Is the end approaching for dedicated golf GPS devices

GB72

GB72

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Just a thought really. Smartphones never really took over from dedicated golf GPS devices mainly, in my opinion, because of the constant confusion as to whether each phone was competition legal.

Wearable tech is really plummeting in price now and there are, as far as I am aware, no issues with smart watches being competition legal. So, is the end approaching for the dedicated golf GPS device with the inevitable future being free, paid or subscription GPS apps on wearable tech devices.

With the price of the latest dedicated golf GPS watches being equal to or even more than the average smart watch, is it inevitable that these will take over from the dedicated devices once someone produces a good and reliable app.
 
I expect you could well be right. Some golfers may well want a bigger display and more information than you can see easily on a watch face or thin band, but I expect that is the way it is going.
 
Probably. I've never understood why fancy electric trolleys dont have built in GPS heads-up displays in the handle section? Maybe that's the way itll go when the devices start becoming obsolete, then every trolley will have them cos they'll be so cheap. But you're right, mobile/wearable tech will take over. Particularly wearable when it is good enough to read your swing properly and provide feed back. It's only a matter of time.
 
I have a smartwatch, Moto 360, and I have a Garmin S1. I love both of them. The battery on the smartwatch drains quickly when used for Smart things and I would be intrigued to know how it would cope as a GPS and golf app for 4-5 hours. Not well at the moment I suspect.

The S1 only has to do one thing, with low grade graphics, so it can cope quite easily.

Battery life is everything and key to their use. At the moment 2 devices are required, in the near future one will cover all. Not yet though.
 
I thought you still needed your phone with the likes of the Apple Watch? If so this seems to much hassle so dedicated devices here to stay for a while yet. Also reviews of the Microsoft band werent great golf wise.
 
Wife has a fitbit surge that lasts days and has a built in GPS.

One trolley had a built in GPS years ago when use of GPS devices was against the rules
 
Curls said:
Probably. I've never understood why fancy electric trolleys dont have built in GPS heads-up displays in the handle section? Maybe that's the way itll go when the devices start becoming obsolete, then every trolley will have them cos they'll be so cheap. But you're right, mobile/wearable tech will take over. Particularly wearable when it is good enough to read your swing properly and provide feed back. It's only a matter of time.
Click to expand...

Theres certainly some out there but in the main they contradicted the gps rules (ie they provided additional info which was deemed illegal). I dare say it will be revisited again now the gps rules have been relaxed
 
You need your phone near to the watch for some things but not for others. Quite often the watch shows info that the phone has collated, it effectively acts as a display for the phone. It may be that gps for example works through the phone and the info is forwarded. In that case you would need your phone to be open to the elements so that it can pick up the GPS transmission. As things progress it may be that the watch does this itself. It varies depending on the watch and the app.

The watches act as a watch, without your phone. It is only when you want them to do other stuff that you need the link. I presume this is again down to battery life.
 
I use a free to use app on my iphone and it's spot on. Battery life can be an issue but as long as it's 100% charged before the round it usually lasts. No reason why I will go buy a watch or something else now. I've had a scope last year and I don't feel my game has suffered but not using it.
 
I don't think it'll be the end of the GPS device, at least not in the next decade or so as I would say (as a sweeping generalisation) is that many middle aged and older golfers who want a device will prefer a hand held device (perhaps and again a generalisation) because of the larger screen and easier to read
 
I don't have a smartphone and neither do I want one. Some folk moan about paying a £20 - £30 annual subscription for a rangefinder, but I would much pay that than £20 - £30 a month for a smartphone.
 
I don't think a dedicated golf GPS watch will ever disappear but I think there will be lots of models ranging from basic to all singing and dancing versions. Garmin already have a big range and are bordering on smart watch territory just like some smart watches are trying to infiltrate on golf GPS watches.
Whoever wins will have to produce something golfers want, is easy to use and does what it says on the tin.
I've currently got a Microsoft Band but am considering ditching that for a dedicated golf watch.
 
I started using the free apps on my smart phone. Quickly changed to a Garmin S1. Best golf purchase ever. Simple, reliable and does basically what I need. I NEVER wore a watch before now and it took a few weeks to get used to. Now I can't feel it on. Becomes second nature. The thought of having to pull out my phone/turn it on/put it down etc every shot would annoy me.

Can't wait for improvements in general. In particular battery life. I will probably buy the next one to include distance to hazards/dog legs etc. I play a lot of new courses and miss this information at times.

I will say this - I once went to play somewhere where my phone did not work. I was totally lost. Because of always using GPS I have never needed to learn how to judge/assess distance manually. There is a skill in this. I play regularly with someone who has never used GPS and standing over a shot of any distance he can identify the yardage to an accuracy that is scary. I wish I has this ability/skill and no doubt would have if I did not overly depend on GPS for this
 
Bushnell NeoXS watch for me.
Light as a feather, (forget you're even wearing it), and battery life good enough for at least 36 holes, maybe more (if you're that way inclined).
Simplicity itself to use, some of the newer stuff has me baffled with the displays and information they give you.
 
davidg2010uk said:
I thought you still needed your phone with the likes of the Apple Watch? If so this seems to much hassle so dedicated devices here to stay for a while yet. Also reviews of the Microsoft band werent great golf wise.
Click to expand...

Not sure I understand this tbh - surely you take your phone on the course with you in your bag anyway?
As long as it's close then the GPS Apps on the watch would work fine.
 
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