I could have sworn I saw someone checking yardages in Ballyliffin.....
Traditional or modern?
- Thread starter Losttheplot
- Start date
jammag
Challenge Tour Pro
If people ask you then thats fine but its so annoying when people just say a yardage without it being requested. The problem I have with gps is not the gps its self its the way people act like showing off with it, when someone gets a new one its all you hear is oh that marker is wrong oh il just see what I got left.
To me if I can work out roughly what yardage I have within 5-10 yards im happy as I know I cant adjust my swing to be more specific than that. now if people can adjust there swing by 2 yards then yeah its all good for them but other than that I dont see the point but if you get a advantage out of it whether it be mentally or physically then go for it.
Just dont moan at others when they have something that is within the rules such as electric trolleys for teenagers, chippers, long putters etc.
To me if I can work out roughly what yardage I have within 5-10 yards im happy as I know I cant adjust my swing to be more specific than that. now if people can adjust there swing by 2 yards then yeah its all good for them but other than that I dont see the point but if you get a advantage out of it whether it be mentally or physically then go for it.
Just dont moan at others when they have something that is within the rules such as electric trolleys for teenagers, chippers, long putters etc.
Mark_G
Challenge Tour Pro
Yardage markers are no good if you aren't on the correct fairway 
I have used one for my last two rounds and found it very useful, as my estimating of distance particularly over water hazards is poor, 150 yards (i have the marker) 140 / 160 I get right but 20, 30, 40 yards either way I struggle with. What I have found is they are a great confidence booster when they confirm my estimates, and a great help to try and improve my estimating skills. I may not use one in ten years, but at the moment I will continue to use one,
I have used one for my last two rounds and found it very useful, as my estimating of distance particularly over water hazards is poor, 150 yards (i have the marker) 140 / 160 I get right but 20, 30, 40 yards either way I struggle with. What I have found is they are a great confidence booster when they confirm my estimates, and a great help to try and improve my estimating skills. I may not use one in ten years, but at the moment I will continue to use one,
backspin22
Club Champion
GPS only tells you what you could know if you had a yardage book or a caddy. It saves time and gives you what the pros get for free. I like my GPS (on my 'phone), it takes the guesswork out of club selection, but first, I still have to decide how to hit it and take account of the lie of the land etc. - it doesn't create target golf!
As amateurs, we need all the help we can get. The biggest advantage that the pros get, however, is that they never have to look for/lose a ball!
As amateurs, we need all the help we can get. The biggest advantage that the pros get, however, is that they never have to look for/lose a ball!
d2cko
Assistant Pro
I'm very happy for golfers to use a GPS, I personally use a Bushnell laser rangefinder. It's an awesome bit of kit but it does come unstuck when I'm playing a blind shot, or i've carved one onto another fairway.
The reason I use the rangefinder though is because I don't trust Americans. At the moment everybodys GPS' are almost accurate. This is because the Americans are currently beaming us all the more accurate GPS signals. If however they get upset for some reason they can just turn them off and we'll be stuck with the Billy Basic signal which comes in with a guaranteed accurancy of 100 metres. Nice one! This means that your GPS could be upto 110yds out!
At least I know that my laser will only ever be 1 yard out.
d2
The reason I use the rangefinder though is because I don't trust Americans. At the moment everybodys GPS' are almost accurate. This is because the Americans are currently beaming us all the more accurate GPS signals. If however they get upset for some reason they can just turn them off and we'll be stuck with the Billy Basic signal which comes in with a guaranteed accurancy of 100 metres. Nice one! This means that your GPS could be upto 110yds out!
At least I know that my laser will only ever be 1 yard out.
d2
Is this a serious post? Or some kind of X Files conspiracy nonsense.
I can just imagine Obama being unhappy about the UK's handling of the economic crisis so he orders that our golfing infrastructure be destroyed.
bluewolf
Money List Winner
I'm just imagining Hilary Clinton, sat in a big leather chair, cackling as she turns off the signal. "That'll teach em" she says. "now Danny won't know whether it's a 3/4 PW or a 4 iron. Once we've destroyed his sanity, we'll send jonny miller over to finish the job".
Well done D2. You've finally convinced me to put away my GPS and go traditional.
Well done D2. You've finally convinced me to put away my GPS and go traditional.
granters
Q-School Graduate
I'm as traditional as it gets with regards to golf, i still use my old blades etc but i will be getting a GPS as soon as possible. There have been several times when playing with my bro where i've had an 8 iron in my hand, he's given me a yardage off the GPS and i've swapped to a 6 iron.
I think they are an excellent bit of kit for amateurs to utilise. I happily get by without one but if they make your mind clearer over a shot and therefore enhance your enjoyment then go for it
I think they are an excellent bit of kit for amateurs to utilise. I happily get by without one but if they make your mind clearer over a shot and therefore enhance your enjoyment then go for it
SGC001
Challenge Tour Pro
Our head pro has both GPS and Laser rangefinder. He prefers the GPS for tee shots, hazards, blind shots; the laser for inside 100.
I have the laser and now find it essential (imo distance is key when within wedge range and it can help you commit fully to shots), played in a comp that didn't allow one the other year and felt naked without it. It was a right pain pacing out everything within 100 yards of the green
I have the laser and now find it essential (imo distance is key when within wedge range and it can help you commit fully to shots), played in a comp that didn't allow one the other year and felt naked without it. It was a right pain pacing out everything within 100 yards of the green
d2cko
Assistant Pro
Haha, it's genuine mate. Only properly encoded military GPS' will have the most accurate signal if they ever decide to turn the good stuff off. It's so that any potential opposing states can't use it against them in the event of a war.
chris661
Money List Winner
What an absolutely bizarre and frankly ridiculous argument.
d2cko
Assistant Pro
You'll see...
Marko77
Q-School Graduate
I'll freely admit I'm rubbish at judging distances and rely on it alot for telling distances 130yds and in. I have been using GPS but will be switching to laser at end of the year due to technical issues with skycaddie.
I don't get the argument against them at all?
I don't get the argument against them at all?
EZprophet
Head Pro
I could understand the argument about man vs. the course if there weren't yardage markers on the course... but there are on 99.9% of courses.
For me my Bushnell laser thingy just saves me time.
And for the argument about not being able to afford one as being a disadvantage, as Imurg said so is not being able to afford the top of the line clubs or balls... So what's the difference?
For me my Bushnell laser thingy just saves me time.
And for the argument about not being able to afford one as being a disadvantage, as Imurg said so is not being able to afford the top of the line clubs or balls... So what's the difference?
SGC001
Challenge Tour Pro
I heard soemthing similar, although I don't recall that it was a case of turning them off. It was more of less coverage been available in 10-15 years time as satellites got old or went out there orbit (something like that). I was told you need a certain number of satellites in the area for Sat nav's and skycaddies to work efffectively. The guys setting up the courses need soemthing like 6 or more to do so (shaky on exact numbers as it was a year ago it was mentioned to me).
chris661
Money List Winner
Leftie
Tour Winner
There seems to be 3 different camps here.
Those who haven't got a DMD, don't want one, and come up with many spurious arguments as to why others shouldn't have one (akin to cheating, slows up the game, blah, blah, blah).
Those who haven't got one but know people who have and like the idea and will possibly get one.
Those who have one and love it.
For me, if nothing else, my DMD definitely speeds up play. As an example, in today's medal, two of us had skycaddies and one didn't. As we thoughtfully turned them on before the round started and they automatically update which hole you are on then there is no delay in getting the info as some Forumers suggest. Just walk up to the ball, look at the screen, and you have the yardages (OK OK within a yard or so). The third player either eyeballed the approximate distance from the markers in the fairway or, more often, walked to the nearest sprinkler and checked.
Guess who was the slowest.
The other point to note is that he had exactly the same information as us as to the yardage to the centre of the green - it just took him longer to get it.
Those who haven't got a DMD, don't want one, and come up with many spurious arguments as to why others shouldn't have one (akin to cheating, slows up the game, blah, blah, blah).
Those who haven't got one but know people who have and like the idea and will possibly get one.
Those who have one and love it.
For me, if nothing else, my DMD definitely speeds up play. As an example, in today's medal, two of us had skycaddies and one didn't. As we thoughtfully turned them on before the round started and they automatically update which hole you are on then there is no delay in getting the info as some Forumers suggest. Just walk up to the ball, look at the screen, and you have the yardages (OK OK within a yard or so
). The third player either eyeballed the approximate distance from the markers in the fairway or, more often, walked to the nearest sprinkler and checked. Guess who was the slowest.
The other point to note is that he had exactly the same information as us as to the yardage to the centre of the green - it just took him longer to get it.
RGDave
Money List Winner
Jeez. I go away for a few days and this kicks off.
I haven't read it all, but.......
1. I use GPS, quicker than working it out manually
2. If there were no GPS or markers, I'd probably not even play, 'cause I doubt I could see the difference between 140 and 190. It's called being optically challenged.
3. Anyone who wonders (negatively) about using GPS on a home course needs to play with a half decent player now and again.
There are players at mine (and I include myself to a degree) who carry GPS and only look at it when something's gone wrong. If GPS says it's 128 and you hit it 128 and tap in for a par, I'd say that was worth it.
It does happen. Especially in the 90-110 region. OFTEN.
I haven't read it all, but.......
1. I use GPS, quicker than working it out manually
2. If there were no GPS or markers, I'd probably not even play, 'cause I doubt I could see the difference between 140 and 190. It's called being optically challenged.
3. Anyone who wonders (negatively) about using GPS on a home course needs to play with a half decent player now and again.
There are players at mine (and I include myself to a degree) who carry GPS and only look at it when something's gone wrong. If GPS says it's 128 and you hit it 128 and tap in for a par, I'd say that was worth it.
It does happen. Especially in the 90-110 region. OFTEN.
granters
Q-School Graduate
Totally agree Leftie. Any time i've played with someone who has a gps it's been stuck to their bag and has given an instant reading, hence i'll get one soon.
Bizarrely at our place there are the usual 150, 100 markers etc but there are a few , like on the 2nd that have a marker at 86 yards, and some at 97 yards. All very weird distances.
Bizarrely at our place there are the usual 150, 100 markers etc but there are a few , like on the 2nd that have a marker at 86 yards, and some at 97 yards. All very weird distances.
jammag
Challenge Tour Pro
1) the cost, of course it matters you need golf balls and clubs to play you do not need a gps to play so if you are on a basic play then you wouldnt be able to afford one. yes if you wanted to the more expensive balls etc then yeah you are shelling out for better equipment but the basics it wouldnt be included.
2) have any of you actually tested your gps out for distances. it says 150 from point a to be point b then actually measured it to test its accuracy. A lot of people say they are accurate but anyone tested it?
3) I dont agree with your 3 catergories when it comes to the gps theres also the group that dont want one but dont see it as cheating just like the extra challenge or find they are better with out it. I have tried one didnt like it so never used it again.
4)I dont see the point in the gps telling you 5 yards difference if you cannot hit shots with 5 yard differences. The pros and good players yeah fair enough if you can adjust it by that much then I can see how it benefits you. If you cant then I think its a waste of money that could be spent on lessons(thats always a favourite on here) learning to hit the different degree of shots.
5) its a lot of money for what you get out of it in most cases.
2) have any of you actually tested your gps out for distances. it says 150 from point a to be point b then actually measured it to test its accuracy. A lot of people say they are accurate but anyone tested it?
3) I dont agree with your 3 catergories when it comes to the gps theres also the group that dont want one but dont see it as cheating just like the extra challenge or find they are better with out it. I have tried one didnt like it so never used it again.
4)I dont see the point in the gps telling you 5 yards difference if you cannot hit shots with 5 yard differences. The pros and good players yeah fair enough if you can adjust it by that much then I can see how it benefits you. If you cant then I think its a waste of money that could be spent on lessons(thats always a favourite on here) learning to hit the different degree of shots.
5) its a lot of money for what you get out of it in most cases.
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