What's a stimp meter and what do the relative numbers mean?

A very simple device (invented by Edward Stimpson) used to measure the speed of a putting green.

It's nothing more sophisticated than a small ramp designed to propel a golf ball at a standard initial velocity across a flat, level area of the green. The distance the ball travels before coming to rest is measured quite conventionally and this distance is expressed in whole feet. Fast greens, like those of The U. S. Open, rate about a 12 to 14 feet. Medium greens are in the 8-9 feet region. Soft greens can be 6 feet of roll or lower.

Stimpson's intent was not to create a device for comparing greens at one course with greens at another. His objective was merely to allow a greenskeeper to maintain consistency from green-to-green within the same course.

Courtesy Golfglossary.com

Measures speed of green. Bit o metal like a slide, run ball down it and measure how far ball runs on "flat area of green.

Higher the number, quicker the green. 12+ is Augusta, 5 is Pontylottyn Muni!!

See, that what happen when the phone rings half way through typing the reply!

Thanks lads, thought it might be some sophisticated gizmo that belongs on Star Trek.

Nice response guys, not a lot of people know that! Only thing I'd add is that three or four balls are rolled - and then in the opposite direction - to obtain an average, just in case there's slope or grain to be considered. Ed

...and it the ball gets lost in an adjacent water hazzerd... that green is too fast!

can you buy one and test the first green with it before you play a round in competition ? might help too much ?

Hi Evan

I didn't know what a stimp meter was either!You learn something new every day.

Trickie.

Thats the beauty of this site

There have been a few criticisms of the new Golf TV channel on satellite tv but there was an interesting programme on the Stimpmeter & how it worked & some of the problems in using it with modern greens & balls.
I have never known the rating of any greens that I have played and wonder if it would be helpful to have the rating available on the first tee prior to play, after all some courses let you know where the pin is placed. What do you think?

I think it would be a good idea, you could have a notice stating slow,medium or fast for the greens that day. I think the problem is that green conditions can change rapidly, a quick downpour of rain could change the green from fast to slow in seconds. It would need constant up-dating, too much hastle for most clubs I think.

Dos that mean then,the Big Monkey and El Lione use a chimp meter?.

be wary of anyone with a Gimp-meter...

You are certainly not allowed to check the speed of the greens before a stroke play event chaps. Rule 7-2 I think.