Laser or GPS?

[Imurg]

Speedometers have been around much longer than gps or lasers for golf. How on earth did players manage before 1990 (or whatever date those devices came into golf)? Seems that golf was played a few centuries before that!

People took an age pacing out yardage to the nearest sprinkler head, normally 30+ yards away, then doing the Maths, getting it wrong and wondering why they airmailed the green....

 

[rulie]

People took an age pacing out yardage to the nearest sprinkler head, normally 30+ yards away, then doing the Maths, getting it wrong and wondering why they airmailed the green....

FWIW, sprinkler heads are generally 22-23 yards apart.
What amazes me is those that play the same course every time out and still need a measurement.

 

[Orikoru]

FWIW, sprinkler heads are generally 22-23 yards apart.
What amazes me is those that play the same course every time out and still need a measurement.

Funnily enough I'm not good enough to land my tee shot on the exact same square yard of the fairway every week.

 

[rulie]

Funnily enough I'm not good enough to land my tee shot on the exact same square yard of the fairway every week.

But apparently good enough to be able to hit the next shot the exact distance of the measurement, so that estimation isn't sufficient?

 

[PJ87]

But apparently good enough to be able to hit the next shot the exact distance of the measurement, so that estimation isn't sufficient?

So you hit your driver say 200 yards. It won't be in the same yard of fairway, however if your hitting a 7 iron next you are much more likely to hit within a few yards

Also you need to know if it's a 7 or a 9

 

[Orikoru]

But apparently good enough to be able to hit the next shot the exact distance of the measurement, so that estimation isn't sufficient?

Why would I estimate it when I have an app on my phone that tells me what it is?

Honestly, I can't eyeball stuff at all. Trying to gauge something with my eyes, it could be 95 or it could be 130, I don't know. Anything from a 50° to a 9 iron. Trying to commit to a club on that basis would be impossible, it's just random guesswork. But again, thankfully there's absolutely no need to.

 

[Imurg]

FWIW, sprinkler heads are generally 22-23 yards apart.

They still had to work out where the nearest one is...and then look in the course planner to work out which tree they're standing next to...
Walking 20 yards and doing all that or zapping a flag or checking a GPS.......I know which one I'll take.
And, again, it's not about knowing the exact yardage...are you able to judge distances of 150 yards plus?
Well some can't...in many many can't....so where's the problem in them using a device to find out how far they have to hit it?
If you're estimating the distance then you're still unlikely to be able to put the ball there..
So what's the point in finding/estimating the distance at all..?
Just hit a 7 iron at everything.....

 

[Mandofred]

They still had to work out where the nearest one is...and then look in the course planner to work out which tree they're standing next to...
Walking 20 yards and doing all that or zapping a flag or checking a GPS.......I know which one I'll take.
And, again, it's not about knowing the exact yardage...are you able to judge distances of 150 yards plus?
Well some can't...in many many can't....so where's the problem in them using a device to find out how far they have to hit it?
If you're estimating the distance then you're still unlikely to be able to put the ball there..
So what's the point in finding/estimating the distance at all..?
Just hit a 7 iron at everything.....

Damn......I don't carry a 7 iron.....I'm in trouble.

 

[KenL]

FWIW, sprinkler heads are generally 22-23 yards apart.
What amazes me is those that play the same course every time out and still need a measurement.

Courses with fairway sprinklers on every hole are few and between.

 

[sunshine]

FWIW, sprinkler heads are generally 22-23 yards apart.
What amazes me is those that play the same course every time out and still need a measurement.

On my course, the green keepers regularly move the hole to different spots on the green. I could hit my drive to the same piece of fairway and be 40 yards difference from front pin to back pin.

The green must get really worn out around the hole at your course with fixed pin positions. Unless it’s astroturf?

Wait a minute, are you playing crazy golf? No need for a laser or gps there. It all makes sense now.

 

[rulie]

On my course, the green keepers regularly move the hole to different spots on the green. I could hit my drive to the same piece of fairway and be 40 yards difference from front pin to back pin.

The green must get really worn out around the hole at your course with fixed pin positions. Unless it’s astroturf?

Wait a minute, are you playing crazy golf? No need for a laser or gps there. It all makes sense now.

No, I use a laser periodically. I've played my home course enough times to know most of the yardages without measuring them Our course uses red, white and blue flags for front, middle and back, and I know most of the green depths. I like to stand beside players in my group and estimate the yardage they're measuring, usually get the yardage within 5 yards, which is more than sufficient.
Another amazement is each player getting up on the par 3 tee and doing their own measurement, all done from the same place - I just ask what they got.

 

[Troymcclure]

Another amazement is each player getting up on the par 3 tee and doing their own measurement, all done from the same place - I just ask what they got.

I see this too and am sometimes a participant If I see someone reach for their laser before me I’ll just await the announcement and ask, if not forthcoming. But often you just reach for it out of habit without even realising anyone else is doing likewise.

It’s not a distrust of their device, or their yardage pronouncement

 

[Slab]

Another amazement is each player getting up on the par 3 tee and doing their own measurement, all done from the same place - I just ask what they got.

Watched Bryson's latest YT vid with 3 juniors doing scramble. The kids get to their chosen ball and all grab their rangefinders! That's them stuffed for the rest of their golfing lives already

 

[3 jabber]

Now used the new watch for 3 rounds but just as a GPS device. I've put the widgets in my grips so think I'm ready to try using the stats now to see how I get on