GPS and Laser Range Finders. Do you use them?

[Kenny B]

We have some holes where you can't see the green, let alone the flagstick. Laser is useless, but GPS works OK.

 

I am really not good enough to stop a ball near the pin, so I usually go for the center of the green. That's why I like GPS, but I also like to know a distance to carry a bunker, to a dogleg, or the distance to the end of a fairway past a dogleg or before a hazard. That's really a benefit of the laser.

[Johan Rens]

Looking at all these positive post, seems to me I am missing something in my bag.  I am not too bad with 130 yards to the pin but think it could help my game from 160-200!  Any suggestions what I should get?

[mizuno_lover]

Hey Rev should we be posting signs like this one wherever jaxbeachpackerfan plays?

 

[sp0rtsfan86]

Looking at all these positive post, seems to me I am missing something in my bag.  I am not too bad with 130 yards to the pin but think it could help my game from 160-200!  Any suggestions what I should get?

the Bay is your friend. I found my lasers on there. 

[Johan Rens]

the Bay is your friend. I found my lasers on there. 

Thank you, any model you can suggest?

[mizuno_lover]

The Bushnells are brilliant but expensive so any model you choose you will have a great unit.  I have the V3 and it vibrates when it has what you are aiming at.

[Fireinthehole]

Thank you, any model you can suggest?

If the courses you play have prisms I go leupold every day! U.S. military uses their optics for a reason. Though the pin seeking tech won't lock unless the flag has a prism. Price comparable to Bushnell but the build quality will feel way sturdier.

I am bias. But I've owned both a Bushnell z6 and currently a leupold Gx-3i2.

[sp0rtsfan86]

Thank you, any model you can suggest?

I've only used Bushnell. MGS ran a whole thing on most wanted laser. Check that out. 

My only advice would be find one you like, set a price and wait on eBay till an opportunity comes to grab it.

[rickkimbrell]

I have both a laser rangefinder and GPS.  I recently traded in my Skycaddie SGX for the Skycaddie Touch.  My laser rangefinder is an fairly cheap brand you probably never heard of.  Paid about 1/2 of what most of them cost.  I rely mostly on the Skycaddie.  While it is great to know how far it is to the flag, I like knowing how much room I have from front to back of the green.  

[DaveP043]

I use a laser reasonably often, but I'm pretty comfortable using yardage markers on the ground too, especially if I have a yardage guide so I can see hole and green shapes.  I had to laugh once at a friend playing at MidPines with me, in NC.  They have yardages to the front, middle, and back on every sprinkler within about 250 yards of the greens, and most of the greens are too small to even have a front or back. He'd stand next to a sprinkler and look at his GPS and pick his club.  For some reason, the GPS was off that day, so he'd regularly hit 2 clubs short or long, and wonder what was going on.  I suggested he just MIGHT want to pay attention to the sprinklers, and he looked at me as if I was the crazy one.  

[Kenny B]

Not many courses out here have yardages on sprinkler heads anymore.  If they did have them at one time, some are gone from wear and tear.  It's not cost effective for courses to put them on or maintain them with nearly everyone having GPS and/or laser.  Not many courses have GPS on carts anymore either; only some high end resorts.

[wbealsd]

Not many courses have GPS on carts anymore either; only some high end resorts.

Sioux Falls, SD must be the exception.  Most of the courses have GPS on their carts, even the munis.

 

That said, they're not all that helpful, unless you're parked next to your ball - lol

[Kenny B]

Sioux Falls, SD must be the exception.  Most of the courses have GPS on their carts, even the munis.

 

That said, they're not all that helpful, unless you're parked next to your ball - lol

We have eight courses in the area; one private, one semi-private, four munis, and two others open to the public. Only one of the "others" has GPS on the carts. However, I have learned to trust the yardages on my GPS over ones in carts. Last April while playing in Bend Oregon, one course had GPS carts and the yardages were off by 15 yards!! I told the pro shop at the turn and they were going to reset it, but I used mine for the back nine.

[fozcycle]

Ha, got me!   I had let that incident slip out of my memory.  Just to correct things, laser said 140.  But it was indeed to the tree forty yards behind the green, I admit.  I did nail that tree with that 8 iron, however.  

 

I remeber that little incident......Heritage Isles, I presume?....LOL

[Kor.A.Door]

I've only used Bushnell. MGS ran a whole thing on most wanted laser. Check that out.

My only advice would be find one you like, set a price and wait on eBay till an opportunity comes to grab it.

The used prices for the good ones won't give you much of a break, maybe 50 dollars, I would buy new and not eve worry about a price drop, you can catch a. Sale for bushnell V3 with jolt for about 275 on occasion, compare to used at 250, I'll take new for the extra 25. Leupold is also a good one, but they are a bit lie expensive than the bushnell. If you are looking for something that gets you close, and don't mind a watch, the go Watches work well for finding front center back, along with bunkers and such, and they are less expensive than the lasers depending model. In either case, make sure you purchase extra batteries and keep them in your golf bag, there is not warning when the battery dies,

[Kor.A.Door]

That should have been a reply to Johan Rens. Sorry I must have clicked the wrong post

[sp0rtsfan86]

The used prices for the good ones won't give you much of a break, maybe 50 dollars, I would buy new and not eve worry about a price drop, you can catch a. Sale for bushnell V3 with jolt for about 275 on occasion, compare to used at 250, I'll take new for the extra 25. Leupold is also a good one, but they are a bit lie expensive than the bushnell. If you are looking for something that gets you close, and don't mind a watch, the go Watches work well for finding front center back, along with bunkers and such, and they are less expensive than the lasers depending model. In either case, make sure you purchase extra batteries and keep them in your golf bag, there is not warning when the battery dies,

I got my v3 new off Ebay for 225 shipping included. that 25 went to a round of golf. I try to get stuff because a few bucks here or there is worth it. Never had an issue with the bay.

 

EDIT: Just saw that you meant to retag someone else.

[PlaidJacket]

Today I received the MG M400 Laser Range Finder. I've been wanting a newer model of LRF from my old Bushnell that's about 6 years old I'd guess. The M400 seems like it will fit my needs. It's not fancy at all compared to other brands on the market. It's basic. No jolt, no colors when viewing, no slope, etc. Just yardage. It's very lightweight and quite compact actually. I have mid-size hands and wear a men's regular glove if that says anything about the size. It comes with an instruction booklet, lanyard, carabiner, lens cloth, storage case, and battery. Actually the carrying case is quite nice for a low budget LRF. Anyway, I haven't taken it to the course yet but I have targeted a few objects around the yard and it seems ok as far as I can tell. Below I've posted a few of my crappy photos to hopefully give you an idea of the M400. Oh, I forgot... I ordered the M400 ($149.99) plus another dozen Tour C4 balls ($19.95) on Thursday afternoon. So, the shipping was very fast and free! I live in Texas where MG is located so I'm sure that speeds things up.

 

 

 

[mizuno_lover]

You can't go too far wrong with a Bushnell Plaid.  Ive got the Tour V3 and have been very happy with it.  I think the simpler the equipment the better it performs.  Good old KISS principle and if it's recruit proof it's a winner!

[Kanoito]

Today I received the MG M400 Laser Range Finder. I've been wanting a newer model of LRF from my old Bushnell that's about 6 years old I'd guess. The M400 seems like it will fit my needs. It's not fancy at all compared to other brands on the market. It's basic. No jolt, no colors when viewing, no slope, etc. Just yardage. It's very lightweight and quite compact actually. I have mid-size hands and wear a men's regular glove if that says anything about the size. It comes with an instruction booklet, lanyard, carabiner, lens cloth, storage case, and battery. Actually the carrying case is quite nice for a low budget LRF. Anyway, I haven't taken it to the course yet but I have targeted a few objects around the yard and it seems ok as far as I can tell. Below I've posted a few of my crappy photos to hopefully give you an idea of the M400. Oh, I forgot... I ordered the M400 ($149.99) plus another dozen Tour C4 balls ($19.95) on Thursday afternoon. So, the shipping was very fast and free! I live in Texas where MG is located so I'm sure that speeds things up.

 

Sorry for the poor pictures. I had a few more to share but they are rotated wrong. I guess I need a MGS photo posting lesson.

 

Plaid, I have the same exact model with another branding on it.

All these models are probably made by the same manufacturer in China and just sold with different logos in different countries (mostly start-ups).

For the consumer, this isn't necessarily a bad thing.

I also got mine for about $150 and it has been working for more than 3 years and never had a problem with it. Until now, only had to change the battery once.

I would recommend this model as well.