What's a Fair Pin Placement? Here Are The Numbers That Matter

One of the most talked about elements of the U.S Open setup at Oakmont this week, beyond the rough, is the speed of the greens, which averages over 14 on the stimpmeter.

For those who just read that last sentence and felt like they were reading a different language, let me explain. A stimpmeter is a measuring device used to calculate the speed of a green and works by rolling a ball down a ramp (the stimpmeter device) and measuring how far the ball rolls. The stimp reading is the average distance after rolling three golf balls in opposite directions.

RELATED: Every Winning Putter From the Last 10 U.S. Opens

(USGA Green Section)

Once greens get to a certain speed, finding places on the green to place a pin can becomes more difficult because if gravity overcomes the lack of friction then the ball won't stop rolling. But how do course set up teams determine what's fair and whats not when it comes to placing a hole location?

We caught up with PGA Tour coach and Tour Read founder Ralph Bauer to breakdown the science behind determining a fair hole location.

RELATED: Oakmont Country Club, You Have Our Attention at the U.S. Open