Stimpmeter Explained: What is a Stimpmeter and How Does it Work?

Stimpmeter Explained: What is a Stimpmeter and How Does it Work?

By Bradley Turner, Keiser University College of Golf Executive Director – MBA, PGA

If you are like most avid golfers, you enjoy putting on pristine and fast greens. Fast greens are a golfer’s delight but a green superintendent’s nightmare as it is difficult to keep putting greens at a speed we see on television every week on the PGA Tour. The search for better and faster-putting surfaces has led to innovative grasses along with agronomy practices that have made most golf course putting surfaces much better and faster than greens from 50 years ago.

What is the Stimpmeter?

A stimpmeter is a device used by golf course superintendents to measure the speed of the greens. Edward Stimpson created the first stimpmeter in the 1930s primarily out of curiosity. As the Massachusetts Amateur Champion, Stimpson knew a thing or two about the game. He would often wonder if certain greens on the course were faster than others. Knowing this information would be a competitive advantage for sure. He built the stimpmeter to achieve accurate, objective, and valid information on putting green speeds. The device is similar to a yardstick but with a V-shaped groove in the middle to allow the ball to roll down in a consistent and repetitive manner. Stimpson put a notch at the top of the device so that when it was raised to approximately 20 degrees from the putting surface, gravity would pull the ball off the notch and down the V-shaped groove.

USGA Acceptance of The Stimpmeter

The Stimpmeter wasn’t officially adopted by the United States Golf Association (USGA) until 1976, after improvements made by USGA technical director Frank Thomas. Once introduced, the Stimpmeter became a standardized method for assessing green conditions, ensuring consistency across courses and tournaments. Before its adoption, green speed was largely subjective, varying greatly from course to course. With the Stimpmeter, golf course superintendents could fine-tune greens to meet specific standards, improving fairness in competition. Today, it remains a crucial tool for maintaining playing conditions, used in everything from local courses to major championships like the U.S. Open.

What Is a Stimp and Stimp Rating?

If you’ve ever stepped onto a slick, glassy green and thought, Wow, these greens are rolling fast today, you’re talking about the stimp rating. The stimp (short for Stimpmeter) is the measurement of green speed, telling golfers how quickly a ball rolls across the putting surface. A higher stimp rating means lightning-fast greens, while a lower rating indicates a slower, more forgiving pace.

The stimp rating is determined using a Stimpmeter, a simple device that releases a golf ball at a consistent angle to measure its roll distance. When pros and superintendents discuss course conditions, you’ll hear phrases like:

• “What’s the stimp today?”
• “These greens are stimping at 11.5—better keep the putts light!”
• “With a stimp rating of 12, these greens are like putting on marble.”

Knowing the stimp can help you adjust your stroke, avoid three-putts, and master the speed of any green.

Stimpmeter Readings

A Stimpmeter reading is taken by rolling a golf ball down a fixed ramp at a set angle and measuring how far it travels on the putting surface. The farther the ball rolls, the faster the green. Depending on your touch, fast greens can be a dream or nightmare. A good rule of thumb? The faster the greens, the softer the hands. Understanding Stimpmeter readings helps golfers adjust their putting stroke and approach for more precision and control on the greens.

Average Stimpmeter Readings

Most everyday golfers will encounter greens that stimp between 8 and 10, which provides a fair balance of speed and challenge. These are considered medium-paced greens and are typical at public courses, municipal layouts, and even some private clubs. At this speed, golfers need a controlled stroke—firm enough to reach the hole but not so aggressive that they blow it past.

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. Knowing what to expect based on Stimpmeter readings helps golfers fine-tune their putting strategy—because nothing’s worse than being caught off guard by lightning-fast or sticky-slow greens.

Highest Stimpmeter Readings

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, rumored to stimp well over 14 in some years.

One of the most infamous examples of extreme green speeds was at Oakmont Country Club, where greens have been known to exceed 15 on the Stimpmeter. In conditions like these, even the slightest misread can send the ball rolling well past the hole—or even off the green entirely. If you ever find yourself on a green that’s stimping near 14, just remember: touch is everything, and downhill putts are deadly.

How to Use a Stimpmeter

The USGA has outlined a six-step process for using a stimpmeter. You can purchase one from the USGA for about $50, so every golf course should have this simple device for the green superintendent to measure and record the speed of the greens.

Step 1 – Find as flat a surface as possible on the green to be measured.

Step 2 – Identify the starting point of the measurement, which will be the end of the stimpmeter. Use a tee to designate the start point. Slowly raise the stimpmeter until the ball is released from the notch. Repeat with two more balls for a total of three measurements.

Step 3 – All three balls should come to rest within 8 inches of each other. If the distance is greater than 8 inches, then the procedure should be repeated to ensure that the stimpmeter was not artificially lifted past the point of the ball releasing from the notch. Assuming all three balls are within the 8-inch criteria, use a tape measure to identify the distance from the starting point to the average of the three balls. The measurement is in feet and inches.

Step 4 – This is a repeat of Step 2 but in the opposite direction.

Step 5 – This is a repeat of Step 3. If the difference between the two measurements is over 18”, then there is most likely an issue with a subtle slope or excessive grain. It is best to repeat the test on a different portion of the putting green.

Step 6 – Take the average of the two measurements. This is the speed of the greens.

How to Make a Golf Stimpmeter

Building your own Stimpmeter is a great way to measure green speeds without shelling out for an official USGA version. All you need is a smooth, straight wooden or PVC ramp, about 36 inches long, with a notch at the top to hold the golf ball. Cut the ramp at a 20-degree angle to allow the ball to roll off consistently. To use it, place the ramp on the green, release the ball from the notch, and measure how far it rolls in feet—this gives you the Stimpmeter reading.

Why DIY? Making your own Stimpmeter lets you fine-tune your home course or practice setup, helping you adjust your putting stroke for different green speeds. Plus, it’s a fun, hands-on way to understand how course conditions impact roll. If you love geeking out over green speeds, a homemade Stimpmeter is a must-have tool in your golf arsenal!

What is a Fast Green?

In 1978, the USGA standardized the stimpmeter and began taking measurements of many golf courses in America. They measured over 2,000 golf courses and found the average stimpmeter reading about 6.5. Only 2% of golf courses in 1978 had green speeds over 9.0. Greens were much slower than what we experience today. As I recall, US Open green speed was a terrifying 10 on the stimpmeter! Here is a chart to help associate the stimpmeter measurement and the green speed.

12.0+ This speed is extremely fast and generally reserved for championship golf events for elite players. We see this speed on the PGA Tour every week. Sometimes the speed exceeds 13.0 at special events like the Masters.

11.0    Highly rated private country clubs may have greens for the membership at this speed which is very fast for even Tiger Woods.

10.0    This speed makes many golfers happy as the ball rolls true and fast but is still manageable for higher handicap golfers. This is my favorite speed for putting.

 9.0     Avid golfers at public courses will be pleased to putt on greens at this speed. Greens between 9.0 and 10.0 are great for the majority of experienced golfers.

 8.0     Greens are on the slow side at this stimpmeter reading. The ball does not always roll as true due to the longer and thicker blades of grass.

7.0      Today, these are very slow greens, but, as noted above, they are close to the average green speed 50 years ago!

6.0      Too slow for enjoyable golf by most golfers.

What is the Ideal Speed for Your Home Golf Course?

The ideal speed is not PGA Tour speed. There are several factors that influence the best speed for your home golf course. The type of grass is a significant factor as certain strains can withstand lower mowing heights. Another major factor is the amount of slope or undulations that exist on your putting surfaces. The last factor to consider is the weather conditions, specifically the amount of wind that can be anticipated during the day. Playing on super-fast greens of 12.0 stimpmeter reading combined with strong winds and you will have balls blown right of the greens. The Open Championship will be held this summer at the Old Course at St. Andrews, and the best in the world can anticipate green speeds of only 10.5! This is primarily due to the potential heavy winds that could make the golf course unplayable at higher green speeds. If 10.5 is fast enough for world-class professionals, I assume it is good enough for almost everyone else.

When you watch the best in the world compete on television, remember that the golf course has been prepared to test the best in the world for one week. Once the tournament is completed, the green superintendent will breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that green speeds can be slowed back down for the average golfer.

Learn More About Golf Greens from Keiser College of Golf

Watch some of our videos from the College of Golf YouTube channel to learn more on golf greens and reading greens on the course.

How to Read Greens Like an Expert

Mastering the Green the Putting Improvement Process

Learn more!

Want more tips? If you want to take your game to the next level, contact our team at Keiser University’s College of Golf & Sport Management today. With our dedication and experience, we can elevate your game to new heights together. Give us a call today at 888-355-4465.