GPS; Its just a gimmick!

[shivas irons]

Certainly seem to speed up play, when used properly, in all the 'tests' that I've seen.

As GPS/Rangefinders are not legal during the actual competition (Elite/PGA/European - except a couple) so, pacing out from the markers etc is what's required. And there are loads more markers (though no 150yd post) actually added to assist caddies/players during those comps. And they are given pin-sheets too, so distance to flag is much more accurate.

Who was your player btw? And when was it?

Anyway, wind-up or not, I believe you fundamentally agree that knowing the correct yardage is important. It's only the method by which you achieve it that we are discussing - GPS, Laser, Pacing or 'by eye'. So you are welcome to carry on wandering about finding a reference point to pace your distance - or simply guess. Just remember to let me through cos checking my SkyCaddie, zapping the pin with my Bushnell or checking the Pro Guide for the distance from that sprinkler-head is much quicker!

Ive caddied for Jimmy Heggarty http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/players/playerid=83/index.html
and an American chap called Gary Wintz who managed to win this http://www.europeantour.com/seniort...2808/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Ive also caddied for a couple of pro Argentinia`s and some Amateurs for the Seniors Open.
Try it its fun,but dont bring your GPS .

 

[Iaing]

As far as slowing up play, GPS units don't.
But laser rangefinders do.

 

[shivas irons]

I know pal....Im just trying to give my opinion on what the OP said......He tells us that he caddied for years but he seems to think that he can judge the distance by eye to the nearest yard better than a GPS ......

Thats why i posted about the elevated green....Im a bit perplexed as to how he can tell the depth and width of an elevated green from over 150 yards when he cant see the putting surface to tell how big it is.....

I`ll use eye but mainly yardage from the markers and points on course,bunkers etc,as for the green well on our home courses it doesent matter does it cos we know it and as for a new unplayed course try a yardage chart,oh sorry you dont get them at you local muni do you.....

 

[Foxholer]

One thing I have noticed is that after playing golf for 40 years since I was a kid, I judge most distances up to about 250 yards in terms of golf shots. If someone were to ask me how far a particular object is I would first think what club I would use to reach it then convert that into yards.

H'mm. I'm relatively new to golf (only been playing 20 years) and haven't noticed myself doing that yet. I do, however measure distances on a golf course in distances I can relate to elsewhere. Strangely, as I didn't play it all that much, Cricket Pitch length (22yds), or multiples thereof seems to be the most useful. I'm pretty accurate (within a yard) of anything under 20yds and generally within 2-3 up to about about 90.

Still prefer to use a Bushnell/GPS though as that gives me a certainty that I seem to need.

 

[rosecott]

I`ll use eye but mainly yardage from the markers and points on course,bunkers etc,as for the green well on our home courses it doesent matter does it cos we know it and as for a new unplayed course try a yardage chart,oh sorry you dont get them at you local muni do you.....

Careful Shivas, you are in danger of becoming a t****r, if not already there.

 

[Val]

Careful Shivas, you are in danger of becoming a t****r, if not already there.

:clap: :thup:

 

[shivas irons]

Careful Shivas, you are in danger of becoming a t****r, if not already there.

At least not a muni t****r eh .

 

[rosecott]

At least not a muni t****r eh .

At least we now know where you stand.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Ive caddied for Jimmy Heggarty http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/players/playerid=83/index.html
and an American chap called Gary Wintz who managed to win this http://www.europeantour.com/seniort...2808/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Ive also caddied for a couple of pro Argentinia`s and some Amateurs for the Seniors Open.
Try it its fun,but dont bring your GPS .

You said there is a lot more to caddying than working out the yardages and you are right. Three things as far as most tour caddies are concerned and straight out of Andy Prodgers mouth at the BMW last year. Turn up, keep up and shut up.

You've changed tack more often than I change teaching pros and have supplied a lot of opinions without any evidence. You say it has been proven that they slowed play down. Where's the evidence. You said you thnk the R&A have done some study. If so show me the facts. In fact, I'm pretty sure one of the monthly magazines did a feature a while back and had one guy relying on just his eyes, a guy with a strokesaver, a guy with GPS and a guy in a buggy and there was no evidence given that GPS was actually any quicker or slower. Buggy was slowest. Strokesaver guy next as he had to pace the yardages and eyesight and GPS were almost exactly the same. I'll dig around in my back copies of magazines and see if I can find the edition in question.

 

[kid2]

oh sorry you dont get them at you local muni do you.....

And there appears the proverbial :smirk:

 

[shivas irons]

I think i`m going to close this thread now and give up on it cos its getting silly and off track.Use your GPS by all means but for me eye and yardage either from markers or points on course is the only true way to play this great game properly .END OF.

 

[Piece]

Traditional method: Ive worked out its probably 150y to go
GPS: I know it's 155y to go.

Why make the game harder than it needs to be?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think i`m going to close this thread now and give up on it cos its getting silly and off track.Use your GPS by all means but for me eye and yardage either from markers or points on course is the only true way to play this great game properly .END OF.

Don't see it getting off track at all. People are only responding to what you've written and usually to ask for your proof to back up your remarks. Sounds like someone throwing his niblick and feathered ball out the pram. Isn't that the true way to play the game. Not sure how you can actually justify to anyone else your last statement. It might be for you but pretty sure others will argue that

 

[USER1999]

I think i`m going to close this thread now and give up on it cos its getting silly and off track.Use your GPS by all means but for me eye and yardage either from markers or points on course is the only true way to play this great game properly .END OF.

End of what? The only way to play golf truly? Guff! The only way to play golf truly is persimmon, hickory, gutta percha, greens cut by sheep, tweed, ties, boots with hob nails, leather bags, and caddies. Caddies who know the course, and can give a yardage.

Bizarrely, the nearest we get to these times is knowing the yardage. All the rest is gone by the way side. Truly, a dmd is the nearest we get to how golf used to be played.

 

[Imurg]

I think i`m going to close this thread now and give up on it cos its getting silly and off track.Use your GPS by all means but for me eye and yardage either from markers or points on course is the only true way to play this great game properly .END OF.

So you look like the Guy in your Avatar do you?

Welcome to the 19th Century............

 

[bluetoon]

I think i`m going to close this thread now and give up on it cos its getting silly and off track.Use your GPS by all means but for me eye and yardage either from markers or points on course is the only true way to play this great game properly .END OF.

Getting silly?:rofl:

Its' been silly from post #1

 

[Slime]

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 .

Dear shivas (papyt) irons,
I've now got a GPS............it cost me £1.28. First time I used it was at Reigate Hill. Their course planners cost £4.00. So..............to summarise, I've used it once and already it has sped up the pace of play, knocked shots of my scote & it's even making me money. Didn't need a course planner @ £4 which makes me £2.72 up on the deal..................and I've only used it once!

You muppet!

 

[Region3]

A serious question.

Why should being able to judge distances by eye be an integral part of the game. I am rubbish at it, no exaggeration, totally rubbish.

If my swing and short game, putting etc is good enough to get me round in 79 for example, why should I be handicapped because of something physical (eyes/brain) and suddenly maybe not be able to break 80?

 

[chrisd]

Don't you just get peed off when right muppets tell you what how should and shouldn't play golf.

My playing partner is awesome at guessing distances and would never use a GPS/laser - I am useless at guessing, so I used to pace it, or use a stroke save and now use modern technology, owning a laser and a Skycaddie and deciding which one to use on the day.

I do love it when we have personal opinions forced upon us but at least, unlike Papyt, he didn't say that it was all a wind up, although I cant believe anyone would write the crap that Shivas has written as a seriously held view!

 

[rosecott]

I do love it when we have personal opinions forced upon us but at least, unlike Papyt, he didn't say that it was all a wind up,

Whatever he says now, papyt wasn't a wind-up - I'm sure I've met him.