Smartphones now legal

It isn't clear as it could be or I would like but definitely more solid than the last one.

Unfortunately my Samsung S4 remains illegal. It features a thermometer and barometer built into it. I'd also question the S3 because it features a barometer and air pressure can effect distance a ball travels so could be argued that this info would assist the player if accessed. Yes I know knowing the exact figure for air pressure isn't going to have much effect on the average golfer but then neither is knowing the exact temp but that is still illegal.

Appears to be good news for Iphone owners though.

From my reading of it I've compiled a short list of some popular smart phones and the status I think this flow chart would deem them based on available sensors. Welcome to be corrected on that though.

Illegal: (not looking good for higher end samsung users):
Samsung S4 (therm/bar), S3(bar), Note1(bar), 2(bar) & 3(therm/bar/hygrometer),


Legal:
All current iphones. Samsung S2+ and earlier, Sony xperia Z1 & M, HTC One, Samsung Ace 3 and older,
 
Fyldewhite said:
Think about the functionality. You look at your legal DMD (or the 150 marker etc) and you get a number. You then refer to something that tells you for that number what club you should hit. Does it matter if that is a piece of paper, a word document on a laptop which you could quite legally have in your bag or the dreaded phone app? It's the same information. I cannot understand why the way it is presented is of any relevance.

Anyway, I was only trying to illustrate (perhaps poorly :-( ) that legislating against devices is the wrong way to do this. Golf is a game based on trust and honesty when it come to rules and saying that golfers can't be trusted to use an iPhone DMD app without surrepticiously checking the wind direction, level of the green, swing routines and God knows what else is rediculous when we trust players to be deep in the woods, miles from anyone and not utilise the leather wedge.
Click to expand...


The hilarious thing is you can't have a DMD app that would recommend a club based on yardage but you can have a text document on the phone with your club/yardage information and check that against the yardage given by the DMD app.
 
So it's even more down to interpretation than it was before....or is it?
It's not straight forward - was it ever?
If some phones are OK and some aren't it's a recipe for disaster. There will be arguments on and off the course....
This shouldn't be left in a situation where someone isn't sure if their device is legal or not - it should be obvious.
 
Imurg said:
So it's even more down to interpretation than it was before....or is it?
It's not straight forward - was it ever?
If some phones are OK and some aren't it's a recipe for disaster. There will be arguments on and off the course....
This shouldn't be left in a situation where someone isn't sure if their device is legal or not - it should be obvious.
Click to expand...

It really comes down to looking at the phones in built sensors to start then move up to app level. The worst thing is every phone has the potential to be non conforming if they have certain apps on them. Because of the variability of devices the simple answer is multifunction devices can't be used as a DMD but they just won't say that.
 
freddielong said:
Given that all smart phones have video cameras on them they cannot be used according to the R&A website
Click to expand...
Where on the website does it say that?
I can only see the following in the flowchart.


Does the device contain other applications or features which, if used in a specific way, could assist the player in his play (e.g., camera, video camera or spirit level)?

Yes

NO BREACH OF LOCAL RULE
Provided applications or features are not used during a round in such a way that might assist the player in his play e.g., videoing swing to analyse fault or gauging green contours.
 
Last edited:
Well after a few years of nomad golf with smartphones & DMD apps, having rejoined a club later last year I grabbed a Garmin S1 for chrimbo - maybe I didn't need to.

Although, whilst I was fine with the smartphone when picking and choosing social golf on nice days, I expect to be out in a wider degree of weather conditions this year and feel happier with a made for device that can cope with some rain and a few knocks (I hope)
 
I think there is a risk of overcomplicating this.

Decision 14-3/0.5 has not been changed.

If there is a local rule permitting the use of DMDs you cannot use a device to measure distance which is also directly capable of measuring or informing about other conditions like wind speed, temperature or club selection. That's the top right blue diamond in the chart. This is not new.

Even if the device itself is not directly capable of that kind of measuring, if it contains any other feature or application that you could look up and get info to assist in your play, you cannot use it to measure distance. (I think that means information that is immediately accessible.) That's the next blue diamond down on the right. This is not new.

If the DMD has a feature or application which you can operate in such way that it could assist in your play, you can use it as a DMD provided these features are not used. (I think operate has to be taken to mean carrying out a specific manipulation of the feature in order to get it to provide useful information. There is a discernible step to be taken to get the info - it isn't just there to look up). That's the bottom blue diamond. That is new and the only thing to get our heads round.
 
CMAC said:
is it just me who can't see 'eff all' on a phone in direct sunlight?
Click to expand...

The majority of consumer class smartphones do not have bright enough displays to be read easily in bright sunshine. You probably need to find something that has a super bright display 750+ NITS - like the one that I use:D
 
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