Illegal GPS Devices

[Swinger]

Been thinking about investing in a GPS device but as I have a laser range finder and I play away courses from planners and how I see them I don't need one for away days.

I am looking for one soley for practise and practise rounds to give me some more information ie, elevation, wind speed, temp and humidity etc.

Does anyone know A) Where I can get one / Cost, B) How accurate these devices are and C) Any user reviews/reccomendations.

Also if anyone wants to add their opinion about how useful this information would be feel free either way.

 

[colintrav]

Any Golfer that needs to rely on a GPS device for playing a round of golf might as well throw the towel in ..

Plus everyday weather conditions aren't the same so please tell me how in the scoobie such a device can actually help you..

Head wind cross winds can alter ball travel and distance

 

[Swinger]

Any Golfer that needs to rely on a GPS device for playing a round of golf might as well throw the towel in ..

Plus everyday weather conditions aren't the same so please tell me how in the scoobie such a device can actually help you..

Head wind cross winds can alter ball travel and distance

Thats the point, I think that having these refrence points of whats going on at certain times could help when facing the same kind of conditions during competition play.

Wind speeds, wind direction, temp, humidity.

I'm never going to take 5 or 6 different bits of kit out there but I just think it would be of more benifit to my game if one device did all these instead of a run of the mill GPS.

Its not something I would ever rely on just a practise aid really.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

A bit over the top in my opinion. Plus, how are you going to measure all these factors when you are playing without it? It's all very well knowing how far you hit 6 iron into a 25mph wind but how are you going to measure the wind in a comp?

Also, wind by it's very nature is gusty so the measurement before you hit the ball isn't necessarily the measurement when the ball is in the air.

How are you going to measure the crosswind coming between trees 150yds away if you can't feel it on the tee?

Yardages are one thing, anything else is a bit OTT.

I would suggest that if you've got to your level without all this info then you don't need it.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Any Golfer that needs to rely on a GPS device for playing a round of golf might as well throw the towel in ..

A standard GPS gives you the information that is already available to you, it just makes it quicker to obtain. Of course you don't need it but why would you not want it?

 

[USER1999]

My guess is that club yardage is probably at best +/- 5 yards, depending on the quality of strike, and the effort put into the swing, probably worse. Knowing the air pressure isn't going to make it any more accurate, unless you are 1 mile up at altitude.

Wind speed isn't ever a constant, especially on a tree lines course where even the direction varies.

If you are worried about this, you need to get an attack of the shanks to worry about instead.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

If you are worried about this, you need to get an attack of the shanks to worry about instead.

 

[Twire]

Any Golfer that needs to rely on a GPS device for playing a round of golf might as well throw the towel in ..

I spose you don't even have a quick look at the 150 and 100 yard markers either.

 

[Swinger]

Just thought it would help me build an all round better picture of how my clubs perform in different weather conditions. I do accept that wind is never really a steady factor even with regards to direction but neither is my ball striking (not too many out of the socket atm! I know who to blame if I start over the weekend though !!)

Also I would have thought that if you begin taking readings of various conditions then it gives you a better idea when the device in not with you. Its just about being more aware of the conditions around you.

It not an exercise where I religiously write down starts and look at every factor when selecting club and shot, just one where I think it would be interesting to have this information during practise. I just thought it would give me a better chance of understanding the conditions around me.
No fans yet though!!

 

[USER1999]

I think you might want to measure the moisture content of the air as well as the pressure, and then the moisture content of the ground, the firmness of the ground and the length of the grass, so you can predict run out and bounce. Possibly looking at the effect of different grass types too?

I can't see this level of detail making any difference to your game.

Sorry. Waste of time.

 

[Robobum]

If you are playing your own course often enough you pick up this info from experience anyway. It's like reading the breaks on the greens, I know roughly how much each putt will break at my course without having to get down and read it every time, I'm sure that's the same with everyone else at their courses too.

I don't see what advantage knowing the wind speed will give you unless I've misunderstood how they work. If the wind is 5mph into your face at ground level, it will not be at the same speed once the ball gets 100ft up in the air??!! Although there is probably a calculation that will work this out.

 

[viscount17]

buy this book, it will give you some of the answers and a whole lot more to worry about

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Science-Golf-John-Wesson/dp/0199226202

 

[toonarmy]

Any Golfer that needs to rely on a GPS device for playing a round of golf might as well throw the towel in ..

So that's the end of the professional tour* then...



*if we accept that a caddy is actually more effective than a GPS

 

[bigbiffa]

Any Golfer that needs to rely on a GPS device for playing a round of golf might as well throw the towel in ..

b'llox! gps devices are great. not all courses you play are marked that great, and instead of saying " its around, say 150" to the green, u get distances to front middle and back! i for one can vouch for them speeding up play, as you dont get the 5 minute dither over the yardage book, the walk to the marker, ooo its this yardage from that tree etc.