Patent ID: 7225663

Claim:
A method of determining the green-speed of a golf putting green, comprising: selecting a site on a putting green having a relatively flat surface and determining the extent of putting surface available for measurements; setting a green-speed reading apparatus including a ramp, which includes a raised start end and a ground contacting release end with at least one golf ball rolling track thereon, in a first direction whereby the release end of the ramp contacts the putting green surface at the selected site; selecting one of two predetermined start positions for a golf ball based upon the extent of putting surface available for measurements and retaining the golf ball at the one of two predetermined start positions in the track; releasing the golf ball from the start position, allowing the golf ball to roll down the track by gravity onto the putting green surface; measuring the distance the golf ball rolls across the putting green from the release end of the ramp; repeating the test with the apparatus facing in the opposite direction at the selected site and measuring the distance the golf ball rolls across the putting green from the release end of the ramp; and calculating the average distance of all the golf balls rolled to determine a value in terms of green-speed.