Realistic expectations on the putting green: within and between days trueness of roll

To improve putting performance, golfers have often used goal-setting techniques which require realistic performance expectations. Thus, examining whether external factors such as putting green irregularities affect putting performance is crucial to goal setting. The purpose of the study was to examine fluctuations in the trueness of roll of a golf ball across a green. A ball was mechanically rolled across a green in the morning and afternoon on a day when there was normal play and on a day when the course was closed to play. Analysis indicated that significant fluctuations in distance and dispersion were present throughout these time frames, i.e., the greatest distance of roll and the least amount of dispersion were present in the morning and on the day closed to play. Golfers should take into account these external fluctuations in trueness of roll when establishing goal-setting procedures involving putting skills.