I’ve used plumb Bob for 20+ years and it’s the first time I’ve heard about using the balance point of the putter shaft as the ball aim point. Learn something new every day. Nice one Dan..
If you hang your putter down in front of the edge of a building, you'll see that it isn't plumb; it leans slightly because of the putter head. The balance point gives you the point in the shaft where the putter still hand down straight
I hold the top and the bottom of the putter and cover the ball and the hole with the shaft, using my dominant eye. I let go of the bottom and the shaft will fall to the low side everytime. It’s never been wrong even when I miss the putt not trusting what it just told me. I’d like to learn the trick using your hand which is what I’m looking for…..still bobbing!
When plumb bobbing never hold the putter by the grip, always by the shaft just below the grip. Find plumb inside your home on a door jamb. Turn the head of your putter if it’s offset until the shaft is plumb and remember it’s position when you’re on the green. Hope that makes sense. It makes the plumb bob a lot more accurate.
Larry is absolutely correct! You have to find the true balance point of your putter in order to use the plumb bob method because every putter balances differently. If you start out holding the putter in the wrong vertical plane where it's not actually in balance in terms of plumb, then you will never get the correct starting line LOL but as you saw from the video AimPoint is still more accurate. The one thing I didn't see them do is actually walk the full length of the putt and gauge it with their feet which is what the AimPoint method teaches and that is how you take into account how many fingers to hold up in terms of how many degrees you think the putt will break left or right, each finger accounting for 1°. So if you're put starts out breaking 3° in the first five feet but then slows up to one degree at the hole you have to do the math and consider the grain of the green you are putting into or against to gauge speed. There's a lot more that goes into AimPoint than just taking a level out on the putting surface but this gives people a good starting idea 🙂
No system is going to be perfect due to speed, slow requires more break for correct line, fast requires less, whatever system one uses, practice is what makes it successful or not.
Brilliant vid and yes i have used it for 44 years, I was taught as a junior to use plumb bobbing. Finding your dominant eye amazes people, they don't realise how much their eyes differ. I am left eyed, but right handed which makes snooker, pool, darts and clay pigeon shooting fun!
I've used the plumb bob for many years now and generally I think it helps to get a first read. I find it seems to work better on large slopes. I've noticed that my golfing partners who don't use this method seem to under estimate the break much more. However sometimes I get really bad reads and this happens when the slope say halfway or more through the putt is much bigger than where I am standing. I think the plumb bob works best if the slope is fairly consistent along th ewhole length of the. putt. Many thanks for your video I may now have to look at aimpoint instead.
I have been trained in AimPoint since 2018. I never understood how a plumb bob would work given the multitude of different putters that I have used over the years. I still see players using the plumb bob but I wouldn’t characterize any of them as good putters. I track my stats for each round and it is clear that AIMPoint has helped me. This video was the best explanation of it that I have seen.
First, you have to find the position that the putterhead is pointing that places the shaft in a perfectly vertical position, particularly when plumb bobbing with a toe-hang putter. A face-balanced putter will always hang essentially vertical.
I’ve started using AimPoint recently and my putting has improved significantly. I love it. I now actually look forward to putting and my confidence has improved because I have a structured method on the green.
Have used the Plumb Bob method for 40 years. Actually i thought everyone did back in the day. I have friends that don't understand it, i thought it was a rather simple and quick way to gauge the read. But as always, if I hit it too firm or too soft I miss the putt anyways. So as you said in the video, there is more to putting than just the direction you're hitting. Great video on the two methods. I think its whatever you feel the most comfortable with. I went back and looked at my app to see my average putts per hole this season, 52 rounds at 1.87 putts per hole. I think I will stick with my Plumb Bob.
To use plumb bob correctly there are several aspects that need to be taken into account. 1. Find the orientation of the putter when freely hanging between finger and thumb that it hangs vertically (so check it against a known vertical - like a weighted string hanginging then always this orientation. 2. Adjust the distance from the ball depending on the speed of the green (the closer you are the more offset you will see ie for faster greens or for downhill - equally go further away for slower greens or uphill) - this needs to be calibrated. 3 Always hang the putter from the same distance from the eye - best is at arms length. At the end of the day it will provide a very good guide ( particularly for the flatter secario when it more difficult to detact the smallest slope) and can provide an actual aim point.
I know many gods Golfers who swear by the plumb Bob. May you or others can help me. Geometrically the set up forms a line with three initial points (eye, shaft, and ball) on that line and a fourth point down the line
Darn. Hit send before I was done. :-) The forth point being where the aim would be. My question is if the eye is moved left or right by taking a step or starting slight off to the side, the aim would move. How does one ensure the proper initial set up I creat the the proper straight line? Hopefully this makes sense.
That was just what I was looking for , really helpful, the plumbob method is simple and pretty accurate, ultimately Aimpoint and plumbob are both educated guess’s but for me the plumbob is much simpler 👍
Hi Dan, with plumb bob, if your feet are on level ground the putter will plumb exactly vertical and not show any break between the ball and the hole, thus meaning any slight humps between ball and hole need to be read with your feet. Great channel, keep doing what you're doing
Thanks Dan, I’ve been trying to work the plumb bob thing out fir ages - was missing finding out where the balance point in the putter was! Will experiment with it this weekend. Thanks to Paul as well, great video.
Best quote in video: “it’s always a guess, it’s always a guess”. :-) I think experience is the best asset. Both methods have their faults. Get the speed right and you’re better off. Even with the “perfect putter” the speeds were different by a couple of feet. Have fun and enjoy and putts will fall.
Thanks Dan, I've always wondered on the right procedure for plumb bob. I've asked a couple of golfers who "use" this method what to do, they didn't know 🤔 😳. Miss your banter up at Torquay. Thanks again
Aim point all day, seconds to read the put. Aim point is the best lesson I’ve ever had in 30 years of playing golf, instantly took shots off my game. I can’t believe it’s used by everyone.
Many many years ago, back in the dark ages of the early 80s the Plumb Bob was all anybody ever used. See lots trying Aim Point, but I would suggest 1% of people know how to use it properly. I’m now at the stage of using my eyes, feel, and line of sight, and old greenkeepers tips from years gone by.
I recently watched your video and for the first time understand how to read putts using this method. Took it to the course a couple of times now and it really helped. This method is helping my confidence in reading putts. Thank you, really good video.
I appreciate both of these methods....but I was most pleased with the "walk to the other side of the hole" comment that determines speed.... which is the holy grail of putting IMO. Determining the speed is how I adjust my aim point for either method. It's been years since I have felt I missed a putt for any reason other than the read because I can feel and see mishits instantly.... with or without the line. I vary in my use of the line based on my vision and feel that day. Vision and feel are two things that never stay consistent, sometimes even within the same round, so you have to know how to deal with it. In my quest to become great at this game, I have realized I can catch up to other great players on chipping and putting much quicker than I can with the Driver or irons.
I was told by a pro that to read the slope using plumb bob your putter must hang exactly perpendicular to the ground, and many putters don't! I have two centre shafted putters that hang dead plumb but I've never used the balance point as a marker! Interesting stuff as always 👍
I asked you to explain plumb bob a number of weeks ago, and true to your word you came up with the goods. Really interesting concept, and I think I'll give it a try once out of lockdown..🙄. Now can you explain the new handicapping system 😂🤯🤯
Yes I use Plumb Bob Dan but I hold the putter in my left hand while closing my left eye and reaffirm my line by holding the putter from the shaft at the head end ,I am impressed by Paul taking a complicated system and making it work for him I might try it myself.
You do need to calibrate the putter first to plumb bob more accurately. The shaft tapers anyway, & depending on the balance of the putter it will hang differently depending on how you hold it. Using your dominent eye and lookmg down one side of the putter shaft only, hold it up against the side of a building, or door etc. which are built verticaly, and turn the putter in your hand until they line up. That is now calibrated & all you have to do is remember the hold & use the same every time.
I never really understood using the plumb bob. You helped me understand it better and I will go out and practice it. I recently began trying to understand using the Aimpoint technique and you gave me a lot to think about and work on. Good video and thanks!
Plumb bobbing works well for single breaking putts but you need to know it's limitations and how to stand to the ball as well as knowing your putter alignment for a vertical line. So many golfers think it's hocus pocus, it isn't but when they start to hear stuff about aligning the ball with the balance point of the putter and lining up with their dominant eye I can understand why. ( if you close one eye then the open eye is your dominant eye! 😉)
Never used it. Always play with feel. I’m quite accurate with reading breaks due to my profession but I find it very interesting and will give it a try. Thanks for the video 👊🏻👏🏼👍🏼
I've used the plumb-bob method for 50yrs. I use it to confirm what my eyes and feet are telling me. I've found, for me, the best way to get an accurate reading is to make sure that my body is perfectly vertical. I accomplish this by putting almost 100% of my weight on my right foot if I'm plumbing with my right arm. Also, depending on the type of putter, you may need to experiment with where the toe of the putter is pointing.
Dan. I've been using the plumb Bob method alittle bit differently, my way...check it out! I use the edge of the green and the bottom of my putter grip to get a read ...to the whole. So imagine using a drafting T-Square which is horizontal...(that's the bottom of my putter grip). I hold my putter up straight up and down with one hand on my grip...letting it hang...looking straight across the green to the greens edge behind the hole with the ball between me and the hole. That allows me to see the slope of the green versus the straight bottom of the putters grip...which is horizontal. I line the bottom of the putters grip up... until It touch either the left side or right side to a point behind the hole....on the edge...it shows me the break to where I aim and it most definitely gives me a good read and is usually dead on! It beats me Just eyeing a break. So to recap: Just make a dominate eye look...through the ball , the hole and the edge off the green behind the hole and see where the points meet...bottom of putter grip...which is straight...like a ruler...and where it connects to the lower or higher part of the green...it's simple. Straight is straight...but higher on the right...means lower on the left....so it's a right to Left putt. Line your ball to that point at the edge of the green....if it is 5/10/25 feet...it doesn't matter, it can be used at 100 feet or any length...it works. We all know it's a guess but this works...We can all see that a green goes from high back to low front...or from high right to low left when walking around the green....but use this connection point...it's sweet! Good luck.
I'm with you Dan I'd much rather use the plumb bob than aim point. Probably since I really don't understand aim point. I find using plumb bob is more useful on subtle breaking rather than obvious breaking putts.
I haven't plumb-bobbed but Ii might try now that you've clarified what point on the shaft to align with the ball. I never knew that it was supposed to be the balance point. Thanks Dan!
I owned an Old Master blade putter which had a plumb line sticker near the top of the shaft, which was the "hole point", the "ball point" was at the bottom of the shaft. Holding the putter at the top of the grip and using this plumb line to aim ensured that the putter shaft hung vertically downwards which your approach doesn't do, but which is vital to an accurate slope and aim point (no pun here) read. From there it is simple geometry, you are standing on the slope, your body tilted at right angles to it, the ball position is set by the bottom of the shaft, the plumb line will then be aligned with the aiming point somewhere adjacent to the hole, however the flaw in both systems is that they assume that the slope is constant between where you are standing when doing the "read" and the hole. Understanding that means some adjustment to the aim point has to be made, and that worked fine for me for years, BUT no plumb line on modern putters - not hard to identify where it should be though, and to mark it.
very important to find the plumb line on your putter. Find a door jam or any straight vertical location and spin your putter until it’s straight up and down. Mark that position because that’s what you will use every time you plumb. On my Odyssey putter I spin it to the logo and use that as my plumb position. If your putter isn’t straight when you plumb the technique doesn’t work. ⛳️
Thank you for the explanation of plumb bob. I see, that by using plumb bob, it gets you in the right vicinity as you said and also as you both alluded to, there are other factors to consider. The main factor being, are you a die it in putter or bang it in with pace putter. Both have a huge affect on the outcome of the putt. Putting is an art. It takes imagination as to how the ball will travel at the speed you are about to place on it. Providing of course you do everything right mechanically with the stroke.
Before heading out to the course, you want to determine the "plumb" vertical position of your putter where you are assured its hanging vertically. A putter will not hang vertically in all positions. You can use a door or wall to determine how to hang your putter so that the shaft is vertical. For example, pointing the toe of the putter towards to the 2 o'clock position may be your where your putter hangs vertically. Additionally, you want to use your dominant eye.
Actually, 2 o'clock or 10'clock for me - I suspect based on physics most putters will have a mirrored position that works to find perfect level (90 degree perpendicular shaft)
I have used plumb bob for probably 30 years and am generally a good reader of greens. You have to look at the entire whole first to see if there are breaks along the putt line. I agree it is a rough guide but you also have to consider other factors. Speed is also critical. Dave Pelz book “The Art of Putting” explains how to use it.
Fascinating incl perfect putting machine - never seen before. My pro didn't encourage me on this plumb bob concept but he spoke of 'break point'. Will follow up your idea next time. My present putting skill level took 3 corrective lessons and 2 m putting mat at home : 2 after breakfast, 2 after lunch and 2 after dinner and few odds one in between. Always trials putts before start of play. Getting better every day. Sometimes about to do monster puts.
Something to investigate over the winter, and then apply in Spring, am interested to see which I can take best from theory to practice. Thanks, great video once again.
Some years ago when I lived in Florida I was on the practice putting green, the pro was giving a lesson. As you know, folks over there are in the main very friendly and after the lesson he wandered over and gave me a good piece of advice which I sometimes remember to use. He said that if amateur golfers doubled the amount of break they see on a put the ball most times would end up a lot nearer the hole.He gave me another great tip regarding distance measuring devises too but that will be for another day. Great channel. Always been a fan of yours (from the MC days) and your brother is a great asset to the channel.
If you use the balance point you should hold the putter at the top of the grip. Then the balance point will be exactly beneath it. Holding it down the grip could disturb the vertical line as some weight is above the holding point. Also with Aimpoint you can't take a spirit level on course with you, and I think its difficult to feel a 1% or 2% difference with your feet. Also one finger is much wider over a 2m put than a 5m put. All both methods helps me are having a better idea of which way it would break, so as not to have a put just running further away to the lower side if I got it wrong
Ones putter needs to hang straight, to test this hang the putter with a target that is straight up n down in the foreground (pole, corner of a building) and rotate the face until the shaft hangs straight with the straight line in the foreground. A mass balanced putter like a HONU will hang straight regardless of rotation as its actually a mass balanced putter. Non mass balanced putters one would need to test to see where the face should be pointing while hanging to insure a straight hang. If the hang is tilted obviously the read is influenced negatively. ps. the propolis was build using plum bob so it does work. Coach Matt
re: aimpoint, I'd love to see how accurately people could assess green slope without any visual information. (The idea being that people can gauge the slope better through feel with feet than with their eyes). I suspect a lot, if not most, see the slope with their eyes and then that information drives what they report feeling in their feet.
Great Video as always Dan👍 Great info, I've used plumb bob in my putter sinse I started playing golf about 12 months ago. I saw it on 'MR Short Game' You tube. It really has helped but he didn't say on his video and I didn't realise that you had to find the balance point on your putter to hover over your ball ! I'll look forward to even better putting once lockdown has finished. 👍👍👍
I’ve used both the original aim point and aim point express as well as pumb bob. Aim point is ver good but you have to be so dialed in in terms of reading slope with your feet. Plumb bobbing is much simpler and easier to make modifications pre round while calibrating the practice green or during the round if the ball is breaking more or less based on quality strokes.
I'm coming at this from the point of view of a bogey golfer, not a pro. I'm right eye dominant but use my left hand to hang the club, which I learned from a US pro on YT. I have been using it this year and have found it works well. I pick a point on the edge of the shaft. Works for me and importantly takes the dithering out of picking the line. I don't question it. Of course, I still have to put a good stroke on the putt!
good green reading is the most under appreciated skill in golf, but in this data driven world, it has been shown that the most important putts ( for an amateur) are the 5 to 7 footer. At this range I don't believe it is so much green reading as hitting where you are aiming and consistent strike. Would be great to hear what you think ?
Interesting study!! I use plumb bob to give me a general idea of break which I refine through observation. I have found that, usually, downhill putts do not break as much as uphill ones.
Nice one Dan and Paul - I often have trouble reading greens and I can see the plumb bob being great for understanding the general movement rather than for setting an absolute target
Plumb bob gives you slope where your feet are - ie the ground that dictates how tilted your body is when you stand perpendicular to the slope, and subsequently bias’ how far the shaft of the putter is left or right of hole. You then determine if the slope changes between plumb position and the hole. On a short put I try to straddle the ball position. On a longer putt I try to straddle/plumb at a spot where the speed of putt is diminished enough that the break will have most impact. You need to estimate how much break if any will be required before ball reaches your plumb position. Plumbing works best when the slope is consistent along the entire length of the putt. When it changes, there is no method that eliminates estimating the necessary adjustment for an inconsistent “break”. But you can always plumb multiple points to help estimate. I also “practice/sample” plumb on the practice green to gauge how much greens break relative to what plumb shows. I also adjust break played vs plumbed depending on uphill or downhill, as well as speed of greens.
I have used plumb bob for years with great success. The difference between what I do and what it appears you were doing is that I don't care how far left or right of the cup I see the read. I plumb the shaft from the middle of the ball (not covering the ball, but where I can see half of it either left or right of center based on the slope) then set my aim point about 8 to 12 inches up the line. I do not look at the cup from that moment other than to judge distance.
A mate and I went for an Aimpoint lesson with Mark Bentley at Forest Pines in Lincolnshire. I'd previously been a shockingly bad reader of greens. I still hit bad putts and I still miss putts as a consequence but I'm now much more confident in the read. Good video again, Dan.
Dan, I've used it since it first came out and like you mainly as a guide for which direction it is breaking. Speed of greens, upslope or downslope and how hard you decide to putt it all affect amount of break. But over the years I've found it quite accurate . One note, you do have to adjust your putter to ensure it is hanging vertical, some of the new mallets with a bent shaft can throw off the read. Loved this video.
@@bronsonmcnulty1110 As has been mentioned before you have to plumb the putter with a known vertical line; an actual plum bob, a door frame, a corner of a building. You rotate your putter until the edge of the shaft aligns with the known vertical. Note the orientation of the putter head. Always hold the putter with the head in that orientation. All putters will have an orientation that is correct.
Interesting video! Especially the fact that possibly you need to add more break as the putt lengthens (as the first putt seemed spot on). I've used plumb bob for years but will work on the add more idea. Cheers
Good video lads and demonstrates that there is always judgement involved in any method and that speed (as well as grain on some greens) and changes in slope over the length of the putt are also important factors. Like you, Dan, I have plumb bobbed for at least 20 years with reasonable success, although mostly as a guide when the slope is subtle. I have found that on putts with a reasonable amount of slope (particularly towards the hole as the ball is losing speed) it is necessary to double my plumb bob read. Also agree with you that where you stand influences the plumb bob read and that a double breaker can make you look a bit silly!
wow!!!..great info..had gone back to plumb bob and will use the balance pt of putter info..ps..seems to me that many modern courses purposely have so many subtle breaks so that scoring is made more difficult..only way to score low on them is to hit close to the hole like another poster mentioned..
I've never used the Plumb Bob method. Reading the greens has been an issue. I'll your method a try. I will need to wait until spring unless I get a good day before the year ends. Bob
I've always been a pretty good reader of green but will certainly look deeper into plumb Bob method. Still unsure of how the aim point works. Maybe do more of an in depth video on aim point and simplify the best way you can 👍
One point with plumb bob, not all putters hang vertically in every plane, you need to check it against something like a door jamb to see which orientation hangs vertically. With regard to aimpoint, without the level I find it hard to believe anybody can feel a 1% slope through their feet especially while wearing golf shoes?
I have used plumb Bob for years. This method tells me how much slope there is WHERE I AM STANDING ONLY. I then take a couple of steps back and knowing the slope of where I stood allows me to judge the slopes for the rest of the put. Greens rarely have a uniform slope from ball to hole. This method only works if you know that one side of the shaft will be truly vertical when standing on a flat surface.
As you said Dan, leaving the putter open at address will aid the L-R breaks, but it will also mean you’re way low side on R-L breaks. The art of putting lol.
Thanks Dan, never used plumb bob as I was never quite sure how to do it effectively. Finding the centre point of the putter is the missing link for me, think I'll give it a try to see if it works for me.
Fascinating stuff. I try and use AP, but tbh I’m not good at feeling the slope as perhaps I need to be. I’ll give plumbing bob a try. Incidentally, I’ve got a LAB putter so it hangs vertically all of the time as opposed to a tie / heel balanced putter
Have used plumb bob for more than 10 years now; but always check the read from behind the hole as well to confirm. Agree that most amateurs like myself tend to under read the putts.
I plumb bob. On putts inside 10 feet I use it same as you Dan. On longer putts, I plumb bob from 6 feet behind the ball AND from about half way to the hole. I then take an educated average "guess" or the two and fire away. Some would say I'm a pretty good putter 🤷♂️. 🤔😏⛳👍
i have plumb bobbed for over 30 years. From 10 feet and in, I calibrate it true. For every 10 feet more, I add a golf ball's width. So, for a put of 30 feet, I'm playing it a full hole out from what I've read it at ten feet.
Great vid, only started plumbing recently and only on the ones that are straightish looking and only to contradict that assumption. it seems all of England are Aim line putters and I am a line curve putter.
I always use plumb bob and find it works well , All depends on how fast the greens are or if your putting uphill or down hill to adjust the break a bit more or less . Seems to work fine
No I’ve never really used it. It is interesting to see just how close it actually is though. Perhaps next year I’ll give it a go as reading greens is a weakness of mine for sure. Cheers!
I've been plumb bobbing for 40+ years. Like you, I use it as a general guideline. I was never told to find the balance point of my putter shaft, so that was new to me. As you and Paul were discussing, so much also depends on green speed and putt speed as well as break and aiming point. For me, I'm not sure aimpoint would be any better than plumb bobbing.
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Great video! Perfect incentive to practice chipping closer to avoid blowing my mind with either of these methods 😊
I’ve used plumb Bob for 20+ years and it’s the first time I’ve heard about using the balance point of the putter shaft as the ball aim point. Learn something new every day. Nice one Dan..
If you hang your putter down in front of the edge of a building, you'll see that it isn't plumb; it leans slightly because of the putter head. The balance point gives you the point in the shaft where the putter still hand down straight
I hold the top and the bottom of the putter and cover the ball and the hole with the shaft, using my dominant eye. I let go of the bottom and the shaft will fall to the low side everytime. It’s never been wrong even when I miss the putt not trusting what it just told me. I’d like to learn the trick using your hand which is what I’m looking for…..still bobbing!
When plumb bobbing never hold the putter by the grip, always by the shaft just below the grip. Find plumb inside your home on a door jamb. Turn the head of your putter if it’s offset until the shaft is plumb and remember it’s position when you’re on the green. Hope that makes sense. It makes the plumb bob a lot more accurate.
Larry is absolutely correct! You have to find the true balance point of your putter in order to use the plumb bob method because every putter balances differently. If you start out holding the putter in the wrong vertical plane where it's not actually in balance in terms of plumb, then you will never get the correct starting line LOL but as you saw from the video AimPoint is still more accurate. The one thing I didn't see them do is actually walk the full length of the putt and gauge it with their feet which is what the AimPoint method teaches and that is how you take into account how many fingers to hold up in terms of how many degrees you think the putt will break left or right, each finger accounting for 1°. So if you're put starts out breaking 3° in the first five feet but then slows up to one degree at the hole you have to do the math and consider the grain of the green you are putting into or against to gauge speed. There's a lot more that goes into AimPoint than just taking a level out on the putting surface but this gives people a good starting idea 🙂
I use this method too 👍
Exactly correct. I check each putter and put a mark permanent marker on where putter needs to be, so there are no mistakes.
No system is going to be perfect due to speed, slow requires more break for correct line, fast requires less, whatever system one uses, practice is what makes it successful or not.
I wouldn't use a door jam mind. I'm a carpenter and I'd say most are shit and don't fit things plumb often 😂
Brilliant vid and yes i have used it for 44 years, I was taught as a junior to use plumb bobbing. Finding your dominant eye amazes people, they don't realise how much their eyes differ. I am left eyed, but right handed which makes snooker, pool, darts and clay pigeon shooting fun!
I've used the plumb bob for many years now and generally I think it helps to get a first read. I find it seems to work better on large slopes. I've noticed that my golfing partners who don't use this method seem to under estimate the break much more.
However sometimes I get really bad reads and this happens when the slope say halfway or more through the putt is much bigger than where I am standing.
I think the plumb bob works best if the slope is fairly consistent along th ewhole length of the. putt.
Many thanks for your video I may now have to look at aimpoint instead.
I have been trained in AimPoint since 2018. I never understood how a plumb bob would work given the multitude of different putters that I have used over the years. I still see players using the plumb bob but I wouldn’t characterize any of them as good putters. I track my stats for each round and it is clear that AIMPoint has helped me. This video was the best explanation of it that I have seen.
Thanks Scott 👍
First, you have to find the position that the putterhead is pointing that places the shaft in a perfectly vertical position, particularly when plumb bobbing with a toe-hang putter. A face-balanced putter will always hang essentially vertical.
Thank you Andy, I have neer heard of finding a spot on the shaft to plumb bob. Thankfully my putter is face balanced.
I’ve started using AimPoint recently and my putting has improved significantly. I love it. I now actually look forward to putting and my confidence has improved because I have a structured method on the green.
Have used the Plumb Bob method for 40 years. Actually i thought everyone did back in the day. I have friends that don't understand it, i thought it was a rather simple and quick way to gauge the read. But as always, if I hit it too firm or too soft I miss the putt anyways. So as you said in the video, there is more to putting than just the direction you're hitting. Great video on the two methods. I think its whatever you feel the most comfortable with. I went back and looked at my app to see my average putts per hole this season, 52 rounds at 1.87 putts per hole. I think I will stick with my Plumb Bob.
To use plumb bob correctly there are several aspects that need to be taken into account. 1. Find the orientation of the putter when freely hanging between finger and thumb that it hangs vertically (so check it against a known vertical - like a weighted string hanginging then always this orientation. 2. Adjust the distance from the ball depending on the speed of the green (the closer you are the more offset you will see ie for faster greens or for downhill - equally go further away for slower greens or uphill) - this needs to be calibrated. 3 Always hang the putter from the same distance from the eye - best is at arms length. At the end of the day it will provide a very good guide ( particularly for the flatter secario when it more difficult to detact the smallest slope) and can provide an actual aim point.
I know many gods
Golfers who swear by the plumb Bob. May you or others can help me. Geometrically the set up forms a line with three initial points (eye, shaft, and ball) on that line and a fourth point down the line
Darn. Hit send before I was done. :-)
The forth point being where the aim would be. My question is if the eye is moved left or right by taking a step or starting slight off to the side, the aim would move. How does one ensure the proper initial set up I creat the the proper straight line? Hopefully this makes sense.
“I know may gods”. I did not intend to write that.
@@Dbgolfnski on 12:39
That was just what I was looking for , really helpful, the plumbob method is simple and pretty accurate, ultimately Aimpoint and plumbob are both educated guess’s but for me the plumbob is much simpler 👍
Very interesting. I have always seen other golfers plumb bob, but this was the first time I have heard it explained. Thanks.
Hi Dan, with plumb bob, if your feet are on level ground the putter will plumb exactly vertical and not show any break between the ball and the hole, thus meaning any slight humps between ball and hole need to be read with your feet.
Great channel, keep doing what you're doing
Was always thinking same thing, thanks.
If held correctly. The bob will hang vertically due to gravity. Regardless of how you are standing
Thanks Dan, I’ve been trying to work the plumb bob thing out fir ages - was missing finding out where the balance point in the putter was! Will experiment with it this weekend. Thanks to Paul as well, great video.
Cheers Benno 👍
Best quote in video: “it’s always a guess, it’s always a guess”. :-) I think experience is the best asset. Both methods have their faults. Get the speed right and you’re better off. Even with the “perfect putter” the speeds were different by a couple of feet. Have fun and enjoy and putts will fall.
Thanks Dan, I've always wondered on the right procedure for plumb bob. I've asked a couple of golfers who "use" this method what to do, they didn't know 🤔 😳. Miss your banter up at Torquay. Thanks again
Thanks Rich, hope your well 👍
Aim point all day, seconds to read the put. Aim point is the best lesson I’ve ever had in 30 years of playing golf, instantly took shots off my game. I can’t believe it’s used by everyone.
Many many years ago, back in the dark ages of the early 80s the Plumb Bob was all anybody ever used. See lots trying Aim Point, but I would suggest 1% of people know how to use it properly. I’m now at the stage of using my eyes, feel, and line of sight, and old greenkeepers tips from years gone by.
I recently watched your video and for the first time understand how to read putts using this method. Took it to the course a couple of times now and it really helped. This method is helping my confidence in reading putts. Thank you, really good video.
I appreciate both of these methods....but I was most pleased with the "walk to the other side of the hole" comment that determines speed.... which is the holy grail of putting IMO. Determining the speed is how I adjust my aim point for either method. It's been years since I have felt I missed a putt for any reason other than the read because I can feel and see mishits instantly.... with or without the line. I vary in my use of the line based on my vision and feel that day. Vision and feel are two things that never stay consistent, sometimes even within the same round, so you have to know how to deal with it.
In my quest to become great at this game, I have realized I can catch up to other great players on chipping and putting much quicker than I can with the Driver or irons.
I was told by a pro that to read the slope using plumb bob your putter must hang exactly perpendicular to the ground, and many putters don't! I have two centre shafted putters that hang dead plumb but I've never used the balance point as a marker! Interesting stuff as always 👍
the shaft always hangs perpendicular to the ground, if its hanging
@@jimlipe385 you must rotate the putter 360 degree's whilst hanging to find it's perpendicular point!!
I asked you to explain plumb bob a number of weeks ago, and true to your word you came up with the goods. Really interesting concept, and I think I'll give it a try once out of lockdown..🙄.
Now can you explain the new handicapping system 😂🤯🤯
Not sure youtube like videos of 1hr + :)
Yes I use Plumb Bob Dan but I hold the putter in my left hand while closing my left eye and reaffirm my line by holding the putter from the shaft at the head end ,I am impressed by Paul taking a complicated system and making it work for him I might try it myself.
Never used your method, but done aimpoint course just over a year ago and it is amazing
You do need to calibrate the putter first to plumb bob more accurately. The shaft tapers anyway, & depending on the balance of the putter it will hang differently depending on how you hold it. Using your dominent eye and lookmg down one side of the putter shaft only, hold it up against the side of a building, or door etc. which are built verticaly, and turn the putter in your hand until they line up. That is now calibrated & all you have to do is remember the hold & use the same every time.
I never really understood using the plumb bob. You helped me understand it better and I will go out and practice it. I recently began trying to understand using the Aimpoint technique and you gave me a lot to think about and work on. Good video and thanks!
Plumb bobbing works well for single breaking putts but you need to know it's limitations and how to stand to the ball as well as knowing your putter alignment for a vertical line. So many golfers think it's hocus pocus, it isn't but when they start to hear stuff about aligning the ball with the balance point of the putter and lining up with their dominant eye I can understand why. ( if you close one eye then the open eye is your dominant eye! 😉)
Never used it. Always play with feel. I’m quite accurate with reading breaks due to my profession but I find it very interesting and will give it a try. Thanks for the video 👊🏻👏🏼👍🏼
I've used the plumb-bob method for 50yrs. I use it to confirm what my eyes and feet are telling me. I've found, for me, the best way to get an accurate reading is to make sure that my body is perfectly vertical. I accomplish this by putting almost 100% of my weight on my right foot if I'm plumbing with my right arm. Also, depending on the type of putter, you may need to experiment with where the toe of the putter is pointing.
Yes, I plumb bob my puts. Experience has shown me that most people miss puts on the low side, so I aim slightly higher to allow for it.
Dan. I've been using the plumb Bob method alittle bit differently, my way...check it out!
I use the edge of the green and the bottom of my putter grip to get a read ...to the whole. So imagine using a drafting T-Square which is horizontal...(that's the bottom of my putter grip).
I hold my putter up straight up and down with one hand on my grip...letting it hang...looking straight across the green to the greens edge behind the hole with the ball between me and the hole. That allows me to see the slope of the green versus the straight bottom of the putters grip...which is horizontal.
I line the bottom of the putters grip up... until It touch either the left side or right side to a point behind the hole....on the edge...it shows me the break to where I aim and it most definitely gives me a good read and is usually dead on!
It beats me Just eyeing a break.
So to recap:
Just make a dominate eye look...through the ball , the hole and the edge off the green behind the hole and see where the points meet...bottom of putter grip...which is straight...like a ruler...and where it connects to the lower or higher part of the green...it's simple. Straight is straight...but higher on the right...means lower on the left....so it's a right to Left putt. Line your ball to that point at the edge of the green....if it is 5/10/25 feet...it doesn't matter, it can be used at 100 feet or any length...it works. We all know it's a guess but this works...We can all see that a green goes from high back to low front...or from high right to low left when walking around the green....but use this connection point...it's sweet! Good luck.
I'm with you Dan I'd much rather use the plumb bob than aim point. Probably since I really don't understand aim point. I find using plumb bob is more useful on subtle breaking rather than obvious breaking putts.
I haven't plumb-bobbed but Ii might try now that you've clarified what point on the shaft to align with the ball. I never knew that it was supposed to be the balance point. Thanks Dan!
Thanks Dan, It´s the best explanation I have ever heard about plumb method.
I owned an Old Master blade putter which had a plumb line sticker near the top of the shaft, which was the "hole point", the "ball point" was at the bottom of the shaft. Holding the putter at the top of the grip and using this plumb line to aim ensured that the putter shaft hung vertically downwards which your approach doesn't do, but which is vital to an accurate slope and aim point (no pun here) read. From there it is simple geometry, you are standing on the slope, your body tilted at right angles to it, the ball position is set by the bottom of the shaft, the plumb line will then be aligned with the aiming point somewhere adjacent to the hole, however the flaw in both systems is that they assume that the slope is constant between where you are standing when doing the "read" and the hole. Understanding that means some adjustment to the aim point has to be made, and that worked fine for me for years, BUT no plumb line on modern putters - not hard to identify where it should be though, and to mark it.
very important to find the plumb line on your putter. Find a door jam or any straight vertical location and spin your putter until it’s straight up and down. Mark that position because that’s what you will use every time you plumb. On my Odyssey putter I spin it to the logo and use that as my plumb position. If your putter isn’t straight when you plumb the technique doesn’t work. ⛳️
Thank you for the explanation of plumb bob. I see, that by using plumb bob, it gets you in the right vicinity as you said and also as you both alluded to, there are other factors to consider. The main factor being, are you a die it in putter or bang it in with pace putter. Both have a huge affect on the outcome of the putt. Putting is an art. It takes imagination as to how the ball will travel at the speed you are about to place on it. Providing of course you do everything right mechanically with the stroke.
Before heading out to the course, you want to determine the "plumb" vertical position of your putter where you are assured its hanging vertically. A putter will not hang vertically in all positions. You can use a door or wall to determine how to hang your putter so that the shaft is vertical. For example, pointing the toe of the putter towards to the 2 o'clock position may be your where your putter hangs vertically. Additionally, you want to use your dominant eye.
OMG, I plumbed all last year and had no idea about this test. THANK YOU. My putter is 2 o'clock and anything else is WAY off. Cheers mate.
Actually, 2 o'clock or 10'clock for me - I suspect based on physics most putters will have a mirrored position that works to find perfect level (90 degree perpendicular shaft)
@@deewilly6817 makes sense
I’ve always wondered how the plum Bob works. Might have to try it out and make a video on it. Great video this!
I have used plumb bob for probably 30 years and am generally a good reader of greens. You have to look at the entire whole first to see if there are breaks along the putt line. I agree it is a rough guide but you also have to consider other factors. Speed is also critical. Dave Pelz book “The Art of Putting” explains how to use it.
No one has ever explained plumb bob to me before. Now it makes sense. I use aim point with limited success.
Fascinating incl perfect putting machine - never seen before. My pro didn't encourage me on this plumb bob concept but he spoke of 'break point'. Will follow up your idea next time. My present putting skill level took 3 corrective lessons and 2 m putting mat at home : 2 after breakfast, 2 after lunch and 2 after dinner and few odds one in between. Always trials putts before start of play. Getting better every day. Sometimes about to do monster puts.
Like the Lester impersonation of Tom Kite, one of the channels best bits, nearly spat my coffee all over my iPad. 😂
Never used plumb Bob, but am going to give it a go - when we are allowed back in golf courses!
Great Vid! I have been a plumb-bobber for years and had the same questions as you... very interesting. Thanks Dan and Dans Brother :-)
Something to investigate over the winter, and then apply in Spring, am interested to see which I can take best from theory to practice. Thanks, great video once again.
Some years ago when I lived in Florida I was on the practice putting green, the pro was giving a lesson. As you know, folks over there are in the main very friendly and after the lesson he wandered over and gave me a good piece of advice which I sometimes remember to use. He said that if amateur golfers doubled the amount of break they see on a put the ball most times would end up a lot nearer the hole.He gave me another great tip regarding distance measuring devises too but that will be for another day. Great channel. Always been a fan of yours (from the MC days) and your brother is a great asset to the channel.
Thanks Anthea, where in Florida were you?
Was this the last time Lester was seen chilling with two Swedish blondes 😂
If you use the balance point you should hold the putter at the top of the grip. Then the balance point will be exactly beneath it. Holding it down the grip could disturb the vertical line as some weight is above the holding point.
Also with Aimpoint you can't take a spirit level on course with you, and I think its difficult to feel a 1% or 2% difference with your feet. Also one finger is much wider over a 2m put than a 5m put. All both methods helps me are having a better idea of which way it would break, so as not to have a put just running further away to the lower side if I got it wrong
Always used the plumb Bob method. I’m now very interested in learning the Aimpoint technique. Will have to look for a clinic
Ones putter needs to hang straight, to test this hang the putter with a target that is straight up n down in the foreground (pole, corner of a building) and rotate the face until the shaft hangs straight with the straight line in the foreground. A mass balanced putter like a HONU will hang straight regardless of rotation as its actually a mass balanced putter. Non mass balanced putters one would need to test to see where the face should be pointing while hanging to insure a straight hang. If the hang is tilted obviously the read is influenced negatively. ps. the propolis was build using plum bob so it does work. Coach Matt
re: aimpoint, I'd love to see how accurately people could assess green slope without any visual information. (The idea being that people can gauge the slope better through feel with feet than with their eyes). I suspect a lot, if not most, see the slope with their eyes and then that information drives what they report feeling in their feet.
Great lesson learning vid, I have finally found my new putter !!! I need a "Perfect putter" holder for my golf bag !!
Never used anything to be honest - I wanted to use the plumb-bob but never really knew how - I’ll be trying this 👍👍
Great Video as always Dan👍
Great info, I've used plumb bob in my putter sinse I started playing golf about 12 months ago.
I saw it on 'MR Short Game' You tube.
It really has helped but he didn't say on his video and I didn't realise that you had to find the balance point on your putter to hover over your ball !
I'll look forward to even better putting once lockdown has finished. 👍👍👍
I’ve used both the original aim point and aim point express as well as pumb bob. Aim point is ver good but you have to be so dialed in in terms of reading slope with your feet. Plumb bobbing is much simpler and easier to make modifications pre round while calibrating the practice green or during the round if the ball is breaking more or less based on quality strokes.
I'm coming at this from the point of view of a bogey golfer, not a pro. I'm right eye dominant but use my left hand to hang the club, which I learned from a US pro on YT. I have been using it this year and have found it works well. I pick a point on the edge of the shaft. Works for me and importantly takes the dithering out of picking the line. I don't question it. Of course, I still have to put a good stroke on the putt!
good green reading is the most under appreciated skill in golf, but in this data driven world, it has been shown that the most important putts ( for an amateur) are the 5 to 7 footer. At this range I don't believe it is so much green reading as hitting where you are aiming and consistent strike. Would be great to hear what you think ?
Dan , Paul .. what an interesting video , I could watch you two discussing golf all day long .. thank you 😉🏌️♂️⛳️🍻
Interesting study!! I use plumb bob to give me a general idea of break which I refine through observation. I have found that, usually, downhill putts do not break as much as uphill ones.
Downhill generally break more due to the ball moving more slowly. Greater time for gravity to affect the ball.
I have never understood how this plumbob alignment worked. Now i do! Just need to get a vertical , dangley putter now!
Nice one Dan and Paul - I often have trouble reading greens and I can see the plumb bob being great for understanding the general movement rather than for setting an absolute target
Plumb bob gives you slope where your feet are - ie the ground that dictates how tilted your body is when you stand perpendicular to the slope, and subsequently bias’ how far the shaft of the putter is left or right of hole. You then determine if the slope changes between plumb position and the hole. On a short put I try to straddle the ball position. On a longer putt I try to straddle/plumb at a spot where the speed of putt is diminished enough that the break will have most impact. You need to estimate how much break if any will be required before ball reaches your plumb position. Plumbing works best when the slope is consistent along the entire length of the putt. When it changes, there is no method that eliminates estimating the necessary adjustment for an inconsistent “break”. But you can always plumb multiple points to help estimate. I also “practice/sample” plumb on the practice green to gauge how much greens break relative to what plumb shows. I also adjust break played vs plumbed depending on uphill or downhill, as well as speed of greens.
I have used plumb bob for years with great success. The difference between what I do and what it appears you were doing is that I don't care how far left or right of the cup I see the read. I plumb the shaft from the middle of the ball (not covering the ball, but where I can see half of it either left or right of center based on the slope) then set my aim point about 8 to 12 inches up the line. I do not look at the cup from that moment other than to judge distance.
Really interesting. Would love to see more of this type of stuff. Thanks. 👍
Great ideas. Nice to see the workings of different styles.
Excellent job.
A mate and I went for an Aimpoint lesson with Mark Bentley at Forest Pines in Lincolnshire. I'd previously been a shockingly bad reader of greens. I still hit bad putts and I still miss putts as a consequence but I'm now much more confident in the read. Good video again, Dan.
Dan, I've used it since it first came out and like you mainly as a guide for which direction it is breaking. Speed of greens, upslope or downslope and how hard you decide to putt it all affect amount of break. But over the years I've found it quite accurate . One note, you do have to adjust your putter to ensure it is hanging vertical, some of the new mallets with a bent shaft can throw off the read. Loved this video.
so , how do you do it with that type of putter ?
@@bronsonmcnulty1110 As has been mentioned before you have to plumb the putter with a known vertical line; an actual plum bob, a door frame, a corner of a building. You rotate your putter until the edge of the shaft aligns with the known vertical. Note the orientation of the putter head. Always hold the putter with the head in that orientation. All putters will have an orientation that is correct.
Interesting video! Especially the fact that possibly you need to add more break as the putt lengthens (as the first putt seemed spot on). I've used plumb bob for years but will work on the add more idea. Cheers
Love the Jr pics as well!! Finally understand what the plumb bob actually is. Thanks.
Good video lads and demonstrates that there is always judgement involved in any method and that speed (as well as grain on some greens) and changes in slope over the length of the putt are also important factors. Like you, Dan, I have plumb bobbed for at least 20 years with reasonable success, although mostly as a guide when the slope is subtle. I have found that on putts with a reasonable amount of slope (particularly towards the hole as the ball is losing speed) it is necessary to double my plumb bob read. Also agree with you that where you stand influences the plumb bob read and that a double breaker can make you look a bit silly!
really good info here, thx Dan and Dan's brother 😂
"The perfect putter" 😂 best joke I've heard this week
wow!!!..great info..had gone back to plumb bob and will use the balance pt of putter info..ps..seems to me that many modern courses purposely have so many subtle breaks so that scoring is made more difficult..only way to score low on them is to hit close to the hole like another poster mentioned..
Really good video Dan. I’ve never known how to use plumb Bob but I’m certainly going to try it now. Thanks!!
I've never used the Plumb Bob method. Reading the greens has been an issue. I'll your method a try. I will need to wait until spring unless I get a good day before the year ends. Bob
I've been using it for about 15 years but not much lately think I'll go back to it and give it another go,great video again Dan 👍
I've always been a pretty good reader of green but will certainly look deeper into plumb Bob method. Still unsure of how the aim point works. Maybe do more of an in depth video on aim point and simplify the best way you can 👍
One point with plumb bob, not all putters hang vertically in every plane, you need to check it against something like a door jamb to see which orientation hangs vertically. With regard to aimpoint, without the level I find it hard to believe anybody can feel a 1% slope through their feet especially while wearing golf shoes?
I have used plumb Bob for years. This method tells me how much slope there is WHERE I AM STANDING ONLY. I then take a couple of steps back and knowing the slope of where I stood allows me to judge the slopes for the rest of the put. Greens rarely have a uniform slope from ball to hole. This method only works if you know that one side of the shaft will be truly vertical when standing on a flat surface.
As you said Dan, leaving the putter open at address will aid the L-R breaks, but it will also mean you’re way low side on R-L breaks. The art of putting lol.
Thanks Dan, never used plumb bob as I was never quite sure how to do it effectively. Finding the centre point of the putter is the missing link for me, think I'll give it a try to see if it works for me.
Still see James and Paul getting the job done great pairing
Fascinating stuff. I try and use AP, but tbh I’m not good at feeling the slope as perhaps I need to be. I’ll give plumbing bob a try. Incidentally, I’ve got a LAB putter so it hangs vertically all of the time as opposed to a tie / heel balanced putter
Have used plumb bob for more than 10 years now; but always check the read from behind the hole as well to confirm. Agree that most amateurs like myself tend to under read the putts.
Jesus look at those golf pants in that old photo of Dan and Dan's Brother, MC Hammer had nothing on these guys.
can't touch this!
Very interesting guys and like the explanation for the plumb bob method - one to try out once we get back out there!
Been using plumb bob for more than 45 years and my conclusion is just spend more time on the practice greens :)
Those pictures from you Jr days are awesome! Keep those safe
A very good explanation of plumb bob and aim point, which I had no knowledge of. Thanks, Dan and Paul.
I plumb bob. On putts inside 10 feet I use it same as you Dan. On longer putts, I plumb bob from 6 feet behind the ball AND from about half way to the hole. I then take an educated average "guess" or the two and fire away. Some would say I'm a pretty good putter 🤷♂️. 🤔😏⛳👍
2 reads , that is good .
i have plumb bobbed for over 30 years. From 10 feet and in, I calibrate it true. For every 10 feet more, I add a golf ball's width. So, for a put of 30 feet, I'm playing it a full hole out from what I've read it at ten feet.
Hasn’t Lester blossomed into a well handsome lad... smashing!
So interesting you are a brilliant putter dan plumb bob for me all the way.
I'm using both and I get the same aimpoint for both methods, as long as there is not a double break (or really windy)
Definitely going to start using the Plum Bob as a guide!
Great vid, only started plumbing recently and only on the ones that are straightish looking and only to contradict that assumption. it seems all of England are Aim line putters and I am a line curve putter.
I always use plumb bob and find it works well , All depends on how fast the greens are or if your putting uphill or down hill to adjust the break a bit more or less . Seems to work fine
No I’ve never really used it. It is interesting to see just how close it actually is though. Perhaps next year I’ll give it a go as reading greens is a weakness of mine for sure. Cheers!
I've been plumb bobbing for 40+ years. Like you, I use it as a general guideline. I was never told to find the balance point of my putter shaft, so that was new to me. As you and Paul were discussing, so much also depends on green speed and putt speed as well as break and aiming point. For me, I'm not sure aimpoint would be any better than plumb bobbing.