Cernunnos
Journeyman Pro
Give the man a shovel 
The GPS debate
- Thread starter NeilTappin
- Start date
backwoodsman
Tour Winner
Was quite good to see the various options listed out together, and I think that GM was reasonably fair in listing some pro's & cons of each.
But would still have much preferred to see some better comparison between them - this one most accurate for example, that one the the best course coverage. Ease of use, portability (can it fix to a bag, or do you put it in your pocket?) and weatherproofness (is that a word??) also spring to mind.
Can't see that GM could or even should come outright & say "this is the one to buy" but for clubs & stuff they do give a star rating in various categories (haven't a mag to hand but things like feel, looks, value etc) Could have done the same for these.
And definitely should have done the SG2.5 (rather than the top end SG5)as it does appear to be market leader.
But would still have much preferred to see some better comparison between them - this one most accurate for example, that one the the best course coverage. Ease of use, portability (can it fix to a bag, or do you put it in your pocket?) and weatherproofness (is that a word??) also spring to mind.
Can't see that GM could or even should come outright & say "this is the one to buy" but for clubs & stuff they do give a star rating in various categories (haven't a mag to hand but things like feel, looks, value etc) Could have done the same for these.
And definitely should have done the SG2.5 (rather than the top end SG5)as it does appear to be market leader.
HarryMonk
Challenge Tour Pro
I have yet to use any GPS system but have to admit that I am sure they will take off as TomTom have in my trade.
Looking foward to reading the article, then I may have more to say on the matter.
Looking foward to reading the article, then I may have more to say on the matter.
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
Yeah.
Some crafty forumer who gets up early in the mornings actually got two. First one he paid £112.00 for with free in car charger and leather protective case, second one he got for £97.00...
Hapless,
No question of falling out over this, and I leave the Christmas card list very much in the capable hands of the wife. Was just trying to point out that we simply do not have those 'who should we butter up for a bit of ad spend' conversations when deciding which brands to include in any feature. And I know you haven't seen the article, but I would say that within the constraints of the space available for each GPS a reasonable amount was devoted to opinion, which I still maintain the the pluses and minuses do constitute.
Hope we can agree to differ on this one!
No question of falling out over this, and I leave the Christmas card list very much in the capable hands of the wife. Was just trying to point out that we simply do not have those 'who should we butter up for a bit of ad spend' conversations when deciding which brands to include in any feature. And I know you haven't seen the article, but I would say that within the constraints of the space available for each GPS a reasonable amount was devoted to opinion, which I still maintain the the pluses and minuses do constitute.
Hope we can agree to differ on this one!
Jezz as good as your 'Picture Perfect' article is the debate on 'Are distance measuring devices a good thing?' is a very poor atricle due to Fergus Bisset's unbelievably weak contribution towards 'NO'.
He bases his arguement on ONE golfer he has seen using it who took a long time in checking the yardages so therefore didn't speed play up like Fergus thought it would...he then states that club's usually have sprinkler heads with yardages on and that 'MOST' clubs will give you pin sheets (I have played hundreds of courses and I could count on 1 hand the amount that do this) so there is no need for DMD.
What he is mising is that 99% of golfers would pull out there DMD and say 'right 164 to centre,the pin looks like it is 3 back from centre so 167' in a flash as opposed to walking forward to find the sprinkler then subtract the pin position off it etc etc.
A really weak article from a guy who usually rights so well I'm afraid.
To be fair I also think the 'Yes' side of the argument is poor also especially as Jezz is basically saying although these devices intrigue him he is unlikely to ever own one!
Very weak guy's but that is only my opinion of it!
He bases his arguement on ONE golfer he has seen using it who took a long time in checking the yardages so therefore didn't speed play up like Fergus thought it would...he then states that club's usually have sprinkler heads with yardages on and that 'MOST' clubs will give you pin sheets (I have played hundreds of courses and I could count on 1 hand the amount that do this) so there is no need for DMD.
What he is mising is that 99% of golfers would pull out there DMD and say 'right 164 to centre,the pin looks like it is 3 back from centre so 167' in a flash as opposed to walking forward to find the sprinkler then subtract the pin position off it etc etc.
A really weak article from a guy who usually rights so well I'm afraid.
To be fair I also think the 'Yes' side of the argument is poor also especially as Jezz is basically saying although these devices intrigue him he is unlikely to ever own one!
Very weak guy's but that is only my opinion of it!
Canfordhacker
Q-School Graduate
Dodger I'd have to say I agree with you. Given the thrashing of opinion that has taken place on the forum, the arguments for and against are far more wide reaching and pertinent than this particular piece.
HartleyHare
Assistant Pro
i'm not of fan of GPS devices for golf, personally.
every person i've seen using one has taken an age to use the thing and even then went back to their bags 2 or 3 times anyway changing clubs.
to me one of the great skills in golf apart from actually being able to hit the ball correctly is judging distances (neither of which i've yet mastered)
these devices are not legal in comps and if they're anything like satnavs the more you use them, the more you become dependant on them, thus detracting from your game when you can't use them.
there's enough technology in the clubs, shoes, clothes, balls and bags to "help" us around without the need to almost totally take your senses out of the game too.
BAN 'EM NOW i say....
every person i've seen using one has taken an age to use the thing and even then went back to their bags 2 or 3 times anyway changing clubs.
to me one of the great skills in golf apart from actually being able to hit the ball correctly is judging distances (neither of which i've yet mastered
)these devices are not legal in comps and if they're anything like satnavs the more you use them, the more you become dependant on them, thus detracting from your game when you can't use them.
there's enough technology in the clubs, shoes, clothes, balls and bags to "help" us around without the need to almost totally take your senses out of the game too.
BAN 'EM NOW i say....
Marko77
Q-School Graduate
I have to wonder when people say it takes people "an age to use the thing"
???
You look at it, you read the distance(s) and you proceed with playing the shot. Please explain how these people are taking an age to use the thing? Are they switching it off between shots, are they using the GPS to plot their way to the hole in conjunction with an ordnance survery map????
If the argument is they are changing clubs, that is not the GPS, that is THE PLAYER who is slow. The GPS may be a contributing factor or it could be there are naturally slow and indecisive. The GPS itself is not a mechanism for slowing down play.
You are either for them or against them. They are here to stay. Live with it. Please.
???
You look at it, you read the distance(s) and you proceed with playing the shot. Please explain how these people are taking an age to use the thing? Are they switching it off between shots, are they using the GPS to plot their way to the hole in conjunction with an ordnance survery map????
If the argument is they are changing clubs, that is not the GPS, that is THE PLAYER who is slow. The GPS may be a contributing factor or it could be there are naturally slow and indecisive. The GPS itself is not a mechanism for slowing down play.
You are either for them or against them. They are here to stay. Live with it. Please.
DCB
Well-known member
Used mine for the first time at Goswick. Set it up in the wee bracket and fixed it to my trolley. Turned it on at the first tee and that was it. I was aware of it updating as we walked down the fairways and only on one occassion did I have to manually set it back to the correct hole as it had jumped ahead (17th / 18th cross over)
I found it much quicker to use than a scoresaver although I did have one of these in my pocket as well.
Don't know how you can take a long time if its set up correctly and running all the time your out there.
Anyway, each to their own.
let's agree to differ on the two sides of the GPS debate.
I found it much quicker to use than a scoresaver although I did have one of these in my pocket as well.
Don't know how you can take a long time if its set up correctly and running all the time your out there.
Anyway, each to their own.
let's agree to differ on the two sides of the GPS debate.
I think you'll find they are.
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
They are round my track.
HartleyHare
Assistant Pro
I don't know what they were doing with them Marko I wasn't stood next to them!
but what is easier, getting a gps unit out of your bag/off your belt (whatever) then stand there reading them, then gaze down the track anyway to pick your line, then go back to your bag to choose a club (hopefully just the one) then to take your shot, which half of the "players" I've seen wih them have then duffed 50 yds anyway.
No I don't like 'em, never have never will.
Golf should be played IMO in the most part for enjoyment, not to be some sort of military operation.
I think you'll find they are.
Just to clarify for those not clear on this, they are only legal if your club/committee has drafted an appropriate Local Rule (see note at the end of Rule 14-3)
I think you'll find they are.
Just to clarify for those not clear on this, they are only legal if your club/committee has drafted an appropriate Local Rule (see note at the end of Rule 14-3)
Cheers Jezz. I thought the EGU had approved there use, and it was only the clubs that were stoping them being used in comps
No problem. I think there has been a little uncertainty about this, perhaps because members of English golf clubs are aware that they pay a subscription to the EGU as part of their annual subs.
But the EGU decision to allow them only applies to the championships it organises, and not at club level where the need for a Local Rule still exists.
But the EGU decision to allow them only applies to the championships it organises, and not at club level where the need for a Local Rule still exists.
HartleyHare
Assistant Pro
well that shows what i know then
I'll get me coat.......
I'll get me coat.......
viscount17
Money List Winner
DCB, don't know what model you've got but if you take the SG2.5 off Auto then it won't jump holes and will give you a distance when you're on the wrong fairway (useful for such as I).
But it takes, oh, all of 5 secs to press the button to step on to the next hole, and then to press another to confirm that's the hole you want. (gosh a whole 85 secs a round wasted!)
But it takes, oh, all of 5 secs to press the button to step on to the next hole, and then to press another to confirm that's the hole you want. (gosh a whole 85 secs a round wasted!)
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
I have always used mine on auto, and it has only jumped a few times (once was at Goswick). I find it a useful feature.
Really can't see how using one of these can slow golf down. It certainly hasn't been my experience.
Now if it could make the ladies in front walk faster.....
Really can't see how using one of these can slow golf down. It certainly hasn't been my experience.
Now if it could make the ladies in front walk faster.....
Murph anyone who by using a GPS system causes them to slow down clearly hasn't a clue how to use the thing and anyone who hasn't used one but still thinks it will be slower than working out from sprinkler yardages/pin sheets is very naive hence my reasoning that the article written by Fergus Bisset (and Jezz) is IMO one of the poorest articles I have read in a long time.
