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GPS vs Range Finder

SuperStroke
i use a gps system and i find it works pefectly well.it givres me yardage's to the front,middle and back and then the 1/4 yardage and 3/4 yardage on the green.this works well enough as you can generally estimate how far the pin is on the green.

as for lay ups you just quickly do some maths,if you have 300 yrds in but like 100yrd shots then its easy enough to work out.
 
I enjoy my rangefinder. I'm a flag hunter so i like exact yardages, plus it can be used to find all the bunker carries and everything you really need as well.
 
I have a rangefinder with the Pinseeker option on it and I really like it. The only drawback to it is like any rangefinder you need a line of sight to your target. If you don't have that it is pretty much useless. I've contemplated getting a GPS but I'm just not playing enough right now to justify it.
 
WPoz said:
I have a rangefinder with the Pinseeker option on it and I really like it. The only drawback to it is like any rangefinder you need a line of sight to your target. If you don't have that it is pretty much useless. I've contemplated getting a GPS but I'm just not playing enough right now to justify it.
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Looks like you're better than me, and I can justify it! Never a bad thing to know your yardages.
 
i have both wish I had the hybrid 2 in 1
 
I just recently purchased bushnell hybrid laser rangefinder to replace my 4 years old bushnell tour 1500. I would never go for GPS only but this guy is amazing. It is pretty basic and simple GPS and laser with pinseeker technology. It is really the best of two worlds. I played once with it and going to test it all the way this weekend:)

Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk
 
Smallville said:
Looks like you're better than me, and I can justify it! Never a bad thing to know your yardages.
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Nope, it sure isn't. I just think it would be silly to pay a yearly subscription and then never really use it because I'm not playing very much right now.
 
Maybe it's good to have both? I bought a cheap laser recently, maxfli, just to use at the range, but it saved me a stroke recently because the courses here have reflective markers on the pins. I was on a par three where the sign said 150yds, I thought it looked much closer than that, so I pulled out my laser and managed to get a bead on the reflectors, even with my shaky hands. The laser said 135, I clubbed accordingly, and ended up with a GIR. I would have been way over had I gone by the the course yardage.
 
Yea I low having both- laser is great for range and exact distance.

Gps is nice for hole overviews and seeing distances to everything; calculating layup yardages etc
 
WPoz said:
I have a rangefinder with the Pinseeker option on it and I really like it. The only drawback to it is like any rangefinder you need a line of sight to your target. If you don't have that it is pretty much useless. I've contemplated getting a GPS but I'm just not playing enough right now to justify it.
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I perfer the rangefinder (I use the Leupold GX-1) as I had a SkyCaddie and when it finally went bad I did not get another because I had paid for it twice with the yearly prescriptions. I also have SkyDroid on my cellphone which cost only $2.99 one time fee, and it does the job of letting me have distances when line of sight is blocked on any hole. To me the information is invaluable.
 
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GPS or rangefinder

GPS or rangefinder

Which is more useful for getting an accurate distance, a GPS or a rangefinder? I'm tired of guessing! Thanks.

PR
 
Rangefinders are more accurate; GPS are cheaper and easier to use.
 
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Just bought Ebay $180. I like it because no fees,no menu's to page through, no sat. to wait for,instant results just point and shoot...Yeah there is a problem with out of site targets but i can get over it..
 
Bennett said:
Gps Pros: gives you a yardage
Cons: gives the wrong yardage, expensive, annual fees, downloading courses, nothing good about it.

Rangefinder Pros: reasonable price, fast, easy, accurate to less than a yard, no annual fees
Cons: ....

My opinion: rangefinder would be your best bet.
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From my research when i was deciding GPS were cheaper so idk what your talking about.

I had a gps but took the callaway refund and got the rangefinder instead. I like my rangefinder better for these reasons: Can keep it in my bag and no charging, Get an exact yardage and can get yardages to anything i can see, Good for seeing how far the group in front of you is, no downloading course or annual fees.

In my opinion it's all about what you want. TBH you can't go wrong with either choice as they are both very good. I enjoy having exact yardages as i'm a pin seeker all the time, and i hate having to constantly charge the gps i had.
 
Nothing against a GPS, I like the rangefinder (Callaway/Nikon)....You can keep it in your bag (no re-charge)...My battery lasted over 2 years of playing over 100 rounds of golf a year....It was still working until last weekend when the hurricane struck NC....My garage was flooded and the golf bag with the rangefinder was underwater for 2 days.... Kaput...The reason I like the rangefinder is for shots 120 yards and in...Not being long, I have to rely on a short game and it's amazing how off I was when I estimated the yards to the green/pin....It's convenient, quick (once you learn how and when to use it) and no monthly fees....And the bright yellow cover makes it easy to find if you drop it on the course...
 
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Thanks for all the advice and input. I ended up picking up a bushnell hybrid last thursday. The $100 rebate sealed the deal. I now have the best of both worlds. I love it. Have used it for 3 rounds.
 
$100 rebate? Is bushnell offering that or was there a coupon elsewhere? What was your final cost and which model hybrid did you get? I've been pondering this a while and haven't jumped in cause I have iPhone apps (Golf Logix and ViewTi) which work but are slow and would like to have a laser for the range/ practice when I need distances that there is no GPS for. Wondering if you have more thoughts on it Bert,
Thanks,
Ash
 
I love my Bushnell with slope. Don't really play in any tourneys and having an accurate number uphill and downhill shave so many strokes because you consistently pull the right club out of the bag.
 
Rangefinder Vs GPS

Rangefinder Vs GPS

Looking to Purchase either a Rangefinder or a GPS, Want to get everyone's advice on which way to go and why? Pro's and Con's of Both?
 
For me, it is GPS hands down. I owned a good range finder when they first came out and it served me well, but there is a lot more a GPS can do, and there is no trying to hold still to point and get a yardage. I'll never go back to a rangefinder. Lots of good reviews here at THP on both.
 
I've only used a GPS, but enjoy the fact it gives me some target yardages such as creeks, bunkers and decent layup spots pretty quickly.
 
bbhockey19 said:
Looking to Purchase either a Rangefinder or a GPS, Want to get everyone's advice on which way to go and why? Pro's and Con's of Both?
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Double b, there is a huge thread devoted to this topic with tons of info. Do a quick search
 
Tadashi70 said:
Double b, there is a huge thread devoted to this topic with tons of info. Do a quick search
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+1, that is what I was coming in to post.
 
I think a lot of it depends on what you want to get out of it.

There are GPS units that will track every part of your game for you. While a range finder is simply going to give you the distance from point A to point B.

The range finder will give you the exact distance to the flags while the GPS will give you the distance to the front, middle, and back of the green. I like the added confidence of knowing exactly how far the pin is.

Personally, the only time I find myself wishing that I had a GPS vs a range finder is when I'm playing a new course and I have no idea what the carry distances are, distance to trouble, or hole layouts in regard to blind shots.

I find my range finder to be quick and easy on my home course. I just pull up to my shot and shoot the flag.

I strongly suggest doing some research, they are both costly purchases.
 
The pros and cons are clear for both (and probably noted in another thread around here). With both, you definitely get what you pay for. Remember that as you shop! :)

Range Finder:
Pros:
exact yardage to a pin, cart, person, bunker, tree, etc. - not a front/middle/back
Only one battery and you're good to go, no satelite to find, no updates to download, fees to pay
Can be used at driving ranges to get yardages to pins/greens/targets, etc.

Cons:
Can be tricky to hit a target
Longer time to focus than a quick glance at a GPS
Some are illegal in tournaments because they provide adjustments for up/down-hill shots

GPS:
Pros:
Quick glance and you have the number
Some have distances to carry hazzards, bunkers, doglegs, etc

Cons:
Not exact to pins, just front/middle/back
Some courses have limited information on the "extras"
Boot up time is a few minutes on some models
Some have been ruled illegal in tournaments because they can include breaks on greens.
 
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