GPS and Laser yardage gadgets

[Pro_V_wan_kenobi]

I thought that artificial aids were not allowed in golf. Can anybody tell me why these are allowed?

 

[Imurg]

Coz the Good Ole R&A sez we can as long as our clubs make a local rule.

Yardage is available to all. Either by pacing, judgement, strokesaver or GPS. They don't give you anything you cannot get by another legal means. The information is in the public domain.
If the device gave info regarding incline, wind speed/direction, temperature or anything else that could influence the choice of club then they are banned from competition. But a run-of-the-mill GPS/Rangefinder doesn't.

Consider it an electronic strokesaver book.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

What Imurg says. Pro's use them during practice and I wouldn't mind betting caddies use them to measure yardages so they can write everything down for use during competition. If you have the time or money to do this then fill your boots. If you don't, use a gadget.

The R&A have just allowed a local rule that gives us the information the pros get.

Whether we're good enough to take advantage is another question entirely

 

[BrianDamage]

Why aren't pro's allowed to use them in tournaments then? Seems a bit of a contradiction.....

 

[Imurg]

Specific rules for Tournament play. Plus they don't need to as the caddies have already done the work.

 

[pokerjoke]

Was watching our pro on the tenth yesterday using his rangefinder,it looked to me he had about 80 yards,the green has a ten foot sloping bank before a flat green so you have to be on the green,he hit it and didnt even reach the bank[gadgets dont take the shot]you can have all the technology you want but if you cant hit the shot pointless.I can definately understand there uses but as ameteurs we are inconsistent in our ball striking so even though we know the yardage it still needs hitting.Pros on the other hand probably hit the ball the same distance most times so need the exact yardages more.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Was watching our pro on the tenth yesterday using his rangefinder,it looked to me he had about 80 yards,the green has a ten foot sloping bank before a flat green so you have to be on the green,he hit it and didnt even reach the bank[gadgets dont take the shot]you can have all the technology you want but if you cant hit the shot pointless.I can definately understand there uses but as ameteurs we are inconsistent in our ball striking so even though we know the yardage it still needs hitting.Pros on the other hand probably hit the ball the same distance most times so need the exact yardages more.

No one is forcing you to use one. Everyone knows you still have to hit the shot but at least with a range finder you know how far you are supposed to hit it.

I hit my wedges and short irons a lot closer now than I did before for the simple reason that I know how far I should be hitting it. Before I might guess at 80 and it would be ninety so I hit a shot and it ends up by the pin I think I have hit it 80. Next time I guess it is 80 it might be 75 and I hit it straight over the top. Now I know the exact distances I can keep track of the yardages, so if I have 80 and I end up next the the pin, next time I have 80 I know what shot to hit. No guessing involved anymore. Also, if I get in trouble or can't reach in two I can use my laser to bounce off the yardage marker so I know how far I have to hit to get to a distance that gives me the best chance to get down in two. Of course it doesn't always work and I don't always hit the shot right but I can tell you know I get more makeable birdie putts and make more birdies now than I did before I bought the laser.

Some like 'em, some don't but just because I don't hit the ball as consistently as the pro's doesn't mean I shouldn't be able to have the same information they get (Of course, I'd like all the spectators finding my ball in the trees or to be able to bounce of grandstands to keep me in play but that ain't ever gonna happen). If I make use of 10% of it it's better than nothing.

 

[freddielong]

The local rule can only allow the measurement of distance not slope not wind direction not temp, so as previously stated it only gives you info you could get anyway just a bit quicker.

 

[pokerjoke]

Was watching our pro on the tenth yesterday using his rangefinder,it looked to me he had about 80 yards,the green has a ten foot sloping bank before a flat green so you have to be on the green,he hit it and didnt even reach the bank[gadgets dont take the shot]you can have all the technology you want but if you cant hit the shot pointless.I can definately understand there uses but as ameteurs we are inconsistent in our ball striking so even though we know the yardage it still needs hitting.Pros on the other hand probably hit the ball the same distance most times so need the exact yardages more.

No one is forcing you to use one. Everyone knows you still have to hit the shot but at least with a range finder you know how far you are supposed to hit it.

I hit my wedges and short irons a lot closer now than I did before for the simple reason that I know how far I should be hitting it. Before I might guess at 80 and it would be ninety so I hit a shot and it ends up by the pin I think I have hit it 80. Next time I guess it is 80 it might be 75 and I hit it straight over the top. Now I know the exact distances I can keep track of the yardages, so if I have 80 and I end up next the the pin, next time I have 80 I know what shot to hit. No guessing involved anymore. Also, if I get in trouble or can't reach in two I can use my laser to bounce off the yardage marker so I know how far I have to hit to get to a distance that gives me the best chance to get down in two. Of course it doesn't always work and I don't always hit the shot right but I can tell you know I get more makeable birdie putts and make more birdies now than I did before I bought the laser.

Some like 'em, some don't but just because I don't hit the ball as consistently as the pro's doesn't mean I shouldn't be able to have the same information they get (Of course, I'd like all the spectators finding my ball in the trees or to be able to bounce of grandstands to keep me in play but that ain't ever gonna happen). If I make use of 10% of it it's better than nothing.

agreed

 

[Pro_V_wan_kenobi]

What is the best value for money. If you can't beat them join them.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It depends. SC is good and the basic 2.5 will do a good job although there is the annual subscription issue. Some I looked at (admittedly 2 years ago when these were in their infancy to a degree) didn't have my course mapped. There is also the argument between mapped on the ground (SC) and using google earth type layouts. Some also record key data including score and stats. I guess it depends on your needs and budget.