GPS vs. Laser Rangefinders What Do You Actually Use on the Course?

GPS vs. Laser Rangefinders

  • GPS

  • Laser

  • Combo

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Vistaget

Vistaget

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Hi everyone 👋
We’re the team at Vistaget, working on golf measurement technologies (optics, algorithms). We’re not here to sell or promote any products. We’re genuinely interested in how golfers actually use GPS and laser rangefinders on the course.

From what we’ve heard:
🔵 GPS users
  • Easier to see the overall hole layout
  • No need to aim or lock onto a target
🔴 Laser users
  • Better precision, especially into the green
  • Flag locking and slope feel more direct
👀 Some golfers use both
  • GPS for strategy
  • Laser for accuracy
We’d love to hear from you:
  • Which do you use most often, and why?
  • What factors influence your choice?
  • Do hybrid devices appeal to you? What would you expect from one?
We’ll read every reply carefully. Real golfer experience matters more to us than marketing, and we truly appreciate your insights.

View attachment 9399962
 
Most of the time I use GPS though I have both.

This time of the year I will use Laser more frequently for temporary greens.
the other circumstance I tend to use Laser for is courses with very large greens
 
I have both but have not used the GPS on my home course for years .
Even the laser only comes out occasionally as I have played my home course for decades and know my club selection by where the ball is relative to course distance markers , trees etc

The laser gets used for temporary greens, occasions when I am uncertain having finished in an unusual position, measuring the distance to a lay up point.

Several mates always have a GPS and I occasionally ask them just to confirm what I think.
 
I just recently bought a gps cheapie wristwatch for the days that are foggy (Saturday I needed it) or rainy and messes with the laser. I occasionally check both when they are working......the gps screws the distance up a LOT for me. I find the laser a lot more accurate......I might just have a dud gps, but I'll only use it if I'm desperate.
 
GPS until I'm in range of the green and then Laser to get the accurate yards
I transfer the yards to the GPS, moving the flag to an approximate position on the screen
I then have pretty accurate distances of hazard carries and the amount of green I have to work with.
 
GPS app on my phone. Tried a range finder in the past and didn't find it very helpful. I'm much better off just knowing the back and middle of the green yardages and aiming to hit it inside there.
 
I use GPS on Apple watch but have laser in the bag too.
Very rarely use the laser to be honest, maybe the odd time off a tee checking a bunker or something. Maybe a bit more on a new course.
Hole 19 app on the watch usually all I’ll use
 
Laser only…I don’t have a GPS thing and no plans to buy one. Use it for yardage to flag and such as yardage to cover green side bunker. Accept laser is limited in fog, mist, rain. So be it.
 
I use laser primarily, but happen to have GPS on my trolley which is useful when I cant see the flag (hills or trees in the way) or the laser is inoperable (mist/drizzle usually).

The laser is my preferred option as in a few seconds I can zap several different targets, often using players in front as targets, if i see them in places where I might want to land the ball. i dont need GPS for strategy as most of my golf is played at my home course (not that the GPS gives a "birds eye" layout of the hole anyway!!).
 
A combination of both. Mainly gps (hole19) on my watch, but when hitting into the green I like to know whether the hole is front middle or back, and so I’ll laser the flag to get a better idea.
 
GPS watch. Laser is too much of a faff.

We have coloured flags for pin positions and I’m not delusion enough to think that I can dial my irons in to anything tighter than 5 yards anyway.
 
I have GPS on my trolley which is great for courses I don't know and courses with blind shots to hazards or greens. But I need to download the course before playing it.
So for special courses, I do that. For average courses or ones I'll only play once, I don't bother and rely on the range finder or just front, middle and back green yardages which are always on the trolley.
I will always use the range finder for approaches and par 3 tee shots.
If I haven't downloaded the course, I will also use the range finder and laser bunkers or hazards and also to try and calculate 2nd shot distance.
My laser has slope function which I always use outside competitions.
However, I have yet to find a laser that works in mist or fog, so the trolley comes in handy then.
When my current laser packs up, I may well invest in a hybrid device, which will be handy when I carry. For now, I make do with two things.
I cannot wear a watch to play golf, so that's one type of device I won't be investing in!
 
Always the laser for me. Changed from a GPS years ago and couldn't live without it now.

Upgrading the trolly this year after nearly 10 years service. I'll likely have a GPS on the new one. Front and back yardages will be handy if they are right there when im grabbing a club.
 
Voted the wrong thing. Nice one 👍


I've used pretty much all the options down the years. Watch, phone, handheld unit and laser.

I like the laser as you are also scanning the hole visually while taking a couple of yardages.

Nothing is really quicker or better. All shots require a certain amount of thought and processing. Read the lie, check the wind, assess the shot.
 
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