GPS vs Rangefinder in 2020

[flaghunting1987]

LOL okay dude. Why don't PGA Tour caddies use GPS then? I know why, because they aren't as accurate. You must be 20+ hcp

[Yzmerf]

This is the way I’m leaning

[brew4eagle]

What does my handicap have to do with anything? And yes, a laser is more accurate than a GPS. My point was just that a GPS is still quite accurate and offers a lot of useful info that a laser doesn't. But if one is primarily interested in as accurate as possible distance to a pin for example, then choose a laser.

[Mikey5e]

Actually, I think he is right. A laser does not give you front middle and back it gives you the distance to the pin, so a GPS does give you a more accurate distance to the front of the green middle of the green and back of the green because a laser can't do that unless there is some object that you can focus on with the laser, which generally is not the case. What do you do if the pin is tucked in a tight location and you don't want to shoot directly at the pin? Then it is good to know the F M & B distances. For distances directly to the pin, I don't think there is anything more accurate than a Laser Rangefinder, but a watch does offer a lot more unique technology then a rangefinder can. I think that's why you often times see a golfer carry both items, because one offers something the other can't.

[brew4eagle]

Yep

[flaghunting1987]

Higher handicaps generally prefer GPS over laser...Your other post to me said they were equal in regards to accuracy, so now you're saying they are not...

[flaghunting1987]

If I want to know the front I point my laser to the front of the green lol...If the pin is tucked, Ill laser to the flag and use common sense and take a little off. In a sport where accuracy is key, I'd want a tool that is best at doing that, not a GPS watch the is not as accurate, just my own opinion.

[brew4eagle]

Nope, you should read more carefully. Your handicap statement is fairly ignorant so I'll stop engaging.

[dmartin]

such a weird argument for GPS...

so i hit a perfect shot laser assisted... 3-4.5 foot putt

GPS ... 6-15 foot putt or more

Now i'm not the brightest crayon in the box but i know putting.

the end !!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BlackDiamondPar5]

Hey Phil, the Fenix 6 is a beautiful watch but from a golf aspect, other than preloaded courses, it doesn't offer additional golf features than the VA4. Am I missing something?

[awtryau89]

Loving my NX7 S62 combo. Between the 2 with tax I have just under $520. There are 20% off Garmin codes out there. I bought a refurb NX7 direct from PP and it arrived dead. I called Precision Pro and they sent me a brand new unit for my troubles. Crazy good customer service. I won my flight in my club championship this weekend with both. I basically shoot the pin with the NX7 then look at the watch for front, middle, back. The watch also gives me some much more info on hazards and carry. Its my home course so I know so much about what everything plays but on those blind shots where I cannot see the bottom of the pin the watch really helps me to know how deep it is into the green and how better to choose clubs.

[cristphoto]

I own both. When I want convenience I check the watch. When I want accuracy I check the laser. My issue with the GPS is when you have odd shaped greens. If the flag is off in an elbow of the green how does it relate to F-M-B? If all greens were perfectly circular then both devices would give useful numbers.

[Lincoln_Arcadia]

GPS is good for tracking stats.

Lasers are good for getting closer to the flag.

[BlackDiamondPar5]

Definitely some good points there. I think as long as the GPS gives near, center, far instead of FMB it should resolve most of that issue. One of the numerous reasons I like laser is on courses with enormous greens where there could be a 2 or 3 club difference based on pin location. It's so nice to have both for the different capabilities of each.

[LAslicer]

The GPS I use shows the FCB based on your angle of approach, not fixed positions. I can also move a cursor on the green anywhere I want and get FCB distances based on that location and my angle to the green (it also shows the depth of the green based on cursor location and angle of approach). Since my course uses zones for the pins, I can select which zone is in play that day and it automatically puts the cursor in the middle of that zone which is very helpful since most of the greens are large. It does have the ability to input pin sheets if you are playing a course or tournament that provides them so that you can get actual pin distance. It is pretty much always accurate within a yard or maybe 2 at the worst. It is never anywhere near 4-7 yards off, I wouldn't use it if it was.

[cristphoto]

I could be wrong here but isn't the moveable cursor only available on the larger pocket GPS models? In 2020 aren't most GPS devices now mostly watches? My Bushnell Excel watch which is adequate gives FMB distance plus distances for 4 hazards per hole. No ability to move cursor as my Excel only shows text - no graphics.

[brew4eagle]

Garmin G10 is tiny and has moveable pin feature

[Mikey5e]

It isn't all one or all the other, both have their benefits. No sense trashing one to prove the other, both are unique and offer benefits.

[BlackDiamondPar5]

The movable cursor is available on my Garmin Vivoactive 3 watch and I think it's available on the entire Garmin watch line. There are 9 pin locations that you can easily jog the cursor to and get yardage to that zone of the green.

[dcmidnight]

S62 watch has a great Green View with movable pin.

[Philomathesq]

My Fenix 6 has quite a few golfing features. I've never owned a VA4, so I'm not intimately acquainted with its golf features, but here is a comparison from the Garmin website.

 

[BlackDiamondPar5]

Oh I see the Fenix 6Pro does offer more than the Fenix 6. You'd only said Fenix 6 so I didn't even notice the "Pro".

Anyway if I were going to spend $500-$600 on a GPS/Fitness watch I'd also go with the Fenix 6 pro as well. But if golf features are the most important feature the S62 is still more robust. If budget is important the VA4 has all the key golf features of the 6 with few subtle exceptions which may or may not be important to someone allowing the saved money to add a laser to the bag.

[Philomathesq]

Come on, man. How dare you not understand that my statement of "My Fenix 6" actually meant "My Fenix 6 Sapphire DLC?" Your inability to read my mind is inexcusable.

I agree with your assessment. The S62 is more robust for golf-specific features. However, I went the Fenix 6 Sapphire DLC because I wanted a watch that did more than just golf.

[Yzmerf]

Ordered a 6X Pro last night since Garmin has all the Fenix 6's right now. Looks like the virtual caddie is the only thing missing between this and the S62 and it supports Open water swimming which i cant get on the S62. Ive been an Apple watch guy for a long time, going to be weird having a round watch again!

[LAslicer]

Mine is a handheld skycaddie sx500. I do see the new LX5 watch will have the ability to move the cursor on the greens and fairways just like the handhelds, though, so I'm sure others do, too.

[Philomathesq]

My Fenix 6 Sapphire DLC allows me to move the cursor anywhere on the screen and for placing the flag on the greens.

[cristphoto]

These devices just keep getting smarter.

[dcmidnight]

I had planned on ordering the LX5 but for the last 4 months and pre-shutdown, they had no definitive release date and no idea if it was even definitely coming out this year. Made me very leery of getting back into bed with SkyGolf again. I've previously owned 3 different units - and I'm very much pro-annual fee - but I also know their initial releases can be very rocky.

[jdl]

I use both. GPS off the tee box on par 4s and 5s, Laser to get the flag yardage on approach shots.

[Yzmerf]

How do you move it? Its not touch screen right?