chris661
Money List Winner
But are most golfers?
Laser rangefinders are rubbish
- Thread starter bobmac
- Start date
But are most golfers?
RichardC
Tour Rookie
But you can get that from yardage markers and from course planners.
The pro as mentioned is that they are as accurate as accurate can be. Im sure that the tolerance for GPS units is larger.
upsidedown
Tour Winner
Pretty much so Bob, struggles a bit when the flag is limp with trees behind . Good for bunkers and trees at corners of doglegs also.
bobmac
Major Champion
Thanks guys. I'll see if I can borrow one from somewhere and give it a try
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
I think the Laser is much more suited to the better player who can hit the ball a certain yardage.
GPS gives you front, middle and back of the green distances. A few of our greens have mounds in front. A lot of the time you can't see the bottom of the flag and this makes it very tricky from 180 yards out to know where the flag is.
If you're a higher handicapper then you're probably ok aiming for the middle of the green and you're probably quite happy to get there. As a lower handicapper, I need to be looking to get the ball close. Guessing that the flag is at the front when it's at the back can leave me with a 60+ foot putt - not going to drain many of them. But if I know the flag is 174 away, I can take my 170-180 yard club and be fairly confident that, assuming I hit it decently, I'm going to be there or thereabouts.
As has been said, Lasers are only good for line of sight measurements. Dog-legs, blind shots and shots through/over trees are difficult but you can laser something that's in the same vicinity and guage it from there.
Once you are practiced in using one you can range almost anything. Bunkers, ditches and lakes - if you can't see enough of it then laser something close by - it'll be a close enough measurement to allow you to make a decision.
I'll be keeping my V2 until it dies or I get given a newer, better one.
GPS gives you front, middle and back of the green distances. A few of our greens have mounds in front. A lot of the time you can't see the bottom of the flag and this makes it very tricky from 180 yards out to know where the flag is.
If you're a higher handicapper then you're probably ok aiming for the middle of the green and you're probably quite happy to get there. As a lower handicapper, I need to be looking to get the ball close. Guessing that the flag is at the front when it's at the back can leave me with a 60+ foot putt - not going to drain many of them. But if I know the flag is 174 away, I can take my 170-180 yard club and be fairly confident that, assuming I hit it decently, I'm going to be there or thereabouts.
As has been said, Lasers are only good for line of sight measurements. Dog-legs, blind shots and shots through/over trees are difficult but you can laser something that's in the same vicinity and guage it from there.
Once you are practiced in using one you can range almost anything. Bunkers, ditches and lakes - if you can't see enough of it then laser something close by - it'll be a close enough measurement to allow you to make a decision.
I'll be keeping my V2 until it dies or I get given a newer, better one.
bobmac
Major Champion
Have you seen the new hybrid one which has both laser AND Gps ?
Slime
Tour Winner
I've got SkyDroid GPS app for my phone.
It's (so far) been accurate, fast & uses less than 50% of my battery. It won't give the EXACT yardage to the pin as it only gives distances to front, middle & back, but I'm not that accurate and generally am aiming for the middle of the green.
The best thing is that I can map and/or edit any course I choose so that when I play I have yardages to and over all hazards & I can also map target landing areas too, even whilst on the course.
I think it's brilliant, but, I did have to pay for it......................................................£1.28!
Think on,
Slime.
P.S. As I type this it tells me that I'm currently 24,340 yds from the 1st tee at Blackmoor and 20,793,950 yds from the 18th green at Christchurch GC in New Zealand, hmmmmm, what club do I need?
It's (so far) been accurate, fast & uses less than 50% of my battery. It won't give the EXACT yardage to the pin as it only gives distances to front, middle & back, but I'm not that accurate and generally am aiming for the middle of the green.
The best thing is that I can map and/or edit any course I choose so that when I play I have yardages to and over all hazards & I can also map target landing areas too, even whilst on the course.
I think it's brilliant, but, I did have to pay for it......................................................£1.28!
Think on,
Slime.
P.S. As I type this it tells me that I'm currently 24,340 yds from the 1st tee at Blackmoor and 20,793,950 yds from the 18th green at Christchurch GC in New Zealand, hmmmmm, what club do I need?
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Have you seen the new hybrid one which has both laser AND Gps ?
Have you seen the price....
I'd rather a 2nd hand V2 and Garmin Watch...............
and spend the 60 quid I've saved on a round of Golf somewhere...:fore:
G1BB0
Money List Winner
I dont think its primarily suited to the better player, more to anyone that knows in a general way there club yardages.
Having seen Scottjd use his at Woburn I am sorely tempted as I chose the wrong club on quite a few occasions. My home course has excellent yardage markers from 200yds/150 & 100 but any other course has been hit and miss.
Nike VR's on ebay, Nike VR tourbag for sale and the dosh is going towards a rangefinder!
Having seen Scottjd use his at Woburn I am sorely tempted as I chose the wrong club on quite a few occasions. My home course has excellent yardage markers from 200yds/150 & 100 but any other course has been hit and miss.
Nike VR's on ebay, Nike VR tourbag for sale and the dosh is going towards a rangefinder!
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
I know what you're saying G1bbo but , generally, it's the better player that has more control over their yardages so will benefit more.
Try and borrow a GPS and a Laser and see which you on with best.
Scottjd1
Tour Rookie
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Interestingly, since Fragger got his Laser, his scores have been very consistently mid-30's+.
He'll put it down to knowing the exact distance - previously he's just used GPS.(Still using both)
I'm going to stick my neck out and say that it's more down to him taking a bit more time over each shot than knowing the exact yardage - but if it works, don't knock it.
He'll put it down to knowing the exact distance - previously he's just used GPS.(Still using both)
I'm going to stick my neck out and say that it's more down to him taking a bit more time over each shot than knowing the exact yardage - but if it works, don't knock it.
I'll stick with GPS. Sadly I can be in places a laser won't be able to see the flag or even the remainder of the hole but at least my GPS will tell me whats out there and how far I have to go to negotiate the trouble. In my wildest dreams and I get down to single figures and can play proper golf then I might rethink
G1BB0
Money List Winner
surely a lot is down to confidence?
I reckon I hit my 7 iron 150 on average, winter 140 summer maybe slightly more if I cream one. GPS says 155 but via a rangefinder the flag is 163 then I know actually its more of a 5 iron easy swing than a 6 hit flush
ok, actually knowing and doing are 2 different things but it certainly would make me swing more confidently
was annoying waiting for Scott fannying about saying if your ready then go while he is pointing his gayser at the flag
I reckon I hit my 7 iron 150 on average, winter 140 summer maybe slightly more if I cream one. GPS says 155 but via a rangefinder the flag is 163 then I know actually its more of a 5 iron easy swing than a 6 hit flush
ok, actually knowing and doing are 2 different things but it certainly would make me swing more confidently
was annoying waiting for Scott fannying about saying if your ready then go while he is pointing his gayser at the flag
Scottjd1
Tour Rookie
was annoying waiting for Scott fannying about saying if your ready then go while he is pointing his gayser at the flag
Hahaa to be honest mate I think that was more down to me lagging behind with the heaviest trolley on the planet and the deterioration in my game. It only takes a couple of secs to get a yardage...
fundy
Ryder Cup Winner
Have you seen the new hybrid one which has both laser AND Gps ?
the hybrid is part V2 part Neo repackaged as one combined unit
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
Got gps and laser. prefer the laser, but use both away from home course. Gps from 250, laser from 150. In home course use laser only.
SharkAttack
Q-School Graduate
Now don't take this the wrong way, I feel it's whatever floats your boat with laser/gps choice. BUT does this statement not defeat the purpose of the super accurate laser? Surely knowing the distance to the middle is still better than trying to "gauge it from there".
I would say- Laser for practice & GPS for everything else, but as I said earlier whatever floats your boat.
Shark
G1BB0
Money List Winner
lasers & gps are for women tbh, all blokes know what 100yds looks like surely, its in our genes 
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
I know GPS or laser wouldn't greatly benefit me as a high h/c (the Mk1 eyeball does me fine) but still interested in this.
Do you guys who use them see a sufficient return on the investment? (despite only getting increased data accuracy on one component of the information you need when selecting a club)
I know that wind speed & direction as well as temp, gradient, stance, lie, gound condition, moisture etc (as well as considering many of these factors at the target/landing area too) which must all affect the club choice (& in my position even things like playing into the sun can mean I might take an extra club as I have a tendency to hold back a little in the swing)
Not to mention the variables of the player themselves such as how they actually physically feel/perform that day/shot, maybe you've even got new shoes on or just clogged spikes!
Does the exact yardage help that much?
(this isn't in any way intended as a criticism of your purchase, I am interested)
Do you guys who use them see a sufficient return on the investment? (despite only getting increased data accuracy on one component of the information you need when selecting a club)
I know that wind speed & direction as well as temp, gradient, stance, lie, gound condition, moisture etc (as well as considering many of these factors at the target/landing area too) which must all affect the club choice (& in my position even things like playing into the sun can mean I might take an extra club as I have a tendency to hold back a little in the swing)
Not to mention the variables of the player themselves such as how they actually physically feel/perform that day/shot, maybe you've even got new shoes on or just clogged spikes!
Does the exact yardage help that much?
(this isn't in any way intended as a criticism of your purchase, I am interested)
Last edited:
