Plumb-bob to confirm your first impression

Golf Digest, Jan, 1999

BY JUSTIN LEONARD Winner: Players Championship

Confidence is the key to good putting-particularly confidence in your read. That's why I plumb-bob some putts, usually just to confirm my first impression. To plumb-bob, stand behind your ball and in line with the hole. Looking through your dominant eye, hold the putter steady, with the shaft hanging vertically in line with the ball. If the hole appears to be on one side of the shaft, the putt breaks in that direction. Remember, I said some putts. I don't plumb-bob putts with two breaks (I'll see only one break), or in windy conditions (too hard to be steady), or if I'm already sure of the break (why confuse the issue?). Be sure of your line before you stand over any putt. Then you'll be more likely to make a confident stroke.

Let the break determine your pace By Randy Smith Pace is crucial to good putting, but figuring out the speed isn't the only thing. I see too many amateurs not being as diligent as they should be in reading greens. Often, they end up steering the putt back toward the hole and not playing enough break. The way Justin uses break to control his pace is well worth copying. He has learned to take some of the pace off his putts by playing enough break and letting the contours feed the ball back to the hole. It's not just about getting the ball to the hole, it's how you get it there.