What is a stimpmeter and how is it used?
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 is a stimpmeter and how does it work?
Dec 23, 2021 · A stimpmeter is a device used to measure the speed of putting surfaces. It was originally invented by Edward S. Stimpson in the 1930s. His version was made of wood and was in effect simply a chute down which a golf ball would roll onto the putting surface. The design has been updated and modern stimpmeters are made of aluminium.
What are typical PGA Tour green speeds?
Aug 29, 2003 · 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).
How to measure green speed?
It’s truthfully just a small ramp that the golf ball rolls down. The course’s superintendent or a tournament official will measure the green speed by rolling the balls down the ramp and then only a flat part of the green. Then, depending on how far the ball rolls after the ramp, the stimp rating can be determined.
What is 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 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. 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.Feb 4, 2021
How fast is 13 on the Stimpmeter?
"This green's stimp rating is 11." 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 is the average speed of a golf green?
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.Jun 17, 2017
What does a Stimpmeter look like?
The Stimpmeter is an extruded aluminum bar, 36 inches long, with a V-shaped groove on each side that extends along its entire length. It has two precisely milled ball-release notches, one on each side of the bar.
How high does the Stimpmeter go?
RecommendationsSpeedLengthSlow8 feet (2.4 m)Medium10 feet (3.0 m)Fast12 feet (3.7 m)
What is a fast green in golf?
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.Jan 1, 2019
What makes a golf green fast?
Resiliency, uniformity, smoothness, and firmness contribute to overall green speed. Resiliency is the capacity of the turf to absorb shock and affects the ability of a putting green to hold a properly struck golf shot. Uniformity implies that each green on a course and all areas of each green putt the same.Nov 10, 2016
How do you use a golf Stimpmeter?
0:433:14Fore 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.
What is the Stimpmeter at the US Open?
A stimpmeter is a ramp-style device with a notch and a golf ball is placed into this notch. Gravity will pull the ball out when the device is gradually raised to a 20˚ angle. When the ball rolls out, the distance to which the ball rolls to in feet determines how fast the green is.Apr 25, 2021
How do you measure green speed with a Stimpmeter?
1:445:04Stimpmeter - how to measure green speed. - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhen you lift it up to 22 degrees the ball will roll off and the gravity takes over you'd roll theMoreWhen you lift it up to 22 degrees the ball will roll off and the gravity takes over you'd roll the ball down three times and it's where the ball.
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 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 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 Are Green Speeds?
It’s all fine and well saying that this is a device that measures the green speed, however, if you’re still scratching your head, going into more detail about the stimpmeter isn’t going to clear anything up.
The History of Stimpmeters
The original stimpmeter was designed by Edward Stimpson SR, a golfer in 1935. He was an amateur state golfer in Massachusetts and used to be the Harvard team captain.
How Does A Stimpmeter Work?
Stimpmeters themselves are very non-technical. They look very similar to a yardstick, except with a V-shaped track down the middle measuring about 3 yards.
Changing Green Speeds
Generally, over time, stimp ratings have been getting a lot higher. This means that there has been a drastic change in green speeds and how fast your game of golf is going to be able to go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Honestly the easiest answer is no, not really. They don’t really sell any official stimpmeters, typically because a good course is going to have its own, and very few people have their own at-home golf courses.
Bottom Line
There’s not really much more to report on stomping, but now you have the information you’ll be able to share it with your friends next time you’re watching the gold.
What Is A Stimpmeter
In short, a stimpmeter is a device that is used to measure the speed of a golf green. This green speed refers to how quickly the ball will travel across a green when a putt is taken.
How It Works
A stimpmeter is essentially a small track that guides a ball down a ramp and out onto the green. To use a stimpmeter you must first setup the meter at a 22 degree angle.
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.
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.
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.
What is fast on a 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 fast are greens rolling?
But if it rolls out 12 feet, the greens are rolling fast and would be a 12. Typically, whoever is calculating the speed will roll the ball in several directions to account for any slope or grain as well. They might also use it on different greens as well to ensure the speed is nearly the same throughout.
Why are slow greens more challenging?
Slower greens are more challenging for good players because you have to hit it harder which usually means more bumps along the way to the hole. This gives it a higher chance of getting off line and not ending up in the hole.
What is the average pace of putting green?
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.
When did the USGA update the stimp?
When the USGA updated the stimp in 2012 they also added a feature on the reverse side of the ramp. Since a lot of courses don’t have 10+ feet of flat areas, they made it so that you can roll the golf ball half as far and then double it to calculate the pace.
Is the stimp still used?
In 2013, the USGA rolled out the latest version of the stimp and is still used today but hasn’t changed much since its original design nearly a century ago. Originally, it was a 36” wooden tool and has since evolved into an aluminum device. The tool itself is very non-technical.
Who invented the stimpmeter?
History of Stimpmeter. According to Wikipedia, the original stimpmeter was designed by a golfer named Edward Stimpson SR. in 1935. He was a Massachusetts state amateur golfer and former Harvard team captain who first got the idea to measure green speed after watching the 1935 U.S. Open at Oakmont.
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).
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.
How to start a golf game?
To start, take your putter and three golf balls from the bag. Find a long stretch of open green and hit some long putts from one side of the green to the other. It is typical for most golfers to start out with short putts, but you will get far more benefit from rolling long putts at this point.
How far should you drop your golf balls from the cup?
Finally, it is time to hit some short putts. Drop your golf balls at around 3'-4' from the cup and knock them in one at a time. Short putts don't change much based on the speed of the greens, but you do need to be careful not to be too aggressive when the greens are fast.
How to mark a starting point on a putting green?
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.
How high are the greens in the PGA Tour?
For comparison's sake, the greens on a typical public golf course “Stimp” at about 8 – 8.5”. On the PGA Tour, greens are routinely 11' – 12', and sometimes 14' or higher for the Masters, U.S. Open and a few other events.
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'.
