What is the Stimp reading of my 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.
Full Answer
What is the average Stimpmeter reading on the golf course?
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. Some greens in some competitions can creep as high as 13, 14, or even 15, which is crazy fast.
What is a good stimp reading for a golf ball?
For example, if the ball rolls an average of 11.2 feet then the stimp reading would be 11.2. 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.
What is the average STIM on a PGA Tour course?
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.
What is the Stimp reading of my course?
What is the Stimp reading of my 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.
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.
What is the average Stimpmeter?
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.
How fast is 13 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.
How do you judge the speed of greens?
As you stand behind your ball reading the break, ask yourself, “What is the best speed for this putt?” If it's uphill, breaking left to right or slow greens, go on the former side. If it's downhill, breaking left to right, and slow greens, go for the trickle approach.
How fast are pro greens?
around 12Most PGA Tour venues have green speeds of around 12.
What speed are the greens at Augusta?
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.
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).
What are Stimpmeter readings?
0:074:00What is a Stimpmeter? | Golf Digest - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipExactly how fast are the greens on the course where I play most of my golf. If you watch any golf onMoreExactly how fast are the greens on the course where I play most of my golf. If you watch any golf on TV you hear commentators.
How high does the Stimpmeter go?
For professional tournaments the greens are normally made slicker and quicker, and stimpmeter readings can reach 13 or more. However the most appropriate green speed depends upon the course, in particular how contoured the greens and also how exposed they are to the wind.
How do you tell if greens are fast or slow?
Here is where I find out the green speeds – I pace off how far the balls rolled. When the greens are slow, I will only pace off 9 – 10 steps. Normally I pace off 13 – 18 steps, but I have been on greens where I have paced off 27 steps (Chicago Golf Club for those who are wondering).
How do you read the greens on a golf course?
5:216:24The Easy GOLF PUTTING LESSON to Help You Read Break - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf i'm working with blue tea if you've truly asked yourselves where is the ball going to be enteringMoreIf i'm working with blue tea if you've truly asked yourselves where is the ball going to be entering. You'll shift your eye line you'll shift your sight to this angle.
How do you measure green speed at home?
0:462:07How Golf Courses Measure Green Speeds - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPlace a golf ball in the slot raise. The back into the spent meter slowly. Until gravity pulls theMorePlace a golf ball in the slot raise. The back into the spent meter slowly. Until gravity pulls the golf ball out of the slot. Down the bar and onto the green.
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Joelle Harms is the Senior Digital Media Content Producer for North Coast Media. Harms completed her undergraduate degree at Ohio University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Creative Writing Specialization from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 the use of a stimpmeter in golf?
Have you ever felt that on particular days and on particular greens, you simply can’t putt? Well, there’s nothing wrong with that because greens change their speed very frequently. To understand these changes, Edward Stimpson got the idea for this device at the 1935 U.S. Open, when he felt the need to prove that the greens were unreasonably fast.
How is it used?
It is a three feet ‘stick’, with a notch on one of the ends. After selecting a flat area of the green, the stimpmeter is laid flat on the ground and the ball is placed in the notch. Slowly, one end of the device is lifted to form a ramp, until the angle is right and gravity propels the ball to slide down.
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Ishita Bhargava is a Golf content writer at Essentially Sports. Currently pursuing her undergraduate degree from the Shri Ram College of Commerce, she has a keen interest in sports and fitness. When not playing or watching a sports event, Ishita can be seen spending time with her pets or binge-watching.