Why would one buy a Rangefinder instead of a GPS

[spring70]

What are the pros of a Rangefinder over a GPS unit?

[milfordj]

Accuracy when measuring to pin (with pinseeker models) or any other VERTICAL object (tree, STEEP bank of hazard).

[longballjs]

price

[jlg214]

I am using both a Bushnell Medalist and a Sky Caddie, each has it's advantages and disadvantage. GPS provides yardage on blind shots and never requires a line of sight. Range finders are more accurate to the pin and can be used to measure distances to targets on the range. Sky caddie requires you to purchase a yearly plan, but they are also the only company that maps the courses by hand. I have no idea if this makes them more or less accurate than the computer generated maps used by other companies. A range finder will require a new battery maybe once a year, while a gps requires constant recharging. I believe most GPS units allow you to measure the distance of a shot, but you can also laser back to a ball washer or something on the tee to do the same.

If you only play a few different courses and know the general yardage to hazards I would recommend a range finder. If you play many different courses a GPS is nice because you will have the yardage to hazards and the depth of the greens, assuming the course has been mapped and you have it stored in your playlist. Last summer I played rounds at over 40 different courses, many of them for the first time. I find it much easier to play a course blind with some amount of information other than a score card. There were times I didn't have a certain course loaded when I went to play it and on those occasions it was nice to have the laser as a back up. When I play my "home" course I only bring the laser because I know the layout and yardages so well. Hope this helps and happy shopping.

[stevestrike]

The above post is spot on. I own a GPS, and my playing partner uses a laser. We use both during the round. For layups, blind shots, and ease of use on the course the GPS gets the nod. But for shots inside 150, I am much more confident with the laser than the GPS. Actually, having both is really ideal, but that's not practical for everyone.

[Bob McClain]

I see these disscussions all the time and I really don't get the debate. Laser rangefinders are more accurate, give the player measurements that he chooses, less expensive and laser is the choice of 100% of Tour players and their caddies.

 

The GPS companies accuracy claims are exagerated (ask any expert). 6 to 8 yards "off" is the normal range that a player can expect.

 

GPS is good for locating things (like finding the nearest Starbucks) not measuring things (like how far it is to the flagstick -- not front , middle, and back). GPS is cool but at the end of the day golf shots will be measured by laser.

[stevestrike]

I see these disscussions all the time and I really don't get the debate. Laser rangefinders are more accurate, give the player measurements that he chooses, less expensive and laser is the choice of 100% of Tour players and their caddies.

 

The GPS companies accuracy claims are exagerated (ask any expert). 6 to 8 yards "off" is the normal range that a player can expect.

You are incorrect about several of your points.

 

1. Laser is MORE expensive than GPS, not less. Or is Bushnell now offering a $125 laser unit?

 

2. Your accuracy claims about GPS are off. They are +/- 3 yards, not 6-8. 3 yards is well within my margin of error.

 

3. You also neglect to mention that GPS is far easier to use for most people, as it doesn't require doing anything (some people have shaky hands) and you don't need line of sight. You can just glance down at the GPS to grab a quick F/B/C and make your selection.

 

If I were buying another unit, I'd buy a laser personally, but I can see the place for both in the market.

[Q-Ball]

I see these disscussions all the time and I really don't get the debate. Laser rangefinders are more accurate, give the player measurements that he chooses, less expensive and laser is the choice of 100% of Tour players and their caddies.

 

The GPS companies accuracy claims are exagerated (ask any expert). 6 to 8 yards "off" is the normal range that a player can expect.

 

GPS is good for locating things (like finding the nearest Starbucks) not measuring things (like how far it is to the flagstick -- not front , middle, and back). GPS is cool but at the end of the day golf shots will be measured by laser.

 

 

And Bob is back!!!!! 12 posts all GPS negative saying they are not accurate. You still havent told us which Laser company you work for.

 

You can see lots of Bob's GPS hating in this thread: http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/index.php?sh...=235609&hl= or this thread http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/index.php?s=...t&p=1617543

 

 

 

JLG214's post is perfect. Both have their uses. Its all personal preference.

[spring70]

Thank you. I could not of asked for a better reply!

[78Staff]

I see these disscussions all the time and I really don't get the debate. Laser rangefinders are more accurate, give the player measurements that he chooses, less expensive and laser is the choice of 100% of Tour players and their caddies.

 

The GPS companies accuracy claims are exagerated (ask any expert). 6 to 8 yards "off" is the normal range that a player can expect.

 

GPS is good for locating things (like finding the nearest Starbucks) not measuring things (like how far it is to the flagstick -- not front , middle, and back). GPS is cool but at the end of the day golf shots will be measured by laser.

 

 

And Bob is back!!!!! 12 posts all GPS negative saying they are not accurate. You still havent told us which Laser company you work for.

 

You can see lots of Bob's GPS hating in this thread: http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/index.php?sh...=235609&hl= or this thread http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/index.php?s=...t&p=1617543

 

 

 

JLG214's post is perfect. Both have their uses. Its all personal preference.

 

Bob's not really saying anything incorrect. I have both and use both (Pinseeker and SG5). Claims of +/-3 yards are just that. I've seen units be dead on, and I've seen units be off by as much as 12 or more yards. Too many variables (weather, coverage, map, battery, etc) to say GPS is good to 3 yards. GPS's are always spot on when you only have one. Put a group of four guys with four units and watch the difference in readings. Those that are off can do a reset and get in line within a few yards with the others, but if you are the only one, how do you know if you are off or not? ;).

 

As I said, I use both, and the AP summed it up will, for local or courses played often I prefer the laser, for trips or courses I've not played I take the GPS.

[sleepy_augusto]

Price (wife bought it, so I'm sure it was the cheaper option).

I like laser for random things, like how far that goose dropping is, distance to beverage cart, how many yards to hit the cars in parking lot, etc.

[varsityhacker]

Maybe the GPS units have gotten better but my buddy had the Sky Caddie we called it the Sky Crappy. It was a pain in the arse to load courses etc. trying to load course on Friday was almost impossible (guess that is a popular time to load courses for the weekend). Was not as accurate as a laser and worse sometimes wouldn't work because it couldn't find the satellite and that happened more than once and even during a tournament. Any way my buddy replaced it with a laser range finder and that thing is awesome, works all the time and is very accurate.

[dpark]

I play with a guy who is a "belt and suspenders" type and has both the GPS and a Rangefinder. He is waiting for when they combine them into one unit :)

 

As for me, I prefer a rangefinder as I like to know the exact distance to my targets. I am not a big fan of blind shots (off the tee or otherwise) as I think it is poor course design, but in those cases, obviously a GPS is more helpful, especially if you don't know the course very well.

[Pepperturbo]

I have both 1500 tournament Pinseeker and SG5 and often use both during a round if the course is tight. When playing in a tournament however, I'll go with 1500.

 

Often I want exact yardage to pin, also to the front and back of bunkers fronting or on the side of the green. Sometimes I want yardage to tree outcroppings into the fairway or to a tree trunk on the apex of a dog leg, all of which can only be had using the 1500. Sometimes when there's a diagonal hazard crossing the fairway so I want yardage to the edge on both sides, something SG5 doesn't provide; it typically provides one yardage number to and to carry the hazard.

 

For those concerned about which is more accurate, I've been comparing yardages for sometime now; typically they are 1-2yrds apart, and that includes cart GPS too. Where most error with GPS is they dont' let it settle to a final number, that's when 3-6yd variance shows up.

 

For the peron that claims touring pros use laser... keep in mind touring pros don't really use the laser because they don't pace off the course yardages, caddies do that. Some still use the one/two wheel yardage measurement device similar to what officers use at accidents too. Lasers don't take fairway undulation yardages very accuractly or the yardage to a diagonal crossing hazard.

[theshow]

Accuracy for a laser rangefinder. Price, long term price, and I also think an overlooked item, THE WARRANTY!

 

If SkyCaddy is so good, why are they only offering a 90 day warranty? You can purchase a year for X amount. Maybe 2 companies offer 1 year, the rest 90-180 days.

 

GPS is lucky more often then good. True there isn't a player on any tour with a GPS rangefinder. I have a buddy that is a tour rep, and he can back that up.

[Pepperturbo]

The reason tour players don't use GPS isn't the GPS itself, its each touring pro wants to know a variety of yardages that average amateur doesn't consider or need. Tour players need to such things as what the yardage is to the a spot short of a run out spot that feeds the rough in the fairway. They want to know how wide an entrance to a green is and how much space between to bunkers near each other, how wide is the fairway at "x" and so forth. They also break greens into quadrants including undulations and grain direction, and low spots based on pin locations. I could go on but you get the picture.

 

GPS can't provides correct yardages unless the caddy walks the course and marks all to satisfy the tour players desire; which is possible, however something tells me that the sheer number of yardage markers on any given hole would overwhelm a GPS unit. So, it's easier to use a wheel and or laser and pace each hole off.

[theshow]

All of that that Titanl9 said, and accuracy. GPS is accurate enough, and it would be very time consuming.

[atlanta golfer]

I've got both and will use one, or the other, or sometimes both, depending on the situation. I really only use the skycaddie on new courses that I have not played before. They were both gifts. The rangefinder is vastly superior for my needs. Mine is very low tech, the battery lasts a year, simple to use, you can shoot exact position to flag or any bunker or any tree or hazard. The only limit is on blind shots and finding out how far you hit each club by using the gps mark function.

 

The skycaddie is a pain in the arse to download courses on, the batteries last a round and a half only, complex hazards are often shown completely wrong, and distance to center of green is of limited value on many modern greens that can be 30 yards deep.

 

Big vote here for the rangefinders.

[mkrolewski]

I have a golfGuru gps. I have been really satisfied with it.

 

As to how accurrate, I do wonder. The GolfGuru gives distance to the perimeter of the green from the point you are standing on the fairway. On the occassions I have looked at the gps when at the edge of the green, it has been 0 (zero) most if not all the time. I have seen a badly mapped course. But then again, I have seen a lot of course with badly marked 150yd markers and sprinklers.

 

As stated before, there is something to be said for the rangefinder. Given a line of sight, you can get a good, accurate measurement. And you can measure anything that you can see. The major draw back is (1) can I see where I want to hit and (2) can I hold the the beam on the target. As a photography buff, I know how steady my hands are, often I shoot down to a 1/10sec handheld. I know others who cannot shoot below 1/100sec.

 

The gps is nice for a lot of things.

 

For the GolfGuru with the green perimeter distance, I really do not need to know how far to the bunker, as I am going over it. The gps with the Front/Center/Back only points -- you can run into inaccuracy problems, especially under 100 yds. I use my gps often down to 10 yds, and have been happy with the measurements.

 

I like the ball marking feature. One, I can play it back at the end of the round. Two, I use it to help hunt for a ball. As it reads out continuously, so I walk and look at the numbers, getting to where I think the ball should be distance wise. Three, I also like to track stats, and the ball distance is very easy to get after each shot.

 

I really like the fact, at least with the GolfGuru with it continuous reading, when you stop, it has a number for you. No waiting, no pausing -- just the number. And again, the front, center, back of the perimeter from where I am standing and a little math, I have a good idea of what I should try to do. Execution is the real killer though.

 

 

I was initially concerned about the number of targets. GolfGuru has up to 30 targets -- to and clear (or 60 points) plus the green per hole. The free downloaded courses seldom have anywhere near that many. But then again, you really do not need that many. I have not bothered to add targets to the downloaded courses. There is typically enough to get the job done.

 

The typical gps cannot really handle hazards running the length of the hole or even one traversing the hole ( well maybe 3 points for left, right and center ?). I suppose the uPro does do that but I have not used it.

 

 

I know the different gps have different technology (different gps chip sets, different antennas, different algorithms) and perform differently in terms of warm up time, how well and how many satellites they receive, how well they work under trees, etc. The other day - I played with someone with a SkyCaddy 3. His unit took longer to warm up, seemed to bounce around more on distances, and sometimes lost signal. My golfGuru was faster on startup and settled almost instantly. I have never lost a signal while playing. We seldom had the same number, even standing side by side. I must admit, I am not sure who was correct. Standing on various course markers, I varied by 0-3 yds from the stated value.

 

 

 

Mike K.

Would I give up my gps? Not withoug getting a better one.

[TMfan54]

I've got both and will use one, or the other, or sometimes both, depending on the situation. I really only use the skycaddie on new courses that I have not played before. They were both gifts. The rangefinder is vastly superior for my needs. Mine is very low tech, the battery lasts a year, simple to use, you can shoot exact position to flag or any bunker or any tree or hazard. The only limit is on blind shots and finding out how far you hit each club by using the gps mark function.

 

The skycaddie is a pain in the arse to download courses on, the batteries last a round and a half only, complex hazards are often shown completely wrong, and distance to center of green is of limited value on many modern greens that can be 30 yards deep.

 

Big vote here for the rangefinders.

if you want to find out how far off the tee you hit it, you can laser back to the tee if its still in view. otherwise just laser to the pin, if possible, and compute the difference from the total distance of the hole from the card addiing or subtracting yards based on pin position because hole length is based from tee to center of green.

[theothertwo]

Rangefinder good for practicing as well.

[finalist]

Rangefinder good for practicing as well.

 

Great point. I have both and originally bought a GPS first for the driving range marker location. Those markers change depending on where your stall is located and lots of markers, I've found, are off by about 5 yards or so. The laser was great to dial in my middle irons at the range.

 

Recently I got a Upro and LOVE it. I can find anypoint on the entire course fast without getting blurry eyes from looking through my laser's view finder then down at my ball.

 

And I've not once found my GPS to be off more than 2 yards so far... The 8-10 yards is BS.

[riggio71]

I played with a guy last week that had the Bushnell Tour V2 Laser Rangefinder and everytime he pulled it out his yardages were way off, 20 to 30 yards off. We were standing on the tee box on a par 3 and the hole is saying that it's 165 yards to the middle of the green and it's a back pin, he would say it's 140 to the pin. I would tell him that he's way off and he would just say this thing is accurate, it measures to the pin. I hit a 6 iron and was pin-hi and he pulled out a 9 iron and come up way short of the green, it looked like we hit our irons about the same distance. Does this mean that he doesn't know how to use the thing or are they fool-proof?

[TMfan54]

I played with a guy last week that had the Bushnell Tour V2 Laser Rangefinder and everytime he pulled it out his yardages were way off, 20 to 30 yards off. We were standing on the tee box on a par 3 and the hole is saying that it's 165 yards to the middle of the green and it's a back pin, he would say it's 140 to the pin. I would tell him that he's way off and he would just say this thing is accurate, it measures to the pin. I hit a 6 iron and was pin-hi and he pulled out a 9 iron and come up way short of the green, it looked like we hit our irons about the same distance. Does this mean that he doesn't know how to use the thing or are they fool-proof?

guy must be an idiot. they are so simple and i do not know how he could be that far off.

[riggio71]

He was off everytime he used it and he was a really good player. I was just using the 150 yard markers or the scorecard and I was way more accurate than he was.

[rapriebe]

I played with a guy last week that had the Bushnell Tour V2 Laser Rangefinder and everytime he pulled it out his yardages were way off, 20 to 30 yards off. We were standing on the tee box on a par 3 and the hole is saying that it's 165 yards to the middle of the green and it's a back pin, he would say it's 140 to the pin. I would tell him that he's way off and he would just say this thing is accurate, it measures to the pin. I hit a 6 iron and was pin-hi and he pulled out a 9 iron and come up way short of the green, it looked like we hit our irons about the same distance. Does this mean that he doesn't know how to use the thing or are they fool-proof?

guy must be an idiot. they are so simple and i do not know how he could be that far off.

 

Yep, the guy doesn't know what he's doing. My V2 is dead nuts every time to the flag. My GolfLogix GPS is usually close, but not as close as the laser.

 

What many people don't seem to understand is that GPS accuracy is a variable. It may be promoted as being accurate to +/-3 yards, but the true number is +/-3 yards or better 50% of the time. 50% of the itme it's off by more than +/- 3 yards. It may be accurate to within +/-5 yards 90% of the time. But that still means that it's off by more than +/- 5 yards 10% of the time. This is the best that they can do because of the variables that go in to the reading you get from the GPS. It varies depending on the number of satellites that the unit sees, the overhead cover, battery condition, etc. This makes the GPS a potential crapshoot. You just hope that it's reading in the good 50%, but there is really no way to be certain. :russian_roulette:

[SwooshLT]

I am using both a Bushnell Medalist and a Sky Caddie, each has it's advantages and disadvantage. GPS provides yardage on blind shots and never requires a line of sight. Range finders are more accurate to the pin and can be used to measure distances to targets on the range. Sky caddie requires you to purchase a yearly plan, but they are also the only company that maps the courses by hand. I have no idea if this makes them more or less accurate than the computer generated maps used by other companies. A range finder will require a new battery maybe once a year, while a gps requires constant recharging. I believe most GPS units allow you to measure the distance of a shot, but you can also laser back to a ball washer or something on the tee to do the same.

If you only play a few different courses and know the general yardage to hazards I would recommend a range finder. If you play many different courses a GPS is nice because you will have the yardage to hazards and the depth of the greens, assuming the course has been mapped and you have it stored in your playlist. Last summer I played rounds at over 40 different courses, many of them for the first time. I find it much easier to play a course blind with some amount of information other than a score card. There were times I didn't have a certain course loaded when I went to play it and on those occasions it was nice to have the laser as a back up. When I play my "home" course I only bring the laser because I know the layout and yardages so well. Hope this helps and happy shopping.

 

 

Excellent post!!! I too use both; have my 1500 since 06' and just took off a friends hands a UPRO!!! I think the laser is more effective esp. when it is a course you know well.You'll know ridges and elevation changes on greens and realize how much room you have around a certain pin; For a quick glance of yardages and playing into say flatter greens, a GPS unit is nice for seeing front-mid-back yardages to make club choice quicker after factoring wind,elevation etc,etc....... Also GPS units can help with calling out B.S. yardages on certain holes........you know , the 533 yd par five that is actually 460!!! this happened to me on a course that I frequent.........slightly elevated tee box and straight downwind with trouble left and right and a fairway that pinches inside of just 200; from the tee it just looks short but the yardage says 533 so you think driver.......well I look at the UPRO and it says 460.I then proceed to hit 4wd ,5-iron onto the green for and easy bird.The confidence provided by the gps unit is going to help my already confident 1500 laser...........

 

In a perfect world, we have both or some type of unit that has gps on top of a laser with say military grade pop-up imaging

[SwooshLT]

I see these disscussions all the time and I really don't get the debate. Laser rangefinders are more accurate, give the player measurements that he chooses, less expensive and laser is the choice of 100% of Tour players and their caddies.

 

The GPS companies accuracy claims are exagerated (ask any expert). 6 to 8 yards "off" is the normal range that a player can expect.

 

GPS is good for locating things (like finding the nearest Starbucks) not measuring things (like how far it is to the flagstick -- not front , middle, and back). GPS is cool but at the end of the day golf shots will be measured by laser.

 

 

Bob........own both ; love both............however line of sight is a big deal with lasers AND any background can add to the time of gathering your yardages.For MOST players a quick fairly accurate glance at a middle of the green number is more helpful than EXACT pin yardage; so may other factors, as you know, make up the shot total............135 front 153 mid 174 back flat elevation no wind should be enough to pull a club; for those of US good enough to flight our balls a certain distance then EXACT number IS necessary!!! You might HATE GPS, but it has its place and isn't going anywhere

[jlg214]

I played with a guy last week that had the Bushnell Tour V2 Laser Rangefinder and everytime he pulled it out his yardages were way off, 20 to 30 yards off. We were standing on the tee box on a par 3 and the hole is saying that it's 165 yards to the middle of the green and it's a back pin, he would say it's 140 to the pin. I would tell him that he's way off and he would just say this thing is accurate, it measures to the pin. I hit a 6 iron and was pin-hi and he pulled out a 9 iron and come up way short of the green, it looked like we hit our irons about the same distance. Does this mean that he doesn't know how to use the thing or are they fool-proof?

 

Maybe he had it displaying the distance in Meters.

[longballjs]

riggio71 - did you steal my icon?