I have never used either and just wondering which you use and why?
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Gps watch v laser rangefinder
- Thread starter 351DRIVER
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Grieve14
Head Pro
Laser for me. More versatile, I think quicker to use, don’t need to charge it constantly and don’t have to have something on your wrist.
Edit - and also dont need to worry if the course you are playing is mapped.
upsidedown
Tour Winner
Laser , so easy to use and more accurate. Use Hole 19 on my phone as a back up GPS when playing a new course for first time.
turkish
Journeyman Pro
I have flicked between both and both have their merits. I'm nowhere near a good enough player to hit pinpoint accurate yardages so generally the front middle and back of a gps watch suits me better but the laser can be useful when it's hard to tell where the pin is in relation to that.
I don't have a good eye for distance either so when it's pitch shot it's also handy to use the laser. GPS also better on blind shot for the obvious.
I don't have a good eye for distance either so when it's pitch shot it's also handy to use the laser. GPS also better on blind shot for the obvious.
Dan2501
Tour Winner
I've got both. GPS good for new courses when you're not sure where a hole goes, but nothing beats a rangefinder for getting your yardage, so much more accurate. Just got my bushnell and slope is superb, shame it can't be used in competitions but going to learn so much about my course from using it in practice rounds / social games.
Coffey
Challenge Tour Pro
Used to have a range finder but had issues with blind shots (my course has a few) and also shots that you are behind trees (i find myself here a lot). So i couldn't get a distance reading. Decided i'd buy a gps device which i got on sale for a good price and then I would use both, the laser for accurate shots into the green and then a gps for everything else. Found myself being too lazy to get the range finder out of the bag and just used the gps. Find the GPS good for readings but obviously does not give the exact distance to the flag. I feel the GPS can be used in every situation whereas the range finder is only good if you have a direct view of the flag. Id say both have their positives and negatives.
For ease of use I found the GPS easier to use as it just hangs on my bag (or wrist if a watch) whereas the range finder I had to get out every single shot and then put back into its pouch. Also found the gps really useful for hazards as it can be quite hard to lock onto the back edge of a hazard to get the exact distance.
For ease of use I found the GPS easier to use as it just hangs on my bag (or wrist if a watch) whereas the range finder I had to get out every single shot and then put back into its pouch. Also found the gps really useful for hazards as it can be quite hard to lock onto the back edge of a hazard to get the exact distance.
Watch - So simple. A quick glance at your watch as you arrive at your ball and you are good to go, no delays. I'm not good enough to worry about exact yardages so front middle and back are enough for me.
User 105
Journeyman Pro
Both for me. Use a handheld GPS and a cheapish laser.
GPS I find quicker, just take a quick look down at the screen for yardages. Great for new courses and when you're out of site of the target, and I also use it to track my score and stats.
Laser is great for inside 130 to get exact yardages, assuming you're accurate enough with your wedges. Also great in the winter for yardages to temp greens. Found it did have trouble in fog\mist though, but that might be due to it being a cheaper one.
GPS I find quicker, just take a quick look down at the screen for yardages. Great for new courses and when you're out of site of the target, and I also use it to track my score and stats.
Laser is great for inside 130 to get exact yardages, assuming you're accurate enough with your wedges. Also great in the winter for yardages to temp greens. Found it did have trouble in fog\mist though, but that might be due to it being a cheaper one.
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
Depends where you play if you can see the bottom of the flag GPS if not laser good to have both if affordable.
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
I use both
GPS for general distances and laser for accuracy.
I did just use a GPS but we have quite a few greens where, in certain pin positions, you can't see the bottom of the flag
That makes judging where the pin is a lottery as we don't have other means of showing front, middle or back.
If the green is 40 yards long, the pin may be at the front but, from 160 out, might look like it's at the back.
Ok, you may be in the green but you may also be 30 yards from the pin. A quick zap with the laser tells me exactly how far it is and then I can see its relative position in the green..
GPS for general distances and laser for accuracy.
I did just use a GPS but we have quite a few greens where, in certain pin positions, you can't see the bottom of the flag
That makes judging where the pin is a lottery as we don't have other means of showing front, middle or back.
If the green is 40 yards long, the pin may be at the front but, from 160 out, might look like it's at the back.
Ok, you may be in the green but you may also be 30 yards from the pin. A quick zap with the laser tells me exactly how far it is and then I can see its relative position in the green..
merv79
Head Pro
I use both, and for course management purposes I think the GPS is the best option, so if I had to choose I would have a GPS.
I had the laser first and bought myself a cheap GPS (giving front, middle and back) more recently, and I believe it has helped my GIR and scoring.
As Imurg says, knowing where the pin position is in relation to the green is really important to reduce the risk of overshooting or coming up short and leaving difficult up and downs!
I had the laser first and bought myself a cheap GPS (giving front, middle and back) more recently, and I believe it has helped my GIR and scoring.
As Imurg says, knowing where the pin position is in relation to the green is really important to reduce the risk of overshooting or coming up short and leaving difficult up and downs!
Had a laser for about 6 years now. really helped my game. i have quite poor eyesight and its allowed me to attack pins more than before.
i use it a lot at my home course, even though we have distance markers to front an middle on all the sprinkler heads. We have quite large greens and on occasion there could be a couple of clubs difference to the pin from front or middle, and would often catch me out.
i use it a lot at my home course, even though we have distance markers to front an middle on all the sprinkler heads. We have quite large greens and on occasion there could be a couple of clubs difference to the pin from front or middle, and would often catch me out.
chrisd
Major Champion
Like many who've posted i use both
D
Deleted member 3432
Guest
Don't understand why your club can't have some simple indication such as red, yellow or white flags to indicate pin position. Not rocket science.
davemc1
Journeyman Pro
Watch for me. Im one of them people who loses something all the time 
Havnt lost a watch yet....
Havnt lost a watch yet....
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Bunkermagnet
Journeyman Pro
Have a laser, but much prefer GPS units.
Those that don't usually have a pin sheet, your course is unique though 😜
I carry both for many of the reasons already stated.
Having tried to explain the benefits of this type of system at a committee meeting once I can confirm that rocket science and its intricacies would have got a better response. You have no idea how frustrating that meeting was. Nothing changed😦
I use a GPS (not a watch) and a laser, the latter for distances from 120-60 yards as that's where my practice on distance control has been. Both devices have their merit although most of the GPS watches I've seen, although they are evolving, only give front middle and back yardages. I wanted something more so I could see where bunkers etc are. Also where I stuck the ball it's not always possible to get a laser reading
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