Whens the right time?

[pokerjoke]

After reading a few posts regarding GPS systems and all the other yardage gadgets available,when is the exact right time to purchase one.I cant see the benefit of having one until your hitting the same clubs consistently.Maybe one that gives you an aerial view to a blind flag i can understand.Whats your view?

 

[TonyN]

If you hit your clubs consistant yardages, get one, its that simple for me!

 

[USER1999]

Sooner the better.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

As long as you have a reasonably consistant swing I say get one. It doesn't matter how far YOU hit each club as long as you are consistant with it. If you only hit a 7 iron 125 yards regularly you'll know that is your distance and can trust the DMD to be pretty accurate so if it says 123 then reach for the 7 iron, trust the swing and go for it

 

[Imurg]

Anytime you like. Fragger can't hit consistently yet. But now he knows how far toa hazard and can plan accordingly. Today he had 200 yards to a ditch. So, surprisingly, he takes out a 5 iron with a view to laying up. Ok he clagged the 5 iron 40 yards but that's not the point. The point is he knew how far to the hazard. Otherwise he would have taken out his 3 wood and landed in the middle of it.

DMD's don't just tell you which club to take, they can also tell you which club to not take.

 

[haplesshacker]

From a course mgt point of view, you 'see' the course differently when using GPS. As Imurg says, even if you're not brilliantly accurate with every shot, it at least gives you a better chance of selecting the right club. If in any doubt, and you have a mobile with GPS on it, try Freecaddie. The free version only gives distances to front, middle and back of green but it will give you a good indication as to whether you think it would be of any use to you. Our club pro shop lets you try a GPS unit out on the course if you're not certain about the benefits.

You might find that you don't use one much at your home course as you generally know what club to take where. But when visiting a new course they're invaluable. A better bet than that new driver perhaps!?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I use mine all the time even though I only tend to play my home course. Its brilliant the close in you get for deciding which wedge to hit. Far more reliant from 90-60 yards where I can get an exact reading and decide its my 52 etc

 

[painterboy]

I use mine all the time even though I only tend to play my home course. Its brilliant the close in you get for deciding which wedge to hit. Far more reliant from 90-60 yards where I can get an exact reading and decide its my 52 etc

This is the area where(for me) a GPS is the most valuable.
Actually knowing for certain it's 85 yards and not 'about 85 yards'.
You will strike the ball better when the doubt is removed.
Below 50 yards for me it's all feel.

 

[viscount17]

lots of plusses even if you aren't yet consistent, not least because if you use the ball-marker feature you'll know how far you hit, and it's usually less than you thought.

 

[DingleBerry]

www.golfbuddyglobal.com check that 1 out! I have one ariel view, great kit

 

[Yerman]

Really useful if you start playing a few different courses, if you play the same track all the time there isn't much point.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Really useful if you start playing a few different courses, if you play the same track all the time there isn't much point.

Totally disagree, I am unable to tell the difference between 95 and 115 yards, looks the same to me,even on my normal course. but that is the difference between a pw and an 8 iron to me.

If you KNOW the exact distance and you KNOW how far you hit your clubs, you can then factor in the variables such as wind, temperature, uphill/downhill, hazard carry etc. and make an informed club choice.

So Pokerjoke me old mate, I wouldn't wait, go jump on the bandwaggon, Im certainly glad I did.

Fragger

 

[RGDave]

Totally disagree, I am unable to tell the difference between 95 and 115 yards, looks the same to me,even on my normal course. but that is the difference between a pw and an 8 iron to me.

I'm the same. What I like about DMDs is taking out the guess-work. We have 2 particular par 5s; one uphill, one downhill. Club choice is the difference between being on or short/long, since these holes seem to punish worse than on "flat" holes. The uphill one is particularly taxing. I tend to be anywhere between 100 and 140. If it's 130, I need to take a 7 iron as opposed to an 8. Nothing worse than guessing it at 125, taking an 8 and then landing 1 yard short and the ball rolling 50 yards back towards my feet.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I say get one, no matter how well/consistently you hit your clubs.
I reckon that knowing where you are, how far away a hazard is etc helps your shot, as you won't be worrying about the clubbing mid-shot (as I have often done over the years).

I also think they are a good thing to use on your own course.
You know where the hazard is but not necesarily how far away it is. If you're on the wrong fairway it helps enourmously, rather than trying to work out the arc from the 150 marker on your fairway etc

 

[CrapHacker]

When's the right time?

For me, when she's half cut, hasn't got a headache, hasn't had a row at work, and when the kids are down the pub.

It normally coincides with Halleys Comet