The person using the Stimpmeter slowly raises that end (by hand) until, when the device reaches an angle of 22 degrees, gravity causes the golf ball to release from the notch. There is a groove, or channel, down the center of the Stimpmeter, which keeps the ball on track as it rolls down.
How is the Stimpmeter measured on a golf course?
A golf course's superintendent or tournament officials measure green speed by rolling balls down the Stimpmeter onto a flat part of a green. How far the balls roll determines the stimp rating. If a ball rolls 11 feet after leaving the ramp, that green is stimping at 11.
How do you use a stimpmeter golf ball?
Holding the Stimpmeter by the notched end (use the standard “1X,” full-length notch on the top side of the Stimpmeter), rest the tapered end on the ground beside the tee, and aim it in the direction you intend to roll the ball. Place the ball in the notch and slowly raise the end until the ball releases.
How do golf courses measure green speed?
A golf course's superintendent or tournament officials measure green speed by rolling balls down the Stimpmeter onto a flat part of a green. How far the balls roll determines the stimp rating. If a ball rolls 11 feet after leaving the ramp, that green is stimping at 11. Yes, it really is that simple.
How do you roll a golf ball down a track?
A metal “track” would hold the golf ball and the golf ball would rest in a notch in the track until the device reached an angle of 20 degrees. Once 20 degrees was reached the golf ball would come out of the small notch and roll down the track.
How does a Stimpmeter work in golf?
The Stimpmeter is a simple, accurate device manufac- tured by the USGA that allows one to make a standard measurement of, and place a numerical figure on, the speed of a putting green. It does so by measuring ball roll distance.
How fast is 13 on the Stimpmeter?
lightning-fastA green speed of 7 is generally considered very slow and is slower than a green speed of 9 (a moderate speed). A stimp rating of 13 or 14 is considered lightning-fast.
What is considered fast on the Stimpmeter?
What is fast on the stimpmeter? Fast or slow is arbitrary but in general, anything over an 11 is considered fast amongst most golfers. Some of the fastest green readings are around 14 or 15 (like Augusta National) and are nearly impossible to putt on for most amateur golfers as the golf ball rolls forever.
How does a stint meter work?
0:214:00What is a Stimpmeter? | Golf Digest - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd you measure the average distance that the ball rolls that way and then you combine the twoMoreAnd you measure the average distance that the ball rolls that way and then you combine the two numbers and divide them by two and that's the putting speed of the green.
What is the average Stimpmeter?
When the USGA introduced the Stimpmeter in 1978, it had just completed a year-long test of 581 courses. It found the average green speed to be about 6.5. Less than 2 percent of the 2,116 measurements recorded were higher than 9.
How fast are Augusta greens?
This ramp style device has a notch and the ball is pulled out of that notch by gravity when the device is slowly raised to an angle of about 20°, rolling onto the green at a repeatable velocity of 6.00 feet per second.
Why are PGA greens so fast?
On the PGA Tour circuit, green speeds also have become more consistent from one course to the next. The result is better ball roll and a more predictable playing surface. That means golfers can make a more uniform putting stroke, with fewer adjustments for surface conditions.
How can I get my golf greens faster?
To balance green speed and turf health, it is recommended to mow as high as possible to achieve the desired green speed, which preserves extra leaf material for photosynthesis and growth. Increasing mowing frequency is another common method to improve surface quality and increase green speed.
How do you read green speed?
5 Ways to Read The Green For Speed and BreakStep 1 – Find the straight putt. ... Step 2 – Gauge the slope of the green. ... Step 3 – View the green from around the hole. ... Step 4 – View the green from where you are going to hit the ball. ... Step 5 – Visualize the path of the ball.
How do you use a Stimpmeter?
1:013:14Fore the Golfer: Use of a Stimpmeter - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe first step of measure in green speed is to roll three golf balls in one direction on a levelMoreThe first step of measure in green speed is to roll three golf balls in one direction on a level area of the. Green. The average distance of the three rolls is then measured.
How is a hole location determined on a green?
More specifically, Rule 15-3(ii) recommends that holes should be placed "at least four paces from any edge of the putting green," and even farther if there's a sand trap near the edge or if the area surrounding the green's edge slopes downward.
What is a stent meter?
A stimpmeter is a device that is used to detect the speed of a putting green. The device gets its name from its inventor, a gentleman named Edward Stimpson. Stimpson was a ranked amateur golfer from my home State of Massachusetts.
What are Stimpmeter readings?
0:093:14Fore the Golfer: Use of a Stimpmeter - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipReading the stem meter is a tool used by golf course superintendents to make a standard measurementMoreReading the stem meter is a tool used by golf course superintendents to make a standard measurement of the relative speed and uniformity of the putting greens.
What do green speed numbers mean?
The "stimp" or "stimp rating" of a putting green is a numerical value that represents how fast the golf ball rolls on the putting surface. Golfers call this rating the green speed. That value is based on a measurement taken with a simple instrument called a Stimpmeter (hence the terms stimp and stimp rating).
What course has the fastest greens?
Oakmont Country ClubRecommendations. The greens at Oakmont Country Club (where the device was conceived) are some of the fastest in the world, with readings of 15 feet (4.6 m).
How do you read green speed?
5 Ways to Read The Green For Speed and BreakStep 1 – Find the straight putt. ... Step 2 – Gauge the slope of the green. ... Step 3 – View the green from around the hole. ... Step 4 – View the green from where you are going to hit the ball. ... Step 5 – Visualize the path of the ball.
How to measure the speed of a green?
You place a ball in the hole and slowly lift that end of the stimpmeter (resting the other end on the ground). You eventually reach a point when the ball rolls out of the hole – let it travel down the stimpmeter and onto the green. You then measure from the bottom end of the stimpmeter to the where the ball came to rest – this is your first reading for the speed of the greens.
What is a stimpmeter?
A stimpmeter offers greenkeepers a way of monitoring the pace of their putting surfaces. For any venue hosting the world’s best players like Augusta National, this is a vital piece of kit both in the build up and during the tournament itself. A stimpmeter is a relatively primitive contraption – a long narrow metal tray with a hole in one end, ...
Why do greenkeepers use stimpmeters?
A stimpmeter is useful for greenkeepers to be able to check the pace of their greens. This is particularly important at links venues where strong winds can occasionally make overly fast greens unplayable. Being able to test and then adjust the green speed is a way of ensuring the greens are playable everyday.
How has the stimp rating changed in golf?
Stimp Ratings Have Changed in Golf Over the Years. In general, stimp rating s have gotten higher, meaning the green speeds have gotten faster over the years since the Stimpmeter was invented in the 1930s and since the United States Golf Association adopted the tool for measuring green speeds in the 1970s. For example, in 1978 the greens ...
What does it mean when a golfer talks about how fast the greens are?
When golfers talk about how fast the greens are or the speed of the greens, they are referring to how easily the golf ball rolls across the green and, therefore, how hard they have to putt the ball to reach the hole.
What does a putting green's stimp mean?
The "stimp" or "stimp rating" of a putting green is a numerical value that represents how fast the golf ball rolls on the putting surface. Golfers call this rating the green speed.
What was the green speed in the Masters in 1978?
For example, in 1978 the greens at Augusta National, host course of The Masters, stimped below 8; by 2017, greens speeds at The Masters were typically around 12 or higher, depending on weather conditions. In 1978, the greens at Oakmont, which has been host to the U.S. Open numerous times, stimped below 10; by 2017, they were 13 or higher.
What is a stimpmeter?
The Stimpmeter is a device used to measure the speed of a golf course putting green by applying a known velocity to a golf ball and measuring the distance traveled in feet.
Who invented the golf putt?
It was designed in 1935 by golfer Edward S. Stimpson, Sr. (1904–1985). The Massachusetts state amateur champion and former Harvard golf team captain, Stimpson was a spectator at the 1935 U.S. Open at Oakmont near Pittsburgh, where the winning score was 299 (+11). After witnessing a putt by a top professional ( Gene Sarazen, a two-time champion) roll off a green, Stimpson was convinced the greens were unreasonably fast, but wondered how he could prove it. He developed a device, made of wood, now known as the Stimpmeter, which is an angled track that releases a ball at a known velocity so that the distance it rolls on a green's surface can be measured.
Can you measure greens in the USGA handbook?
One problem is finding a near level surface as required in the USGA handbook. Many greens cannot be correctly measured as there may not be an area where the measured distance or green speed in opposing directions is less than a foot, particularly when they are very fast and thus require a very long level surface.
What is a stimpmeter?
One of the most significant aspects of a golf course is the uniformity of its putting greens. The Stimpmeter is a simple, accurate device to measure green speed.
Why is it important to know the speed of a putting green?
Knowing the speed of a putting green may assist in determining whether a hole location will give fair results. A green so fast, or a hole cut in such a position, that a ball cannot be stopped near the hole from any point on the green, for example, is an unfair challenge.
What is the stimp reading for a golf ball?
The distance the ball rolls on the green once it has left the track is the “Stimp” reading. For example, if the ball rolls an average of 11.2 feet then the stimp reading would be 11.2.
What is the name of the device that measures the speed of a putting green?
The Official Name is Actually “Stimpmeter”. A stimpmeter is a device that is used to detect the speed of a putting green. The device gets its name from its inventor, a gentleman named Edward Stimpson. Stimpson was a ranked amateur golfer from my home State of Massachusetts.
How many rolls of stimps are required for a golf course?
The USGA governs the rules of official stimp readings. In order for a reading to be official the test must be done on a flat part of a green and at least 3 rolls or stimp tests in either direction must be performed. The average of the tests is the official stimpmeter reading of that particular golf course, for that particular cut, on that day.
How many degrees does a golf ball roll down a track?
A metal “track” would hold the golf ball and the golf ball would rest in a notch in the track until the device reached an angle of 20 degrees. Once 20 degrees was reached the golf ball would come out of the small notch and roll down the track.
How far apart do you have to rest golf balls for a stimpmeter?
The three balls tested in either direction must come to rest within 8 inches of each other for the result to be official.
When was the stimpmeter invented?
USGA Acceptance of The Stimpmeter. Although the device was invented in 1938 , the USGA adopted the stimpmeter in 1976 when it was first used for The US Open at Atlanta Athletic Club. The official United States Golf Association stimpmeters are not sold to the general public.
Who was the golfer who watched Gene Sarazen putt a ball off the green?
Legend has it Mr. Stimpson attended the US Open at Oakmont where he watched Gene Sarazen putt a ball off the green. Mr. Stimpson felt as though the green was far too fast. So he decided he would invent a device to officially calculate the speed of greens.
What is a stimpmeter?
It's called a Stimpmeter. It's an ingeniously simple device – basically, a notched, V-shaped metal rail. The USGA sells its official Stimpmeter only to golf course superintendents or managers, so you'll have to obtain one through other means (such as an online auction site or retailer).
How to mark a starting point for a putting test?
One easy way to mark your starting point is by placing a tee into the putting surface. Place the ball into the notch in the Stimpmeter, and raise the device slowly until the ball falls out of the notch and rolls away. When the ball has come to a rest, measure the distance that it has traveled. This is your first reading.
What makes a greens putt faster?
Strong winds. Unlike the first two points on our list, wind is one weather condition that will actually serve to speed up the greens. If a strong wind kicks up during your round, moisture is going to be pulled out of the putting surfaces – and your putts will become faster as a result.
What happens when you start a golf round early?
Dew evaporation. When you start your round early in the day, you may encounter some dew on the first few holes. This dew is not a big deal, although it will cause the greens to be a bit slower than they would be otherwise. Of course, that means the greens are going to speed up as the day goes on and the dew evaporates away. As you see the dew get lighter and lighter, plan on the greens playing faster as a result.
How to determine green speed?
To come to a final determination on green speed, add up these numbers and divide by six. This number, stated in feet, is the speed of the green according to the Stimpmeter. You will often hear golfers refer to green speeds by just stating a single number, such as when somebody says the greens are 'running at a 10'.
When was the Stimpmeter invented?
The Stimpmeter is a piece of golf maintenance equipment that was developed in 1935 by a man named Edward Stimpson. The device is extremely simple, and it has a very simple job to do. Basically, up until 1935, there was no way to accurately measure the speed of the greens on a golf course.
Why is my golf green so fast?
On the other hand, a green which is sitting up on a perch will usually be fast due to a lack of water and the drying effects of the wind. Experienced golfers look at not only the green itself to get a read, but also at the surrounding terrain.
