Most public courses range from 8.5 to 10.5 dependent upon a number of factors. Most PGA Tour greens stimp out around 11 and Major Championship courses run between 11.5 and 13.0. Pro Putt Systems Greens run just about 11.
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.
What is the average number of stims on a golf course?
Most public courses range from 8.5 to 10.5 dependent upon a number of factors. Most PGA Tour greens stimp out around 11 and Major Championship courses run between 11.5 and 13.0. Pro Putt Systems Greens run just about 11. Legend has it Mr. Stimpson attended the US Open at Oakmont where he watched Gene Sarazen putt a ball off the green.
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.
What is a stimp rating on a golf green?
How far the golf ball rolls across the green results in the "Stimp rating" of the green. Stimp ratings in the single digits are considered slow to moderate-paced greens; Stimp ratings in the double digits are considered quick to fast greens.
What is the stimp at the average course?
A typical golf club usually aims for a Stimpmeter reading of 9 or 10. This is generally considered to be the goldilocks zone of green speeds; not too fast, not too slow. For golfing competitions, it's not uncommon to see stimpmeter readings creep up to 11 or 12, which is the average stimpmeter reading on the PGA Tour.
What is the average stimp reading on PGA Tour?
The average pace is usually around 9 for the average putting green on most municipal golf courses and 11 or above for PGA Tour events. Golf courses in the United States tend to have faster greens than ones in Europe due to the type of grass and typical weather conditions.
What is considered fast on the Stimpmeter?
A 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. Most PGA Tour venues have green speeds of around 12.
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 is Augusta on the Stimpmeter?
It is thought they can peak around 15 on the stimpmeter. Although 12 feet may not sound ridiculous, Augusta's greens are some of the most undulating greens on the planet and with the challenge of severe putting slopes, you can see why the professionals give the place so much respect.
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 fast are average greens I?
JPG. The average green speed on the PGA Tour is about 11 or above, which is significantly quicker than a regular golf club. One event that has always been associated with fast greens is The Masters and we have seen many players over the years struggle on the putting surfaces at Augusta National.
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.
Can golf greens be too fast?
Trying to make greens faster than they should be leads to higher maintenance costs, turf damage, lost hole locations, and rounds of golf that are slower and less enjoyable.
What is stimp speed?
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.
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.
What do green ratings mean?
The Green Rating was developed with you in mind. This rating, on a scale of 60–99, provides a comprehensive measure of a school's performance as an environmentally aware and prepared institution.
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 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 does the higher the stimp mean?
The Higher the Stimp Rating, the Faster the Greens. The stimp rating of green is given in the form of a number, which can be a single digit or reach into the lower teens. The key concept is this: The lower the stimp, the slower the greens. The higher the stimp, the faster the greens.
How low can a green stimp?
Today it is almost unheard of for major championship greens to stimp lower than 11 or 10, unless weather conditions, such as high winds in the British Open, make such speeds unfair or even unplayable.
What is the fastest green speed?
The higher the stimp, the faster the greens. A 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. Most PGA Tour venues have green speeds of around 12.
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 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.
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 long is a golf ball track?
The track is a total of 36 inches long and the notch for the golf ball is exactly 30 inches from the lower end of the track. The angle of the track and the distance from the notch where the golf ball rests prior to release create a known velocity and the resulting distance the ball rolls is a precise measurement.
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.
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.
How long is a stimpmeter?
Here are some specifics about how the Stimpmeter is built and works: Stimpmeters were originally wooden, modern Stimpmeters are made of aluminum. They are 36 inches long. Working on a flat portion of the green, the superintendent or other course or tournament official places a golf ball at one end in a notch about six inches from that end.
When did the USGA start using the stimpmeter?
In 1978 , the Stimpmeter was finally adopted by the USGA for use at golf courses around the United States, and the American governing body began making them available to courses, along with instructing superintendents in their use. The Stimpmeter's use spread around the world in the years after.
Why did Stimpson measure green speed?
Open at Oakmont Country Club, Stimpson realized that golf course superintendents needed a way to measure green speeds in order to ensure that each green on a golf course rolled at the same speed.
What is a stimpmeter?
Updated April 09, 2018. A Stimpmeter is a simple tool used to measure the speed of putting greens: how easily a golf ball rolls across the surface of the green . The Stimpmeter is a very low-tech device, essentially just a small metal ramp that is angled down to a flat part of a putting green.
What does the groove on the stimpmeter mean?
There is a groove, or channel, down the center of the Stimpmeter, which keeps the ball on track as it rolls down. When the golf ball exits the ramp, it rolls out across the green. How far the ball rolls before stopping becomes the "Stimp rating," indicating green speed.
Who invented the stimpmeter?
That is, its name comes from the name of its inventor. The inventor of the Stimpmeter was Edward S. Stimpson. Stimpson was an accomplished amateur golfer; he won the Massachusetts Amateur Championship in 1935. And that was the same year Stimpson invented the simple tool for determining green speeds that bear his name.
Do putting greens have flat areas?
But in 2012, a small modification was made to take into account the fact that modern putting greens sometimes don't have flat areas large enough to allow a full roll-out by a golf ball released from a Stimpmeter. Today there is another notch on the reverse side of the Stimpmeter, halfway down the ramp.
What Is a Stimpmeter?
A Stimpmeter is a simple device used to measure the speed of a putting green. It is a three-foot (36 inches) long extruded aluminum bar with a V-shaped groove extending its entire length. At one end of the bar is a little notch for placing the ball, positioned approximately 30 inches from the end that rests on the ground.
How Does a Stimpmeter Work?
You start by finding a flat piece of green and placing a golf ball in the notch of the Stimpmeter. Then, keeping the other end to the ground, you slowly raise the ball end.
What is Considered a Good Stimpmeter Reading?
A typical golf club usually aims for a Stimpmeter reading of 9 or 10. This is generally considered to be the goldilocks zone of green speeds; not too fast, not too slow.
How Fast are the Masters Greens?
At Augusta National, the beautiful, uniquely challenging home of the Masters, things work a little differently. Quite simply, Augusta National authorities don’t publish or reveal Stimpmeter readings, and they don’t let anyone take a formal stimp reading.
Who Invented the Stimpmeter?
The Stimpmeter is named after Edward S. Stimpson, an accomplished amateur golfer who created a simple but lasting legacy of green speed reading.
Final Thoughts
Other than that, the design of the stimpmeter remains more or less unchanged. Thanks to Stimpson, ground keepers everywhere have a reliable way of monitoring green speeds, allowing a more regulated and balanced playing field across the world of golf.
What are green speeds in golf?
Green speeds in golf are a measure of how quickly a golf ball will roll on a putting surface on a golf course. In major championship golf, host courses typically play with faster green speeds than standard professional tournaments (though that's not always true).
How does a Stimpmeter measure green speeds?
Particularly during major championships, you might hear a commentator or see a graphic mention the word Stimpmeter in conjunction with green speeds. Usually it's something like, "The greens are running an 11 on the Stimpmeter today."
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.
How fast does the green go on the stimpmeter?
For the Masters, US Open, The Players and PGA Championship, the green speeds usually get anywhere from 13 to 14 on the Stimpmeter.
What is the goal of the PGA Tour?
Each week, the PGA Tour sets up its golf courses with the goal of identifying the world's best players while being fair, respecting the design and features of the host course (s) and creating a sense of drama for PGA Tour fans. Some weeks, the golf courses are a little easier, meaning scores go lower and it takes more birdies and eagles to win.
Is golf course easier to play?
Some weeks, the golf courses are a little easier, meaning scores go lower and it takes more birdies and eagles to win. Some weeks, the golf course is a difficult test, and the Tour sets up the course to reflect its natural challenge.
Is green speed faster on a stimpmeter?
Green speeds are closer to a 10 on the Stimpmeter there. As recently as a decade ago, green speeds were about a whole Stimpmeter point slower. However, championship-level golf has become increasingly obsessed with chasing green speeds as agronomy continues to improve, enabling setup crews to pursue faster greens.