Know Your Distances

[USER1999]

I only have two experiences of lazer range finders. One in Florida, where the pins had reflective crystals in them, to help with the aiming. These gave good and quick results. Dead impressed.

The other, round my home track with a member from Moor park. He was a nobby, who annoyed the heck out of me all the way round. He had a range finder, and was out by anything up to 30 yards on any given hole, sometimes long, sometimes short. He insisted on giving me a yardage, even when I didn't want it, and it was wrong every time. I do know my own course, and have subsequently checked distances with gps.
He also had a remote control Powakaddy, and his use of this has also prejudiced me against users of remote control trolleys.

Now you may be very good with your range finder, but this experience put me off badly.

 

[Cernunnos]

Not tried a laser rang finder yet, but from various articles I've read, it apears some are better than other at different things.

It really is easy to understand a distance being out when the surface you are taking the reading off is at such a slight angle as it is in general, unless you have something that physically can not be ignored like trees & backs of deep bunkers etc.

It is worth bearing in mind that GPS is not 100% accurate either, especially as the amount of satalites being recieved drops of in the case of say for example coming into heavily wooded areas. Try switching your GPS on indoors & see what happens & how your yardage to a point will change & the figures hunt about.

 

[AlchemyGolf]

my and most gps have an accuracy reading.
Only when its a very overcast cloudy day is the accuracy a problem and then its back to the course planner.

 

[birdieman]

The fact this post has 60+ replies and counting is a good thing - stimulating debate and some argument which is a positive thing on a forum.

I can honestly say some of the best advice I've learned is from playing with players off scratch and better, usually it is not just technique, it's their ability to score, not by bagging loads of birdies but simply by cutting out needless bogeys. That comes from good course management as much as hitting a ball well.

As Alchemy was a scratch player I would be inclined to read what he recommends, scratch is a seriously good level of golf. It takes more than a good swing to attain that, you need some serious mental application as well. At 5 handicap I play golf ok but that is a long long way off scratch, my target is 3, something I believe I can do, any better is realistically not going to happen without a lifestyle overhaul.

Alchemy - Is it not time you upgraded from Eye 2's? I thought they went out with Rodger Davis's plus twos

 

[USER1999]

Thing is, and I am obviously a much worse golfer than either of you guys, to me, the biggest reason for higher(than me) h/caps racking up phone book scores is poor decision making, not not knowing their yardages.

How many times have you stood by a player, and thought, if I was your caddy, you wouldn't have that club in your hands right now, as someone attempts to hit a 3i out of 2 foot deep rough. 4 shots later, they finally admit defeat and wedge out sideways. Ok, every now and then it works, but in the main, they take on shots even Tiger would think twice about.

It isn't just knowing your distances, it is playing smart, and I think that is where you can learn alot from the low single figures.

Of course, they do have the advantage that if they play the percentage, take the sensible option, their 3rd shot will be on the green, and not shanked sideways into a pond from a perfect lie on the fairway.

 

[Mawgan]

I hate to reinvent the wheel and consequently always value someone else's experience if I can see that it will benefit me. I really appreciate Alchemy's and Bobmac's inputs (as well as many others') on their ability to score. How to play the game is, if anything, more important than how to swing the club, and advice on how to club a particular shot or how to approach a particular problem is not condescending, in my opinion. This forum exists for opinions, surely, and I welcome most ( ) of them!

I remember Homer's post about how he worked out his yardages and it was typically well thought through and explained and, therefore, useful. Alchemy's take on the same subject still brought up new advice. From my reading of forummers, everyone will learn what they wish from our posts, and let's be thankful for them but there is no obligation to be original, merely relevant.

 

[AlchemyGolf]

The fact this post has 60+ replies and counting is a good thing - stimulating debate and some argument which is a positive thing on a forum.

Alchemy - Is it not time you upgraded from Eye 2's? I thought they went out with Rodger Davis's plus twos

No one can deny I dont generate a debate one of my other posts had 59 replys and this one is heading for 70.

I would invest in a pair of Rodger Davis Plus2s before parting with my eye2s.

Have dabbled with other clubs but its not long before I return to my old faithfulls

Think this is my 5th set of eye2s

 

[haplesshacker]

No one can deny I dont generate a debate one of my other posts had 59 replys and this one is heading for 70.

You've got a long way to go before you get to 500 replies

This ain't a popularity contest; unless of course you're looking for a dps on youself in GM

Before one gets all lardy with the capitals and the 'jeezzz', it was tongue in cheek.

 

[AlchemyGolf]

 

[haplesshacker]

Cool