2 questions: GPS and Ball cleaning

[OhioBuckeye]

1. Is a GPS a good idea for a beginner? I think it would be valuable to have a history of your shots along with current distance but want to hear everyones thoughts on here.

2. What do you carry to clean your ball on the green with? At my local course the balls get dirty with grass, sand, colored spray junk. do you carry a towell to clean off each time? I do have a towell attached to my bag. Do you just use this towell or a different one?

Thanks

OB

[jerry g]

never used gps so can't answer that question but i keep a paper towel in my back pocket to clean my ball.

[denver_nuggs_15]

1. Is a GPS a good idea for a beginner? I think it would be valuable to have a history of your shots along with current distance but want to hear everyones thoughts on here.

I think a GPS could be a good idea for anyone. It really depends on your prefered method of getting distances. I like to walk them off, while others like lasers, while others like GPSs. And as far as knowing your distances, you probably won't figure that out until you have a repeatable swing and can make solid contact every time. If you are a "beginner" those two things are hard to come by. But, I think a GPS is a very valuable thing to have.

2. What do you carry to clean your ball on the green with? At my local course the balls get dirty with grass, sand, colored spray junk. do you carry a towell to clean off each time? I do have a towell attached to my bag. Do you just use this towell or a different one?

I usually clean it with my hand because I usually only have some small stuff on it. Or I'll find a wet part of the green and wipe it on that (I realize this is agains the rules, so I only do it when I'm in a practice round.) If my ball is very dirty, then I'll use the towel that's on my bag.

[Fourputt]

1. Is a GPS a good idea for a beginner? I think it would be valuable to have a history of your shots along with current distance but want to hear everyones thoughts on here.

1) A GPS or a laser rangefinder can be of assistance to any player at any level if it's used properly. Use it quickly and get on with the game. Don't spend a lot of time switching screens and finding a bunch of targets, just get the basic info you need and go. It helps with the confidence that you have the right club for the shot you want... but it doesn't always mean the you'll execute the shot.

2) Most guys I know who bother with it just have a small towel that they keep damp for this. I've never gotten into the habit of taking a towel to the green with me. I rub any chunks of dirt or grass off, but if the ball is just stained, It doesn't affect the putt so I don't worry about cleaning it until I'm done with the hole.

[David in FL]

GPS is up to you individually. FWIW, I've managed to play quite nicely for over 40 years without one, but they're fun toys and I'm not one to tell any guy he shouldn't buy a toy that he wants!

I carry a large bath towel that I wet on half. It cleans my balls and clubs, and dries my grips and hands as needed. It gets washed once a year whether it needs it or not!

[shades9323]

No gps for me.

I just knock any chunky stuff off the ball with my hand. Maybe lick my thumb and wipe any extra dirt off, then wipe my hand on my pants.

[BTGolfer]

I have very little experience with GPS and none with laser - can't help.

I just wipe my ball off with my fingers. If it is really bad I'll change to a clean ball.

BT

p.s. I know - this is illegal, but I do it anyway on rare occasions.

[Cooker]

1. Never tried Handheld GPS/rangefinder
2. Usually spit clean and wipe on pants..

[mkrolewski]

I use a gps and believe it would be useful for anyone. To play well you have to hit the ball the correct distance. If you do not know what the distance is, how can you be correct? Most of the course I play have few markings -- and the way I play it is hard to use them eg how far are you when standing on the adjacent fairway or way right or left? In addition, my experience indicates that many markers are off. I stood next to a 100 yard post. The gps said 75 yd. I tried a 75 yard shoot -- middle of the green. 100 yards would have been over the green.

Granted, it requires that you know you distances for each club and you actually hit it that distance. Most gps allow for tracking each stroke. So you can record each solid hit with each club and work out your own distances.


As to the second question, I have a small towel that clips to my pants/belt/belt loop. I has 2 surfaces: a nylon mesh/webbing to remove big stuff and a plush surface for cleaning. The mesh is great for cleaning the club face especially after a practise swing. Since it is attached to me, I have it no matter where my clubs or cart is.

[jonnythan]

Seems to me that judging distances is part of the game. Using GPS or laser rangefinders to measure the distance feels like using a laser-guided putter on the green to me.

And I'm the biggest gadget-phile techhead I know. I own three GPS units and just camped out overnight on the sidewalk of a strip mall to pick up a Palm Pre.

[Fourputt]

Seems to me that judging distances is part of the game. Using GPS or laser rangefinders to measure the distance feels like using a laser-guided putter on the green to me.

Do you use the 150 yard markers? 200 yard markers? If so then there is really no difference except that you are either taking longer than me by pacing off the distance or you are just guesstimating.

Why would you guess when you can know? The pros don't guess about yardages. Virtually all of the courses I've played in the last 35 years have had at least 150 yard markers, and most have other yardage indicators as well. All a GPS or laser does is make the information portable and eliminate the need to waste time pacing off from fixed points to your ball.

[jonnythan]

Do you use the 150 yard markers? 200 yard markers? If so then there is really no difference except that you are either taking longer than me by pacing off the distance or you are just guesstimating.

Those are part of the course, as is the tee distance on the scorecard.

It's just different to me. I don't care what anyone else uses.

Why would you guess when you can know? The pros don't guess about yardages.

They don't use GPS or lasers do they? Why do you think that is?

[goblue107501]

They don't use GPS or lasers do they? Why do you think that is?

Because they get a pin sheet every day before they tee off. If you know that the flag is 8 yards past center it is pretty easy to get yardages without guessing by using the course markings. I wouldn't have much need for a rangefinder if I was given a pin sheet for the day. I have yet to see a course provide one to the public.

To the OP, a GPS/rangefinder can assist anyone in the game, you don't need to be a great golfer to get the full use. It may actually help you learn club distances and how to better manage a course. I don't carry anything on the green to clean the ball. I use the 'wipe off with the thumb' technique. If it is bad, I will wipe it off on the fringe. My thumb gets pretty dirty by the end of the round.

[Fourputt]

Those are part of the course, as is the tee distance on the scorecard.

If you rely on the scorecard distances then you are going to be wrong more than you are right. Some courses are well marked on the course some are very haphazard. When you play a new course there is no way to know but trial and error, and that's just too random for me.

They don't use GPS or lasers do they? Why do you think that is?

Every number they use in their yardage books is scoped with a laser rangefinder. Where did you think those numbers came from? I worked a PGA tournament for 4 years, I've watched the caddies out on the course early on practice days shooting every possible obstacle or hazard with lasers, verifying the existing yardages, and jotting down notes for new things to add their player's yardage book All of the numbers are established with those electronic devices that you eschew.

They don't use electronic devices during competition because they PGA Tour hasn't instituted the local rule which allows them. Believe me, if the rule was invoked, they would all have them in the bag.

[timtim]

I have nice large towel for my face sweat that I keep on my bag. I have a smaller kitchen type towel that I take to the green with me. I have a bottle of water that I keep on my bag that I use to wash a ball before teeing off. I do not "wash" the ball on the green. I feel wiping it is good enough. The dirt that sticks in the dimples does not effect the putt.

You might want to look at a chart chart of typical yardages and compare how you know you hit a club or two. Figure out how far you hit a 7 iron, then chart out your expected yardages based on that. Most of us who have played for a while have a mental list of all our "normal" yardages, and then when we play we adjust for how we are hitting that day and what the conditions are.

Look at the chart here:

http://golf.about.com/od/beginners/l/blclubdistance.htm

And figure out where you fit. Then keep track of your approach shots during the first 9. By hole 10, you should have an idea of how far you are hitting your clubs that day, how far to the left or right your shots are flying on that day, and how fast the greens are.

[The Gill]

1. Get a laser. You can scan the fairways of hilly courses to findlanding areas. You don't have to pay monthly fees or pay per course. It's just so much more maintenence free and flexible...
2. Ballsy ball cleaner. I've had this thing for years... In fact it's my oldest piece of equipment... There's a towel in the middle you just get wet to start the round. You can stick it in your pocket and your pocket doesn't get wet!
   
   http://www.ballzee.com/drill_down/ba...l_cleaner.html

[Eeryck]

1. Absolutely get a gps or other electronic distance measuring tool. The sooner you have a good idea of how far each club goes and you have confidence looking at a distance and going "Yep, easy 7-iron" the sooner you will score better.

2. Frogger golf makes an awesome ball towel and regular golf towel and brush for that matter.

www.froggergolf.com

The towels are a little spendy, but worth it.

Regards,
-E

[Catul]

I use the Golf Round towel, similar to the Ballzee - great product, folds small enough to keep in your pocket at all times, stays dry on the outside and cleans the ball really nicely. I order them here .