Philbleasy
Club Champion
Hi guys I currently have a rangefinder but thinking of getting rid and getting a gps watch. What are people's thoughts on the 2 devices
Rangefinder or GPS watch
- Thread starter Philbleasy
- Start date
G
guest100718
Guest
rangefinder as I kept forgetting to charge the GPS.
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
I think it depends on your course to a large extent.
My last club didn't have a coloured flag system so you couldn't tell if the flag was front, middle or back.
Get it wrong and you could be faced with a 30 yard putt. Some greens were raised and you played up from below the level of the green, making it difficult to judge from 150-200 out. By using the laser you know where the flag is.
New club has far fewer of these and so the laser is going to get less use, plus they have a coloured flag system for front, middle and back.
The vast majority of us only need those 3 numbers and knowledge of where the flag is.
Currently I use laser and GPS but not a watch as I haven't worn one in 35 years and it feels odd!
Additionally, lasers are useless in mist/fog and only work on line of sight.
My last club didn't have a coloured flag system so you couldn't tell if the flag was front, middle or back.
Get it wrong and you could be faced with a 30 yard putt. Some greens were raised and you played up from below the level of the green, making it difficult to judge from 150-200 out. By using the laser you know where the flag is.
New club has far fewer of these and so the laser is going to get less use, plus they have a coloured flag system for front, middle and back.
The vast majority of us only need those 3 numbers and knowledge of where the flag is.
Currently I use laser and GPS but not a watch as I haven't worn one in 35 years and it feels odd!
Additionally, lasers are useless in mist/fog and only work on line of sight.
I will be interested in your range finder if you get a watch
Combination of the 2 could be beneficial, if flags aren't traffic lights then zap the pin with the rangefinder then quick glance at the watch to see how far on the pin is or how little green may be at the back of it.
Maninblack4612
Tour Winner
I use both. GPS is more convenient but I often use the rangefinder within wedge range or where I have a carry to make. Finder is also useful to measure distance from bunkers if you've got a simple GPS which only gives front, middle & back.
D
Deleted member 16999
Guest
Both for me, especially at away courses, my own I tend to use the laser more.
El Diablo
Assistant Pro
I have both, on home course rarely take GPS and rely on rangefinder - away courses always go armed with both but still use rangefinder more often than GPS.
If I could only have one - would be rangefinder as use it more and no messing around with charging it.
If I could only have one - would be rangefinder as use it more and no messing around with charging it.
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Just a question to those who don't use a GPS much due to the pain of charging it......
Do you use an electric trolley..?
Do you use an electric trolley..?
i use the swing by swing app on my iPhone and can charge it via my trolley which is useful
El Diablo
Assistant Pro
No, once it broke it has been sat there for 18 months and I carry or use a push trolley - may get it fixed this summer.
xcore
Head Pro
I keep my gps watch in the car permantly charging through the 12v socket
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
GPS for me. Ideal for checking distances to hazards either off the tee or laying up
garyinderry
Ryder Cup Winner
Both.
Laser is rubbish when you are offline and have to hit over trees and bushes.
Laser is rubbish when you are offline and have to hit over trees and bushes.
KenL
Tour Rookie
Ditched my Skycaddie and bought a Nikon Coolshot about 18 months ago. Never looked back.
SteveJay
Head Pro
Another vote for both. Until very recently I just used a GPS watch (the excellent Tom Tom 2), but in an effort to improve my approach game I got a laser. Haven't used it more than a few rounds but really like the added precision, even if I need to work on my game to take full advantage 
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
I did but a cheap rangefinder (Suaoki) that has actually worked quite well from 100 yards and in but any further than that I use the Garmin G8. I'm forced to use the rangefinder from that near the green as the places I hit it there is rarely a line of sight on anything
G
guest100718
Guest
Yes and I forget to charge that too.
turkish
Journeyman Pro
I'm another for having both- really only use the laser for 7 iron down.... sometimes have to tell myself off for zapping the flag when I'm 180 yards away
Curls
Journeyman Pro
Just picked up a cheap 2nd hand Bushnell Medalist on eBay and used it for the first time this weekend. Wow. Only used it 4 times, max 150 out I think, once the estimate using my S3 watch was spot on and the other three times I was out by as much as 10 yards. A couple of holes at mine are not mapped properly or the green is too deep and unsighted for the colour of the flag to tell you exactly where it is, how many times have u walked up to a red flag and thought "that ought to be yellow"? I'm now a firm convert to watch for long shots and laser in close. 3 of those shots I put to birdie distance and converted two of them, had I depended on the watch alone I'd have been a club out one way or the other each time.
If you can afford the advantage - why not take it?
If you can afford the advantage - why not take it?
