GPS Waste of money?

Interesting replys

First of all let me say this post was never about personal attacks on anyone useing a gps,more of a general point, we are all entitled to our views on this and you may not agree with me (and clearly most dont)no problem with that. But dont come on here and say Im talking Bxllxxxs. There is to many posts recently that are getting to personal imo.
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Is this not a forum where opinions can be expreseed - I happen to think your opinion about high handicappers not needing a gps is what I said. You have no right to dictate what i can or can't say in a forum of free speech.

That was not a personal attack - only a response to your opinion.

You don't have to agree with me as I don't with you. All I expressed was an opinion if you can't accept that tough!
 
interesting thread!
I feel some sympathy with the OP, I once said I wouldn't have one/didn't want one as it wouldn't make me a better player or make me enjoy it more, & got well & truly flamed!

When it comes down to value, there's got to be more in lessons & playing & practicing, rather than knowing where you are stood to where the ball needs to end up is actually 142.73 yards rather than the 145 you were estimating.

Golf is very good at making you look foolish without adding in the 'all the gear no idea' accusations!
 
I don't disagree with lessons being the best way to lower your handicap - what I do disagree with is the notion that the need for a higher handicap golfer to use a GPS is less than the need of a lower handicap golfer. We all need to know where we are in relation to the hole, be that 300 yards or 80 yards away.

I cannot for the life of me see the difference between a strokesaver which gives you a rough indication of your position on a hole and a GPS which will give you a more precise indication. Yet the OP is OK with strokesavers which I think take longer and will slow up your next shot.
 
I cant understand why some higher handicappers feel the need to think like high handicappers.

When I played off higher numbers I always tried to emulate my lower handicap mates. I wanted to know the distance that I needed to hit so that I could select the right club and try to get there, I always assumed that I would hit a good shot, I often didn't and thats where the lessons come in.

I did what I knew to be right and if I duffed it I took that in my stride, practiced, but always did and still do, think like a single figure player. On Friday at the North Kent forum meet I actually had my Skycaddie on and still used my (older) laser for the actual distance for the last shot in because I didn't always know where on the green the pin was - I played pretty s**t but did it in the knowledge that I had all the information to play as a scratch golfer.


Chris
 
I've never got on with stroke savers. Loads of idiot symbols which mean nothing to me. I could be out there all day trying to decipher the code. Instead, I can just look at my gps, and get on with it. Is it golf or orienteering? If you want to read maps, join the scouts.

I think the OPs arguement stands up more when considering lazers, but can see no reason why a gps isn't for every one.

Any way, why should I spend money on lessons? I had 6 20 years ago, and that was way too many. No body is ever going to know my swing better than me, and trying to teach me some one elses swing is doomed to failure.
 
For what its worth, this months mag will have an argument for and against them. ;)

My opinion is that golf hasn't sufferered from a lack of GPs devices in the first few hundred years of its lifetime so why use them now?

As an observation and nothing else, I know of no Cat 1 golfers at our place that uses one but do know a few higher handicaps that do use them. Take from that what you will.
 
I played with a 2 handicapper at the weekend who wouldnt know where he was without his GPS, but tend to agree the better players often switch from GPS to laser
 
I have a GPS but rarely use it round my own track - you learn the distances from playing.

However as i said in my earlier post it is a godsend when playing somewhere I have never played before - especially if as is often the case I stray into the longer stuff and sometimes beyond. I instantly know how far things ar from that point - no it doesn't help me swing any better but it does provide me with all the distance information I need in my attempt to play my next shot.
 
I cant understand why some higher handicappers feel the need to think like high handicappers.

When I played off higher numbers I always tried to emulate my lower handicap mates. I wanted to know the distance that I needed to hit so that I could select the right club and try to get there, I always assumed that I would hit a good shot, I often didn't and thats where the lessons come in.
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I agree with all that, I dont think i think like a high handicapper, thinking all par 3s are par 4s etc, and I will be sub 20 in the next 6 months (I'm playing 6 times in two weeks, it usually takes me two months to play that much!)

I generally play one of four courses, and now know which club i neeed to hit from most positions I'm likely to end up in on each hole, based on my 'average' distance, allowing for conditions etc.
Yes a gps would confirm what i know and would be no detriment, but i don't think it would add anything to my game.
Also there is often merciless ribbing following a duff shot. It would increase 100fold if someone had used a laser to work out just how far they should have hit it!
 
My opinion is that golf hasn't sufferered from a lack of GPs devices in the first few hundred years of its lifetime so why use them now?
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For the first 150 years the balls weren't even round. People still shot good scores. May be we should roll the ball back to the featherie?

GPS is just an electronic stroke saver. I have never understood what people have against them.

Any one still got a manual typewriter?
 
Also there is often merciless ribbing following a duff shot. It would increase 100fold if someone had used a laser to work out just how far they should have hit it!
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Been there myself, I was one of the first at my place with a laser - although the first thing I did was to reset the 150 markers to the right position for everybody's benefit.

I can take all the p**s taking, as I dish it out myself and some short time on, most of the p**s takers have either a laser or gps themselves. It takes a few seconds to get a yardage, factor in variables, select a club and wack it so it has become part of my pre shot routine. Most weeks when I play an average of 2 in every 4 ball I play use a gps or laser


Chris
 
As an observation and nothing else, I know of no Cat 1 golfers at our place that uses one but do know a few higher handicaps that do use them. Take from that what you will.
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Conversely, when I was thinking of getting a SC, our assistant Pro lent me his for a couple of rounds. I think it's fair to say that a lot of our Cat 1 players use a DMD or laser rangefinder.
 
i need to point out that these are just my opinions & if you dont like them i have others ;)


i also ought to point out it was the end of the year 2000 before i stopped taking the mickey out of mobile phones & got one myself....
:)
 
evahakool I'm now more chilled out but stand by everything I typed. Your post finished with an explicit clarification that stated that you werent judging whether high h/caps should own one but whether they need one. I took umbrage to that distinction.

I've been on here for over 18 months and posts that get my goat are those that are loaded with anti high h/cap prejudice. A prejudice based on a presumption of ability and capability. I do not see myself as unique because of my aspiration. There are plenty of people out there who have a sporting background but take up golf later in life. The majority start as high handicappers with an aspiration to go low.

I get incensed by comments that infer as a high h/cap I

- shouldn't play premium balls
- can't hit the ball as far as I say i do, or
- shouldn't use a GPS

Today I snapped and your thread has born the brunt of it. Every golfer is unique in terms of swing flaws, strengths, weaknesses etc. Some choose to take lessons others don't.

BUT every golfer has the SAME information requirements whether it's wind direction, green slope, hazard location or yardage. Our skills determine how we use/benefit from that information but EVERY golfer should process it. If you pace out your yardages good for you, I've no problem with that but don't make baseless claims that high h/caps don't need a GPS because, as well as being inconsistent with us being 'allowed' to use strokesavers, it's also IMHO utter buzzcocks.
 
i also ought to point out it was the end of the year 2000 before i stopped taking the mickey out of mobile phones & got one myself....
:)
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Ah a trailblazer ;)
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yep thats me bang on trend.
been thinkin i ought to have one o them pictures like you've all got so i've just added my new laptop....
 
I have no handicap but do know my iron distances and am fairly straight and consistant with them. Guessing/estimating distances I am pants at.

I use a gps purely for my distance to the green so I know wether to lay up or go for it and what club to use, if its windy I use common sense for taking/dropping a club

It gives me confidence over the yardage to the green/flag and thats it.

I am also still trying to guess the distance before using the gps and on occasion I am not far out but for consitency the gps wins hands down and is invaluable to me as a newbie/high handicapper :)
 
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