Laser rangefinders

[Birchy]

Thanks for all the opinions & advice.

My current game is pretty steady all round with nothing outstanding but nothing really bad. My putting is probably my best attribute.

Im thinking over the winter of improving my wedge play by learning a few set shots with each one using part of the pelz method. My thinking is that if i can knock a few shots closer i would back myself to take advantage by rolling a few putts in. I often find my shots from 9iron downwards on a good line but not always as close as they should be.

Last few rounds from memory ive roughly had 8-9 shots in from 9 iron downwards in one capacity or another. Even if i just knock half of them closer i reckon its worth it. I have GPS already so ive got that option on the bag as well if needed.

 

[gdc]

they take away any doubt on numbers. if u accept what they tell you they are great. by that I mean if it says 150 its 150, it might look 130 or 170 but its 150!
definitely gives me the confidence in club selection.

definitely this.
also it has made me learn how to hit the ball 50 60 70 80 90 yards rather than just hit a softest pitch to a closish target.
i have a Nikon coolshot but I think they are all of a muchness quality and cost wise.

 

[Ethan]

I have a Bushnell and find it very useful and easy to use. I had a Nikon previously, which I think was a better device, but it was nicked after being checked in at the airport with my golf bag.

 

[virtuocity]

Silly question, but can you focus on lay-up areas and get a distance? i.e. zoom in on a part of the fairway?

 

[Ethan]

Silly question, but can you focus on lay-up areas and get a distance? i.e. zoom in on a part of the fairway?

Yes. You can fix on a tree, edge of a bunker, piece of fairway, some other player ahead of you.

 

[Foxholer]

Silly question, but can you focus on lay-up areas and get a distance? i.e. zoom in on a part of the fairway?

Yes. But it's not actually a 'Zoom', merely a different place to take a reading from.

 

[Liverbirdie]

Last few rounds from memory ive roughly had 8-9 shots in from 9 iron downwards in one capacity or another. Even if i just knock half of them closer i reckon its worth it. I have GPS already so ive got that option on the bag as well if needed.

I've never played a course with 8-9 par 5's on it, unless there is loads of short par 4's?:whoo:

 

[Birchy]

I've never played a course with 8-9 par 5's on it, unless there is loads of short par 4's?:whoo:

Driver and wedge every hole (bar par 3s) for big dogs like me pal

 

[HomerJSimpson]

GPS for me. I struggle to hold a laser one steady enough and lets face it, the places I'm hitting from a lot of the time I cant even see the flag let alone get a fix on it

 

[mashleyR7]

I've got a laser and I love it. I bought the Shotsaver 500 from ebay for £100 and it's a bargain. From 150 yards in i'm using it and it has given me much more confidence over shots. It's stopped me guessing and then selecting a club thinking I need to hit this hard or hit it soft. Now I know I've got the right club I can concentrate on the strike and nothing else.

 

[chrisd]

GPS for me. I struggle to hold a laser one steady enough and lets face it, the places I'm hitting from a lot of the time I cant even see the flag let alone get a fix on it

Have you thought about a sat nav instead of a gps?

 

[El Bandito]

Have a Bushnell and a Garmin watch. On the home course, I tend to stick to the watch, as I pretty much know the shots required. I usually carry and find the laser too much faff

 

[chris661]

I got the snooper 500 after a recommendation from here. It has made a difference but as imurg has said pin hunting has become a little bit of an issue. I do have a gps as well but don't actully know where it is Also I don't ue the laser for every shot either as I play at a links course do most of the time near enough is good enough

 

[mikee247]

Another Bushnell V2 user here for about 12 months now and yes in the main its a good tool however the cons are as has been said less than perfect light conditions and the battery life... you get into a routine with it and then the battery goes and it completely throws you out of sinc and you find it difficult to commit to a yardage. So Im trying to be less dependent on it from shorter ranges and trust my feel more and carry a spare battery! I always ping a target twice to double check as it can sometimes pick up other things before or after the target. Its also very useful when on new or unfamiliar courses.

 

[hamshanker]

Birchy i think they are a great piece of kit,ive got a cheap Chad Valley one:lol: that i bought off ebay few yrs ago and love it not just for distance to flags but also for ditches and fairway bunkers etc which came in verrrrry handy at SAOL

 

[Qwerty]

I think lasers are great for when your playing away courses, especially with large greens. I haven't got one but if I had I don't think I'd use it much at my home course as I can gauge whether the pin is front, middle or back, so the garmin watch is fine.

if your playing pairs or team opens and your looking at attacking the pins on a newish course, and you know your wedge yardages, then I'd say they've got to be a huge advantage.

Im thinking about getting a Nikon :thup:

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

if your playing pairs or team opens and your looking at attacking the pins on a newish course, and you know your wedge yardages, then I'd say they've got to be a huge advantage.

:rant::sbox:

Bit I won't and will remain serene in the face of such blatant provocation

 

[chrisd]

:rant::sbox:

Bit I won't and will remain serene in the face of such blatant provocation

Havnt you bought a GPS yet SILH?

 

[Liqdaddymac]

If you know your yardages then laser all day long for me. However, in bounce games I often get asked yardages and often guys come up short thinking they hit it 5-10 yards further than they do.

I must add that before, I did have a skycaddie SGX and if it wasn't for the subscriptions I would still have it as it was a great bit of kit, accurate and fast, but after a season with the Bushnell I prefer just leaving it in my bag and not needing to load courses and charge it.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Havnt you bought a GPS yet SILH?

I continue to amaze my playing partners with the accuracy of my distance assessment when compared with what their technology says. Actually I do now have a GPS thingy as I have an iPhone 4s - but of course it is left in the boot of my car - it being non-conforming (the iPhone not the boot of the car)