which is more benificial for a high capper GPS or Range Finder

[mooks3113]

As of now I am a high handicapper (not registered but self calculated every few rounds using spread sheet) and I have decided that I want to improve my game this summer and definitely want to be able to hit my distances. So for beginners which is the best considering I won’t always have a view of the flag the rough. Also if you think one way or another which product would you recommend.

 

 

[TM_HOYER]

A GPS will help you with course management. It will help you learn it is not about hitting the ball as far as you can. It is about hitting the ball the right distances to avoid problems. A GPS will tell you how far to traps and hazards so you can hit short of them. Also if your best shot is 120 yards from the pin, it will help you know the distance you need to leave the ball 120 yards from pin. Think of a GPS as an electronic yardage book like the pros use to manage their game as they play.

[optionstraderbc]

GPS all the way. I purchased an SG5 3 months ago and it has helped shave strokes alot. My laser stays in the garage as I find it too time consuming and just dont need distance down to the yard. Also after a few beers or diet cokes I cant hold my hand steady

[RCGA]

Another vote for GPS, especially if you oftentimes don't have a clear view at the flag or play new courses every now and then.

I've just played my second round with a Bushnell 1600 (a demo unit from the club pro) and I found it kind of a PITA to scan bunkers, the flag, random trees, etc. and then do it for someone else if they asked.

[KevCarter]

You can't beat Laser for exact yardages to the pin...

I have switched to GPS anyway and love it. I won't go back to trying to hit the flag with the laser.

I agree 100% with the poster who said using GPS will help you learn course management. Play to yardages you are comfortable with. The GPS programs I use on my iPhone also handle scoreing and stat tracking which can be an eye opener.

Kevin

[TMfan54]

You can practice with a laser. Which will help you know your distances

[QuickFeet]

I have and use both every time I play but I'd vote for GPS if you are going to use only one device; as another poster already mentioned a GPS will help you with overall course management. I think a GPS does much better for providing carry/layup distances to help you navigate around a course. I typically use my laser to get approach shot distance when I'm in the LW thru 8i range so I know exact distance. Hitting it the exact distance is another issue.

[DaveLeeNC]

I've used both devices and IF your GPS is one that has most of the relevant hazards/etc marked and IF the courses that you play are well supported by your device, then GPS is probably the way to go for a high handicapper.

OTOH, in most cases laser has a big edge in practice areas (and in almost every case from inside 100 yards).

I'm a laser guy primarily because accurate yardage TO THE PIN from inside 100 yards is my #1 requirement and I never got comfortable with the variability that I encountered using a GPS device.

dave

[mojo_13]

I would say for a high capper that a GPS would be a better option for a couple reasons. You can quickly and easily find out yardages to hazards/specific yardages. Also even if a GPS is a yard or two less accurate (although I don't believe they are) you are probably not consistent enough to have that make a difference.

Also I tend to use mine (sg3.5) for the scoring feature also. Makes me focus less on my score and just go out and play because I can't look at the scorecard everytime I look down.

[eyeguy]

I've used both and GPS is the way to go because it saves time, LOTS of time. Laser range finders can give you more information especially if you have the pinseeker ones that provide slope and elevation. But it is a pain in the a** to line it up each time and anything outside of 150 yds, you've got to have a steady hand. More often than not, I am frustrated trying to hit the flag or ground or somebody's behind who's standing on the green. Save the aggravation, get a GPS.

[DaveLeeNC]

[quote name='eyeguy' date='02 May 2010 - 06:48 PM' timestamp='1272840489' post='2414497']
I've used both and GPS is the way to go because it saves time, LOTS of time. Laser range finders can give you more information especially if you have the pinseeker ones that provide slope and elevation. But it is a pain in the a** to line it up each time and anything outside of 150 yds, you've got to have a steady hand. More often than not, I am frustrated trying to hit the flag or ground or somebody's behind who's standing on the green. Save the aggravation, get a GPS.
[/quote]

It is probably worth saying that both technologies have (potentially) serious caveats. The utility of a laser device is a function of the laser device being used and the steadiness of your hands (for me and my Nikon 500G it doesn't get hard until around 220 yards - other devices and sets of hands may differ).

Similarly, different GPS devices provide different levels of information and differing number of courses supported and different mapping quality. So a specific answer to the original question posted probably needs a finer distinction than just 'GPS vs. laser'.

dave

[rblmp32]

IMO it's a range finder. B/c you can use it at the range to laser flags and other objects. Imo, that's important.

[eyeguy]

[quote name='rblmp32' date='02 May 2010 - 06:04 PM' timestamp='1272841457' post='2414529']
IMO it's a range finder. B/c you can use it at the range to laser flags and other objects. Imo, that's important.
[/quote]


My sky caddie has all the distances to all pins at the range. It is updated pretty reguarly, at least on my course.

[rblmp32]

[quote name='eyeguy' date='02 May 2010 - 07:56 PM' timestamp='1272844591' post='2414689']
[quote name='rblmp32' date='02 May 2010 - 06:04 PM' timestamp='1272841457' post='2414529']
IMO it's a range finder. B/c you can use it at the range to laser flags and other objects. Imo, that's important.
[/quote]


My sky caddie has all the distances to all pins at the range. It is updated pretty reguarly, at least on my course.
[/quote]

My rangefinder gets me the distance for any flag on any range in the world when I'm there. How bout yours?

[WilCox]

To the OP...either will get the job done. It all about helping with course management and speeding up pace of play. My GPS is quicker and accurate enough for my needs. Yeah, the laser can give precise yardages to the pin but I like to know the distances to the front and the back too.

Then there's that wayward drive that ends up in the other fairway with a stand of trees between your ball and the green. You have to go over the trees. The laser doesn't handle that situation very well.

[geronimo509]

[quote name='TM_HOYER' date='01 May 2010 - 08:37 PM' timestamp='1272764263' post='2412673']
A GPS will help you with course management. It will help you learn it is not about hitting the ball as far as you can. It is about hitting the ball the right distances to avoid problems. A GPS will tell you how far to traps and hazards so you can hit short of them. Also if your best shot is 120 yards from the pin, it will help you know the distance you need to leave the ball 120 yards from pin. Think of a GPS as an electronic yardage book like the pros use to manage their game as they play.
[/quote]

This, it took the words out of my mouth, but probably said it better than I could

[TMfan54]

a range finder can help manage your game better than a gps. you will get EXACT distances to the front or back of bunkers or whatever else. you need. you can also laser to a yardage stake if you do not have a line of sight to the pin and add the distances. as i said in my first post can practice with a laser anywhere. you also do not have to deal with loading screens, resetting it if you are in the wrong fairway, etc. for me it is obvious a rangefinder has more advantages, but whatever you think will help you is the best option. i have a steady hand so at any distance it is never a problem to hit the pin, but if you do not have a steady hand just get a gps.

[TM_HOYER]

[quote name='TMTPFan54 ' date='02 May 2010 - 08:26 PM' timestamp='1272846371' post='2414794']
a range finder can help manage your game better than a gps. you will get EXACT distances to the front or back of bunkers or whatever else. you need. you can also laser to a yardage stake if you do not have a line of sight to the pin and add the distances. as i said in my first post can practice with a laser anywhere. you also do not have to deal with loading screens, resetting it if you are in the wrong fairway, etc. for me it is obvious a rangefinder has more advantages, but whatever you think will help you is the best option. i have a steady hand so at any distance it is never a problem to hit the pin, but if you do not have a steady hand just get a gps.
[/quote]

As a former laser user and current GPS users, what was said is wrong. Loading screens, takes about a second. Reseting, never been an issue in my four years of use. Exact yardages for a high handicapper, not an issue, one yard difference is not going to make a difference. And with laser, if you cannot see it, you cannot laser it. So if the green is elevated, getting the yardage to the back of the green is impossible. If you have a bunker with a high lip in front of the green, getting the yardage to the front or back of the green is impossible. And yardages at a range, worthless. The balls most ranges use will not give you an idea of the yardage you will hit on the course. Using a GPS with the ability to give you the distance you hit a shot on the course, will give you true yardages. Ranges are good to work on direction and problems in your swing.

[DNice26]

My vote: GPS for a high handicapper....

I had a GPS (lost it) and now have a range finder. I find the rangefinder useful, but I miss the GPS.

[eyeguy]

 

My rangefinder gets me the distance for any flag on any range in the world when I'm there. How bout yours?

 

Yes, all courses I've seen has the range data included at least for the sky caddie line of GPS, I can't confirm for any other brand. Do you own a GPS as well as a range finder or is this based solely on your opinion? I have both and after using a range finder for a few rounds, it was clearly obvious that it takes 3x to 10x longer to figure out distance data than using a GPS. The range finder is still in my bag, but only as a fall back IF I forget to recharge my sky caddie. My point is ease of use and speed of use. For the OP that is probably the best recommendation for a high handicapper. I think the more "hard core" golfer you are, the more likely you will embrace a laser range finder. That's just what I've noticed and seen. The range finder does have positives, I'm not negating any aspect of that and I have no intention of ever getting rid of mine.

[WilCox]

GPS vs Laser

Laser: If you can see it, you can lase it and get an [u]exact[/u] range to any [u]one[/u] target [u]you[/u] choose at a time. If you can't see your target, you're out of luck. Pretty straight forward.

GPS: If you can lock to a satellite, you get info as accurate as the last course survey. GPS doesn't care where you're standing or if you have line of sight to the target, it simply does point to point from where you're standing to the pre-set targets for the hole selected. You have multiple distance readouts on your screen to refer to.

If the course hasn't been surveyed yet or you can't keep a lock, you're out of luck with a GPS. I prefer GPS simply because I like more info at a glance in front of me while I make my decision.

Knowing exact ranges at a driving range to hit old beaters is not very useful IMO.

[yahtzee]

[quote name='blhoff' date='02 May 2010 - 10:08 PM' timestamp='1272852480' post='2415292']

Knowing exact ranges at a driving range to hit old beaters is not very useful IMO.
[/quote]

This is a great point....my range just switched to one piece Srixon's and even the pros aren't happy. They are saying that there is roughly a club and a half difference from the old Nike range balls. Completely pointless to bring a laser out there.

[tigergolfer22]

look at onpar they track your distances and stats for you so you know what to practice to drop strokes

[EnglishBob]

I started with a laser for 18 months, and have been using a GPS for the last year... I MUCH prefer the GPS... it won't give you the exact distance to the pin, but for me knowing where the Front, Middle and back of the green are is all I need.

In Fact knowing the front/middle middle/back is preferable for me if there are bunker fronting the green, lets me know how deep the green is and if I can go a club longer and still be on the green.

As a high 'capper my yardage is good to about 5 yards on a good swing, so the margin of error between GPS and laser doesn't really matter.

The draw backs for me with laser were:-
Hard to laser a fairway bunker unless it has a steep bank or hillock.
Can't laser through the trees from the other fairway, and I do seem to find the other fairway.
Didn't work worth a damn in even a light mist/fog, said everything was 14 yards.

[Preduck]

To answer the OP's questions, GPS is by far the way to go. As a high handicapper, exact yardages aren't as important. You aren't going to be able to hit distances consistently so a laser isn't as important. One thing that I've found is that the GPS comes in more handy for situations that the high handicapper will probably put themselves in. Today I tried cutting off the corner a little too much and ended up in the pine trees. I was lucky and had an opening but had no idea what the yardage was. Since there were so many trees, my laser was useless. I broke out my gps and got the approximate yardage. I was able to hit one of my better iron shots today to 3 yards.

Generally, I still use my laser to measure distances. I'm not good enough to dial my irons down to a yard or two, it's just a mental thing knowing the exact distance to where the flag is, something that a gps can't do.

[Buddyjay]

There are many good answers to this question. I have and sometimes use both. I have to, first, disagree with users that say the lasers take 3-10x longer than a GPS.

A Laser only takes 2 seconds to get an [b][i]exact[/i][/b] reading. I have no trouble shooting bunkers since the majority of them have some kind of raised edge.
Does a high HC need exact yardages? Not likely. A GPS will help with course mgmt. on unfamiliar courses and give you front/middle/back green readings. A high HC should be hitting for the middle of the green anyway, so exact yardages to the pin aren't really necessary for [b]his[/b] game.

The reason I went to a laser is because, even though I get a reading to the front/middle/back of the green, I have trouble knowing where the flag actually is. I would think that the flag was in the back of the green and it was more towards the front. The magnification of the laser helps me see this. When using a GPS with a laser, I know exactly where the pin is and how much green I have to work with. But that's me. I am almost in single digit HC and want those exact measurments. Especially since my eyes aren't that great.

My recommendation is a GPS. Or get the best of both and if you have a smart phone, get the GPS app and buy the Laser.

[HackerD]

Based on my experience playing with members, so they know the course pretty well. GPS more helpful for higher handicaps - course management, layups etc. Lasers for lower handicaps, getting [u]exact [/u]yardage to pins.

[eyeguy]

[quote name='Buddyjay' date='03 May 2010 - 05:48 AM' timestamp='1272883707' post='2416246']
There are many good answers to this question. I have and sometimes use both. I have to, first, disagree with users that say the lasers take 3-10x longer than a GPS.

A Laser only takes 2 seconds to get an [b][i]exact[/i][/b] reading. I have no trouble shooting bunkers since the majority of them have some kind of raised edge.
Does a high HC need exact yardages? Not likely. A GPS will help with course mgmt. on unfamiliar courses and give you front/middle/back green readings. A high HC should be hitting for the middle of the green anyway, so exact yardages to the pin aren't really necessary for [b]his[/b] game.

The reason I went to a laser is because, even though I get a reading to the front/middle/back of the green, I have trouble knowing where the flag actually is. I would think that the flag was in the back of the green and it was more towards the front. The magnification of the laser helps me see this. When using a GPS with a laser, I know exactly where the pin is and how much green I have to work with. But that's me. I am almost in single digit HC and want those exact measurments. Especially since my eyes aren't that great.

My recommendation is a GPS. Or get the best of both and if you have a smart phone, get the GPS app and buy the Laser.
[/quote]

Why it takes longer to use range finder than GPS:

GPS: Take it off your belt clip (like a cell phone), push a few buttons (if needed), adjust the location of the pin (skycaddie only), take reading, put back on hip clip. average time, 2 to 20 seconds max.

Laser Range finder: Take it out of your bag or remove it from cart, take it out of storage case, turn on unit, aim at flag, ground, bunker, shoot again to confirm measurement, shoot a 3rd time to re-confirm, repeat as necessary to get a reading you are confident with, put back in storage case, put back in bag or cart storage area. average time 20 seconds to over a minute.

In regards to Golf Logix GSP APP: a third option if you don't have either, but the accuracy is very poor. sometimes it's on the mark, but most of the time it isn't. There is a latency (lack of refresh) in the measurement since it doesn't seem to take continuous measurements or are taken a few seconds apart and I have found you have to move in circles to get a more accurate measurement. Yardages tends to get stuck at where you stopped near the ball if you are riding a cart.

[phil75070]

Another vote for GPS for a high handicapper. A decent GPS will give all distances to every feature, in sight or not, at a glance. As a couple of others have pointed out, knowing how far you hit range balls because you can laser the targets is only minimally helpful. Focusing on getting the ball to the center of the green and avoiding the pitfalls of going "flag hunting" like one tends to do with a laser is more beneficial for the novice, in my opinion - fairways and greens.

[toddnt]

Hi handicappers are usually out in the junk and dont have straight eye-line to green, bunkers etc bacuase of trees and this is where GPS is best!