What new gadget are you guys getting for this year?

[loverofgolf]

With all these new gadgets constantly coming out, what are you guys buying for 2017? 

[Piz]

I'm going to put an alignment stripe on my ball marker.  Got the idea, today, while looking at my pocket watch.  Maybe it helps, maybe it doesn't.  I'll find out soon enough.

[dkolo]

I just bought a Callaway 300 rangefinder that I haven't had a chance to play with yet. I've been using GPS and Game Golf Live over the past 4 years, but I like the idea of either it complementing GPS or replacing it. I think I'm at the point that I want the flexibility and extra info the laser affords. And for $150 in a gift set with a sleeve of Chrome Softs and an extra battery, the price was right.

I used it yesterday for the first time at an unfamiliar driving range and it was very helpful. Finding that I was 148 yards to one of the 100 yard signs saved a lot of frustration.

[loverofgolf]

15 minutes ago, dkolo said:

I just bought a Callaway 300 rangefinder that I haven't had a chance to play with yet. I've been using GPS and Game Golf Live over the past 4 years, but I like the idea of either it complementing GPS or replacing it. I think I'm at the point that I want the flexibility and extra info the laser affords. And for $150 in a gift set with a sleeve of Chrome Softs and an extra battery, the price was right.

I used it yesterday for the first time at an unfamiliar driving range and it was very helpful. Finding that I was 148 yards to one of the 100 yard signs saved a lot of frustration.

Wow great deal. What range finder did you get?

23 minutes ago, Piz said:

I'm going to put an alignment stripe on my ball marker.  Got the idea, today, while looking at my pocket watch.  Maybe it helps, maybe it doesn't.  I'll find out soon enough.

Interesting idea. I might have to try that out myself, thanks.

[dkolo]

2 minutes ago, loverofgolf said:

Wow great deal. What range finder did you get?

The Callaway 300 series rangefinder in a giftset from Costco. It doesn't appear to be available any longer from them. I had a feeling it'd be a fleeting deal, which is why I jumped on it; I can't find the laser by itself anywhere for less than $250. Callaway is selling the same giftset on its own site for $279.

[loverofgolf]

Just now, dkolo said:

The Callaway 300 series rangefinder in a giftset from Costco. It doesn't appear to be available any longer from them. I had a feeling it'd be a fleeting deal, which is why I jumped on it; I can't find the laser by itself anywhere for less than $250. Callaway is selling the same giftset on its own site for $279.

That's too bad. Unfortunately for most golfers the good range finders are not worth it when you can buy a regular GPS unit for a lot cheaper. But it definitely is nice to have.

[dkolo]

Just now, loverofgolf said:

That's too bad. Unfortunately for most golfers the good range finders are not worth it when you can buy a regular GPS unit for a lot cheaper. But it definitely is nice to have.

As with a lot of things in golf, buying used isn't a bad idea here. There's a lot of preowned rangefinders on Ebay in great shape for around $100.

[Gator Hazard]

1 hour ago, dkolo said:

As with a lot of things in golf, buying used isn't a bad idea here. There's a lot of preowned rangefinders on Ebay in great shape for around $100.

Never thought about looking for a used range finder.

[bkuehn1952]

11 minutes ago, Gator Hazard said:

Never thought about looking for a used range finder.

Some may have been acquired through theft.

[dkolo]

1 hour ago, Gator Hazard said:

Never thought about looking for a used range finder.

I always thought of them as a commodity. Like, "OK, now I have a rangefinder." There's a lot of ways for them to upsell with bells and whistles, but with pinseeker pretty standard and most of them pretty good and durable, it doesn't seem like the kind of thing to need much upgrading. Same with my GPS, the Garmin G3. It spits out a number and gives me a picture of the hole. Doesn't need upgrading!

[Patch]

I still have a hankering for a radio controlled trolley. I bought one a while back, but had a lot of problems with it. I took it back to the vendor and pretty much had to force feed it to him to take it back for a refund.

My shag stick is wearing out, so I might buy, or build a new one of those.

That's about all I might be looking at. My "golf gadget" days are behind me at this point in my golf game. 

[Pretzel]

3 hours ago, bkuehn1952 said:

Some may have been acquired through theft.

The same goes for any other used item, I wouldn't classify the risk of it being stolen as higher on a rangefinder than any other number of items sold on eBay.

[cutchemist42]

19 hours ago, dkolo said:

The Callaway 300 series rangefinder in a giftset from Costco. It doesn't appear to be available any longer from them. I had a feeling it'd be a fleeting deal, which is why I jumped on it; I can't find the laser by itself anywhere for less than $250. Callaway is selling the same giftset on its own site for $279.

Damn great deal, I would have jumped on that if I saw it.

The one rangefinder I bought on EBay was defective, but the seller was very helpful in returning the money. It was a Bushnell and would drain the battery when not in use. Even with taking the battery out after a round meant the battery was only lasting 2 rounds. CR2 batteries are expensive so I never got my money back from the 3 I went through.

I would now avoid a rangefinder off EBay sadly based on my experience, would hate to deal with it again.

Edited January 17, 2017 by cutchemist42

[loverofgolf]

4 hours ago, cutchemist42 said:

Damn great deal, I would have jumped on that if I saw it.

The one rangefinder I bought on EBay was defective, but the seller was very helpful in returning the money. It was a Bushnell and would drain the battery when not in use. Even with taking the battery out after a round meant the battery was only lasting 2 rounds. CR2 batteries are expensive so I never got my money back from the 3 I went through.

I would now avoid a rangefinder off EBay sadly based on my experience, would hate to deal with it again.

You're lucky the seller was that helpful. I've heard of some bad experiences through ebay.

[dennyjones]

I have heard quite a bit about golfers using foot powder on their clubs to see where on the face they hit the ball.

For Christmas (not really), I bought some Dr Scholls foot powder and used it today at the indoor range.   It is amazing how well it works.   I just used it on my 7 iron but I was impressed with the information I obtained. I also impressed myself how consistent my shot pattern appeared on the club.  

If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it. 

[Pretzel]

5 hours ago, loverofgolf said:

You're lucky the seller was that helpful. I've heard of some bad experiences through ebay.

You don't need the seller to be helpful. Paypal is notorious for always siding with the buyer, even if the seller has a tracking number that shows the item was delivered to the proper address. Paypal gives you your money back if you raise a dispute for it, then charges the seller's account for the refund.

[boogielicious]

12 hours ago, dennyjones said:

I have heard quite a bit about golfers using foot powder on their clubs to see where on the face they hit the ball.

For Christmas (not really), I bought some Dr Scholls foot powder and used it today at the indoor range.   It is amazing how well it works.   I just used it on my 7 iron but I was impressed with the information I obtained. I also impressed myself how consistent my shot pattern appeared on the club.  

If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it. 

And now your clubs don't have that 'old sweat sock' smell anymore! 

[woodzie264]

On 1/16/2017 at 4:35 PM, Piz said:

I'm going to put an alignment stripe on my ball marker.  Got the idea, today, while looking at my pocket watch.  Maybe it helps, maybe it doesn't.  I'll find out soon enough.

That is a great idea... @iacas, is it legal? I mean it is an alignment aide used  during play...if so, I'm all for it