Range Finder + GPS - Why are there none

[ballgolong]

So my "Ideal" range finder would be one that combines a range finder with a GPS. I.e. you use the range finder to shoot the target, then the GPS updates to show exact distances from your location to the target/points (bunkers etc.).

 

I love my Bushnell because I can get an EXACT distance to my target (flag), as apposed to a distance to the middle, front, back (GPS).

 

However, there are times I wish I could look at carry distances from the tee without having to shoot them, i.e. GPS functionality.

 

So my question is. Why have the GPS/Range Finder companies not made such a device.

 

I would buy it.

[jaskanski]

Probably the same reason why you can't find a zippo lighter with a box of matches attached. Why have two separate technologies to acheive the same result? And what happens when the two results given conflict with each other? Which yardage are you left to believe? If both yardages concur, what's the advantage of one over the other? None - other than a combined unit will cost twice as much.

[highergr0und]

Probably just cost prohibitive....

Bushnell sells rangefinders and GPS units (albeit rebranded stuff), and I'm sure the idea has been tossed around. I can't imagine the market would be hopping at the chance to buy a really expensive unit that contained both. Most people prefer one or the other.

You never know though.... the neo doesn't have much in the case and could pretty easily be married with a pinseeker.

[stevestrike]

Just grab a Neo for $100 and you can have both. I think the cost would be the biggest problem, along with the battery drain (they use two different types of batteries).

I carry both and use the Neo for layups, bunkers, etc... and I use the laser to get distance to the flag from about 170 in.

[Hateto3Putt]

[quote name='jaskanski' date='05 April 2010 - 03:51 PM' timestamp='1270497104' post='2362093']
And what happens when the two results given conflict with each other? Which yardage are you left to believe?
[/quote]

I would believe the Laser. Wouldn't you?

[InTheHole]

[quote name='Hateto3Putt' date='06 April 2010 - 05:13 AM' timestamp='1270548833' post='2363205']
[quote name='jaskanski' date='05 April 2010 - 03:51 PM' timestamp='1270497104' post='2362093']
And what happens when the two results given conflict with each other? Which yardage are you left to believe?
[/quote]

I would believe the Laser. Wouldn't you?
[/quote]


Not necessarily. I've lased a flag several times and gotten different results. Turned out it was reading the hill behind the flag. I started noticing it all over the place when I was playing a course with someone who really knew it. Granted I have a first generation laser that was given to me, but that's not the point. I would say "140 to the flag" and he'd say, "no way- look down- you're at the 100 marker"- and I was literally standing on the 100 yard marker. Lased the flag again and got 98.

So while I don't doubt the accuracy of the device for whatever target it is hitting, it has no way of telling you "dude, I'm reading the hill."

Now I know the new lasers are much better at hitting the appropriate target, especially if it is the flag, but that experience has taken the shine off of lasers for me. I'm sure there's equally many horror stories about using GPS- I think the point is that you have to take every technology with a grain of salt. Look around you- does the reading [i]make sense?
[/i]

[Hateto3Putt]

[quote name='InTheHole' date='06 April 2010 - 09:59 AM' timestamp='1270562383' post='2363413']
[quote name='Hateto3Putt' date='06 April 2010 - 05:13 AM' timestamp='1270548833' post='2363205']
[quote name='jaskanski' date='05 April 2010 - 03:51 PM' timestamp='1270497104' post='2362093']
And what happens when the two results given conflict with each other? Which yardage are you left to believe?
[/quote]

I would believe the Laser. Wouldn't you?
[/quote]


Not necessarily. I've lased a flag several times and gotten different results. Turned out it was reading the hill behind the flag. I started noticing it all over the place when I was playing a course with someone who really knew it. Granted I have a first generation laser that was given to me, but that's not the point.
[/quote]

I had a Bushnell 400 series years ago. Sometimes background clutter would be an issue with the results. As you said, use common sense with any technology.

Now, I have a Bushnell Medalist with the Pinseeker mode. Now, there's no doubt as to the accuracy of the yardage to the target.

I went from the 400 series Bushnell, to a Skycaddie, then to the Medalist. IMO, the Medalist is far more accurate, dependable and useful than either of the other devices.

Pinseeking laser to the flag or GPS number to the flag? Not even close.

I've stood on many par 3's with my skycaddie buddies and they've always asked me for the number. I'm just sayin...

[InTheHole]

[quote name='Hateto3Putt' date='06 April 2010 - 09:22 AM' timestamp='1270563769' post='2363451']
[quote name='InTheHole' date='06 April 2010 - 09:59 AM' timestamp='1270562383' post='2363413']
[quote name='Hateto3Putt' date='06 April 2010 - 05:13 AM' timestamp='1270548833' post='2363205']
[quote name='jaskanski' date='05 April 2010 - 03:51 PM' timestamp='1270497104' post='2362093']
And what happens when the two results given conflict with each other? Which yardage are you left to believe?
[/quote]

I would believe the Laser. Wouldn't you?
[/quote]


Not necessarily. I've lased a flag several times and gotten different results. Turned out it was reading the hill behind the flag. I started noticing it all over the place when I was playing a course with someone who really knew it. Granted I have a first generation laser that was given to me, but that's not the point.
[/quote]

I had a Bushnell 400 series years ago. Sometimes background clutter would be an issue with the results. As you said, use common sense with any technology.

Now, I have a Bushnell Medalist with the Pinseeker mode. Now, there's no doubt as to the accuracy of the yardage to the target.

I went from the 400 series Bushnell, to a Skycaddie, then to the Medalist. IMO, the Medalist is far more accurate, dependable and useful than either of the other devices.

Pinseeking laser to the flag or GPS number to the flag? Not even close.

I've stood on many par 3's with my skycaddie buddies and they've always asked me for the number. I'm just sayin...
[/quote]

Just curious, on average, how different the readings were? Granted, the GPS doesn't know where the flag is... but are they more than a club off? Generally (we all have specific examples of this not being the case- but I'm talking in general terms here) I find that they are within 2 or 3 yards of each other. And to me, 98 or 102, I'm still hitting my pitching wedge.

And as far as the GPS not knowing exactly where the flag is, well, that's OK too, at least in my high-handicap book. My goal is not to hit the flag since the ball is probably going to roll around on the green anyway- I just want to get it on the green. I'll deal with the pin location with my putter. Tell me where the front, middle, and back is and I'll aim for the middle. Exact yardage is not necessary.

But that's just me.

I played a round of golf with a couple of people on a very difficult course recently. One of the people I was with plays two or three times per year. First round of golf for the year... kept asking the caddy exact yardages. 241. 283. 225. 246... kept pulling out his 3 wood. What was the point of knowing all that "exactness?" Dude, you're in the fairway and it is further than any iron distance in your bag- pull out your wood and hit the ball. Then he'd flub the wood and still be 180-200 yards. 5-iron. He played all the par 5's with driver, 3-wood, 5-iron. Yet he'd walk to the ball, discuss with the caddy, then take 2 minutes to choose.... the same club.

Yeah, I know a lot of low handicappers are hitting different clubs for some of these distances, but the average golfer does not need the accuracy these units provide.

Also, on the other end of the spectrum, if you do need to know the yardage from someplace where you can't see the pin, the GPS is the way to go. Thus, the OP thinking it would be great to have both in a single unit. It's also difficult to hit targets, like the front or back of a bunker, that are flat, or behind other objects. If you can't see the front of a green from your ball's location, you need the GPS.