Do you use a range finder/DMD?

Do you own a rangefinder/DMD?

  • Yes

    Votes: 107 76.4%

  • No

    Votes: 14 10.0%

  • I'm considering getting one

    Votes: 13 9.3%

  • I'm not considering getting one

    Votes: 6 4.3%
  • Total voters
    140
I have a garmin watch. When I decided to get one I was concious about using a range finder then nobbing it 20 yards, then having to use it again. Much prefer a descreet look at my wrist.

I do think that a laser is the best dmd though as ive been caught out a few times at different courses, thinking the flag is in the middle when infact its at the front etc.
 
I've got a shotmiser which was a birthday present that tells me distance to front, middle and back of the green. I would ban anyone with a handicap over 12 from having a laser range finder and just allow them something that tells them the distance to the middle of the green. For an 24 handicapper to be worried about whether their second shot is 157 or 158 yards to the flag is ridiculous. At that level you only need to know the distance to the middle of the green. You aren't good enough to be worrying about trying to hit it close. Just get it on the green and then try not to 3 putt. Or in most cases miss the green by as little as possible and then try to get it up and down at best or on the green and 2 putts for bogey at worst.

(P.S. My handicap is 18 so this is not a rant by a low handicapper against higher handicappers)
 
Skycaddie SGX. I switched from a Skycaddie 2.5 to a laser early in the year. I couldn't get away with the laser at all - wind buffeting me and the flag, laser picking up the bank/bush behind the green.

For me, its not long iron woods etc unless there is a hazard at driving distance, or a hazard where I'd be aiming my 2nd shot on a par 5. Its the wedge distances, i.e. is it a 50* 55* or 60*...?
 
Does anyone know how the laser range finders work? I worked with laser sighting systems for over 22 years and:

a: Treated them as a weapon as they could cause serious injury
b: Required a stable platform to operate from so that you could actually hitthe point that you were aiming at.

Now I appreciate the lasers that I used were a bit more powerful but could the current golf craze for lasers do any harm to other users on the course if just for a bit of fun someone decides to laser another players see how far away theyare.

And what are you aiming at as those I ask say the flag stick, so unless the laser is producing a wide beam I would be more than surprised if there are many golfers at over 20 feet capable of hitting a golf bag let alone a flag stick.

Interested in the technology behind this.
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
Don't get me started...;)
Click to expand...

SLH has the correct answer IMHO as the majority of golfers are of a handicap greater than the ability required to know how far they are going to hit any particular shot. This is only my opinion and I don't way wish to infer that anyone on this site is not an ace golfer and knows to the exact 10 foot how far they are going to hit the ball just incase it gets me in any deeper poo.
 
Old Skier said:
SLH has the correct answer IMHO as the majority of golfers are of a handicap greater than the ability required to know how far they are going to hit any particular shot. This is only my opinion and I don't way wish to infer that anyone on this site is not an ace golfer and knows to the exact 10 foot how far they are going to hit the ball just incase it gets me in any deeper poo.
Click to expand...

This old chestnut again.......
A DMD is nothing more than a means of determining HOW FAR you want to hit it, how far away something is
You don't have to be able to hit it exactly that far to benefit from one.

When you play, what is the first thing you want to know about a shot?
It's how far you want it to go.
How do you do that?
You can guess it, work it out or use a DMD - THEY ARE ALL THE SAME.......
 
I've stopped using my laser after killing two of my playing partners. I also stole a powakaddy from four fairways across by using it as a traction beam. I have written to Barry Took, Watchdog and the R&A to get them banned.

Yawn
 
Imurg said:
This old chestnut again.......
A DMD is nothing more than a means of determining HOW FAR you want to hit it, how far away something is
You don't have to be able to hit it exactly that far to benefit from one.

When you play, what is the first thing you want to know about a shot?
It's how far you want it to go.
How do you do that?
You can guess it, work it out or use a DMD - THEY ARE ALL THE SAME.......
Click to expand...

Completely agree. I have the S1 and I think it is great as it gives me the confidence that to hit the front or middle of the green I need to take my club that gets me X yards, but I still have Y yards to the back, so it tells me how much margin of error I have to work with, and sometimes that means I can take an extra club and swing easy. E.g. green is 130 yards to the middle so about a 9 iron for me, but 150 to the back so lets take an 8 to make sure I get on. Gives me confidence and I'm hitting more greens as a result.
 
Loads of our senior section use lasers too. Not one of them has had children since joining the seniors section!!!!!

Coincidence?
 
I have just started to use one for the first time. Played well and it gave me more confidence knowing the distance versus estimating the distance to a pin. Its only a free app for my phone but its surprisingly accurate and useful. I think I will always use something now going forward.

Next I need to calibrate my scoring irons so I know exactly what distance they are half, 3/4 and full swings.

I was a skeptic but I'm coming around to the idea that it will save me shots.
 
It depends. I have measure how far I hit my clubs ON AVERAGE and so I have an idea what club to use once I know the yardage. Of course you need to add in the variables like wind but it does make selection easier. Knowing you have the right club gives me confidence and that has to be a good thing in helping make a good and commited swing. In my opinion a DMD comes into its own from <100 yards and in knowing how far I have and which wedge to choose based on the distance, position and shot I want to play. Definitely in the DMD is a good thing camp
 
I have a Garmin S2 watch and wouldn't be without it now, gives me front middle and back of the green which tells me my margin of error, also gives me distances to doglegs and distance to either 100 or 150 yard lay ups. I am considering getting a laser rangefinder to supplement it though, one because I like gadgets and technology and two because sometimes it would be nice to know distance to hazards such as ponds, ditches and fairway bunkers.
 
Linnets said:
I have a Garmin S2 watch and wouldn't be without it now, gives me front middle and back of the green which tells me my margin of error, also gives me distances to doglegs and distance to either 100 or 150 yard lay ups. I am considering getting a laser rangefinder to supplement it though, one because I like gadgets and technology and two because sometimes it would be nice to know distance to hazards such as ponds, ditches and fairway bunkers.
Click to expand...

I believe the S3 has hazards etc so if you like the S2, you could just upgrade.
 
I have the bushnell tour V3, Got it this year,

Has it improved my game? Doubtful.

Has DMD's slowed the game up! Yes without a doubt.
 
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