GPS / Yardage devices

[drewcpa]

What level does it make sense to start using

Just wondering who uses GPS devices and at what level. I'm a 23 HC (straight, short hitter; decent short game). There are a variety of guys at our club that use these (low, mid and hi HCer's). Some guys I can see it making a difference, while others I'm not sure about. At what point in your game development does it make sense to invest?

I was playing a match the other day with an 18 HC and he was swearing it helps his game (however, I beat him). I just never thought my game was that precise to merit it. At my level, I'm not firing a pins; I'm aiming for the least amount of trouble.

Any thoughts?

[sidewinder]

drewcpa,

 

I think it starts to make sense as soon as you hit your clubs to repeatable yardages. In other words, if you know you PW goes 125 yards, your 9 irons goes 140, 8 iron 150, etc., a rangefinder will help you pick the appropriate club for the shot. You might not hit the perfect shot, but at least you will have the right club in your hand. That way, when you do do everything close to right, the results will be as good as they can be.

 

S-

[blade_man]

I agree with sidewinder that you need to know your distance with each and every club and the GPS will give you that accurate measurement, good luck with your decision on purchasing!

[ew25950]

Also, if you have one of these you can use it to map your club distances with more precision. I have an older SkyCaddie and will never play without one again.

[DemolitionMan]

However, a laser/gps device is going to help you get to know your yardages a lot faster. I think these devices are very important to start using sooner rather than later. Hitting range rocks off mats is not a great way to get to know your yardages. Constantly checking yardages, making note of what club you hit, and what the result is will give you a more realistic picture of your yardages.

 

It is also helpful in relating feel in your wedge game. Knowing yardages and the feel of a less than full swing is going to bring you helpful feedback on what you eyeball before the shot, the swing you make, and the result.

 

Use these devices now, but above all, use them quickly, speed of play takes precedence.

[PingG10]

I'm a mid capper and I really think I benefit from using the GPS with regards to proper club selection. I wouldn't say that I've totally dialed in my clubs regarding distance but I'm consistent enough that knowing that I'm 165yds out makes a difference in whether I select a 7 or a 6 iron. If I was guestimating distance-where I usually guestimate short on the distance and end up hitting the 7 iron short of the pin-probably short of the green.

 

I don't consider myself a totaly gadget freek when it comes to golf but this is one gadget that I think really helps me (although I couldn't specifically assign a stroke reduction to its use).

[Fourmyle of Ceres]

My teaching pro says everyone who is serious about playing golf (i.e. you keep score, play the ball down, practice to get better) should place a very high priority on knowing how far you hit every shot in the bag. I don't think he cares whether you get that by pacing off from sprinkler, using a laser or buying a SkyCaddie but in clinics and lessons he stresses Know Thy Distances whether he's talking to college-player studs, beginners or anyone in between.

 

He has told me that it's never too soon to learn how to honestly evaluate your distances. Even if you top 2 out 3 shots and shoot over 100 you can shoot a better score if that third, good shot is pin high. A lot of the mental-game stuff you read about goes right out the window if you can't say for sure whether a 110-yard shot is a pitching wedge, 9-iron, 8-iron, 3/4 7-iron or whatever. It's cool to have a plan for every hole and a target for every shot but you've also got to have a club in your hand that is physically going to hit the ball to that target with a good swing and not come up 20 yards short or 10 yards over the green. And the way to learn that is to hit some good shots and then measure exactly how far they went. Laser or GPS can be a good way to get that info.

[oldpalchamp]

Besides what every one else is saying, it sure beats the he11 out of looking around for sprinkler heads. Seriously, besides giving you accurate yardages, not just to the green, a good GPS system gives you yardages to hazards. Also, it should speed up play.

[herkyjerk]

You are ready for GPS now. You are an improving player and it will help. Just like you said, you are aiming for safety rather than knocking the pins down, fair enough. GPS is all about safe parts of the course, fat parts of green front or back, minimum carry yardage etc. It makes the game funner, you play faster, and you can improve using the yardages. I have a cart clamp for mine. I just pop it in place in the center so both myself & cart partner can see it at all times. You won't like it you will love it, and you will hate playing without it. I've done the whole sprinkler head thing and laser binocular thing, trust me it's not even close. GPS rules. Some will say a laser is a few yards more accurate. Well if I was good enough that I needed to know if a pin was 165 or 168, I wouldn't have a sky caddie I would have a tour caddie. Plus I don't have to put my beer down to read the yardage.

[LottaBalata]

I also agree it has a lot to do with particular club yardages. It will also definitely help someon who's off in another fairway, no sprinkler head with a yardage available, blind to the hole/green.

 

There have been a couple situations where I have been out of sight and plopped it right on the green with a wedge not knowing distance, only direction.

 

Also, if you play a lot of courses you're not familiar with. I mean, I'm using mine 95% of the time on my home course--which I've been playing for the last 22 years. . .still helpful, but I'm pretty familiar with the course already.

 

I use the golflogix btw.

[forerb]

I don't think the skill level of the player is as important as their mindset. I have lost a lot of distance as I have gotten older but maintain a single digit by playing smarter. Management on the course can be improved with GPS even for a high handicapper. You don't need "exact" yardage to the pin, but knowing the front and back of green distances can help your club choice and knowing where to miss is almost more important. Unless you are a "plus" handicap you should be aiming for the wide part of the green most of the time anyway. If I am in trouble from the rough I may not even try to hit the green, but may want to land the ball at the front edge regardless of the pin. Knowing that yardage with certainty helps.

[larrybud]

Just wondering who uses GPS devices and at what level. I'm a 23 HC (straight, short hitter; decent short game). There are a variety of guys at our club that use these (low, mid and hi HCer's). Some guys I can see it making a difference, while others I'm not sure about. At what point in your game development does it make sense to invest?

Even if you're not firing at pins, it certainly helps when determining distances to hazards that you might otherwise be guessing at.

[Famousdave]

Here's a list of some of the criteria one should use to decide if a GPS/rangefinder is needed or wanted:

-You are an improving golfer, and want to continue getting better, or

-You are bogey or better golfer, or

-You are tired of looking for sprinker heads for yardage indication, or

-You want a to better understand how far you hit each club, or

-You take the game seriously, and such a device will increase your enjoyment, or

-You have several hundred dollars in your wallet and you are looking for a way to spend it, or

-Your wife wants to buy you a big present, and you can't think of anything else you want more.

 

The bottom line is ... if you want it, get it. All of the above contributed to my purchase of a Bushnell rangefinder. It's funny, but before I had a rangefinder I did not crave getting one. (In fact, I didn't give it much thought at all.) Now that I've had one for about a year, I must say that it has improved by game and, perhaps not coincidently, it has increased my enjoyment of the game as well.

[Carl-T]

i know in my county events you arnt allowed to use these

any english people know if club competitions are allowed?

[Play10s]

I'm going to say that even before you have your yardages dialed in, a GPS (or any range finder) can be a big help. If you use it as a training aid, it will allow you to figure out your yardages a bit quicker.

 

Of course helping you know the distances to the green complex and hazards will improve your scores if you abide by the mantra of good course management.