A Comparison of Two Devices for Evaluating Putting Green Speed.

The Stimpmeter and Pelzmeter are two devices commonly used to measure putting green speed. The Stimpmeter was released in 1978 and the Pelzmeter followed approximately 25 years later. The Pelzmeter uses various technologies to potentially reduce measurement variability. However, it is unclear how similar these meters compare for measuring putting green speed. The objective of this research was to compare the measurement variability between the two devices when measuring putting green speed and to determine if they give similar results on the same putting surface. This study was conducted at four sites: the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR); the University of Tennessee (Knoxville, TN); the University of Connecticut (Storrs, CT); and Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI). At each site, three evaluators used each device to measure putting green speed on plots with varying green speeds. There was a strong linear, one-to-one relationship between the Pelzmeter and the Stimpmeter when measuring putting green speed on the same turf. Measurement repeatability (as measured by standard deviation) among different evaluators was improved with the Pelzmeter at one of the four sites. There were no differences in measurement repeatability between the devices when a single evaluator repeatedly measured the same turf with the same device.