Here is a couple videos of some tests we performed on the greens.  I first started thinking about this while stimping the greens and I was bothered when the balls did not end up in the same place.  If multiple balls are rolled in the exact same direction, each ball should go to the exact same place.  Simple enough, right?  That would be the definition of a 'true' green.

When you hit your line with the correct speed, you did your part and the green should do it's part by keeping the ball on path.  Too much thatch or puffiness or too many ball marks, old cups, and blemishes and the ball will get off line and a good putt is not rewarded with that wonderful sound at the bottom of the cup.  I love that sound.

It didn't take long to discover that the stimp meter wasn't the best apparatus to check the line of a putt.  Ours is a little old, and I think it's been dropped or thrown a few times.  The roll out is typically the same, but direction can vary by a few inches per ball.  We switched to a 2 inch PVC pipe that acts as our stimp meter's case.  This worked much better.

If we see too much bobble, wiggle, or misdirection caused by the surface of the green, then we know that a light topdress, grooming, or verticut needs to be put on the schedule.  The first video is of #14 green with a 15 foot putt.  Assistant Superintendent, Craig Heitman is dropping the balls down the chute with some sure hands.  I like how the last ball finishes with the logo up.  The second was much more difficult with less than perfect results, a 26 foot putt with a 5 foot break near the front of #15 green.  3 of these lipped out and 6 went in the hole.  We will probably be doing this again just for the fun of it, all in the name of science.