Rangefinder or GPS

[Longdriver295]

Which is the better to use and have? I know some uses both. Which Which is the Better to have? I don't have a smartwatch so if I use GPS I have to use an App on my Phone. 

[thezinfan]

I prefer a range finder.

[firehole]

I tired using a gps on my phone and really didn’t enjoy it. Found that I was always looking at my phone and that’s the opposite of what I want to do while out golfing. 
 

I’ve never been a fan of watches for my daily life so there’s no reason for me to have one golfing, so I use a rangefinder and am fine with it. 

[jordan2240]

I was always a big proponent of the rangefinder until I got a Bushnell Phantom II GPS.  I'm a walker, and attaching the GPS to the bag where I can quickly view it is much more convenient than pulling out a rangefinder.  But I'm only interested in a general distance and don't have the game to need an exact measurement.  But I still carry the rangefinder for when I want to site a tree or something like that for distance or I think the GPS is off.  That said, if I had to carry just one and I was a good golfer I'd probably carry the rangefinder because I know I can shoot any target with it and it's not gonna do anything whacky like a GPS does occasionally (like not being able to find the course or not skipping to the next hole or just coming up with some screwy distance, etc).

[Longdriver295]

45 minutes ago, jordan2240 said:

I was always a big proponent of the rangefinder until I got a Bushnell Phantom II GPS.  I'm a walker, and attaching the GPS to the bag where I can quickly view it is much more convenient than pulling out a rangefinder.  But I'm only interested in a general distance and don't have the game to need an exact measurement.  But I still carry the rangefinder for when I want to site a tree or something like that for distance or I think the GPS is off.  That said, if I had to carry just one and I was a good golfer I'd probably carry the rangefinder because I know I can shoot any target with it and it's not gonna do anything whacky like a GPS does occasionally (like not being able to find the course or not skipping to the next hole or just coming up with some screwy distance, etc).

I'm a 4hdcp so I want as accurate yardage as I can get to anything I need. Bunkers, trees, ect...

[Klubster]

A range finder gives exact distances while a GPS gives general distance to front, center or back of green.  Depends on your distance control.  A range finder works on every course, even if it has been reconfigured.

[LUMA]

Rangefinder all the time. I'll use a basic gps on my phone at courses I haven't played along with my rangefinder to get a satellite view and yardages to certain points so I know where to go and not to go.

[jordan2240]

1 hour ago, Klubster said:

A range finder works on every course, even if it has been reconfigured.

That's something to definitely consider.  We have a course here that switched 9s, and distances were way off for my one buddy until he realized what was going on.  Somehow my GPS was ok.

[jordan2240]

1 hour ago, Longdriver295 said:

I'm a 4hdcp so I want as accurate yardage as I can get to anything I need. Bunkers, trees, ect...

Definitely rangefinder, and a very simple one that just measures distance will do the job.

[millerj]

Usually rangefinder, but I like having both because if you play in heavy fog rangefinders won't work.

[Longdriver295]

56 minutes ago, jordan2240 said:

Definitely rangefinder, and a very simple one that just measures distance will do the job.

I use a blue tees s3 max right now with slope. It's ok but does have trouble locking onto the flag. It like ti pick up things behind the green

[mharr]

I much prefer GPS device, but not on my phone.  I use SkyCaddie with the large 6" display.  I'm not as good as the + handicappers on this forum, and do not need (or want) exact measurements to the pin.  I want measurements to where I want to hit on the green: what to carry or not carry that ridge in the middle, what is back of the green to make sure I don't over club it, and what to carry the bunker in front left that covers half the depth of the green and the pin is tucked behind it.  SkyCaddie is different than the other GPS, as they are giving you front/middle/back of the green from the center of the fairway, where since SkyCaddie actually walked and marked the course themselves, I get front/middle/back on the line that I am at, whether center or right or left of fairway.  Much more useful information than just distance to pin.

 

That said, I also carry a cheap rangefinder.  My home courses have most of the holes with elevated greens.  While we have red/white/yellow flags for front/middle/back of green, sometimes it looks like that red flag might be deeper than "front", and without able to see the green surface itself so a quick laser shot will either confirm or adjust that for me.  But, I still want yardage to that crest behind that front pin so that I don't carry it too deep, so the SkyCaddie gives me better information, and more quickly.

[jordan2240]

48 minutes ago, Longdriver295 said:

I use a blue tees s3 max right now with slope. It's ok but does have trouble locking onto the flag. It like ti pick up things behind the green

You'll find lots of opinions of 'best' rangefinder, of course.  For my game, slope is pretty much useless, and I would think most golfers would know you have to club up or down for slope anyway.  I have a Nikon coolshot 20 that simply reads distance, and would buy it again.  I had a Bushnell that vibrated when it locked, but after it died when it got mildly wet in a storm I went for the Nikon and don't miss the vibrate at all.

[NJBigFish22]

I just bought a shot scope H4 gps.  I like that this gives you the tags to keep track of stats.  I don’t wear a watch and prefer not to use my phone.  I’m also used to using sprinkler heads and fairway markers so this should be a step up.  If I find that it doesn’t work for me I could add a rangefinder down the road.  

[Longdriver295]

1 minute ago, NJBigFish22 said:

I just bought a shot scope H4 gps.  I like that this gives you the tags to keep track of stats.  I don’t wear a watch and prefer not to use my phone.  I’m also used to using sprinkler heads and fairway markers so this should be a step up.  If I find that it doesn’t work for me I could add a rangefinder down the road.  

My thing is I'm not interested in stats and all that stuff. Just more to distract your mind off the game of Golf. I tried that stuff and within 3 weeks was done with it. I'm a 4hdcp and only used that stuff for less than month. All I need are distances and then I swing the club and move to next shot.

[Shilgy]

5 hours ago, jordan2240 said:

I was always a big proponent of the rangefinder until I got a Bushnell Phantom II GPS.  I'm a walker, and attaching the GPS to the bag where I can quickly view it is much more convenient than pulling out a rangefinder.  But I'm only interested in a general distance and don't have the game to need an exact measurement.  But I still carry the rangefinder for when I want to site a tree or something like that for distance or I think the GPS is off.  That said, if I had to carry just one and I was a good golfer I'd probably carry the rangefinder because I know I can shoot any target with it and it's not gonna do anything whacky like a GPS does occasionally (like not being able to find the course or not skipping to the next hole or just coming up with some screwy distance, etc).

I have the same Phantom 2.

 

But rangefinder all day every day is better imo.  There are days that the gps is off….by as much as 8-10 yards.  Not a big deal from 225+ but for a wedge?  Give me the exact number please and then if I’m short or long I know it was my fault.

[NJBigFish22]

44 minutes ago, Longdriver295 said:

My thing is I'm not interested in stats and all that stuff. Just more to distract your mind off the game of Golf. I tried that stuff and within 3 weeks was done with it. I'm a 4hdcp and only used that stuff for less than month. All I need are distances and then I swing the club and move to next shot.

I will be curious to see if the stat thing becomes a distraction, but since it came with it, will give it a go, but my gut tells me I will end up not using, just like you did.

[LPSISCO]

If money isn’t an issue, one of my buddies has a Garmin rangefinder with built in GPS. Best of both worlds I’d say, and probably what I’ll buy when my Bushnell dies.
 

If one or the other, I prefer the rangefinder by far. But if I could, in one motion, see how far the pin is and the front and back of the green at the same time? I’m in. 

 

 

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/572178

[Mike_Honcho]

i always verify with my rangefinder.

[Longdriver295]

58 minutes ago, LPSISCO said:

If money isn’t an issue, one of my buddies has a Garmin rangefinder with built in GPS. Best of both worlds I’d say, and probably what I’ll buy when my Bushnell dies.
 

If one or the other, I prefer the rangefinder by far. But if I could, in one motion, see how far the pin is and the front and back of the green at the same time? I’m in. 

 

 

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/572178

For the not so good reviews for that thing, That's way too much Money. But the JMO 

[glm]

My Bushnell Neo GPS is all I need

I have a Nikon rangefinder somewhere