Caddy Explains How to Plumb Bob a Green
By Dillon Garcia
One of the questions I get asked frequently while caddying is, "How did you know that putt was going to break that much?"
The truth is, reading greens is part experience, part observation, and part confirmation. There isn't one magic method that tells you exactly where every putt is going to roll. Instead, experienced caddies gather information from several different sources before making a recommendation.
When faced with a questionable read, I like to use the plumb bob method.
Plumb bobbing is a reliable technique to determine the degree of slope on a green by using the shaft of your putter to see if the putt will break left or right. While you must always consider whether the putt is uphill or downhill, as well as the direction of the grain, plumb bobbing provides an excellent starting point—even for tricky double breakers.
One of the biggest misconceptions golfers have is that plumb bobbing tells you exactly where to aim. It doesn't.
Think of it as another piece of information. Much like feeling the slope under your feet or looking at the surrounding terrain, plumb bobbing simply helps confirm the dominant direction of the slope. It's one more tool that helps you build confidence before standing over the ball.
I've found it especially useful on greens where your eyes can play tricks on you. Golf courses often feature dramatic terrain, surrounding mountains, nearby water, or optical illusions that make it difficult to trust what you're seeing. In those situations, plumb bobbing a putt can help eliminate doubt and confirm whether your initial read is correct.
How to Plumb Bob a Putt
If you've ever watched a PGA Tour player hold their putter straight up in front of them before putting, here's what they're doing:
- Stand directly behind your golf ball while directly facing the hole.
- Hold your putter vertically at arm's length.
- Close one eye and align the shaft with the center of the golf ball.
- Notice where the hole appears relative to the shaft.
- If the hole appears to one side of the shaft, that generally indicates the direction the putt wants to break.
- Use that information together with everything else you're seeing—the slope beneath your feet, the speed of the green, the grain, and whether the putt is uphill or downhill.
Plumb bobbing won't replace experience, but it can give you confidence when your read isn't immediately obvious.
Another Tool I Use as a Resort Caddy
Additionally, when caddying for recreational golfers at a resort, I like to use a laser pointer to assist my players in showing them the line. Although it is not technically tournament-legal, it serves as a great tool to visually demonstrate both the read and the necessary pace much faster, which helps keep the pace of play moving along efficiently.
Most resort golfers don't have the benefit of playing the same course every week. They may be seeing these greens for the very first time. Instead of spending several minutes trying to describe a subtle ridge or explaining how a putt should lose speed as it approaches the hole, a laser allows me to quickly illustrate the intended starting line and speed of the putt.
It speeds up communication, gives the golfer confidence, and ultimately helps everyone enjoy a faster, smoother round.
Reading Greens Is About Building Confidence
One thing I've learned after years of caddying is that great green readers rarely rely on just one method.
They study the overall terrain before reaching the green. They feel the slope under their feet. They observe the grain, pay attention to whether the putt is uphill or downhill, and occasionally use tools like plumb bobbing to confirm what they're already seeing.
Each piece of information builds confidence.
The more confident you are in your read, the more committed you'll be to your stroke—and committed strokes almost always produce better putts.
Whether you're playing your home course or checking a bucket-list destination off your list, learning a few of the same techniques professional caddies use can help you read greens more accurately and hole more putts.
After all, confidence on the greens doesn't come from guessing—it comes from trusting what you see.
About Dillon Garcia
Dillon Garcia is one of CaddyTips®' top contributors to the Caddy Collective. After earning recognition as an A+ caddy at Cabot Citrus Farms, he went on to caddy at Cabot Cape Breton and will soon continue his career at Tara Iti and Te Arai in New Zealand. Follow Dillon on Instagram: @subparcaddie