Laser range finders

[Robobum]

Not a post to open up the which one is best argument for the umpteenth time, just wanted to share my first experience with one for a full round.

My Sky caddie battery was flat so i borrowed the pro's Bushnell for a round on Saturday. I had tried it a couple of times on the odd hole and found them quite tricky to use to get the aim onto the flag (the story of the rest of my game too!!)

Anyway, once used to it I found it really easy to use and pretty quick. Unclipping the pouch, getting it out, zapping the flag and putting it away again sounds like a faff but only takes 15seconds or so.

What I did think though was that you need to have a general idea of where you are and how far you have to go, especially relevant if at a new or strange course. There were a couple of times (especially from longer approaches)when, if I had not known the rough figure, I would have not realised I had in fact zapped a tree or something behind the flag. The gps devices, especially ones with the green in picture, eliminate those potential errors.

All in all though, a great bit of kit and well worth the money. Ideal scenario if you were a gadget freak/ flush/ perfectionist would be to have both.

 

[pokerjoke]

No good to me daz trees everywhere on our course.Ive just bought a golf buddy platinum,i hope its a good purchase.

 

[Imurg]

Recently relieved Macster of his and have got so used to using it that the Skycaddie is in danger of becoming redundant - except for days out like Hanbury tomorrow where I will have use of both.
On my home course I will probably only use the V2 from now on as I know where the hazards are.

In Pinseeker mode its as quick as a gps to get the distance.

 

[ianshearin]

I have been using a Range finder for some time now and find it invaluable from around 100yds in to tell me either PW/SW/9 Iron etc.

Catching the flag can be a little difficult especially on windy days, I have found that aiming it at the base of the flagpole will get you the correct distance without catching a tree behind etc.
Another use I have been using it for is to mark the distance to a hazard and then know the minimum distance I have to carry to avoid it.
If you have a Green with a Bunker in front of it then just get the distance to the bunker and add whatever yards you want onto it to get onto the green

 

[Oddsocks]

Having the issue of deciding whether to buy a gps specific device ir bushnell at the moment. Gps is fine if you can work out where the pun us on the green. There are around 8/9 holes on our course where you can't see if the pin is front or back, and it's getting more common for me to miss club and either hit the front when the pin is at the back or visa versa. I know some smart arse will say aim for the middle but if I'm buying a device I may as well get something that gives me exact distance. Going to see if I can get a v2 out on demo

 

[Imurg]

Gps is fine if you can work out where the pun us on the green. There are around 8/9 holes on our course where you can't see if the pin is front or back, and it's getting more common for me to miss club and either hit the front when the pin is at the back or visa versa.

Exactly the reason I got one.
We have plenty like that too.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Our flags are different colours depending on their location on the front, middle or back portion of the green. My SC gives me readings to these three areas and I'm never going to be that far out if I take a club based on those distances and execute properly. For me I can take the SC out have a quick look and put it back in my pocket in seconds and it is always to hand even if my bag isn't

I tend to spray it a lot too so my erratic (directionally challenged) golf makes a laser ineffective on some holes

 

[colint]

I've never seen that before, different coloured flags. Nice idea

 

[richy]

I've never seen that before, different coloured flags. Nice idea

They've just introduced this at the club I've just joined

 

[Imurg]

My place has nothing like that at all.
There are 9 or 10 greens where, if the flag is in a certain position, you can't see the bottom of it and it's virtually impossible to judge where the flag is. And with greens being 30+ yards front to back that's 2 or 3 clubs difference. I could aim for the middle but I can still be 10 yards out.
I've asked for some sort of indicator but they're not having it.
So I've got a Laser - now I know.

 

[doc333]

V2 for me and the blokes I play with have Skycaddies but are always asking me for correct yardages. never seem to have problems with the pinfinder technology and always accurate. If your playing abroad, trust me you'll need it as doing the calculation from meteres to yards is a pain, especially when the markers are not correct.

 

[Robobum]

....... If your playing abroad, trust me you'll need it as doing the calculation from meteres to yards is a pain, especially when the markers are not correct.

I found that going to school was quite useful for adding 10% to numbers.

 

[doc333]

....... If your playing abroad, trust me you'll need it as doing the calculation from meteres to yards is a pain, especially when the markers are not correct.

I found that going to school was quite useful for adding 10% to numbers.

Hope that was tongue in cheek, because I mentioned about marker posts being not quite right sometimes abroad

 

[Leftie]

V2 for me and the blokes I play with have Skycaddies but are always asking me for correct yardages. never seem to have problems with the pinfinder technology and always accurate. If your playing abroad, trust me you'll need it as doing the calculation from meteres to yards is a pain, especially when the markers are not correct.

Skycaddie can give distances in yards or metres - whichever you want. It doesn't take the distance from the on course markers either

Re the markers abroad, often they might be at 135 M (= 150yds approx) but will often be to the front of the green. Always check.