How to Read a Putt Using a Plumb Bob
Being able to judge which way and how severely a golf ball will break on the green during a putt is crucial to good scoring when golfing. Many players are able to determine this relatively accurately without physical aids, but plumb bobbing with a putter is a good way to verify your assumption.
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Instructions
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Stand four or five feet behind the golf ball so that the you, the ball and the hole are in line. Kneeling or squatting will help bring the ball and the hole into a better visual proximity.
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Hold your putter loosely between your thumb and one or two fingers so that it hangs freely. The toe of the putter should point directly at the hole so that the weight of the head does not cause the putter shaft to lean one way or the other.
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Extend your arm straight out, close one eye and line up the putter shaft with the ball and the hole.
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Use the vertical line of the putter to serve as a visual reference to the severity of the angle of the putting surface. This will help you determine how much the ball might break to the left or right.
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Tips & Warnings
Use other green reading methods, (such as walking off the putt, determining the grain of the grass) to make an accurate putt. Plumb bobbing is not an exact science.
Many plumb bobbing advocates say that the hole should end up left or right of the putter shaft and thereby show where you should aim and how much break will occur. This method is only as accurate as the intended putt line you determine in the first place. Plumb bobbing is not very effective for long putts with multiple breaks.
