You’ve likely seen it time and again: a professional golfer on the green, squinting towards the hole, and holding up a few fingers in front of their face. This isn't just a quirky habit or a signal to their caddie. It's a calculated, surprisingly simple technique used to judge the break of a putt. This article will break down exactly what these golfers are doing, explain the two most common methods, and provide you with actionable steps to start using this technique to make more putts.
At its core, holding up fingers is a method of green reading - the art of predicting how the slope of the green will affect the path of your golf ball. The ground between your ball and the hole is almost never perfectly flat. It’s a landscape of subtle tilts and slopes, all of which will pull your putt offline if you don’t account for them. A casual look can give you a general idea, but these finger methods offer a more structured way to measure that slope.
Think of it like this: your fingers, when held at arm's length, create a consistent visual measuring tool. By comparing this "ruler" to the golf hole, you can get a more objective measurement of how much a putt will curve, or "break." Golfers are essentially turning a gut feeling into a tangible aim point.
There are two primary systems that involve holding up fingers you see on the PGA Tour: the classic "Plumb-Bob" method, often done with the putter, and the more modern "AimPoint Express" method. Let's break down each one.
The plumb-bob method is an old-school technique that uses the putter shaft as a perfectly straight, vertical line of reference - like a construction worker's plumb line. A golfer might hold fingers up to steady their hand or to frame the shot, but the core principle is about using the vertical shaft of the putter to see the slope of the green.
When you let your putter hang freely, gravity pulls it perfectly straight down. By lining this up with your ball and looking at the hole, you can visually see if the hole is on the "high side" or "low side" of the putt. Your brain is fantastic at tricking you with optical illusions on a putting green, but gravity never lies. This method helps you separate what you think you see from what the actual overall slope is. For a more detailed guide, check out how to plumb-bob in golf.
The further the hole appears from the shaft, the more significant the break. Many golfers will use their free fingers to steady their hand during this process, which is often what you're seeing on your screen.
The gesture you see most often today - where players like Adam Scott or Justin Thomas hold fingers up horizontally - is likely a version of the AimPoint Express read. This method differs from plumb-bobbing because it starts with feeling the slope of the green with your feet, and then uses your fingers to find a precise aim point. For a complete understanding of this technique, refer to how to use AimPoint Golf.
Quick disclaimer: The full AimPoint system is a detailed process taught in certified clinics. The following is a simplified version to help you understand the core concepts behind what you're seeing.
This method translates the slope you feel in your feet into a definitive spot to aim your putt.
These methods are not magic wands, but they are great tools. Here are a few things to remember when you start trying them out.
Start by incorporating just one of these methods into your practice routine. You may find that plumb-bobbing is great for double-checking putts that look deceptively straight, while the AimPoint provides a fantastic starting point for medium-length breaking putts.
So, the next time you see a golfer hold up their fingers, you’ll know it’s not for show. They are using proven systems like plumb-bobbing or AimPoint Express as visual tools to transform a guess about the break into a confident, decisive aim point, giving them the best possible chance to hole the putt.
Of course, building new skills and having confidence in your reads takes practice. While a tool can't read the green for you, having reliable feedback can accelerate your learning. When you find yourself in a head-scratching situation on the course, I can provide instant, on-demand strategic advice. You can snap a photo of a tricky lie or describe a difficult putt, and I will offer a clear recommendation and a simple plan, helping you feel more confident over every single shot–without feeling stuck or alone. Think of it as having your own tour-level golf mind like Caddie AI in your pocket to make sense of any challenge a course can throw your way.
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