"Plumb Bobbing" to read greens

[Wi-Golfer]

You know my feeling on it, if it works for someone, great. That being said I read an article within the last year about plumb bobbing & the short version is it said no to bother with it. The average joe blow golfer doesn't know how to correctly do it & even the pro's gave up on it.

Personally I just get about 4-5' directly behind the ball, look at the which way I think it's going to break & then pick any type of mark on the green that's right on my projected ball path about 12-18" in front of the ball.

[rubber314chicken]

Kevin is pulling your leg so hard it's come off.

I hate being the butt of jokes/ on the outside of inside jokes.

"watch out for that cone"

[Pa Jayhawk]

I put no. I have seen people use this technique with success, but you never seem to see the best putters in the world use it. I wonder why???

Not that I want to argue in favor of plumb bobbing, because I just wouldn't use it outside of 2 tier greens, but the best putters in the world also have caddies to eliminate second guessing and can read greens without it. Just doing what the best putters in the world do will not make you a good putter if you can't read contours in the green. Some of the better players in the world do use plumb bobbing. You do see it on the tour quite a bit if you look, just not when the camera is constantly plastered on the top players.

Real simple, most people will admit that it does work if they try the method. That being the case, if you can't read contour it is simply a matter of whether you are willing to look ridiculous in some peoples eyes for the sake of making putts. I read contour extremely well, and it provides more information than what plumb bobbing will. Although I have had entirely too many 3 putts when I am crossing a tier in the green and the ball goes the other way. I would bargain to guess that maybe 99% of any 4 putts I have had in my life were due to a tier in the green, even though I could probably count all my 4 putts on two hands. I am willing to look ridiculous in some peoples eyes on those to save a stroke. Although if I had a caddie with me all the time that could read tiers to assure me that it would break the way I see, I may not.

[SCGolfer]

My dad does it I would say on anything inside 20 feet. Outside of that distance I can't see it being much use. He is a better putter than I am but I am totally feel......I will take a look, pick a spot and go with it. If I am the last to putt in a 4some I will not even look at the line until it is time...just mark it and walk away....that way I don't over think it. Read and go with it. Putting to me is so much about feel, everyone doesn't hit the ball the same speed...some like to hit it softer and play more break.....some just hit it harder and take the break out.....all about feel so plumb bobbing works for some people and not for others.


Jason

[MCDavis]

Never done it, never really needed to though.

Scary thought--I'm with Jeff.

Generally, I can read a green pretty well.

Want to be more scared? Now, we're a threesome!!

I'm happy with my putting.

[Fourputt]

I put no. I have seen people use this technique with success, but you never seem to see the best putters in the world use it. I wonder why???

That is all for the bashing. Honestly, I am a completely feel putter. I never walk off a putt, and I rarely read a putt from the opposite side of the hole (I will do it when I can't get a feel for the putt from behind the ball). So a technique used to "measure" break is not really something that I look for.

I don't use it either. Never felt the need. I've rarely had any trouble reading the contours of a green, even on an unfamiliar course, so I guess I've just never needed to bother with it. I see very few guys do it on the course, and I've never seen a plumb bobber who putts any better than I do (although I've definitely played with better putters than me).

I've seen some very bad putters who did use this technique, but I'm not saying that they were bad because of it, just that they were bad putters and were looking for anything to help them get better. Like so much of the golf game, putting is as much about confidence as it is about technique, and anything that helps that confidence level is going to be beneficial to your game.

If you believe that plumb bobbing is helpful, it probably is. But I think that it may have more to do with the mental reinforcement of seeing a line that you already know subconsciously is there.

Just as a thought to ponder:

Ever consider that the reason for the Rules of Golf allowing plumb bobbing (which might otherwise seem to be a breach of rule 14-3) is that there is no qualitative or quantitative evidence of its effectiveness, thus they don't see the player who uses it as gaining any true physical advantage?

[warbirdlover]

I plumb bob everything but am very selective on when I use it. And I don't feel I look silly doing it. Especially when I sink the putt...