Is a laser a necessity, luxury or novelty?

[MarkFromTheUK]

I think it depends entirely on where you play. If you play on a course where it's easy to use a strokesaver due to there being sufficient features to gain accurate yardages quickly, then it could be considered a luxury. However, if like me you play on a links course, with far less features around to be able to get your bearings, then a laser becomes a necessity.

[BlackDiamondPar5]

Clearly not a "necessity" provided the courses you play have yardage stakes and sprinklers marked-- given that info you should be able to estimate distances.

[sheppy335]

Luxury but can be a useful one and to me if you have one and play same course allot then create a yardage book so you dont have to use it all the time but flip out your book your created.

[staust5]

This is a must if you're really trying to hit is close to the pin as possible. If you're on the 150 yard mark and the pin placement is in the front, would you still use your 150-yard club? I would say almost everyone who does not have a laser rangefinder will use their 150-yard club on that shot. What if the green is deep and if you had a rangefinder, you would have gotten a reading of 130 yards? Say you hit your 150-yard club on the money, you are 20 yards passed it . That is a 60-foot putt for birdie.. "Guesstimating" the exact yardage of the pin will only give you second thoughts and can might affect your commitment to your shots as well. This is a NECESSITY if you are really trying to shoot low.

[cardoustie]

necessity

[SilverBullets]

I think it depends on a lot of things. For me, my home course is well marked and accurately marked to the middle of every green. Then using the pin sheet you can get the distance dialed in close enough. I found that I didn't really save any stroke by using the laser, but, it certainly made things a heck of a lot faster and easier. If you are playing a course which isnt marked well than i could see it having a huge benefit stroke wise.

I won't play without one now.

[schaffdawg101]

It's definitely a necessity for me. I got a NEO+ and I already have a Nixon (Leupold on the way from the rep). I know exactly how far I hit each of my clubs and for me, standing at a 150 marker with a front pin for an actual distance of 140 is a must to know. I never, I repeat, NEVER, go to the driving range without my laser. Who knows on a range how far a target really is. For me, I can practice more efficiently with the laser. Look into the Bushnell Hybrid with a gps/laser all in one unit. Better or more competitive players seem to use these tools. If you have trouble making contact and getting to the green in regulation, you might not find these tools necessary. Best of luck!

[PSUBALL10]

Necessity for me, once you use one it is hard to not use one. Knowing the exact yardage is just one less thing i have to worry about.

[JJFWebster]

[quote name='lost&found' timestamp='1338223063' post='4989182']
My wife has colleagues in Germany who often say, "You Americans turn luxuries into necessities." Case in point--rangefinders.
[/quote]
Germans must play with wooden clubs and sand tee boxes.

[jons1]

a functional and useful luxury.

[matchavez]

It is a very good luxury. It's your pocket caddy. But don't forget there's an additional bonus with a laser; distance to pin. Many yardage markers vary on a course. Where's the tee marker today, and where's the official marker. Then where's the pin, and how far is that to center? Forget all that -- distance from you to pin is exact. It's more information than you had otherwise, and if you use it to your advantage, you benefit. Like any item, it's a luxury, but if you consider a tool that removes strokes a necessity, there ya go.

[jons1]

[quote name='JJFWebster' timestamp='1338437339' post='5002996']
[quote name='lost&found' timestamp='1338223063' post='4989182']
My wife has colleagues in Germany who often say, "You Americans turn luxuries into necessities." Case in point--rangefinders.
[/quote]
Germans must play with wooden clubs and sand tee boxes.
[/quote]

or not play golf at all, since golf in itself is a luxury.

i dont think its very nice when people make generalizations and comments like this, and anyone that's been to western europe is well aware of the fact that there is no spare of luxury.

[95SoCalStang]

All of the above?

Been using phone based GPS for a while, great but battery drain is a killer...

Bought a GX3i, best purchase im made in years for golf. Absolutely love it, and had my best round in a while on my second time out with it.

Eric

[pachowder]

i have bought and sold so many rangefinders (and continue to do so) thinking i NEED one. First, I always forget to bring it...second, I can estimate close enough. lets face it, most of us arent that good that an estimate +/- 15 feet really matters right?

[Peter K.]

I didn't read the whole thread, so I don't know if anyone else said something similar. I consider EITHER laser OR GPS to be an absolute necessity. Along with the obvious, that can mean GPS on the cart OR an accomodating friend with either one or both. The point is that some means of distance measurement, besides stepping off yardages from sprinkler heads, is a necessity.

However, as I recently broke down and upgraded the firmware on my SG5 to include IntelliGreen Pro AND bought a discounted GX-3, I must comment that I have never felt as confident in my yardages, etc. as I do now. I don't necessarily use both on every shot, but always at least use one. This situation, having BOTH, I would consider a luxury.

[hook_or_slice]

[quote name='kirksingleton' timestamp='1338057114' post='4981650']
[size=3]Is a laser a necessity, luxury or novelty?[/size]

[size="3"]......................[/size]
[size=3]How many strokes is it really saving you per round?[/size]

[size="3"]......................[/size]


[/quote]

None of the above..................it is a usefull tool.

Hard to say how many strokes it saves, but occasionally I do change clubs based on what the laser tells me and have a much shorter putt.

[kitsoasis]

[quote name='pachowder' timestamp='1338736389' post='5021492']
lets face it, most of us arent that good that an estimate +/- 15 feet really matters right?
[/quote]

Agree, which is why I chose GPS over rangefinder. But not using GPS/Rangefinder can easily end up with an estimate that is easily 15 YARDS off, and that's where the problem lies

[Spoon]

necessary luxury.
most of the shaft and gear hoing we do
are not necessary but we want em.

the leupold gx3 is the cost of 2 high end shafts.
bet you have more than 2?