Plumb Bobbing and Line Question

[Zippo]

Back in the day, you would see a lot of pros plumb bobbing the putt. Not so many these days. I assume they were trying to read the break or slope with that technique. Now I see many of them holding their putter out in front of themselves at a slight angle. I'm guessing that they're using the putter to pick a spot on their line between their ball and the hole to roll the ball over. Am I right or way off base?

[iacas]

2 minutes ago, Zippo said:

Back in the day, you would see a lot of pros plumb bobbing the putt. Not so many these days. I assume they were trying to read the break or slope with that technique. Now I see many of them holding their putter out in front of themselves at a slight angle. I'm guessing that they're using the putter to pick a spot on their line between their ball and the hole to roll the ball over. Am I right or way off base?

A: Plumb bobbing is stupid and doesn't work.

B: Yes, they're using their putter as a straight-edge.

[Zippo]

1 minute ago, iacas said:

A: Plumb bobbing is stupid and doesn't work.

B: Yes, they're using their putter as a straight-edge.

A - Yeah. Seems I read (or saw on youtube) somewhere that holding the putter up by the top of the shaft doesn't mean that it's actually hanging straight down and, in most cases, it actually isn't. And it's clear to me that Aimpoint is the way to go these days for reading slope and break.

B - Thanks.

[Zippo]

I just noticed I posted this in the Tour Talk" forum. My apologies - I thought I had posted in the "Golf Talk" forum. @iacas please move if needed and again - sorry for my error.

[iacas]

2 minutes ago, Zippo said:

I just noticed I posted this in the Tour Talk" forum. My apologies - I thought I had posted in the "Golf Talk" forum. @iacas please move if needed and again - sorry for my error.

I moved it to Tour Talk.

Really, it might be more "instructional" but since plumb bobbing doesn't work, I didn't think it was very instructional either.

[Zippo]

Ahh. Thanks. Well, to my credit - I did see one golfer plumb bobbing during the US Open. I don't remember who it was but for sure it wasn't Woodland or Rose!

[CarlSpackler]

@missitnoonan still plumb bobs. It's sad really.

[mcanadiens]

9 minutes ago, CarlSpackler said:

@missitnoonan still plumb bobs. It's sad really.

Way to throw your boy under the bus.

Never really wrapped my head around plumb bobs and never tried. Although the way I putt, it probably wouldn't hurt much.

[Wally Fairway]

1 hour ago, CarlSpackler said:

@missitnoonan still plumb bobs. It's sad really.

There are others who still plumb bob; I think it is a habit from a misspent youth

[Missouri Swede]

Two more for the hall of shame

[Zeph]

If only these pros had access too people with knowledge about putting. 🙄

[CarlSpackler]

7 hours ago, mcanadiens said:

Way to throw your boy under the bus.

Never really wrapped my head around plumb bobs and never tried. Although the way I putt, it probably wouldn't hurt much.

He deserves it. Besides, he never logs in to defend himself.

Funny thing about plumb bobbing is that I see people move their head back and forth which moves the line for lack of a better description.

[The Recreational Golfer]

You could stand behind the ball and hang your putter so it covers the ball and the hole, even if the green sloped 45 degrees. How do people think this works??

[boogielicious]

6 hours ago, Missouri Swede said:

Two more for the hall of shame

To be fair to Ricky, JB also does the plumb bobbing at glacial speed so it takes 20 minutes to make the read because he is also evaluating the rotation of the earth and the effect of the gravitational pull of the moon on the putt. 

Then he misses the putt.

[Shindig]

42 minutes ago, boogielicious said:

To be fair to Ricky, JB also does the plumb bobbing at glacial speed so it takes 20 minutes to make the read because he is also evaluating the rotation of the earth and the effect of the gravitational pull of the moon on the putt. 

Then he misses the putt.

Please do not give Bryson any more ideas. 

[Buckeyebowman]

I tried it  when it seemed to be a thing, and could never figure out how it was supposed to work! 

[leftybutnotPM]

On 6/19/2019 at 5:46 AM, The Recreational Golfer said:

You could stand behind the ball and hang your putter so it covers the ball and the hole, even if the green sloped 45 degrees. How do people think this works??

Exactly the way you said. They can see the higher side. Doesn't mean works.

[Vinsk]

I think it’s more of a mental calming/comforting action and they just don’t know it. Just like when a golfer leans and talks to the ball. It isn’t going to make any change to the ball at all but they can’t help but do it.