Has Your GPS/DMD......

[Deleted member 1740]

.... Helped cut your handicap?

I'm undecided about these GPS/DMD's and was wondering if any of you have seen a significant drop in your handicap since starting to use them?

 

[RGDave]

Can I tell you in 6 months.

Played yesterday, no gps (comp) and guessed twice. Both cost me at least a shot.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Absolutely and categorically YES. I am much more accurate with my wedges now knowing the exact distance left. I can choose the right one and swing with confidence. Add in the shots saved by better course management and knowing how far the trouble is, particularly when playing from off the beaten track and I reckon it saves a minimum of two shots per round.

 

[RGDave]

I tell you what....

In a few months, I shall have a good many extra marks on my stroke saver, most of which will be "acquired" on my travels around the course with a skycaddie.

We don't have 100 disks on either 17 or 18 and I come up short or long SO often. It's a wedge (any sort) or as much as a 9 iron to both. I shall be looking for trees and distinctive features to hone the 100 yards on these holes.

 

[thecraw]

I believe the SGU has banned them from competition and its up to clubs to introduce local rules. I was told today that Argyll and Bute has banned them in county competitions!!!!

Bloody backward fools.

 

[USER1999]

I don't know. I have been off 12 for over 15 years. Since getting a SG5 I have been cut to 9.

However, this has also corresponded to a period of better ball striking, a better short game, and much improved bunker play.

I also have a better mental approach to medals.

Yes, it has helped, but it is part of the picture, not all of it.

 

[Imurg]

I'm becoming more consistent as a result of using mine. I hit more greens - ok not close enough to have a real birdie chance every time but on the green nontheless.
I find it invaluable for fairway hazards. It can be tricky judging a distance from 180 yrds away but SC tells me I can carry the ditch if I can carry the ball 176 yards - pick a club that can do that and all I've got to do is hit it properly and I'm home and dry. It's leaving me shorter shots to the green as a result.
Now we've only got a yellow disc 150 from the middle of the green, buried in the fairway so nobody can qee it unless you're standing on top of it, SC has become a necessity.

 

[john0]

Cant answer yet as ive only played 1 round with my new GPS (and half of the greens were temps!). The holes I did manage to use it, it was very helpful quickly giving me the yardage I need without having to work it out by trying to find the markers in the overgrown fairways! Now all I need to do is not hit the ball fat then it will go the yardage it was meant to

 

[bigbiffa]

not so much handicap cut as only got it at xmas, but as the other posters have said, there is no doubt on what club to hit to targets, which is all well and good if you know how far you hit each club on average.
For me the real test will be when the season starts

 

[Fyldewhite]

I don't use one but I do have a very good grip on distance at my home course. I don't just "guess". I think Homer makes a really valid point in saying that increased confidence of knowing the distance is the key factor. Not being confident of club selection is a recipe for a bad shot and if you avoid this a couple of times a round it's easy to see where the improvement will come from.

Personally, I would be tempted if I played a lot away from my home course but I don't so would be a waste of money for me.

 

[Gubog]

I thinking of getting a handicap this year, can you use a DMD on your 3 scorecards you need to hand in.

 

[Robobum]

Since getting my GPS I haven't hit one single "good" shot and found trouble with it.

I use it all the time at my home track and since getting it I have given myself many more looks @ birdie from inside 15ft. As I have a very good idea of the likely pin locations in a certain area of the green, I can put the crosshare on the SC5 almost spot on the pin yardage and fire right at them.

As for helping my handicap?? Post this question again in September!!

 

[brendy]

Can I turn the question round a little, given the opportunity to have either a gps device for £200
or a set of lessons, which would give a better sense of value for money and increase in performance?

In not anti gps really but found it funny last week when my partner kept asking me how far do you think it is to the green etc, I was never more than 2 yards out and I used multiples of 5 yards, ie I went by a shot that was 145 or 175 etc, he just kept laughing at how accurate my measurements were. I got the feeling that he realised why I had never bought one.
I once had a small set of lessons that straightened out my swaying and grip and my handicap tumbled from 12 to 6 in less than 6 months.
Moral of the story? A lot of people try to justify buying the device by saying it only tells you distances but doesnt hit it for you. That is very true, you still need to be able to make a reasonable swing at the ball, why not make that reasonable swing a brilliant swing?

 

[USER1999]

Because for me, I won't hit that brilliant swing unless I am confident on the distance. If I am not, I get self doubt, and then hash it up. I can do this knowing the yardage too, but it helps settle my mind, and enables me to hit with my brilliant (for brilliant read dodgy) swing with absolute confidence.

And then I leave it short.

 

[HRC99]

I would say it saves me 1 to 2 shots per round. Prior to having one, I'd hit at least a couple of shots per round that I'd hit well but be short or long with because I didn't know the distance.

Being a bit wild off the tee, having proper yardages from some strange places can be a real help too.

Like others, I find it helps you commit to the shot knowing exactly how far it is.

 

[drawboy]

I believe the SGU has banned them from competition and its up to clubs to introduce local rules. I was told today that Argyll and Bute has banned them in county competitions!!!!

Bloody backward fools.

In that case they had better ban caddies from giving yardages to players it's the same thing.

 

[Parmo]

I don't see how DMD's can reduce your scores that much, that said when you know the distances in summer and your true club distances it does give you added confidence to strike the ball. That said I don't use mine on my home course, though I might during the summer.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I don't see how DMD's can reduce your scores that much, that said when you know the distances in summer and your true club distances it does give you added confidence to strike the ball. That said I don't use mine on my home course, though I might during the summer.

Not sure I understand the logic. You don't use it that much so you don't see how it can reduce the scores. I think just by knowing how far you hit each club and then knowing exactly what is left gives you the freedom to really attack each pin. As someone said, by moving the crosshair the number becomes much more accurate. I'm sorry if I've missed the point on this reply.

 

[Deleted member 1740]

Some intresting opinions on this. At my home course we have 100yds red sticks and 150yds yellow sticks which are pretty much visible from anywhere,how accurate they are is open to question.

I think at the momment i'll spend a few ££'s on more lessons and try to improve that way rather than depending on a DMD.

 

[SammmeBee]

Some intresting opinions on this. At my home course we have 100yds red sticks and 150yds yellow sticks which are pretty much visible from anywhere,how accurate they are is open to question.

I think at the momment i'll spend a few ££'s on more lessons and try to improve that way rather than depending on a DMD.

Is that 100 yards from the stick or the middle between the stick? Front or middle - do they tell you where the pin is on the green?

My Bushnell will tell me exactly ow far it is to the pin from wherever I am - I would say yours is +/- 10 yards at best so maybe 1 or even 2 clubs difference....