Are you glad to see rangefinders in use in a major this week?

[MarkT]

One for the website and general discussion - rangefinders will make their major debut this week. Are you a fan or not?

A lot of the players and caddies have said that it will actually slow down play which, in some cases, will be quite an achievement... personally think it's great for the weekend warriors like ourselves but not of much use for any pro who has a caddy (other than playing out of trouble)...

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I don't quite understand how it would slow down play.
Can't they just aim at the pin, it tells them they have 160. Then extrapolate the other info quickly, such as the pins on 10 from the front edge and 15 from the back. So they know they have 160 to the pin, 150 to the front edge and 175 to the back of the green.
With no striding out distances required.

 

[Deleted member 3432]

I don't quite understand how it would slow down play.
Can't they just aim at the pin, it tells them they have 160. Then extrapolate the other info quickly, such as the pins on 10 from the front edge and 15 from the back. So they know they have 160 to the pin, 150 to the front edge and 175 to the back of the green.
With no striding out distances required.

Totally agree with this.

Seems more like a case of player's not being interested at playing the game at a reasonable pace. Probably use some sort of excuse that their pre shot routine involves a 5 minute discussion with caddie.

 

[Junior]

At least they can finally give it a try to see the pros and cons first hand.

For me, it appears the slow play is more on the greens than the approaches.

 

[AAC]

The caddies I assume will pretty much know the distance(s) from sprinkler heads, trees et al, however at least it should confirm such very quickly, I don't see how it slows them down even more ?

 

[sweaty sock]

They're general argument is that they very rarely need a yardage to the pin, its normally some where else on the green or front they need a yardage to.

It cant hurt though can it?

 

[sunshine]

They all use lasers for the practice rounds, so obviously there is a benefit. Got to be quicker than pacing out from a sprinkler head, or even worse, when they walk up to the green and pace back to their ball.

 

[Bdill93]

Can see it being faster for shots where they maybe havent mapped perfect distances - but dont see an immidiate deviation from how its been done for years to be honest! The caddy will still need to factor in wind, slope and everthing else to get the playing yardage

 

[Slab]

Not a tool needed for elite pros during the tournament. They'll just end up zapping then confirming it with what they zapped & wrote down on practice days

How many groups on the course before one of them zaps the flag... on a chip or long putt!

 

[jim8flog]

Not a tool needed for elite pros during the tournament. They'll just end up zapping then confirming it with what they zapped & wrote down on practice days

How many groups on the course before one of them zaps the flag... on a chip or long putt!

Reminds me of my mate who uses a laser from virtually everywhere. I have not seen him use it on the green but sometimes he is not far off it.

A couple of weeks ago he ball was just a couple of feet from the 100 yard disc with the flag in the middle and out came the laser.

 

[jim8flog]

I think it would be great if they only used them when they really need to but I bet they will come out for every shot.

Is it just lasers that will be allowed or any GPS unit?

 

[SatchFan]

I'd imagine the rangefinder manufacturers will be absolutely delighted to see them in use this week.

 

[sweaty sock]

And prices tweeked to suit. They already cost a fortune!

 

[HampshireHog]

Looking forward to the first DQ for having the slope function left on.

 

[Beedee]

I don't quite understand how it would slow down play.
Can't they just aim at the pin, it tells them they have 160. Then extrapolate the other info quickly, such as the pins on 10 from the front edge and 15 from the back. So they know they have 160 to the pin, 150 to the front edge and 175 to the back of the green.
With no striding out distances required.

Because it won't replace anything they already do, it'll just add to it. One more bit of information to gather and then stew over for far too long before playing their shot.

I agree with you that it could replace a lot of what they do and so speed things up, I just don't think it will.

 

[Robster59]

Reminds me of my mate who uses a laser from virtually everywhere. I have not seen him use it on the green but sometimes he is not far off it.

A couple of weeks ago he ball was just a couple of feet from the 100 yard disc with the flag in the middle and out came the laser.

What's his distance accuracy like?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Reminds me of my mate who uses a laser from virtually everywhere. I have not seen him use it on the green but sometimes he is not far off it.

A couple of weeks ago he ball was just a couple of feet from the 100 yard disc with the flag in the middle and out came the laser.

I have used the laser from the distance marker - there are lots of variables to take into account , where the pin is , size of the greens , is the marker to the front or the back

Using a ranger finder shoold speed up the game a little - they use range books so instead they just laser the pin

 

[fundy]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1394662583232311297

Guessing it might not make that much difference if the players dont know lol

 

[jim8flog]

I have used the laser from the distance marker - there are lots of variables to take into account , where the pin is , size of the greens , is the marker to the front or the back

Using a ranger finder shoold speed up the game a little - they use range books so instead they just laser the pin

As said flag in the middle of the green, it is totally flat green with no obstacles and totally flat all the way to the green
Not the worst with this guy I have seen him laser a flag when the shot required was to land on the green fifteen feet away and let the slope do the rest.

All of us who play with him regularly are always talking about it when we see him laser from 'stupid' distances.

 

[jim8flog]

What's his distance accuracy like?

As per usual finished ten yards left of the flag