Laser or GPS?

[Arthur Wedge]

As it was my comment I am compelled to respond
Surely a GPS giving you the front of the green is 140 (to same flag) means you will still hit the same shot so this is not unique to laser. GPS (imo) gives more flexibility and means you only carry 1 item - mostly on your trolley or wrist.

I'm also surprised no-one has claimed that lasers slow down play

The problem imo is GPS accuracy can be suspect at times with them be out by a yardage that could affect the shot

Seen it plenty of times when the GPS has been at least 5-10 yards out - that a full club for some

 

[Neilds]

Lasers are unbeatable if a course has temporary greens

Agree with that, but as our course doesn't have them (fingers crossed for this winter) I'm still not buying one

 

[Imurg]

I'm also surprised no-one has claimed that lasers slow down play

it's not the laser that slows down play...it's similar in some respects to Aimpoint...if it's done properly it takes seconds.
I'm usually the last to play in the bunch I play with...while I'm waiting for them to hit their shot I laser the pin.
I then adjust my GPS to that yardage...when I get to my ball the yardage to the pin is on my GPS and it doesn't take any time....

 

[PJ87]

It's an excellent app but I use both hole 19 and my watch

Also looking for a laser for exact yardage to pin. Anyone have recommendations for a good budget laser?

https://amzn.eu/d/gP3Ygbj

 

[Neilds]

The problem imo is GPS accuracy can be suspect at times with them be out by a yardage that could affect the shot

Seen it plenty of times when the GPS has been at least 5-10 yards out - that a full club for some

And my yardage is not laser accurate so not too worried about this - and why I usually take the back of the green as my marker

 

[Orikoru]

The problem imo is GPS accuracy can be suspect at times with them be out by a yardage that could affect the shot

Seen it plenty of times when the GPS has been at least 5-10 yards out - that a full club for some

My GPS has never been as inaccurate as I am.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

And my yardage is not laser accurate so not too worried about this - and why I usually take the back of the green as my marker

Hence why it’s horses for courses - 10 yards for some is a significant

 

[LincolnShep]

For £68 (with voucher)one off you could get

https://amzn.eu/d/fFJQmZ8

Then you don't need to fanny about with your phone

"Fanny about" with a laser instead. It's the same amount of fannying, but one of them is free and one costs £68.

 

[Orikoru]

"Fanny about" with a laser instead. It's the same amount of fannying, but one of them is free and one costs £68.

Only a small factor, but given that someone brought up the slow play angle - I can get the yardage from a GPS while I'm walking to my ball, whereas the rangefinder you have to get there, stop and then get it out to get the yardage. Small difference but it absolutely has to add a bit of time here and there.

 

[PJ87]

"Fanny about" with a laser instead. It's the same amount of fannying, but one of them is free and one costs £68.

To be fair he is paying £40 a year

 

[PJ87]

Only a small factor, but given that someone brought up the slow play angle - I can get the yardage from a GPS while I'm walking to my ball, whereas the rangefinder you have to get there, stop and then get it out to get the yardage. Small difference but it absolutely has to add a bit of time here and there.

I'm using it to slow me down from just stepping up and hitting as people say I'm too fast

So I'll walk up. Laser it and then decide on club . Adds about 10 seconds

Still had to wait every shot mind yesterday

 

[Orikoru]

I'm using it to slow me down from just stepping up and hitting as people say I'm too fast

So I'll walk up. Laser it and then decide on club . Adds about 10 seconds

Still had to wait every shot mind yesterday

This is probably just a misconception because you don't have a practice swing to be fair.

 

[LincolnShep]

To be fair he is paying £40 a year

The £40 is for an upgrade to show loads of stats. The free version (which I use) does the same as a laser, i.e gives a yardage to anything.

 

[PJ87]

This is probably just a misconception because you don't have a practice swing to be fair.

Why would you practice crap

 

[jim8flog]

I have played the same course for nearly 40 years so when my ball is level with x tree or bunker I know it is X iron.

I have both a GPS and a laser bought mainly for when I used to play away which I used to a lot.

These days the GPS has sat in a cupboard at home unused since around 2019 the laser is in the bag but is unused for many a round and will probably only be used about 3 times a round at most.

The laser was a cheapy (under £100) but the GPS was a more expensive Garmin.
Personally I bought a GPS which had clear pictures and showed distances to other features not just the greens. I tried phone based app but found it drained the battery and the phone was in stand by mode most times I needed it so was quickly ditched.

Biggest problem with GPS where I play is we have definite 'dead spots'.

 

[PJ87]

The £40 is for an upgrade to show loads of stats. The free version (which I use) does the same as a laser, i.e gives a yardage to anything.

I used to use golfshot when it was free and used with my apple watch (when I was with apple) anyways once that watch died I just treated myself to a watch . It still works I think 4 years later

Laser was a bargain at £60 so just adds something

I prefer not using my phone on the course now. That's personal preference though. I'll start a card then put in my bag until 18th

 

[nickjdavis]

I'm also surprised no-one has claimed that lasers slow down play

They don't when used properly.

The amount of times i play with players with GPS units who keep checking and rechecking as the numbers on the display change is amazing.

Only a small factor, but given that someone brought up the slow play angle - I can get the yardage from a GPS while I'm walking to my ball, whereas the rangefinder you have to get there, stop and then get it out to get the yardage. Small difference but it absolutely has to add a bit of time here and there.

I guarantee you that it is utterly negligible...most folks wouldn't even notice me lasering whatever I need as I'm usually doing it whilst they are messing around with their shots. Even on the times that I have to wait until I get to my ball, I can have the device out and turned on whilst I'm walking.

But its like anything I guess....folks who are slow will always be slow, no matter what gadget you put in their hands.

Now....where's that mirror that i need to look in to see if I can see a slow golfer?

 

[jim8flog]

What I hate about some players using lasers is simply their game is not good enough to know the distance that accurately and for some it is a crutch - comes out on every single shot including tees on par 3s which they have played 100s of times, walk up to the tee measure then go back to the bag for a club and then walk about to the tee. We have one guy who we all swear is going to use a laser on the green one day, I have seen him laser from just 20 yards away from the flag.

 

[Mandofred]

What I hate about some players using lasers is simply their game is not good enough to know the distance that accurately and for some it is a crutch - comes out on every single shot including tees on par 3s which they have played 100s of times, walk up to the tee measure then go back to the bag for a club and then walk about to the tee. We have one guy who we all swear is going to use a laser on the green one day, I have seen him laser from just 20 yards away from the flag.

I regularly laser from short distances. When I was practicing.....I put out cones at 10yd intervals. My "thinking" the pin is about 25yds away is different than my pulling out my laser and "knowing" that it is 26yds....then falling back on a swing that covers that distance. I really need to find a place I can practice again....driving ranges suck.

 

[jim8flog]

I regularly laser from short distances. When I was practicing.....I put out cones at 10yd intervals. My "thinking" the pin is about 25yds away is different than my pulling out my laser and "knowing" that it is 26yds....then falling back on a swing that covers that distance. I really need to find a place I can practice again....driving ranges suck.

As said I tend to think 'what club is it' rather than 'what is the yardage' based upon years of experience playing at the same course. With 15 yards between each iron it is rarely wrong to get the wrong iron. It is just the shot itself which varies in consistency.

Like you back in the day when we had a practice ground rather than a range I too would put out a reference object at various distances and try different irons to that reference point.

One thing I learnt from having a distance measuring device is that my pace is less than a yard.