Do DMD's contribute to slow play..

[Foxholer]

Which I am afraid is 100% nonsense as clearly on at least some occasions with some players use of a DMD or GPS device will slow up play. Question answered by the EGU findings will have been more carefully worded than a simple 'do they contribute to slow play'

You give me a GPS or DMD to use - and my play will slow down - fact - as I can generally assess my shot as I walk to my ball, take my club out, address ball and hit it. If I use a DMD or other device I will be inclined to make use of it - and I will. So I will slow up.

Anyway - speed of play is not my gripe with any such device and so a yes or no to the question will not convince me. But that is another thread.

SLH. Have you ever actually used one?

Or is this just dogmatic 'No it doesn't work' (yes it does) or 'distance estimation is part of the game' (no it isn't) in the same way that your assessment of EGU's questionnaire was.

You do seem someone who would be better advised to use a GPS though - even one of the talking ones. These can be checked just as you approach the ball rather than getting there, getting the laser out etc.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

SLH. Have you ever actually used one?

Or is this just dogmatic 'No it doesn't work' (yes it does) or 'distance estimation is part of the game' (no it isn't) in the same way that your assessment of EGU's questionnaire was.

You do seem someone who would be better advised to use a GPS though - even one of the talking ones. These can be checked just as you approach the ball rather than getting there, getting the laser out etc.

No I haven't - but I know that if I had one it would slow me down. I couldn't play any quicker than I do - maybe it would do me good to slow down a bit. So I can't really see how using a DMD or GPS could do anything other than slow me down - I wouldn't want to go any faster.

My experience of PPs (playing partners) is that GPS, DMD or what, is generally taken out when ball is reached - indeed usually a bit after ball is reached.

But in the great scheme of how long a round of golf takes - my feeling is that use of DMDs or GPS devices really is not a major determining factor - really a pretty minor factor I'd guess. Going back to the original question - I do not think that they 100% do not slow things down, and conversely I do not think they 100% speed things up. So I have absolutely no issue whatsoever with DMDs, GPS devices in that respect.

 

[AuburnWarrior]

I personally think that they speed up play.
Before DMDs it could take an age to guess the yardage and then decide on the club. You may even then be undecided over the shot as the human eye plays tricks with distance measurements. Now, with DMDs, you know exactly how far you're hitting and then it's just club selection that becomes a decision.
I love my DMD and I honestly couldn't imagine playing golf without one.

 

[Dodger]

About 3 years ago I played with a lad in a County Strokeplay event.He was off +2 at the time and has since turned Pro and was in a real rich vein of form.

This event did not allow DMD's and I spent 36 holes watching him whip out his Strokesaver (that was crap) and try and locate that bush,tree,fence whatever it was on the plan that was showing it was 162 to the front and then I had to put up with him pacing back or to his ball from this.

Horrendous but as a guy who plays to exact yards I could understand the fact he wanted to get his numbers correct but by christ the process was slow!!

Roll on a month and I get drawn with him again at Goswick in an event that allowed DMD's and I nearly pulled out because of the thought of suffering him fannying about all day but he had his Skycaddie and was a new man simply whipping it out,taking a look,picking the club and hitting it (close most of the time). It was like night and day as was the pace of play of that event compared to the one a month prior.

That for me convinced me that they are the way forward.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I personally think that they speed up play.
Before DMDs it could take an age to guess the yardage and then decide on the club.

Indeed you could - or you could just get on with it

You may even then be undecided over the shot as the human eye plays tricks with distance measurements.

Isn't that what golf course architects try and take advantage of?

Now, with DMDs, you know exactly how far you're hitting and then it's just club selection that becomes a decision

Removing some uncertainty - uncertainty being one of the most important factors you have to master in golf.

I love my DMD and I honestly couldn't imagine playing golf without one.

Which is a bit sad really.

Well what else would you expect me to say - sorry.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I would say the guy in the OP would find another way to be slow. Some just seem to be naturally disorganised and if it wasn't the DMD it would be putting the club back in the wrong hole, marking the score from the last hole or something else. I happen to think it has made my game quicker and I never have an issue with anyone at my club being too slow from using one

 

[daymond]

I have a Garmin S1 strapped to the trolley. Walk to ball, look at the distance, grab a club and hit the ball. What could be quicker than that?