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
Some are too simple



And what about this doozy from Lydd



How do you know which tree they are referring to

And most I have in the back of my car from various courses show a lot of detail - the ones we have for all three show nearly every bump and roll including the greens

Should they be banned ?
 
And most I have in the back of my car from various courses show a lot of detail - the ones we have for all three show nearly every bump and roll including the greens

Should they be banned ?

I'm not saying there aren't great ones out there that do a fantastic job (Woburn) but what would you do if you rocked up at a course and were given these two examples. Not ideal I'm sure you'll agree and surely it will take time to identify the right spot (neither had yardages on sprinklers etc) and so slow play down. I agree that if you get a good one then check where you are, get the read and go.
 
I'm not saying there aren't great ones out there that do a fantastic job (Woburn) but what would you do if you rocked up at a course and were given these two examples. Not ideal I'm sure you'll agree and surely it will take time to identify the right spot (neither had yardages on sprinklers etc) and so slow play down. I agree that if you get a good one then check where you are, get the read and go.

That's the problem - all course are different and provide different course planners etc and DMD gives you equal chance to know the distance regardless of the standard of course planner or course maps etc.

If you ban gps etc then have a full blown ban for anything that gives distances including yardage books

Knowing how far you are away from the hole isn't cheating - how you find out that distance is up to the player
 
I have a DMD it only gives me front middle and back of the green. At 20 handicap thats all I need.When I
10 shots off my handicap I may need something more precise but.
 
But going back to your "unfair advantage" argument from earlier, if DMD/GPS devices were banned in closed competitions it would give an unfair advantage to someone who had been a member of the club for 20 years as opposed to a member in their first year who had only played the course a handful of times. A person with 20 years of knowledge of the course will know a lot more about distances or what shot to play than the new member.

Absolutely - and unsurprisingly there is nothing in the rules of golf that even considers this - it's just as it is and always has been. However Rule 14-3b explicitly prohibits use of distance measuring devices. Their use is only permitted if there is a Local Rule in place for that purpose. All I am suggesting is that for closed club competitions we stick with the rules as written and any such Local Rule does not apply. That's all. Now what's the big problem with that?
 
A lot of good architects use false fronts, changes in elevation etc to elongate or foreshorten a hole and fool the golfer that way. A DMD gives you accurate data usually front middle and back that can nullify these architectural challenges and takes an uncertainty out of the equation

Thankyou Homer...:)
 
I've never used any dmd devices,at my h/c (18) happy to use yardage markers,it would be helpful
to all golfers if players found yardage markers wrong on any course wrong to inform the relevant club.

I think the most interesting question on this thread is "has a dmd device helped reduce your h/c" seen very few replies to this so would assume they don't help the majority reduce their h/c.

As I say they are not for me but have no real issues with anybody using one.
 
Absolutely - and unsurprisingly there is nothing in the rules of golf that even considers this - it's just as it is and always has been. However Rule 14-3b explicitly prohibits use of distance measuring devices. Their use is only permitted if there is a Local Rule in place for that purpose. All I am suggesting is that for closed club competitions we stick with the rules as written and any such Local Rule does not apply. That's all. Now what's the big problem with that?

I have no problem with you suggesting it.

FYI, at every club I've been at over the past several years, your suggestion has been rejected.

Time to move on...
 
I don't think it will be long until the rule is removed and there will no longer be a need for a local rule ( as nearly every single course has it - including the Europro Tour )
 
I have a phone app for if I'm playing new courses with mates, but not really properly shopped about for a 'proper' device. Though if I did I'd probably look at getting a Garmin watch. Look like a decent bit of kit.

Be careful - are you sure it's legal? Smart phones often (usually) have an integral compass - and unless you can uninstall the compass then your phone is an illegal device.
 
I've never used any dmd devices,at my h/c (18) happy to use yardage markers,it would be helpful
to all golfers if players found yardage markers wrong on any course wrong to inform the relevant club.

I think the most interesting question on this thread is "has a dmd device helped reduce your h/c" seen very few replies to this so would assume they don't help the majority reduce their h/c.

As I say they are not for me but have no real issues with anybody using one.

DMD have helped my game and been one of the factors that have got my handicap down
 
Best not raise Aimpoint up then with you lot, if this is how you go on about DMDs.
For the record, bushnell 1500 for me and wouldn't be without it. Used range finders since 1999.
 
Well just voted yes and with 75% of people in that category and another 10% of people considering it, the 'never' & 'its cheating' comments on here while being a good proportion of the replies to the thread are in the minority.

I am 17 HC - I use a shotmiser and find it very useful. IMO it speeds up play - mine is attached to my bag and after a quick glance if needed (not used every shot and never inside 80 yards) and then select club. No dithering about the selection, no checking what tree / bush / bunker the planner is marked from and adding 13 yards paced out from there - select and play.

I know my yardages better now - I use it less at my own course now but extensively if away. Its not against the rules to know the yardage and I cant afford my own bag man.

I don't mind if someone doesn't ask me for a yardage but looks through a planner or paces it out themselves or uses their skill & judgement to estimate the yardage, or refer to notes they have on the course we are playing, why should they mind if I quickly check mine and play the ball.
 
Be careful - are you sure it's legal? Smart phones often (usually) have an integral compass - and unless you can uninstall the compass then your phone is an illegal device.

That always seems a rule the R&A have made up to satisfy DMD manufacturers. If I carry a physical compass in my bag then it's not a DQ. I'm trusted by the rules not to use it. But a smartphone with compass capability is automatically deemed non-conforming.
 
I haven't read the whole thread but since it's got so long I'm gonna guess it went like this...

SilH has probably expressed his opposition to their use, stating that guessing yardages are part of the skill of golf and that by not having one he is at a disadvantage.

Someone (Imurg?) will have pointed out that distances are a matter of fact and no different to course planners and yardage markers.

There will have been the discussion about the use of mobiles with someone unaware they aren't allowed in comps, perhaps even that R&A flowchart has been posted? This probably lead to discussions about the compass apps.

SilH will be debating his case with someone who doesn't agree with him, probably someone different to the last time, they won't end up agreeing.

There will no doubt have been an argument about whether the slow down or speed up play.

Nothing will be agreed and it will all go quiet until next time someone makes the mistake of raising it.


Tell me I'm wrong :D
 
I haven't read the whole thread but since it's got so long I'm gonna guess it went like this...

SilH has probably expressed his opposition to their use, stating that guessing yardages are part of the skill of golf and that by not having one he is at a disadvantage.

Someone (Imurg?) will have pointed out that distances are a matter of fact and no different to course planners and yardage markers.

There will have been the discussion about the use of mobiles with someone unaware they aren't allowed in comps, perhaps even that R&A flowchart has been posted? This probably lead to discussions about the compass apps.

SilH will be debating his case with someone who doesn't agree with him, probably someone different to the last time, they won't end up agreeing.

There will no doubt have been an argument about whether the slow down or speed up play.

Nothing will be agreed and it will all go quiet until next time someone makes the mistake of raising it.


Tell me I'm wrong :D


Nar that's about right :) :)
You must be psychic :)

I use a gps and a laser

Why guess and mess up when you can obtain the exact distances...... And still mess up :)
 
Top