle before making your observation. If it’s too windy, abandon the plumb bob.
• Misaligning the String with the Hole — This is another critical error. The plumb bob’s purpose is to show you the break relative to the hole. If your alignment is off, your entire interpretation of the break will be wrong.
• Why it matters: You’ll be aiming based on a false reference point, leading to a putt that misses significantly.
• Fix: Take your time. Slowly adjust the plumb bob until you are absolutely certain the string is centered on the middle of the cup. Zoom in with your eyes.
• Ignoring Wind Conditions — As mentioned, wind is a major disruptor. Trying to plumb bob in anything more than a gentle breeze is a recipe for disaster.
• Why it matters: A gust of wind can push the string off its true vertical path, giving you a completely false reading of the slope.
• Fix: Check the wind. If it’s gusty or strong, put the plumb bob away. Wait for a calmer period, or use other green reading techniques that are less susceptible to wind.
• Focusing Only on the Line, Not the Pace — The plumb bob is fantastic for determining where to aim, but it doesn’t tell you how hard to hit the putt.
• Why it matters: A perfectly read line with the wrong speed will still miss. Too much speed and the ball won’t break as much; too little speed and it will break more.
• Fix: Use the plumb bob to set your line, then use your feel and experience to gauge the appropriate pace for the distance and the severity of the slope.
• Not Understanding the “Fall Line” Concept — The plumb bob visually demonstrates the fall line. If you don’t grasp that this is the path gravity wants to take the ball, you won’t fully utilize the information.
• Why it matters: The fall line is crucial for understanding how much compensation you need. It’s the steepest path down the slope.
• Fix: Understand that the string shows you the direct path downhill. Your putt needs to be aimed uphill relative to this fall line to counteract the slope.
• Over-Reliance on the Plumb Bob — While a great tool, it’s not the only way to read a green. Relying on it exclusively can hinder the development of your natural green reading instincts.
• Why it matters: On fast greens or when time is short, you might not have the luxury of using a plumb bob for every putt.
• Fix: Use the plumb bob as a teaching tool. Learn from it, then try to replicate that understanding with your eyes and feet. Practice reading greens without it.

FAQ

• What exactly is a plumb bob in golf?

A plumb bob in golf is a simple tool consisting of a weight attached to a string. When held vertically, it hangs straight down due to gravity, providing a true vertical line. Golfers use it on the green to visualize the slope and determine the correct line for a breaking putt.

• When is the best time to use a plumb bob on the green?

The best time to use a plumb bob is on putts with a noticeable slope where the break is significant enough to warrant precise reading. For relatively flat putts, it’s often unnecessary and can slow down play. It’s most effective on medium-to-long breaking putts.

• Can wind affect the accuracy of a golf plumb bob?

Absolutely. Wind is the primary adversary of the plumb bob. Even a light breeze can cause the string to sway, making it difficult to get a stable and accurate reading of the slope. For best results, use it on calm days or when the wind is minimal.

• Can I use my putter to plumb bob?

Yes, you can use your putter shaft as a makeshift plumb bob. Hold the putter vertically with the butt end near your chin or forehead and the toe pointing down. While it can give you a general idea of the slope, it’s generally less precise than a dedicated plumb bob tool because the shaft isn’t as slender as a string and weight, and it can be harder to get a perfectly stable vertical line. Some golfers find it works in a pinch when they don’t have a proper plumb bob. Using a Putter for Plumb Bobbing

• How do I interpret the plumb bob reading for my putt?

Once you’ve aligned the plumb bob string with the center of the hole, observe where the string hangs in relation to your ball. The distance between the string and your ball indicates the amount of break. If the string is to the left of your ball, the slope is pulling the ball to the right, and you need to aim left. If the string is to the right of your ball, the slope is pulling to the left, and you need to aim right. The greater the gap, the more you need to compensate. For more detailed guidance on interpreting these readings and making your putt, check out How to Plumb Bob a Putt for Better Reading.

• Does the plumb bob tell me how hard to hit the putt?

No, the plumb bob primarily helps you determine the correct line or aiming point for your putt by revealing the slope. It doesn’t directly tell you the pace or speed required. You still need to use your judgment and feel for the green to determine how hard to hit the ball, considering the distance and the severity of the slope.

• Is the plumb bob method suitable for all types of greens?

The plumb bob method is most effective on greens with noticeable slopes. On very flat greens, the difference shown by the plumb bob might be negligible, and other methods of reading the green (like using your feet to feel the slope) might be more practical. It’s best suited for greens where gravity clearly influences the ball’s roll.

Sources:

• How to Plumb Bob a Putt for Better Reading
• Using a Putter for Plumb Bobbing
• Using the Plumb Bob Method in Golf