GPS; Its just a gimmick!

[GreiginFife]

Shivas, until recently I was in your camp. However, I bought a GPS (basic one that does front/middle/back) and used it for the first time at the weekend at a mate's course.
I have played there a number of times and it's a very nice members club - not lacking cash or trimmings. I know how far I hit my irons and the last few times I have played at my mate's place there is a par 3 that the tee marker states is 173y... So for me that's a 5 iron. Have never hit that green, always over the back.
Saturday with the GPS it was actually 159y to centre... that's a huge difference and made it more like a 7 iron. Drew the 7 and stuck it 4ft from the pin.
Also noted that several of the 150 markers were 10-12y out as well. That's enough to tell me that the GPS is beneficial to my game.
That's my tuppenceworth any ways.

 

[Region3]

I know many golfers use GPS nowdays but I feel it is just a very expensive gimmick and does not help improve your game at all and in fact is proberly detrimental to your game .The whole idea of golf is to works out the distance of each club before you hit the course,then read the distance off the hole on your scorecard and use the appropriate club.If you use a driver deduct that off the distance of the hole and use the relevent club to reach the green.Now if you dont hit a club the distance you know you can you work out from eye and course markers what distance you have left and chose an appropriatte club.Golfs about feel for distance and using the right tools(clubs) to cover the distance.Why would you need GPS to tell you a distance thats left to the hole when you may not cover it with the known distance of your irons? in which turn you have to manufacture a shot,so then theres no need for GPS .I worked briefly in golf retail and selling £300+ GPS gadgets was quite frankly a big laugh between the sales assistants...theres Too many gimmicks nowdays that are making big cash for golf product companys,GPS waste of time and money just get out there and like Mr Hogan said feel the game.

 

[shivas irons]

As they were only the wealthy idle rich they had more time to pace distances or use someone to do it for them!

I get the feeling that your on some sort of Papyt wind up!

Rubbish, golf has been played by all classes in the past,infact it was banned in Scotland on Sundays cos it was so popular with all classes....Not a wind up just my opinion on some useless tat people think they need.

 

[Region3]

Sales of lake balls to go up after everyone just takes 300yds off the hole length to work out their approach yardage!

:rofl:

 

[Twire]

In your original post you state "I feel it is just a very expensive gimmick and does not help improve your game at all and in fact is proberly detrimental to your game" Then 2 posts later you come out with this.

No dont be stupid pro`s need a caddy for various jobs on course...Bet you couldnt play to your 6.8 without the "AID" of your GPS .

Don't think I've seen someone contridict themselves so quickly.

 

[BluenoseGolfer]

It's something I'd look into in the future, but atm with the level of my game I wouldn't get good use out of it as my ball striking and distances vary quite a lot

 

[bobmac]

Are your views similar for the laser rangefinders?

 

[chrisd]

Not a wind up just my opinion on some useless tat people think they need.

Rubbish, your definitely on a wind up!

 

[Deleted member 1147]

My name's James & I use a GPS device.
I realised one day that I wasn't always certain that my drives went 350yds. As such I couldn't always be sure that by knocking 350 off the length of the hole, according to my scorecard, I was getting the correct distance for my approach shots. Particularly those over bunkers, ponds and trees.

 

[smange]

No dont be stupid pro`s need a caddy for various jobs on course...Bet you couldnt play to your 6.8 without the "AID" of your GPS .

And the caddies most important job is telling the pro his yardages which he has marked on the strokesaver using GPS

There is also no way the pros would shoot anywhere near the scores they do without the "AID" of said yardages either.

 

[chrisd]

I realised one day that I wasn't always certain that my drives went 350yds.

Barely the forum average, must be into a headwind!

 

[shivas irons]

In your original post you state "I feel it is just a very expensive gimmick and does not help improve your game at all and in fact is proberly detrimental to your game" Then 2 posts later you come out with this.






Don't think I've seen someone contridict themselves so quickly.

The "Aid" bit was all very tongue in cheek Mr Moderator .Seriously though another argument against GPS is the fact that they do and its been proven slow down play quite considerably,you can mark off distance from a marker whilst walking to your ball,this ive done whilst caddy on the European Seniors and it works fine so dont tell me it does not because if its good enough for them I can assure you its good enough for you GPS guys!.Mobile phones + GPS=long round

 

[Monty_Brown]

I had a longish lay-off from the game which coincided with the introduction of DMDs in the game. At first I was cynical and spouted similar sentiments as you Shivas about "the skill of judgement" "playing by feel" and using on course markers.

I then played a club match and my team-mate had a laser. In just one round I'd say he saved be about 3 shots as I was in danger of seriously over or under-clubbing, mainly due to hopelessly inaccurate 150 markers on the course (it was an away fixture so I had no other evidence to go on).

I was converted in one round to their value.

The era you speak of has passed for various reasons. Professional caddies don't exist at our level and yardage markers are treated with little respect by green staff who fling them all over the place when they need to move them.

Times have changed.

 

[chrisd]

And the caddies most important job is telling the pro his yardages which he has marked on the strokesaver using GPS

There is also no way the pros would shoot anywhere near the scores they do without the "AID" of said yardages either.

I usually go to Wentworth on the last practice day for the BMW and both the caddie and the players use them to check and double check yardages for their books, and last year I actually saw Darren Clark buy and pay for a Nikon range finder from the rep.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

That's just it Chris, how much does a heavy wind affect your drives?
You should know this if you are to get rid of your GPS.

 

[Monty_Brown]

shivas irons "another argument against GPS is the fact that they do and its been proven slow down play quite considerably"


Would be interested to read that study. Do you have a link please?

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I reckon mine speeds up play.
I just get to my ball, look at the GPS and choose the club accordingly.
Rather than using strokesavers, 150 markers, judgement based on length of tee shot etc must be alot quicker.

 

[shivas irons]

And the caddies most important job is telling the pro his yardages which he has marked on the strokesaver using GPS

There is also no way the pros would shoot anywhere near the scores they do without the "AID" of said yardages either.

Really so I guess those 59`s and very low scores achieved on the PGA tour before GPS dont count then.....You would be suprised how many PGA guys still mark out or get their caddies to mark out the course old style.

 

[chrisd]

That's just it Chris, how much does a heavy wind affect your drives?
You should know this if you are to get rid of your GPS.

Perhaps I will take the view tha Shivas is talking bo**ocks and keep them after all, cheers Gil :whoo:

 

[Val]

Rubbish, golf has been played by all classes in the past,infact it was banned in Scotland on Sundays cos it was so popular with all classes....Not a wind up just my opinion on some useless tat people think they need.

Im surprised your not using a gutty ball, mashie, spoon etc