Jackson Reid
The stimpmeter, often shortened to 'stimp', is a device used to measure the speed of a golf course putting green. It was designed in 1935 by golfer Edward S. Stimpson, Sr. and is considered the gold standard for measuring green speeds. The device measures 36 inches (91 cm) in length and has a V-shaped chute down which a golf ball can roll. The speed of the green is determined by measuring the distance travelled by the ball in feet after it is released from the stimpmeter.
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What You'll Learn
The stimpmeter measures the speed of greens
The stimpmeter, often shortened to 'stimp', is a device used to measure the speed of greens on a golf course. It takes its name from its inventor, Edward S. Stimpson, who first created a wooden version of the device in the 1930s. The modern stimpmeter is made of aluminium and measures 36 inches (91 cm) in length. It features a V-shaped chute down which a golf ball can roll and has two notches to rest the ball, one 30 inches from the tapered end and the other 14 inches from the end.
To measure the speed of a green, a flat area is selected, and a golf ball is placed on the notch that is 30 inches from the end, also known as the 1X notch. The stimpmeter is then slowly lifted, allowing the ball to roll onto the green at a repeatable velocity of 6.00 ft/s (1.83 m/s). The distance travelled by the ball in feet is the 'speed' of the green. This process is repeated three times, and the average of these three measurements is taken.
The stimpmeter is a crucial tool for greenkeepers and course managers, who aim to maintain a consistent speed across the entire course. An average speed for a green is considered to be around nine or 10, while tour professionals may putt on surfaces with stimpmeter readings of 13 or higher. The stimpmeter allows for an accurate assessment of the speed of greens, ensuring a fair playing field for golfers and helping to inform strategy and play.
The stimpmeter has become an essential tool in the golf world, providing valuable information about the playing conditions of a course. It has been continuously refined since its inception, with new technologies such as the USGA's GS3 smart ball further enhancing the understanding of green speeds. The stimpmeter remains the gold standard for measuring green speeds and is an enduring legacy of Stimpson's invention.
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It was invented by Edward S. Stimpson in 1935
The stimpmeter, often shortened to 'stimp', is a device used to measure the speed of a golf course putting green. It was invented by golfer Edward S. Stimpson, Sr. in 1935, though some sources state that it was invented in 1936. Stimpson was a Massachusetts resident, a golf fan, and a Massachusetts state amateur champion and former Harvard golf team captain. He was inspired to invent the stimpmeter after witnessing a putt by top professional Gene Sarazen roll off the green at the 1935 U.S. Open at Oakmont near Pittsburgh. Stimpson was convinced that the greens were unreasonably fast and wanted to find a way to prove it.
Stimpson's original stimpmeter was made of wood and was a simple chute for a ball to roll down. It was 3 feet long, slightly less than 2 inches wide, and held approximately 15 inches off the ground. The device was designed to release a ball at a known velocity so that the distance it rolled on a green's surface could be measured. This allowed greenkeepers and course managers to ensure that greens were running at a consistent speed across the entire course.
The stimpmeter was redesigned in 1976 by Frank Thomas of the United States Golf Association (USGA) and made of aluminium. This new version was first used by the USGA during the 1976 U.S. Open in Atlanta and made available to golf course superintendents in 1978. The USGA also created a third-generation device in 2013, which featured a second hole for a shorter run-out.
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The device is made from aluminium
The Stimpmeter is a device used to measure the speed of a golf course putting green. It was designed in 1935 by golfer Edward S. Stimpson, Sr., a former Harvard golf team captain. The original Stimpmeter was made of wood and was 30 inches long with a notch where a golf ball would sit. In 1976, it was redesigned using aluminium by Frank Thomas of the United States Golf Association (USGA).
The modern aluminium Stimpmeter measures 36 inches (91 cm) in length and has a V-shaped chute down which a golf ball can roll. It is designed with two notches on which a ball can rest. One of these notches is 30 inches from the tapered end that rests on the ground, and the other is 14 inches from the end. The tapered end is designed to reduce the bounce of the ball as it rolls onto the green.
To measure the speed of the green, a flat area is selected. A golf ball is placed on the notch that is 30 inches from the end, and that end of the Stimpmeter is slowly lifted to an angle of about 20 degrees, causing the ball to roll onto the green at a repeatable velocity of 6.00 ft/s (1.83 m/s). The distance travelled by the ball in feet is the 'speed' of the putting green. This process is repeated three times, and the average of these three measurements is taken.
The Stimpmeter has become the gold standard for measuring green speeds and is often referred to simply as the "Stimp". Greenkeepers and course managers aim to have greens running at a consistent speed across the entire course. The Stimpmeter allows them to ensure that the greens are playing at the desired speed, which can vary depending on the event and the time of year.
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It's 36 inches long with a V-shaped chute
The stimpmeter, often shortened to 'stimp', is a device used to measure the speed of greens on a golf course. It was designed in 1935 by golfer Edward S. Stimpson, Sr. (1904–1985). The device takes its name from its inventor, Edward S. Stimpson. Stimpson, a former captain of the Harvard golf team, created a wooden version of the stimpmeter, which was effectively a chute for a golf ball to roll down.
Modern stimpmeters are made of aluminium and are 36 inches (91 cm) long. They feature a 145° V-shaped groove that extends along the entire length of the device. This groove supports the ball at two points, 0.50 inches (1.27 cm) apart. The V-shaped groove or chute allows the ball to roll out at a consistent velocity, ensuring accurate measurements.
The stimpmeter is placed on a flat area of the green, with one end of the device slowly raised to an angle of about 20 degrees. This action causes the ball to roll out of the notch at a repeatable velocity of 6.00 ft/s (1.83 m/s). The distance travelled by the ball in feet is then measured and represents the speed of the green. This process is repeated three times, and the average distance is calculated.
The stimpmeter is a simple yet innovative tool that has become the gold standard for measuring green speeds. It helps greenkeepers and course managers maintain consistent speeds across the golf course, providing valuable information about how the course is playing on a given day.
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Stimpmeter readings: what's slow, average, and fast?
The stimpmeter, often shortened to 'stimp', is a device used to measure the speed of a golf course putting green. It was designed in 1935 by golfer Edward S. Stimpson, Sr. The device takes its name from its inventor. In the 1930s, Stimpson created a wooden version that was, in effect, a chute for a golf ball to roll down. Modern stimpmeters are made of aluminium.
A higher stimp rating indicates faster greens, while a lower rating points to slower greens. The stimp rating is determined by releasing a golf ball at a consistent angle and measuring its roll distance. The farther the ball rolls, the faster the green.
On the PGA Tour, greens typically run between 10.5 and 12 on the stimpmeter. Major championships like the U.S. Open or Masters can see greens rolling at 13 or higher. The fastest greens ever recorded have stimped at 15 or higher, which is practically like putting on glass. Augusta National’s greens during The Masters are legendary for their blazing speeds, rumoured to stimp well over 14 in some years.
A stimpmeter reading of 12.0 or above is considered extremely fast and is generally reserved for championship golf events for elite players. A speed of 11.0 is very fast and is usually reserved for highly rated private country clubs. A speed of 10.0 is considered manageable for higher handicap golfers. If the greens at your golf club are running at around nine or 10, that would be considered average.
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Frequently asked questions
A stimpmeter, often shortened to 'stimp', is a device used to measure the speed of a golf course putting green.
A stimpmeter 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. The speed of the green is measured in Stimps, which is the average distance a golf ball rolls off the stimpmeter in feet.
Most everyday golfers encounter greens with a Stimp reading in the eight-to-10 range, while the typical PGA Tour event is around 12. The higher the Stimp, the faster the green.
The stimpmeter was invented in 1935 by golfer Edward S. Stimpson, Sr. (1904–1985).
