Do you use a range finder/DMD?

[Spikey]

I'd show this flow-chart to whoever organises your comps: if i was you. :thup:View attachment 8222


Thats if you can suss out how to enlarge it so you can actually read it. God i'am thick.
Anyway if you google R&A DMD Flowchart you'll see what i mean.

Not sure from this if you're pro or anti phone-based DMDs, but my understanding of the the R&A flowchart (having had the issue come up at committee) was that there was no breach of the local rule if:

1) The app itself can't measure anything other than distance (which they can't - not seen a phone yet that can itself measure temperature or wind speed).
2) Other information (temp, wind, etc) was only available via an external web-based app.

The other thing this threw up was the fact that some electric trolleys (motocaddy?) have thermometers built in. How do these stand in relation to rule 14-3??

 

[Old Skier]

Regarding your earlier questions about lasers...

They are class 1 devices, which are classified as 'eye-safe'. You can't do any damage with them, even when magnified.

I don't really know how they work, but I guess the beam must be wider than those of the devices you've been used to. Mine has a x6 magnification lens and it's not a problem getting a signal from a person at 300yds. I tend to struggle with flags over 250, but at that distance it doesn't matter.

From what I've read, in a crowded scene the device gets multiple signals back (ie the flag, and bushes, trees etc behind it) and displays the closest of those. It's only a problem if you're aiming through branches at a flag beyond them.
That's how my Nikon works anyhow. I believe Bushnells have a mode that has to be selected in order to read the closest signal.

Thanks for the info, very interesting, as it uses such a weak signal I would suspect users should be aware of false info that might be received in wet, misty and foggy conditions.

 

[Old Skier]

Not sure from this if you're pro or anti phone-based DMDs, but my understanding of the the R&A flowchart (having had the issue come up at committee) was that there was no breach of the local rule if:

1) The app itself can't measure anything other than distance (which they can't - not seen a phone yet that can itself measure temperature or wind speed).
2) Other information (temp, wind, etc) was only available via an external web-based app.

The other thing this threw up was the fact that some electric trolleys (motocaddy?) have thermometers built in. How do these stand in relation to rule 14-3??

Phone devices are banned from use in our county comps and clubs have been advised not to allow them in club comps to avoid any confusion.

 

[Robobum]

Thanks for the info, very interesting, as it uses such a weak signal I would suspect users should be aware of false info that might be received in wet, misty and foggy conditions.

If you use the when its foggy, they come back with 1yd.

 

[londonlewis]

I use a garmin S2.
bought it as I was the recipient of an insurance pay out after my old clubs were stolen from my garage.
Good piece of kit, handy to have, would recommend a DMD to most golfers.

 

[Hobbit]

...and so I cry 'FOUL - unfair advantage' on behalf of those without a DMD. Golf is a game of uncertainty - anything that removes some uncertainly for one group of players but not another is clearly providing an advanatge to the have's. But I said I wouldn't start - as my position is clear and I know I am in a minority of a very few.

You could choose to leave your driver at home. Would you cry foul on all those players who've brought their drivers?

 

[Imurg]

... Golf is a game of uncertainty .

Funny, I thought Golf was a game of skill.......

 

[Region3]

If you use the when its foggy, they come back with 1yd.

Mine always says 11.5yds.

I find fog and mist the worst. Light rain it will sometimes work.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

That's the whole point. Same as anything in golf, if you feel it gives you and edge, great.

I have a friend who has gone from an avid GPS user to not using anything. His reasoning was simple. confusion.

His words not mine.

He was stood in the middle of a Par 4 or par 5 fairway with his exact yardage on a windy day (Wind helping). He knew how far he had to get the ball to travel, but then had to account for the wind. Then the conundrum started.

Do I play less club with a full swing and hit it high and let the wind play with it?

Do I club up and play keep it low and play it under the wind?

Do I play with the correct club and play a 3/4 shot?

He knew his exact yardage but had multiple options to get it there effectively, with everything centred around that yardage ±10 yards for landing and run . Information overload (... Again, his words).

Now he just steps up to the ball, has a 'feel' for how far he hits each club. Judges the conditions, plays his shot.

He plays off 4.

Now this I like very much indeed.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

I have one and I will continue to use it until the R&A tells me I can't.

So many untrue arguments in this thread.

1) They slow down play. No, they actually speed up play as it stops all the pacing out to yardage markers and working out how far on the green a flag is.

2) They are cheating. Utter rubbish! Everyone has the opportunity to use one if they wish, it's their choice. And those that do use them in comps are not gaining an advantage because if it improves their scoring their handicap will come down accordingly. Whatever next....people trying to ban long putters?

DMD's are just another instance of technology moving the game forward like oversize drivers, multilayer balls, wet weather gloves, custom tee peg fittings etc etc.

 

[One Planer]

Now this I like very much indeed.

Pretty much how I play :thup:

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

That's the whole point. Same as anything in golf, if you feel it gives you and edge, great.

I have a friend who has gone from an avid GPS user to not using anything. His reasoning was simple. confusion.

His words not mine.

He was stood in the middle of a Par 4 or par 5 fairway with his exact yardage on a windy day (Wind helping). He knew how far he had to get the ball to travel, but then had to account for the wind. Then the conundrum started.

Do I play less club with a full swing and hit it high and let the wind play with it?

Do I club up and play keep it low and play it under the wind?

Do I play with the correct club and play a 3/4 shot?

He knew his exact yardage but had multiple options to get it there effectively, with everything centred around that yardage ±10 yards for landing and run . Information overload (... Again, his words).

Now he just steps up to the ball, has a 'feel' for how far he hits each club. Judges the conditions, plays his shot.

He plays off 4.

This is actually pretty pointless because your friend would still have all the same calculations to factor in to his club selection whether he had an accurate yardage or a guesstimate. If he has 167 yards or 'approx 170' he still has to work out and execute the shot he wants to play.

 

[G.U.R]

They are handy, whether they are worth the money companies charge for them is debatable.

 

[woody69]

This is actually pretty pointless because your friend would still have all the same calculations to factor in to his club selection whether he had an accurate yardage or a guesstimate. If he has 167 yards or 'approx 170' he still has to work out and execute the shot he wants to play.

Yeah, I didn't want to state the obvious with Gareth's reply

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

With buggies being banned it means no-one can use them and therefore there is no advantage gained. I can't afford a brand new driver and irons so am I at a disadvantage and should everyone be banned from buying new clubs? An unfair advantage would be me turning up to play a match and insisting my opponent could only use Pinnacle distance balls and hickory shafted clubs while I used all the mod cons. As long as it's a level playing field then it's not an "unfair" advantage. I accept that I find having one an advantage but just because some people don't want one doesn't mean I shouldn't be allowed.

I love it when I raise my opposition to DMDs (in club competitions) and all sorts of comparisons are thrown up - as they always are - supported by 'if I can use this then why can't I use that' sort of arguments - which get nowhere with me as I'm not talking about this - I'm talking about that

I'm not that bothered about the impact of all other mod cons, trolleys, new club technology, new ball technology, new shoes - new underpants technology. I also consider affordability considerations out of scope of what I consider to be a discussion on principal. I always simply talk about technology that can reduce significantly one very important aspect of playing golf - possibly THE most important aspect - uncertainty. And then in the context of uncertainty - very crucially our uncertainty around distance. Understanding what golf course architects try to do to fool your senses, and then understanding and mastering your golfing uncertainties are in my view absolutely core to playing the game.

But I did say I wasn't going to get involved. As the poll shows I am in a small minority amongst golfers here and probably everywhere. But I will not drop my objections and will continue to lobby for their use being banned in Club Competitions.

 

[GB72]

I used to use one but not so much any more. Mine is getting on a bit and out of date and I cannot really justify a replacement. I do not find that I need one on my home course as I can judge distances reasonably well and that coupled with a bit of local knowledge means that I generally pick the right club (even if I do not then hit it right). On away courses it has been of more benefit but I do not play away enough to justify a new one.

Basically, for the level I play at, I can work things out well enough from a 150 yard marker.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

You could choose to leave your driver at home. Would you cry foul on all those players who've brought their drivers?

I'm not not talking about drivers and what benefit they may or may not provide to the player.

 

[ger147]

I love it when I raise my opposition to DMDs (in club competitions) and all sorts of comparisons are thrown up - as they always are - supported by 'if I can use this then why can't I use that' sort of arguments - which get nowhere with me as I'm not talking about this - I'm talking about that

I'm not that bothered about the impact of all other mod cons, trolleys, new club technology, new ball technology, new shoes - new underpants technology. I also consider affordability considerations out of scope of what I consider to be a discussion on principal. I always simply talk about technology that can reduce significantly one very important aspect of playing golf - possibly THE most important aspect - uncertainty. And then in the context of uncertainty - very crucially our uncertainty around distance. Understanding what golf course architects try to do to fool your senses, and then understanding and mastering your golfing uncertainties are in my view absolutely core to playing the game.

But I did say I wasn't going to get involved. As the poll shows I am in a small minority amongst golfers here and probably everywhere. But I will not drop my objections and will continue to lobby for their use being banned in Club Competitions.

You would have to ban stroke savers, yardage markers on course and caddies from competitions as well if you want to be consistent as they also remove uncertainty about how far you are from certain points of the course e.g. the middle of the green.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Funny, I thought Golf was a game of skill.......

Of coure it is - and one core golfing skill is mastering your uncertainty around what you have to do

 

[mab]

...and so I cry 'FOUL - unfair advantage' on behalf of those without a DMD. Golf is a game of uncertainty - anything that removes some uncertainly for one group of players but not another is clearly providing an advanatge to the have's. But I said I wouldn't start - as my position is clear and I know I am in a minority of a very few.

This is nonsense.