tony@CIC 16,672 Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 I've been using a free app on the phone that basically gives yardage to the middle of the green. That would normally be sufficient for me, especially with some other landmarks around. However, I recently won a gift card to PGA Superstore, and considering I just refreshed all of my clubs, I couldn't think of anything to buy except for a rangefinder. I must say that I quite enjoy having it. I didn't realize how useful it would from the teebox. Knowing the distance to carry fairway bunkers, or the distance to a tree to try to cut the corner on a dogleg. Even used it on people a few times to see if it was safe to hit. On par 3s, the slope feature is particularly useful, especially since I play some courses that have dramatic elevation changes and your not sure if its a 6 iron or an 8 iron hole. And as mentioned, its great to have on the range. My home course has a nice driving range, but the yards are all measured from the sidewalk near the hitting area, and of course they move the hitting area up and down a good 50 yards or so to keep the grass fresh. So the flag marked at 150 could easily be 100. Knowing exactly what distances the flags are really lets me dial in my distances. Especially since I just got new clubs. I dont think its a must have, but it is a nice luxury item. Glad your happy with it. I always compare golf accessories like a range finder to air conditioning: you got along fine before you got it but once you get it you can't live without it Quote Left Hand orientation G410 SFT driver Cobra King F-9 5 wood 410 Hybrids 22*, 26* Cobra Speed Zone 6-GP/Recoil ESX 460 F3 Shafts SM7 54* Wedge Glide 3.0 60* Wedge O Works putter NX9-HD - 4 Wheel - too many shoes to list and so many to buy And BAG Boy Golf Balls: Snell MTB-X 2020 Official Tester Beginning Driver Speed - 78 2019 Official Tester 410 Driver 2018 Official Tester C300 Link to post
Letthebigdogshunt 59 Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 Range finders are fine on an open course, but if you have doglegs or are blocked by trees and the green is not available visually they don't work. The GPS units are not accurate to the yard on the green but I find them accurate enough for the average golfer. If it is a few yards off most golfers don't hit the exact yardage anyway. even when I was playing to a mid single digit handicap I could not hit the exact yardage I wanted most of the time. Even the pros when they have a yardage don't hit it stiff every time. That being said, if you want a RF or a GPS find out what all the pros and cons are before you buy either one. There are a lot of reviews out there about what the good and bad is about each type of equipment. I like the GPS because it gives me the general yardage I need immediately. 1 Quote Link to post
boat22 21 Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 I like the rangefinder. It is very useful when laying up on par 5s and playing strategically to your numbers for approach shots. If you have your yardages dialed in, it is nice to know the exact numbers that you're playing to, especially when you get close to the green. Quote Mavrik Subzero, 9.5*, VA Nemesys 75, Golfpride MCC Align Midsize Mavrik Max Fairway Wood, 15*, Stock shaft, Golfpride MCC Midsize Titleist U500 21*, Hzrdus Smoke Stiff, Golfpride MCC Midsize 2020 Ben Hogan Icon Irons 8-PW, Project X LZ, Golfpride MCC Midsize 2020 Ben Hogan PTxPro Irons 4-7, Project X LZ, Golfpride MCC Midsize Vokey SM8 50*, 54*, 60*, Stock vokey shaft, Golfpride MCC Midsize Scotty Cameron California Mid-Mallet Link to post
boat22 21 Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 12 minutes ago, Letthebigdogshunt said: Range finders are fine on an open course, but if you have doglegs or are blocked by trees and the green is not available visually they don't work. The GPS units are not accurate to the yard on the green but I find them accurate enough for the average golfer. If it is a few yards off most golfers don't hit the exact yardage anyway. even when I was playing to a mid single digit handicap I could not hit the exact yardage I wanted most of the time. Even the pros when they have a yardage don't hit it stiff every time. That being said, if you want a RF or a GPS find out what all the pros and cons are before you buy either one. There are a lot of reviews out there about what the good and bad is about each type of equipment. I like the GPS because it gives me the general yardage I need immediately. This is also a good point. I think there are definitely advantages to both an kinda depends on the course you are playing. Quote Mavrik Subzero, 9.5*, VA Nemesys 75, Golfpride MCC Align Midsize Mavrik Max Fairway Wood, 15*, Stock shaft, Golfpride MCC Midsize Titleist U500 21*, Hzrdus Smoke Stiff, Golfpride MCC Midsize 2020 Ben Hogan Icon Irons 8-PW, Project X LZ, Golfpride MCC Midsize 2020 Ben Hogan PTxPro Irons 4-7, Project X LZ, Golfpride MCC Midsize Vokey SM8 50*, 54*, 60*, Stock vokey shaft, Golfpride MCC Midsize Scotty Cameron California Mid-Mallet Link to post
Middler 1,964 Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 I've used GPS for years, to me a rangefinder is a nice to have, but not necessary. Rangefinders don't work without line of sight, GPS always works. Rangefinders take longer to get a reading IMO with other players using them. Rangefinders may/not give you a distance for hazards or doglegs, a GPS always will. If money was no object I'd have both, but I prefer GPS. 1 Quote Callaway Rogue 10.5° @ 9.5°D & 3W Mizuno CLK 3H 19°, JPX900 Forged 4-GW, S18 56.10, S18 60.06 Evnroll ER5B (replaced ER2) Snell MTB-Black Link to post
TCUFrog 418 Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 4 hours ago, Letthebigdogshunt said: Range finders are fine on an open course, but if you have doglegs or are blocked by trees and the green is not available visually they don't work. The GPS units are not accurate to the yard on the green but I find them accurate enough for the average golfer. If it is a few yards off most golfers don't hit the exact yardage anyway. even when I was playing to a mid single digit handicap I could not hit the exact yardage I wanted most of the time. Even the pros when they have a yardage don't hit it stiff every time. That being said, if you want a RF or a GPS find out what all the pros and cons are before you buy either one. There are a lot of reviews out there about what the good and bad is about each type of equipment. I like the GPS because it gives me the general yardage I need immediately. I disagree. I like having the exact number to the pin even if i'm not going to hit to that exact number it gives me confidence to go after it vs having to guess. Also when you're playing on a course with large greens the difference between the middle and the back pin locations can be a full club length. For Dog legs I use the arccos app on my phone to calculate the distance and get a recommendation of what to hit. Quote M6, 9.0, Tensei CK Orange 60, Stiff M6, Rocket 13.0, Atmos Red 60, Stiff RocketBallz, 4H 22.0 JPX 900 Tour, 4-PW, True Temper Dynamic gold S300 Mack Daddy 4, 52.0, 56.0, 60.0 - S grind Spider Mini Tour-RX Smart Sensors Link to post
Letthebigdogshunt 59 Posted May 22, 2020 Share Posted May 22, 2020 (edited) 22 hours ago, PowerFadetoaslice said: I disagree. I like having the exact number to the pin even if i'm not going to hit to that exact number it gives me confidence to go after it vs having to guess. Also when you're playing on a course with large greens the difference between the middle and the back pin locations can be a full club length. For Dog legs I use the arccos app on my phone to calculate the distance and get a recommendation of what to hit. That is why everyone has an opinion they get to agree or disagree. If you need exact yardage then you have the correct device. Have you ever thought about one of the hybrid range finders that have both GPS and RF? Edited May 22, 2020 by Letthebigdogshunt Quote Link to post
Middler 1,964 Posted May 22, 2020 Share Posted May 22, 2020 23 hours ago, PowerFadetoaslice said: I disagree. I like having the exact number to the pin even if i'm not going to hit to that exact number it gives me confidence to go after it vs having to guess. Also when you're playing on a course with large greens the difference between the middle and the back pin locations can be a full club length. For Dog legs I use the arccos app on my phone to calculate the distance and get a recommendation of what to hit. GPS gives you front, middle and back yardages - so it's easy to judge what distance to play for unless you can't see the pin. I can't remember the last course I played where I could not see the pin on approach - tee yes, approach no. And many of the greens I play have a two or more club length distance front to back, one club length would be very unusual IME. I can't remember the last approach I hit around a dogleg...tough course you're playing. 1 Quote Callaway Rogue 10.5° @ 9.5°D & 3W Mizuno CLK 3H 19°, JPX900 Forged 4-GW, S18 56.10, S18 60.06 Evnroll ER5B (replaced ER2) Snell MTB-Black Link to post
golfbumHK 7 Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 Been a user of rangefinder. it's pretty accurate unless of course you have aimed in the wrong spot. If it does give readings which your hunch thinks it's weird and incorrect, re-set and re-focus. Out of focus or when cross hair hits other than your main target, will give you a questionable readings. Haven't used GPS so I can not comment on this. Quote Link to post
SRL 4 Posted August 4, 2020 Share Posted August 4, 2020 The S62 got me to move away from Rangefinder and phone setup, I found everything was getting a little clunky with my routines Check phone app for yardage off the tee, click track club, get to ball, choose what I hit, check yardage on phone to bunkers, front middle and back, pull out range finder, see yardage to the pin (Which then auto puts me in hit it at the pin mode) hit shot, chip and putt, put scores in on my phone, repeat. The watch has allowed me to trust the process and not go pinseeking, I am habitually looking at bunker yardages at a glance and front middle back easily. If its a big green I will move the pin. My distance control is good enough to need yardages, but I haven't felt myself missing a rangefinder. I then input club selection at the end of the round or at home. No phone, 30 second routine at most and the benefits of a smartwatch! Quote WITB 2020 TS3 9.5 Degree - Tensei White 70X TS3 18 Degree - Tensei White 80X MP18 MMC Fli Hi 20 Degree - Project X Hzrdus 6.5 JPX 919 Tour - 4 - PW - X100 SM8 RAW 52, 56, 60 - S400 Special Select Newport 2.5 ProV1x Ball Link to post
GMcDonald 0 Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 (edited) Hello everyone! Does anyone have experience using Nikon Coolshot 40i? I am new to this and I had no idea that you can even use something like this. Anyway, I read that 40i is easy to use. Edit: I did some research and I have found a laser rangefinder that suits me. My friend is a hunter, and he told me that it is best to get a hunting rangefinder. It works perfectly for me, it's ATN LaserBallistics 1000 digital rangefinder. If anyone needs one check this out... Edited December 14, 2020 by GMcDonald Quote Link to post
RollingGreens 287 Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 Initially this year I started with just using a range finder. Worked fine. I then started using google earth and the grint to look at GPS and course layout. I became enamored with using GPS. I plotted holes and had strategy going in to lost round. Sounds great, right?? It became a downfall of my game, it was frustrating knowing all the details of a course and not being able to take full advantage. Golf was becoming less enjoyable. Got rid of the GPS. Stuck to the trust range finder, playing courses and shots as I could view the directly. Scores were positively impacted as well. I know my story isn’t typical but I’m sure their are a few people in the same position I was Quote TS3 8.5 D Hazardous Smoke Black TS3 15.5 3W Fuji Speeder 818 H1 19deg Hybrid Fuji Atmos White JPX 921 Hot Metal 4-GW Nippon Modus 120 SM7 54 and 58deg Dynamic Gold Double Wide Stroke Lab 2019 MTB-X Golf Ball Hoofer Stand Bag Link to post
tony@CIC 16,672 Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 Hello everyone! Does anyone have experience using Nikon Coolshot 40i? I am new to this and I had no idea that you can even use something like this. Anyway, I read that 40i is easy to use. Thanks for your help! I had an older Coolshot that I really liked and bought another one for my traveling bag. However, when I bought it I wasn't paying a lot of attention to the model designation and ordered the one without pinseeker technology. Don't make that mistake, the pinseeker is critical especially if you have lots of trees around the green. As to my preferred laser that I keep in my golf cart, it's the PrecisionPro NX9 Slope. It has not only the pin seeker but also a slope feature. Just saw an ad on line $220. Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy Quote Left Hand orientation G410 SFT driver Cobra King F-9 5 wood 410 Hybrids 22*, 26* Cobra Speed Zone 6-GP/Recoil ESX 460 F3 Shafts SM7 54* Wedge Glide 3.0 60* Wedge O Works putter NX9-HD - 4 Wheel - too many shoes to list and so many to buy And BAG Boy Golf Balls: Snell MTB-X 2020 Official Tester Beginning Driver Speed - 78 2019 Official Tester 410 Driver 2018 Official Tester C300 Link to post
Urbs_Valhalla 103 Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 I currently have the shot scope v3 and love it. My wife bought me a ranger finder for my birthday, I used it one and returned it. There are very few times when I want to know the distance to an o.b. area. The shot scope will highlight water and bunkers, and I value convenience. I can appreciate the value of a range finder but think a GPS is more convenient for a ready golf play style. Quote Driver: Callaway Mavrik Max 9° neutral weight setting - Shaft: Aldila Rogue White 130 MSI 60S, length 44.75" Wood: Cobra King SZ 3 wood 13° - Shaft: (Stock) Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue 65 Graphite Hybrid: Cobra King SZ 21° - Shaft: (Stock) UST Recoil 480 ESX F4 Irons: 5-PW Cobra King SZ - Shaft: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 54°, 58° - Shaft: (Stock) Wedge Flex Putter: Odyssey Stroke Lab Ten S, length 34" Rovic RV1S Link to post
RobbyT 45 Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 I like a rangefinder better. My GPS will sometimes have bad signal at some courses, and then measure inaccurately. 1 Quote G 10* Driver King F7 3&4 Hybrids JPX 900 Forged P-4 Irons Kirkland Signature 52*&56* Wedges Corza Ghost Putter Tour B RXS Link to post
Hoyoymac 153 Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 I have a Bushnell V4 range finder without slope and love it. Also use Arccos for statistics, club tracking. The caddie feature on Arccos is a benefit when playing an unfamiliar course for the first time. Used to use Golflogix phone app for GPS and Shot tracking but it was cumbersome. Have found inconsistencies with most GPS systems and course maps due to course renovations, etc. Range finder is quicker and easier. The benefit of GPS is when clubbing for a shot based on the middle or back yardage of a green since most amateurs’ misses are short. 1 Quote Ping G410 LST 10.5 Tour Edge EX 10 - 16.5 Tour Edge XCG7 - 21 Titleist 818 H1 - 25 Titleist AP3 6-48 Corey Paul Functional Art 52, 56 & 60 Odyssey O Works Black #7 with Stability Shaft Bridgestone Tour BRX Link to post
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