GPS vs Laser Rangefinder

[Rafcin]

...Also, since GPS can't give you the yardage to the pin itself, you're introducing guesswork into the equation as well. So that +/- 3 yards gets even bigger...

again - GPS is only as good as the "map" (and clear sky conditions

). If you have the Intelligreen map for your skycaddie you can click at any point of the green 's picture and get exact measurement.

[MaRx]

iacas: "I'm only ever pointing at larger things (trees, lips of bunkers, etc.). Also, since GPS can't give you the yardage to the pin itself, you're introducing guesswork into the equation as well. So that +/- 3 yards gets even bigger."

This isnt exactly accurate! Sure its accurate to the lip of the bunker, but there is no way of telling how far from the hole the lip is. Sure its good enough. The GPS reading from the middle of the green would be just as good. Just my .02

How can you lock in on the flag stick at 250 yds anyway!? It is impossible for the range finder that I have to do that.. It has a pretty big target area, therefore making it hard to target really small objects such as a flag stick.. (its also tough because the slightest shake at 250 yds makes it nearly impossible) I have the Bushnell 400yd finder btw... Both are damn good tools, and would prefer the Rangefinder because you can use it for hunting and for other things too, but I do think GPS is a very interesting too, that is still being improved upon.

[iacas]

This isnt exactly accurate! Sure its accurate to the lip of the bunker, but there is no way of telling how far from the hole the lip is. Sure its good enough. The GPS reading from the middle of the green would be just as good. Just my .02

You're missing the point... I was saying "how far to that bunker" (on layups, to carry the bunker, etc.).

If I wanted to know how far it was from a bunker to a flag, I'd do the bunker, do the flag, then do the math.

How can you lock in on the flag stick at 250 yds anyway!?

You point it at the flag. It says "254" or whatever.

It is impossible for the range finder that I have to do that.. It has a pretty big target area, therefore making it hard to target really small objects such as a flag stick.. (its also tough because the slightest shake at 250 yds makes it nearly impossible)

Get a better range finder and less shaky hands? I dunno. Aim at the flag, by the way, not the stick.

Both are damn good tools, and would prefer the Rangefinder because you can use it for hunting and for other things too, but I do think GPS is a very interesting too, that is still being improved upon.

That it is.

I like range finders because they're more versatile and hassle-free.

[greenail]

Well I played a couple rounds this weekend with starcaddy which is a pretty cool app. The best thing about it is that you can do measurements that you'd have to do a lot of walkign to do with a range finder.


I had one shot on a par 5 in particular that this worked great for, I had to layup around a dogleg up a hill and couldn't see the fairway from where my drive was, helped a lot with my club selelction. As far as accuracy everytime I was on top of a yardage on a sprinkler the reading I got on my smartphone was accurate +/- 1 yard.

I have to say however that the bluetooth gps device did have a couple problems with the software and I had to reboot the phone once. The other problem with this software package is that the maps are stupid expensive ( I played with a 9 hole demo map). I'm going to myrtle beach this week and this is where a tool like this would realy make my rounds more fun, but if I have to pay $20 for a map i'll only use once that sucks. I'm going to try to test some of the other software out there and I will report back next chance I get.

[greenail]

Ok i've been using this for a while and it does some things great, but the real story is that even though I know the yardeges if you can't hit the shot, GPS or Laser, you can't hit the shot. One thing I do notice is that inside of 150 yards I was estimating my distances wrong and the gps help out there quite a bit.

Being able to use it as a score card is nice as well, it uploads it to my PC so I can track all my rounds and stats.

Net, net??? I'm not sure it actually loweres my score at all, but it is a fun gizmoe!!!

[670forged]

I'm sorry but this debate is cracking me up. I use the skycaddie as I only need an approx. distance. Why is this discussion so funny to me? If anyone on this board thinks that you have to have the exact, to the inch yardages, are you that good to hole out every shot? If you are that good then you don't need a putter in your bag. Last I checked today, Tiger didn't hole out any shots and he knows exact yardages. So if he can't, what makes you think you can? ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Xt1ncT]

I'm sorry but this debate is cracking me up. I use the skycaddie as I only need an approx. distance. Why is this discussion so funny to me? If anyone on this board thinks that you have to have the exact, to the inch yardages, are you that good to hole out every shot? If you are that good then you don't need a putter in your bag. Last I checked today, Tiger didn't hole out any shots and he knows exact yardages. So if he can't, what makes you think you can? ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah I know what you are saying. For me it's more the fact of knowing distances to other things like hazards.

You know, you may have a reachable par 5 but to get there you have to carry water or a bunker, and to know the distance to carry would be very handy.

[greenail]

My GPS will give me an indication of the accuracy +/- so if I don't have good reception I can at least have an idea of how off I am. I don't see how a range finder saves you time if you can't see the green, have no clue of how far the back edge is etc... I still think the GPS map is awsome for layup planning.

[iacas]

I'm sorry but this debate is cracking me up. I use the skycaddie as I only need an approx. distance. Why is this discussion so funny to me? If anyone on this board thinks that you have to have the exact, to the inch yardages, are you that good to hole out every shot? If you are that good then you don't need a putter in your bag. Last I checked today, Tiger didn't hole out any shots and he knows exact yardages. So if he can't, what makes you think you can? ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I'm playing properly, a difference of two or three yards does make a difference. It's not about holing out - it's about being pin high or knowing the minimum or maximum allowable room for error - an extra two or three yards behind or in front of a pin can make a big difference in club selection.

[iammike]

the one thing i worry about with getting any sort of range finder or GPS, is that if I have a warped sense of distance that correlates to how far I can hit my club.

I look for yard markers and all, but In the end I tend to look at the pin, or wherever i want to hit and just make a judgement on which club seems like can get me there. I think of it in yardage numbers, but honestly i have no idea right now how acurrate my numbers are in reality, but I at least know they're consistance from my perception to my club.

I'd imagine i'd have a bit of learning curve if i did get one of these gadgets.

[SuaSponteMn]

I've been mulling over the possibility of purchasing either one of these items, seems like the rangerfinder might be better for my application. Any thoughts on one that works fairly consistently for the "budget minded" individual?

[SubPar]

I've been mulling over the possibility of purchasing either one of these items, seems like the rangerfinder might be better for my application.

My range finder has been indispensable in lowering my handicap over the years. One of the essential elements of good scoring is knowing how far you hit each club with a given swing. I use my finder at every driving range to verify the distances and when I am playing it gives me comfort to know the exact yardages to the flag or to hazards. It is like having a caddy with a good yardage book.

Markers on courses are usually pretty good, but when you have a deep green and a pin that may be a little back or a lot back, there can be a 1-2 club difference. It also helps me learn to estimate distances on my own when I cannot use the finder, like in most tournaments. If I have a tournament coming up at an unfamiliar course, I try to play a practice round and use the finder to make a yardage book. My Bausch & Lomb is spot-on to any distances I need for golfing. I played with a guy who had a GPS and my finder was always within a yard of his readings.

[cmarkmyers]

I think I will go with the Sky Caddie, its size being the main reason. I can see great value in either, but I feel the Sky Caddie would be easier to use and therefore be something I use all the time. God I hate yardage markers.

[cdriver]

My club just added GPS to all our carts and in just a few short weeks, I have found myself starting to rely on it for club selection. I do not like that. I prefer to play without it because I can see whenever I go to a course without it, I will have created a problem for myself. Does anyone else have this problem? Several of the guys at my club have bought handheld rangefinders so when they go elsewhere, it is portable.

[greenail]

The main reason I went with a GPS solution is a that I use a Cingular 8125 (aka HTC Wizard) which is a windows mobile 5 device whith touch screen and a QWERTY keyboard. All I needed to get GPS going was to buy a $85 reciever and the software (there are tons of packages but i'm using starcaddy for the measuring features). The great thing is that even if you don't have the map you can use it for your score card/stats tracking. I have played with ppl using the skycaddy and they seemed to like it. Believe it or not i've never even played with anyone who I have seen using a range finder. 99.9% of people just walk off yardage from a marker. I think my confidence has improved knowing yardages of bunkers, front/rear of green, water front/back. It allows me to make a much more fearless swing I would imagine a laser range finder has the same effect.

[iacas]

My club just added GPS to all our carts and in just a few short weeks, I have found myself starting to rely on it for club selection. I do not like that. I prefer to play without it because I can see whenever I go to a course without it, I will have created a problem for myself. Does anyone else have this problem? Several of the guys at my club have bought handheld rangefinders so when they go elsewhere, it is portable.

I don't have this problem, no - because I have my range finder with me at all times, yes.

[Guest]

I have a sky caddie. After reading all of the coments in regard to gps and Laser, I feel some of the users are missing the point. The best benifit I found was at the range. I was disapointed but found it quite valuable how far I was hitting each club. As most of us will find out, you don't hit that club quite as far as you always thought. Anyone with an index 15 or more will benifit on learning the correct distance they hit a ball with each club. I do like my sky caddie, but do see where a laser would be helpfull on a course.

[gripitandripit]

My club just added GPS to all our carts and in just a few short weeks, I have found myself starting to rely on it for club selection. I do not like that. I prefer to play without it because I can see whenever I go to a course without it, I will have created a problem for myself. Does anyone else have this problem? Several of the guys at my club have bought handheld rangefinders so when they go elsewhere, it is portable.

I don't rely on cart mounted GPS units when I play at courses that have them. Too often they give a yardage waaaay different than a sprinkler head marker. Sometimes the GPS will read, say, 148 yards and I'll move the cart up a foot or two and the GPS will read 144. All that does is puts doubt in my head.