Green Speeds

[Raptured]

I was watching the golf channel, and they kept talking about the green speeds at Baltusrol, mentioning how difficult some of the green would be if the speeds went up to 12.4 or 12.8. Does anybody know what these numbers refer to?

[Grass Roots Tour]

It refers to how far the ball rolls from the end of their inferior, dinosaur piece of equipement averaged between uphill and downhill rolls.

Dave Pelz invented a MUCH MUCH better piece which much more accurately determines the green speed but these friggin dinosaurs won't change.

[Focker Singh]

I was watching the golf channel, and they kept talking about the green speeds at Baltusrol, mentioning how difficult some of the green would be if the speeds went up to 12.4 or 12.8. Does anybody know what these numbers refer to?
The speed they are referring to is measured by a Stimp Meter. Born in 1934, Joseph Stimp was....hahaha...kidding. Not sure the history of it but it measures the speed of the green by rolling a ball from a special "stick" and seeing how far it rolls. I believe it refers to how many feet the ball rolls. The "stick" promotes true roll without side spin or backspin. So the higher the reading the faster the greens. An average green usually rolls about 8-9. If someone can correct me if I'm wrong that would be great!

[tjhayko]

The speed they are referring to is measured by a Stimp Meter. Born in 1934, Joseph Stimp was....hahaha...kidding. Not sure the history of it but it measures the speed of the green by rolling a ball from a special "stick" and seeing how far it rolls. I believe it refers to how many feet the ball rolls. The "stick" promotes true roll without side spin or backspin. So the higher the reading the faster the greens. An average green usually rolls about 8-9. If someone can correct me if I'm wrong that would be great!

Here is a link describing what a Stimp Meter is:
http://probablegolfinstruction.com/Stimpmeter.htm

I thought I heard somewhere that PGA Tour greens often reach around 11 or 12.

[Raptured]

Thanks for the info guys. Actually it was Pelz on the golf channel that was using those green speed numbers a lot...interesting.

[pete kaye]

the speed is measured in the am. what went on in the final round was the beeze came up the grees firmed up and the speed went up. the stimp speed is the roll on a 12 inch drop over a 3foot chanel.when it stops that is the speed.

[aaagc]

The number is the number of feet a ball rolls on a level green when using a Stimpmeter. It is a 3' track with a 20 degree fall.

The range goes from 3 to 12.5.
A value of 6 is about 'medium'
9+ is fast.
A normal club speed would be in the range 5-9
Above 12 is 'extreme'
Augusta is unofficially 13. I don't think they release their figures.