Tools of the Trade-Stimpmeter

What I use to record speed and smoothness

I collect a good amount of performance data from the golf course. I’m often asked 1) how do I find the time? Answer: I make the time. Sounds simple, but it’s true. Same goes for walking the golf course. It’s important to me and so I make it a priority and I simply make the time. 2) What is your process like?

Today I wanted to share the tools I use for my stimpmeter process. 

Stimpmeter-Obviously I’ve left this out, but you know what it looks like.

Golf balls-Someone asked me if these Taylor Made’s with the green stripe would make it easier to do the bobble test. I didn’t know (they don’t), so I asked the golf shop if they had any; they didn’t, but they got me some and so I use them. Any ball works, except I don’t recommend the matte finish fluorescent balls. They roll very inconsistently.

Tape measure-I always use a tape measure. If the data is worth being collected, it’s worth being collected accurately. For this reason, I don’t fancy the “flip the stimp” method. Micah Woods keeps telling me I should switch to centimeters, but then I’d have to change the formula in my spreadsheet, so I stick with inches. This tape measure is one I bought for the stimp teams to use during the Ryder Cup. There were four of them, this is the last one; I’ve worn out the other three.

Scorecard holder with scorecard-I record four numbers on each green: the uphill average distance in inches, the downhill average distance in inches, the uphill aggregate of the three bobble scores and the same for the downhill. I used to input this data directly to my phone, but I found it clunky, so now I write it on the scorecard and input it to my spreadsheet when I’m back at my computer. We’re not particularly fast, or smooth right now.

Milwaukee Inkzall marker-I use this marker to draw the Ts that mark the stimp spot. I’ve tried lots of marking methods and this is the best. I usually carry the marker with and touch up the spots every couple of days. It doesn’t kill the grass and fades away pretty quickly. Marking the spots makes it simple for myself, or anyone else to find the exact spot each day. 

Sometimes I have a helper!