Range finders. What a difference they make.

[Jigger]

I've always been a gps man but a few of the lads I've started playing with use range finders. WOW! What a difference it's made to my game! With my gps I've often been quite a way away from the flag but with the range finder in finding a lot of the time I have a reasonable outside chance of a single putt. Highly recommend them!

I've heard some horror stories about cheap imitation ones though. I'm sure there's some good ones too.

 

[Kevblue]

i bought one a few months ago and love it.

I have a GPS watch as well but barely use that now.

 

[Deleted member 18121]

Complete opposite for me. Had a range finder and barely used it as my gps watch gave me more than enough info.

 

[Face breaker]

I don't have either as I'm also a shooter and am fairly good at "estimating range" plus the course I play on has a more than ample selection of marker posts and range discs in the fairways, at the end of the day if the course you're playing is layed out properly you wouldn't need expensive gizmos like rangefinders or gps watches !...:thup:

 

[HomerJSimpson]

GPS for me. I'm not accurate enough for it to make a difference with a range finder. That and at times I can't see the flag of the hole I'm on!

 

[Foxholer]

Didn't really notice a significant difference between the 2 styles when switching between them - though do prefer the RF for distance to the pin. Used a GPS first.

But if the RF gives you more confidence to go for the pin, then that's great!

 

[ManinBlack]

I use both. The nearer I am to the hole the more I use the rangefinder.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I don't have either as I'm also a shooter and am fairly good at "estimating range" plus the course I play on has a more than ample selection of marker posts and range discs in the fairways, at the end of the day if the course you're playing is layed out properly you wouldn't need expensive gizmos like rangefinders or gps watches !...:thup:

Except when you find yourself way out of position (on adjacent fairway for example) or before you've reached the distance markers (just over 200 yds in my experience?). A range finder or GPS would give you significant help on distance to green or hazards and obstructions inbetween.

 

[patricks148]

yes great things, ive got one and was a 9 handicap when i got it in, in the almost 5 years ive had it its help half my handicap

 

[Paul77]

Only really helpful if you can see the flag. Most of the holes where I play have blind pins so a watch is ideal for me. Can you use the laser finders in comps?

 

[patricks148]

Only really helpful if you can see the flag. Most of the holes where I play have blind pins so a watch is ideal for me. Can you use the laser finders in comps?

yes as long as its not got a slope function. I think clubs used to have a local rule in place for DMD's but not sure if this is the case anymore, but all opens Ive played allow them.

 

[turkish]

Maybe a bit of a duh question but can these only be used to find the flag? If I was looking for a lay up distance could I aim the target at say a bit of grass and it would tell me what distance I have to that?

 

[Thexindi]

Range Finder Vs GPS that's been going on awhile and its around 50 / 50 I guess for everyone.

Its GPS for me because front back and middle is enough for me, Doesn't matter if the flag is at the back and my GPS is giving 155 to the back and then the range finder might say 151 to the flag.
That difference just isn't enough to matter to me and I'm sure alot of amateurs too, you gotta really be decent player for four yards to really matter.

 

[patricks148]

Maybe a bit of a duh question but can these only be used to find the flag? If I was looking for a lay up distance could I aim the target at say a bit of grass and it would tell me what distance I have to that?

Yes if you can zap it you will get a distance. I use mine to the tops of Pot bunker to work out carry

 

[Crawfy]

I use GPS watch >100yds and laser <100yds.

 

[Face breaker]

Except when you find yourself way out of position (on adjacent fairway for example) or before you've reached the distance markers (just over 200 yds in my experience?). A range finder or GPS would give you significant help on distance to green or hazards and obstructions inbetween.

Suffer that very same scenario on a regular basis, I know how far I can hit each club and like I said being a shooter puts me at a distinct advantage when it comes to "visual range estimation" cos if I had to rely on a RF every time I needed to take a shot then the pest population in our area would be fit to burst at the seams !...:thup:

 

[brendy]

For quite a while I was against using measuring devices but seeing as they are not going away I decided to buy one.
I bought an AITE Laser rangefinder and have compared it to Bushnells, Nikon and a couple of other brands and it is spot on. The CR2 battery has lasted bang on a year and began flashing on Saturday and ran down towards the end of todays round. For under 100 quid the only area I can mark it down is on a really sunny day the odd target doesn't give me a reading but apparently the same happens to other laser devices too so I just get a reading from something nearby the green and go with that.