GPS v Laser rangefinder

[Tiger man]

Hi guys newbie here so forgive me if this has been covered before! I am in the market for one or the other and would love to hear your thoughts on which works best for you before I take the plunge.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Its been well covered lots of times

I have both. I use the laser from 150 yards and in to get the flag distance, and I use the GPS to work out whether the flag is front/centre/back (Our course has mounds in front of many of the greens)

GPS is also useful for distance to hazards especially if you play different courses and for measuring individual shots

GPS is a Garmin G3 Approach (£80 off the bay) and Laser is a Bushnell V2 ( £95 also off the Bay)

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Have a look at the current issue of the GM magazine. A test of some of the ones on offer to give you a starting point and the pros and cons of both types

 

[Tiger man]

Thanks for your input guys, crackin deals you got there Phil I have been scouring the bay and found nothing that cheap may have to be patient. . But that means more time on eBay, that will lead to more unnecessary clubs :lol:

 

[Lanark_Golfer]

As with Phil, I have both a Garmin G5 and a Bushnell Tour V2.

I have to admit, you become reliant on them, I forgot them one day and I didn't know what to do for the 1st few holes :rofl:

 

[Val]

Skycaddie GPS and Bushnel V3 here, tinkering with ditching skycaddie for a GPS watch

 

[spongebob59]

Skycaddie GPS and Bushnel V3 here, tinkering with ditching skycaddie for a GPS watch

Bushnell GPS watch and a Nikon rangefinder for pin hunting.

 

[Ian_Bristol]

I use the GPS to work out whether the flag is front/centre/back (Our course has mounds in front of many of the greens)

How can your GPS to tell you where the flags are.

 

[ADB]

How can your GPS to tell you where the flags are.

At my course red flag = front, yellow flag = middle, white flag = back

 

[Lanark_Golfer]

At my course red flag = front, yellow flag = middle, white flag = back

How can your GPS to tell you where the flags are.

As with the coloured flags, most Mid to High end GPS devices let you zoom into the green and move the flag around on the screen to get a better distance if the flag is in clear view in a certain area of the green.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

How can your GPS to tell you where the flags are.

Example pin via laser is 100 yards
GPS shows front of green 85 and back is 105 yards .

Or
Laser shows pin at 100 yards ,
GPS shows front 95 and back 130

By using both I know the position of the pin in relation to front back middle

 

[Tiger man]

Well I feel I am leaning towards the laser as they seem more accurate, but from on course experience I see a lot more people with GPS but most you guys seem to have both, so when in Rome and all that. . .

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Have both, tend to use laser more on home course and GPS on other courses as it gives hole shape and hazards not visible from Tee box,

 

[Lanark_Golfer]

Have both, tend to use laser more on home course and GPS on other courses as it gives hole shape and hazards not visible from Tee box,

I am the same, rarely use my GPS at home course unless I have hit a serious wide. I use the GPS a lot on new courses, and would say i use the Laser frequently all the time. If push came to shove and i had to lose one, I'd drop the GPS, leaves you with trouble on blind shots but they are few and far between

 

[pendodave]

Had my laser about a year having previously used a phone-based gps. Has been a fantastic purchase, and as I play mainly at my home course, I can't imagine changing any time soon.

It's particularly useful at the moment, when any well struck iron into the green pretty much stops dead. Knowing the pin position on a big green really helps.

 

[palindromicbob]

I use a basic £50 android phone that doesn't breech any of the DMD rules (doesn't need a sim to work unless I need data access to download a course while away from wifi) with Freecaddie and another app that slips my mind right now along with a Hillman laser which is still going strong.

The Hillman was one of a very few cheap laser option at the time I got it a few years back. A lot more chance of picking up cheap lasers now.

No need to have a vs argument when the option of having both is truly affordable.

Even if your phone does breech DMD rules you can try with an app for some practice rounds to see what you think about GPS as an option.

 

[Region3]

I use both as well. GPS from further out and laser when I ought to be able to get close.

If I had to lose one I'd keep the laser.

I also have a Garmin G3 that I don't use any more if you wanted a cheap one of those.

 

[woody69]

My experience of them is a GPS is usually enough for most. Unless you know your exact yardages and can hit them consistently simply knowing you need to hit 120 to the middle and the back is 140 and the front is 100 is enough. Knowing the actual flag is at 117 seems a little like overkill.

I played at the weekend with a guy off 20 who spent a good minute trying to find the flag. 9/10 he didn't even make the green, let alone get it anywhere near the flag.

 

[Alex1975]

Laser.... faster than GPS every time and its actual data.

 

[Imurg]

My experience of them is a GPS is usually enough for most. Unless you know your exact yardages and can hit them consistently simply knowing you need to hit 120 to the middle and the back is 140 and the front is 100 is enough. Knowing the actual flag is at 117 seems a little like overkill.
.

Unless you can't see the base of the flag and you think its at the front when its at the back...
Aim for and hit the front and you may have a 30 yard putt..just aiming for the middle could still see you having 15 yards to go...