"Plumb Bobbing" to read greens

[warbirdlover]

Lot's of disagreement on this subject. Some say it doesn't work, others (Rocco) use it well. I believe it works very well since a scratch golfer showed it to me years ago.. My take. (This is for bentgrass greens and not that awful stuff called Bermuda)...

Flat greens it's dead on.
Uphill putts also dead on.
Downhill putts also dead on.
Uphill or downhill putts with a big side break doesn't work at all.

Golf Instruction & Help A Golf Lesson on Plumb-bobbing

How to Improve Putting by Plumb Bobbing | eHow.com

TEE TIME MAGAZINE

Just plumb crazy? - The Boston Globe

What's your take and do you use it?

Give your honest opinion and support it but don't bash those of us who use it...

[Eracer]

I picked "Yes".

I would have picked "Not very often, but yes I do know how to do it properly and sometimes use it, but only on a green that I think has a single break, and only on putts shorter than 20 feet but longer than 10 feet."

The biggest problem I have with plumb-bobbing is this:

1. The only reason to plumb-bob is because you can't feel how much break there is. Sometimes my eyes contradict what my feet are telling me.

2. In order to plumb-bob correctly you must stand with your shoulders parallel to the slope.

Which of course means that in order to plum-bob correctly, you must be able to feel the slope that you are plumb-bobbing to see.

So it's of marginal use.

[warbirdlover]

Where did you get number 2 from Eracer? See attached links.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by warbirdlover

Where did you get number 2 from Eracer? See attached links.

From the first link I looked at:

Stand behind the ball so the hole, ball, and your dominant eye are aligned. Keep your eyes parallel to whatever slope exists on the portion of the green you’re standing on. Flex your knees slightly. Let your body tilt with the green’s slope.

My point is that if I cen feel the tilt of the green enough to align my eyes, then I don't need to plumb-bob.

[JEFF4i]

Never done it, never really needed to though.

[ClairefromClare]

Originally Posted by JEFF4i

Never done it, never really needed to though.

Scary thought--I'm with Jeff.

Generally, I can read a green pretty well.

[West Coast Duffer]

Dont need it, I putt with my eyes closed and pray it goes in.

[Pa Jayhawk]

I picked yes just because I know it works. The only time I ever use it is to read the Tier on a 2 tiered green, which is one of the few things I have ever had a problem doing. I think I lose a visual once I hit the hill. You just have to pick a couple spots on the tier. Figured why not try plumb bobbing on tiers after being unable to effectively read the tiers for about 7 years of playing. Works great!!!

[Esox]

I've never learned to plumb bob. To judge subtle contours in greens I carry a five foot spirit level in my bag. It fits nicely in the umbrella spot. Unlike my crappy vision, those little bubbles do not lie.

I also carry a 100 foot soft tape measure to check the distance on putts. Just dig the little hook into the green and walk it up to the hole. Really helps with lag putting.

Kevin

Two hybrids are better than one. I hope.

[rubber314chicken]

Originally Posted by Esox

I've never learned to plumb bob. To judge subtle contours in greens I carry a five foot spirit level in my bag. It fits nicely in the umbrella spot. Unlike my crappy vision, those little bubbles do not lie.

I also carry a 100 foot soft tape measure to check the distance on putts. Just dig the little hook into the green and walk it up to the hole. Really helps with lag putting.

is that legal? what about having a laser on the putter?

[floggerrushmd]

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.

[mont86]

I give it a quick eyeball a practice stroke and shoot for the hole. The more time I've spent reading greens the worse I get.

[Esox]

Originally Posted by rubber314chicken

is that legal?

I'm not worried about the cops. They have better things to do.

Kevin

Two are better than one.

[ClairefromClare]

Originally Posted by rubber314chicken

is that legal? what about having a laser on the putter?

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

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by ClairefromClare

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

He's going to use it to keep the putter handle dry.