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GPS vs Range Finder

SuperStroke
I'd like a laser rangefinder but I can't bring myself to spend 400 bucks on the device, have used friends' bushnell models and love them
 
JB said:
Anytime I have tried a cell GPS device on the course it was 8-12 yards off. That is just too much for me. Again, this was just my personal try. For some apparently it works better.
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JB - if your device is using cell tower triangulation to get a fix, the accuracy is going to stink. From my research (I'm working on a GPS project at work), the accuracy is about what you are reporting. It's fine if I want to tell when one of my client's trucks has entered/exited the yard, but it's not what I want when there's water short of the green and out of bounds long.

What gives me pause about all of this is the fact that SkyCaddie has not entered into the iPhone app market. And they explicitly say they have not because of the sensitivity of the GPS, even when you are getting a fix from satellites and not cell towers. They won't do it, even if it's a couple of yards off. The iPhone app market is so lucrative, SkyCaddie must really be worried about tarnishing their image with an inferior product.
 
JB can't wait for your review of the UPRO I'm just about to by a unit for my dad for his birthday and wasn't even aware of the Upro. Looks like it is pretty darn sweet.
 
Thanks Smallville, I guess I should pay attention to the dates on the posts.
 
No big deal. Just let us know how he likes it!
 
GPS

GPS

I know this is a late reply but since I am new here I will post it anyway. I am like a lot of you and used the rangefinder for years....but this year I tried two different gps systems and both were good but I have found what I think is the best at least IMO. I have been using the GOLF GURU...and I have to tell you...this thing is awsome. No I am not good enough to worry about the exact yardages etc...I am just a gadget guy but I love this thing. I have traveled to Myrtle and downloaded the courses I was to play and the yardages were right on. The customer service is outstanding. You guys need to check out the golf guru website.:clapp:
 
Without reading all the posts,I'll add my 2 cents.

I prefer laser over GPS. GPS is nice for those who play a ton of new courses,but it doesn't give you true yardages to the pin.All you get is front,back and center.You have to guess where the pin is on the green and adjust GPS to give approx to the pin.

I prefer Laser cause I get excate yardages to the pin.Plus I can still get yardages to water,Bunkers or anything else I require
 
Some GPS Units offer pretty different features such as the UPRO in which you can move a cursor to anywhere you want and get that measurement.
 
JB said:
Some GPS Units offer pretty different features such as the UPRO in which you can move a cursor to anywhere you want and get that measurement.
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Yes, I know that.But, you still only get an estimated yardage.More then likely you can't put cursor on exact location.Close may be enough for most.
 
BigLeftyinAZ said:
Yes, I know that.But, you still only get an estimated yardage.More then likely you can't put cursor on exact location.Close may be enough for most.
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I don't know a single person that can hit the exact yardage given by a rangefinder every time...so why would you need the absolute exact instead of within 2-4 yds?
 
Floppy said:
I don't know a single person that can hit the exact yardage given by a rangefinder every time...so why would you need the absolute exact instead of within 2-4 yds?
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Is it 2-4?It could be 5-15,no? It's more a confidence issue .I feel more confident over a shot knowing exact yardage.

Golf is all about confidence and It helps me.
 
I have both and find the laser to be a pain to get out, steady my hands, and then try and get a reading. Simply looking down works for me.
 
JB said:
I have both and find the laser to be a pain to get out, steady my hands, and then try and get a reading. Simply looking down works for me.
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True,Steady hands is needed and if you don't have that, Gps is better for that very reason
 
I'm not good enough for exact yardage. I aim for the center or back of the green (I'll aim left-center, dead-center or right-center, though). I come up short a lot more often than long. Someday I hope to need to know that I need 153 to the pin, but for now knowing the yardage to the front-middle-back is good enough for me. I have my YardagePro for the cases I need the exact distance. What I usually use it for now though, is as binoculars (or, more correctly, monocular, so I can see where on the green the pin is when I can't tell.

Mainly though, the GPS is easier. It's on my belt, I grab it and look. The rangefinder I have to reach into the cart and aim at a target and try to get a readng (although on scan mode, it's really not that hard; it's more the time involved). Plus the rangefinder doesn't work if you can't see the green or the pond on the other side of the hill. But I will use the rangefinder during every round for distances too.
 
I have never replied to this so here goes.

I prefer the laser over the GPS by a wide margin. IMO it is easier to use, no subscriptions, no downloads, no limits on courses I can use it at. Do I need the exact yardage, not really. But as BigLefty mentioned, the confidence of knowing is big with me also. The GPS has evolved so you can move a cursor and get a better estimate, but it is still a guess. I play many courses where the surface of some of the greens is elevated and from the fairway, you just can't tell where the pin is. With the rangefinder you always know.

I must have a steady hand because I have NEVER had a problem getting a reading. The only time there is a problem is if I am 200+ and there is no wind. Even in that situation it only takes a few extra seconds. I use an old, crappy Bushnell that doesn't even have the pinseeker stuff.

In the words of Forrest Gump "That's all I have to say about that"
 
People with the lasers must never play courses with dog legs because it renders my laser useless. My course has about 6 holes that are like that.
 
JB said:
People with the lasers must never play courses with dog legs because it renders my laser useless. My course has about 6 holes that are like that.
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Or any other blind tee shots.

This is just a general comment & is not aimed at anyone. I have played golf with many people & without exception everyone who used a laser in the past & would pooh pooh the GPS, had typically never owned one & used it. Once they got used to the technology every single one of them has dropped the laser & loves the GPS.
 
i use a range finder personally. most of the courses i play in tournaments have course books so if i dont know the course, i have a detailed picture with hazards and such. for my home course, i know it like the back of my hand so i just need an exact distance to the hole, therefore a rangefinder seemed to fill my needs best. plus i didnt want to deal with all the subscriptions and buying course downloads and stuff. while i want a upro gps, my rangefinder does what it needs to so im happy
 
JB said:
People with the lasers must never play courses with dog legs because it renders my laser useless. My course has about 6 holes that are like that.
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Never seen a course with no doglegs.I still get what Info I need from a laser.Scan the edge of dogleg to get some of the info
 
A lot of people have mentioned yearly subscriptions and buying downloads as a downside of GPS. Just an FYI: There are GPS units out there that don't have any additional cost after purchase.
 
dynarider said:
Or any other blind tee shots.

This is just a general comment & is not aimed at anyone. I have played golf with many people & without exception everyone who used a laser in the past & would pooh pooh the GPS, had typically never owned one & used it. Once they got used to the technology every single one of them has dropped the laser & loves the GPS.
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I've used one.Lasted only 35 days,before I sent it back.Just wasn't for me.
 
As far as the subscription dealio goes, my golflogix is $25 a year with unlimited downloads. I played something like 120+ rds last year so that works out to somewhere around 20 cents per rd, I think I can afford that as could anyone else.
 
And the UPRO is free unless you want advanced mode with flyovers and what not. Lasers are of course free, but and like I said, I still have both. But I much prefer my GPS.
 
Which gps unit are you using now JB?

What other gps besides uPro doesn't have a subscription fee?
 
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