5 Putting Hacks

[@stonefish4583]

Mate - you’re the absolute best golf teacher out there. You explain everything so well and many of your tips have assisted my golf game, many times. Thank you!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Wow, thanks!!

[@Skorelions]

Finally!!! Someone that explains plum bobbing and showed an image of what it should look like. Love ya like a brother!!!! 👍🏼

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks 👍

[@michaelwetzel1838]

See my comment below

[@wraithconscience]

Hi Clay, I really like how innovative and clever your drills and "fixes" are. Wonderful! Very memorable when you're out on the practice course and very effective. Thank you so much! (We do love our Southern Boys!)

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Many thanks!

[@deandesrosiers6857]

Clay should have over 1 million subscribers. Man, so many insightful comments.

[@terrybenson3509]

Further to my comment below. We need to check the edge of the putter shaft is vertical. Pick a vertical line like the frame of a door. Hold the putter out in front then using the dominant eye see if the shaft is vertical. The centre of gravity of the putter head will determine if the shaft edge is vertical. To get the shaft vertical rotate the putter head until the shaft and the vertical reference match up. When plumb bobbing, the putter must always be hanging in the same orientation that gets the shaft vertical. The plumb bob method is a useful guide to slope or borrow it is not perfect on every green, the demonstration you gave is good and helps confirm what you see by standing well back from the ball to hole line.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Awesome Terry! Thanks so much for sharing. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@FransvanWeeren]

thanks for your very clear and to the point videos about putting!!!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

You are so welcome!

[@anjamkhan9453]

Clay is the best online teacher I know. I have picked up so many great tips from him that have changed my game for the better. Thanks Clay!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

My pleasure! Thanks for the kind words.

[@marksp1532bmwj]

Great tips, I go to the practice greens and do some of the drills, as in starting at the 1, 2, 3 foot marks with my golf tees placement. I do 10 complete practice shots before going to a greater distance. I have never putted with a wedge, but I can see the benefits to doing this drill. I was taught, it is great to hit that 300 yard drive, yet it is the iron selections that will get you to the green and that on the green, you need to have only two strokes to get the ball in. Also learing to read the green and what time of day it is to know the direction of the grass.

[@magicman2379]

I loved the tip about where the ball is going to break!

[@AmandaJB-w9c]

Hi Clay! I like your videos. I need your advice re putter. I understand putters need to be only half to 1" longer than foot-to-wrist length, which for me is 29”. Unfortunately, there is no putter that measures 30” (most ladies putters measure 32" or 33”), and if I shorten them, I was told by Callaway/Odyssey reps that first, the stroke lab shaft cannot be shortened and second, that even steel shafts if shortened would be messed up due to the change in weight. What would be the best approach to this, stick to the long putter of 32”? Thank you!

[@josephvoll3842]

Great, Non-Complicated explanation for the Plumb Bob method. My Grandmother taught me that 30 years ago, and I've used it ever since. Occasionally a playing partner or competitor will ask me what I was doing, and I always have a hard time explaining it. This won't be a problem anymore. Thanks, and I'm definitely going to try out the other hacks!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks Joseph!

[@Nepyragas]

awesome. Your all lessons are swesome.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks for watching!

[@parbreakersgolfacademy5607]

Most amazing golf tip video i have ever seen

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks!

[@bryankem2192]

Great putting tips Clay. Always enjoy your instruction as it's easy to understand and replicate.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks 👍

[@sadasd12rqfe]

Really appreciate the simple and straight forward tips

[@TopSpeedGolf]

My pleasure!

[@dougzembiec9995]

Best coach on KZbin --- thanks Clay !!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks Doug!

[@g0lf535]

No doubt. Best teacher....makes it simple.

[@rickshane6210]

Best explanation of plumb bob!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks a ton Rick!

[@iamjustgooder384]

Those are really good tips. YOU ARE AN AMAZING GOLFER INSTRUCKER

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks!

[@ahol9120]

Simple yet very useful hacks! Never thought that I'd been reading the green to close to my ball! Great tip thanks!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks!

[@darrenhadden1037]

For the plumbob do you keep both eyes open? Great video🎉

[@pauerbach100]

Great stuff Clay. Should you be using our dominant eye for plumb bob?

[@HiralPatel007]

Nice hacks and tips to help understand the putting stroke a little more

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks Hiral!

[@brandonkristy8015]

Man I started using aim point putting and it’s helped tremendously. Haven’t 3 putted since and have had tons of 1 putts. You should do a video on it.

[@billybastar4022]

Awesome hacks. I do have a question about the plum bob...can you identify how much break to play using this method and how?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Yeah, it just takes practice to get a feel for it.

[@terrybenson3509]

G'day Clay, I've used the plumb bob for years, the explanation in Golf Digest (80' or 90's) included determining the dominant eye, the dominant eye should be used to view the borrow (the non-dominant eye is closed). Pick a point like a mark on a wall, hold your arms out straight and frame the mark with your hands, now close an eye, observe whether the mark has moved or remained central to the frame made by your hands. Then repeat with the other eye. Whichever eye leaves the mark central is the dominant eye, the dominant eye is unlikely to change over time. Using both eyes to view the borrow can introduce anomalies using the dominant eye increase certainty and accuracy.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Terry, thanks for sharing. Hope you're playing great! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@jimpeters3902]

Terry Benson great explanation, I'm looking forward to using this technique after the snow clears

[@stevejames5844]

Thanks Clay really really love the green reading technique.Its gonna be really helpful to find the break on the greens

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks Steve!

[@stevejames5844]

Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard Thank you in advance for your next video Clay. I'll love if it's one of those hacks which will improve my game 6 to 10 times faster.Not really because I am impatient but because dying to play professional tournaments. Thanks you again very much Clay for replying.

[@albertbeasley6005]

Great video on putting. 👍🏌⛳🇺🇸😀

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks 👍

[@robbiewhite323]

Great tips, love the first one. Awesome course too, I’ve actually played it once.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks Robbie!

[@aquariumcockpit9949]

What is the most popular putter length? What would you recommend for people around 5"11? Thanks for all your videos man! Seriously.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

I'm 5'11" and use a 34" putter. Use what length feels best to you. Best of luck! Nate | TSG Instructor

[@justjames1111]

Good video again Clay and it would be helpful to know how this 'plumbing the putt' works, as I've seen different explanations and they just seem to account for eye dominance. Also, if the putter shaft is vertical then how would the flag appear to one side rather than directly behind it?

[@ttrcyttrcy1662]

I had same question but now I assume it's because the pin is not perpendicular when on a slope!

[@willbill5906]

Nothing to do with eye dominance, close one eye and it becomes your dominant eye...

[@justjames1111]

@@willbill5906 Close one eye and the other becomes your only eye🙂

[@fransbernard6772]

Though for me rather talk fast but best golf teacher. And Aimee is the 2nd best. Tx bro. Hitting thru the ball piwer shoukd be even left n right hands or which should be more dominant. Tx alot

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks!

[@fransbernard6772]

Pls your reply to my question. Tx

[@martyh5611]

Great tips.. except for number 4 “the two ball putting” it is simply not a sound drill. Variables can be anything from 1 ball being even just a millimeter behind the other ball and that ball will always be the ball that goes further because it’s the ball you hit first. The second problem is that considering you got the set up perfectly aligned if you are a straight back and through putter the ball on the heal will naturally go a bit further because there is simply more weight on the heal side (due to hosel-shaft) this is even more evident if you have a toe hang putter and put more straight back and through. And the 3rd problem is the biggest. The balls are not hit out of the center of the putter face so there is absolutely no consistency. The key is to have the face square at impact if the face is square at impact the ball will start on your intended line. A better tip to replace number 4 would be putting two pieces of “fun tac” on the putter face to make sure you are hitting your puts out of the center of the face and maybe add a putting gate to make sure you are hitting the balls square. Again thanks for the content you produce. That drill just triggered the putting coach in me! Lol.

[@micahmarz]

Wow so glad I saw this! Seriously I couldn’t figure out why my “heal ball” was always going further than the toe side, unless I seriously tried to manipulate my stroke to try to get the toe ball to go further. This explanation makes a lot of sense. I probably shouldn’t have gotten hung up on that drill to begin with haha. -Cheers

[@TrEuDaT]

I love top speed golf and I've learned so much watching these tutorials, but I don't think the plumb bob was taught correctly. Clay's tutorial will only work if the hole and flag are protruding from the ground at precisely 90 degrees or perpendicular. The proper way to plumb bob is to first find out how to hold your putter so it hangs perfectly vertical. For me, I have to point my Scotty Cameron to the 11 o'clock position. I used a wall to determine this. Then standing behind your ball and using the dominant eye, first cover the left half of the ball with the putter shaft and try to line the hole up. Then cover the right half of the ball with the putter shaft and observe how the hole looks to the dominant eye. You'll be able to determine which way it breaks and in many cases, how much it breaks, simply based on how much the hole moves when viewed by the dominant eye.

[@haziqiman8949]

I have a question. During plum bob, which eye do you close? Which hand do you use to hold the putter?

[@haziqiman8949]

And another, what about the green speed? How do you calculate alongside it

[@TopSpeedGolf]

It doesn't matter which hand you hold the putter with. It just needs to be held straight up and down. Use your dominant eye. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@rushore1]

Plumb bobbing only works in one instance and one instance only..... When the slope you are standing on is very similar to the slope the cup is on. The reason is that the position of your eye - not the position of the cup or the shaft - is what causes the hole to look left or right of the shaft. If you were to stand on a stable platform directly behind the ball and plumb bob a putt by holding a perfectly vertical shaft on a line between the ball and the hole, you could tilt the green left or right, and the shaft would ALWAYS cover the ball AND the hole. However, when you stand on the same slope as the cup in a direct line from the cup to the ball to you, your body isn't vertical. It's perpendicular to that slope, so your eye is either left or right of that direct line. That's why the cup appears left or right of a perfectly vertical shaft. One big problem is, your body often naturally compensates at the hips and leans more towards vertical, so you may be negating the plumb bob anyway. If the break is so subtle that you can't read it just by looking, chances are, plumb bobbing won't help you anyway since the chances of the slope being constant are pretty slim....especially since the slope you're standing on is several feet away from the ball, and even further away from the place where you're going to have the most break: the hole.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks for sharing! Play well!

[@nurnbao]

Great video, im not good i putting, hopefully this helps.. thanks 👍👍

[@timothyharrison8221]

Thanks for the putting tips Clay. Have you ever did a video on the best ball to play going off of your handicap?

[@Ryan-td3td]

good stuff, thanks! what course is this? love those trees!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

The Legacy Club at Alaqua Lakes in Longwood, FL. Thanks!

[@MiguelArcangel12]

Nice stuff!!! Thanks, Clay and great job!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

My pleasure!

[@itz_pheonixxxx]

Thanks!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Welcome!

[@dustinhecker3986]

Excellent. Thanks.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks!

[@vonvibes1673]

Clay, You epitomize gentlemanship. You're as smooth as your putts. Great fan !!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Haha...thanks Vishal!

[@vonvibes1673]

@@TopSpeedGolf Wow !! Cool Charmer Clay, U made my Day 😀.

[@dsbuilder76]

Can you put the ball between your left forearm and the shaft of the club? My hand position won’t allow for the ball to stay in position

[@haskellw2]

Great video and instruction, ty Clay

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks!

[@NonnyStrikes]

The best way that worked for me in regards to keeping the clubface square... using the grip you use for every other club. Bowing out your wrist feels weird at first... but when you get use to it... it's near impossible to lose the square clubface. Great work again m8. Can't wait for more material!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Johnny, thanks for sharing. Glad you found something that works great for you. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@davidpuhl2904]

Is there a formula to determine how far behind the ball to stand based on distance ball to hole

[@paulferrante5192]

THANKS, CLAY. THIS SHOULD REALLY HELP MY VERY POOR PUTTING. pelf

[@TopSpeedGolf]

No problem Paul!

[@M.M.Alam.Liberty]

Brilliant

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks!

[@franciscodiaz6197]

Should I aim at the hole using the putters shaft? (the shaft is straight) Or is that misleading?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Yeah, that's fine

[@franciscodiaz6197]

@@TopSpeedGolf The reason I ask is because as the amateur I am I did that for a few years and I was told that no pro did it, that I should stop aiming with the shaft... I guess it was just seen as bad manners 🤷🏻‍♂️ but would you say it works fine? I mean, it IS straight.

[@MSDOGS1976]

How does the plumbob read the grain in the green?

[@bobwilliams8341]

Plum bobbing problems: 1) Which position of the putter head will provide the correct vertical alignment of the shaft. If you rotate the head 360, on most putters, you will find that only 1 or 2 locations provide a vertical shaft. If you don't find that position then this method is a waste of time.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, thanks for sharing. Play well!

[@MarkhorTactical]

You are a genius.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks!

[@billwatson7412]

Love the plumb bob trick... but... be sure that you've figured out what is vertical for YOUR putter. It may be hanging crooked if you don't. Line it up with some door frame in your house or whatever to figure out perfectly vertical. Then either mark it or remember in what direction to hang the putter when you are plumb bobbing.

[@michaelwetzel1838]

There is more, right? See my comment below

[@matthewtoohey9656]

What eye are you using to line up?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

You'll want to use your dominant eye. For most people that is the right eye. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@alphakurdad654]

When I hit two balls, the ball near the toe goes quite a bit faster then ball in the heel. Any ideas how to work on this without feeling like I need to guide the ball more?

[@Sleepy8]

Well done. Thank you,

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks!

[@hillbillybassfisherman8181]

awesome if people just use the plum bob to show you what break does then read the way grass growing it really helps i been doing this over 30 years everyone says im one of the best putters at the club.just a great tool to help just make sure it hangs straight thats the part people have hard time with every putter a little different

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks for sharing!

[@duncanmacleod7283]

Clay, you need to be really careful with the plumb bob technique as you're making the (often wrong) assumption that the putter will hang completely vertically. Depending upon what type of putter you have, and where on the shaft you hold it to 'hang', there's a very good chance that the shaft is not actually perpendicular, so your read will be out. The best way to check this is to use a laser line device, the same kind of gizmo a joiner or builder would use and cast a vertical line on the wall. Hold your putter up as you've demonstrated and see if your putter hangs parallel to the vertical line. It probably won't, so you need to find the point on the shaft where when suspended, the putter is truly vertical. If you don't have access to a laser device, you can make a reasonably accurate test against 'known' vertical line such as a door frame. You may be surprised at how much out of plumb your putter shaft actually is using the plumb bob technique. I hope this helps those you use, or propose to use the plumb bob technique.

[@Revellien]

Plumb Bob is, as CB says, a scientific method. However, that science is reliant on the putter being calibrated to find when it does hang like a plumb line at 90 degrees to ground. If this is, for example, the left hand edge of the putter against a building corner, then that left hand edge must be used as the putter shaft is generally cone shaped. Finally, take the flag out and line the calibrated left edge of the putter up to the right hand edge of the hole, passing through the ball as well, using your dominant eye. If the ellipse of the hole sits at 90 degrees to the calibrated edge then the surface is flat NEAR TO THE HOLE. If the left edge of the hole ellipse is higher than the right edge the putt moves left to right - NEAR TO THE HOLE.

[@luctremblay1260]

5 putt guy right here

[@robertoreilly9783]

Haha! Brilliant. Cheers Clay!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks Robert!

[@uriguen04]

What happened to the Evnroll?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Scott, he still uses it. I'm not sure why he didn't for this video. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@tomlamey7823]

Great video, but, there’s always a but. You need to calibrate your putter first for plum bobbing to work. Go to you tube “the hole out method”.

[@edomingox]

this doesn't seem to work for double breaks. Or for breaks that go from subtle to extreme or vice versa.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Yeah, it's not a perfect method.

[@DjDaveVA]

plumb bobbing can be tough for certain few people but overall works :D, Also on multiple breaks best to just look at it from a distance and both sides :)

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Dj, thanks for sharing. Hope you're playing great! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@DjDaveVA]

@@TopSpeedGolf Doing lots of indoor home practicing :D lots of snow haha

[@willbill5906]

A fair bit of misinformation about the plumb bobbing technique, firstly you have a toe hang putter, the shaft won't be vertical with it pointing at the hole, check which orientation it hangs vertically against a door frame and mark the shaft with a sharpie so you know when the shaft is vertical. Face balanced putters will be pretty much vertical with the face towards or away from you, however the shaft is tapered so it will need a slight rotation. Secondly it only works well for single breaking putts, thirdly the putter shaft disects the ball through the centre line. Close your non dominant eye and have your open eye, hole and the ball in a straight line, both legs should be straight and stand perpendicular to the slope, then you can see which side of the hole the top of the shaft hangs in relation to it. Depending on the speed of the greens and uphill/downhill more or less break will need to be taken into account. Plumb bobbing done right is a very useful technique and certainly helps with the read.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks for sharing. Play well!

[@roberte.tewksbury7601]

Flagpole looks crooked. Remove flagpole first, line up with the cup.?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Yeah, it's not a foolproof system. I would try to find something in the background you know is perfectly vertical. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@nandar-gd3ob]

How to put stable

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hope the tips in the video help

[@shanemantes4153]

Tournament today!

[@michaelwetzel1838]

Ok I'm not sure that is how plumb bobbing would work in the context of physics unless the putter shaft is held perpendicular to the ground?... not perpendicular to gravity. If you compensate at all, the hole will be on one side or the other only based off your subconscious bias towards which way the putt breaks. If you are in a dead straight line with the ball and cup and hold up a straight line, the cup and ball will always be covered, regardless of slope.... right?... am I taking crazy pills?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks for sharing!

[@rushore1]

It's actually not how the shaft moves in relation to the green that makes plumb bobbing work. It's how YOU move in relation the green that makes plumb bobbing work. You're correct in that, if you hold a plumbed putter shaft on a straight line between the ball and the hole, it doesn't matter how you tilt the green. Assuming your eye never moves, the shaft will always be in a straight line between ball and hole. The key to how this works is the fact that you are standing on that same slope. If you configure your body as seen in the video, your body won't be vertical. It will be perpendicular to the slope, and therefore, as the slope tilts to the right, for example, your body - and therefore your head - is tilting more to the right while the club continues to hang vertically. So the biggest thing to remember is that plumb bobbing will only work if the you are standing on a similar slope as the hole itself, which really isn't very often.

[@robertocolanzi]

Great video. Did the groundskeeper have a heart attack when he saw use the wedge in the green?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks Roberto! He doesn't have to know ;-)

[@Somerled_1]

That's not against the rules is it? What happens when you're stymied? Haha

[@frankyu7481]

Clay putts better with wedges than me with putter...

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Haha! 😂😂😂

[@dogloverjb6873]

2023 ...the pros are starting to return to wrist putting. I am also. I can control the putter face better

[@rob.b3293]

Not sure why I haven't seen this video already but if I play golf tomorrow I bet I won't three putt and might catch a couple of Birds.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Best of luck!

[@ND-dg2xo]

Dave Peltz putting bible -plumb bobbing doesn't work!, you can make hole and ball line up no matter what the break and how often is the flag vertical or leaning with the break? Otherwise great video.

[@scouterstu5856]

👍👍

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks!

[@UMyintLwin-o3h]

golf

[@jeremygrant6834]

Lol the pin wasn’t put in straight I use to be a green keeper

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hey Jeremy, thanks for the comment. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@nc3136]

Why hasnt a company made a grip with a bulge on the side the size of a ball as a reminder

[@TopSpeedGolf]

You could be the first! 🙂

[@nc3136]

Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard I don’t have the backing but run with it. Maybe I can be a footnote in history.

[@fransbernard6772]

...power. should

[@TopSpeedGolf]

👍

[@cinderella9784]

То самое чувство, когда Клэй точнее кладет с айроном, чем я с паттером🤭🤭🤭

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Спасибо, что поделился! Играй хорошо!

[@AsianTankPilot]

You forgot the step where you close your eyes and pray 🤪🤪

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Haha 😂

[@DidilyCOD]

I'm sorry.... but 6:30 is the biggest load of bollocks I've ever seen and heard. Please don't tell me it's to do with the flag stick tilting to one side??

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, thanks for the comment. I would give it a try. The key is to have the shaft perfectly vertical. If you have a putter that won't allow it to hang vertically then it won't work. The flag would work too if it was perfectly vertical but it usually leans. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@realchicagophill]

Ever putt with a wedgie?😎

[@TopSpeedGolf]

😂

[@chrisfox2211]

Nothing worse than standing in the fairway waiting for a guy to putt while he's "plumb bobbing".

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Haha...sorry to encourage it :-) Hope you're playing great! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@MrBarrynicholas]

Chill out it’s not a race.

[@wallgolfing]

Jesus Christ is Lord and King and Our Savior!

[@kttk4564]

What was his handicap?

[@kurtheitman552]

In my years of learning things about golf on KZbin, I have learned not to listen to anything this guy says.

[@mattcass8357]

Plumb bobbing is nonsense, it does not work at all. I cannot believe anyone still teaches it.

[@Somerled_1]

It works!

[@remyd1984]

@@Somerled_1 how? you need to know that your shaft hangs 0* too the ground!