GPS vs Rangefinder distances

[LeftyHawk]

Played a course 3 times over the past few days. On the first time around I was relying on the GPS in the cart for distances. They seemed off as I was sailing over the green, which I don't usually do. On day 2 I started using my rangefinder and was surprised that there was consistently a 20 yard difference, the GPS was giving the yardages 20 yards longer than my rangefinder. And while the GPS seemed to match the painted blocks in the ground for 200, 150 and 100 yards, the blocks along with the GPS were still off by the same 20 yards. Well I abandoned the cart GPS and went strictly with the rangefinder.

I'm going to try to verify the rangefinder in my yard tomorrow by measuring off a specific distance with a tape measure then compare that to the rangefinder. Just seems odd to me that there would be that big of difference between the cart GPS and my rangefinder.

 

Chris

[tony@CIC]

Played a course 3 times over the past few days. On the first time around I was relying on the GPS in the cart for distances. They seemed off as I was sailing over the green, which I don't usually do. On day 2 I started using my rangefinder and was surprised that there was consistently a 20 yard difference, the GPS was giving the yardages 20 yards longer than my rangefinder. And while the GPS seemed to match the painted blocks in the ground for 200, 150 and 100 yards, the blocks along with the GPS were still off by the same 20 yards. Well I abandoned the cart GPS and went strictly with the rangefinder.
I'm going to try to verify the rangefinder in my yard tomorrow by measuring off a specific distance with a tape measure then compare that to the rangefinder. Just seems odd to me that there would be that big of difference between the cart GPS and my rangefinder.
 
Chris

Keep in mind a small percentage difference in your yard will be magnified reading a pin - think 1% difference in your yard say 20 yards vs. 1% difference on a 300 yd hole.


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[TR1PTIK]

13 hours ago, LeftyHawk said:

Played a course 3 times over the past few days. On the first time around I was relying on the GPS in the cart for distances. They seemed off as I was sailing over the green, which I don't usually do. On day 2 I started using my rangefinder and was surprised that there was consistently a 20 yard difference, the GPS was giving the yardages 20 yards longer than my rangefinder. And while the GPS seemed to match the painted blocks in the ground for 200, 150 and 100 yards, the blocks along with the GPS were still off by the same 20 yards. Well I abandoned the cart GPS and went strictly with the rangefinder.

I'm going to try to verify the rangefinder in my yard tomorrow by measuring off a specific distance with a tape measure then compare that to the rangefinder. Just seems odd to me that there would be that big of difference between the cart GPS and my rangefinder.

 

Chris

I haven't used many carts with GPS, but on the few occasions I have, I always relied heavily on my rangefinder and would only use the GPS when line of sight was an issue. I'm not sure what would be causing the issue you're experiencing, but my testing with the SkyCaddie SX400 has proven to me that GPS units (slightly less accurate) can be just as reliable as a laser rangefinder.

Perhaps it has something to do with the way your particular course was mapped for the cart GPS?

You've got me curious now, I may have to do some testing for myself next time I'm on a course with cart GPS.

[LeftyHawk]

I tested my rangefinder today and it was sopt on. TR1PTIK, I believe you're on to something there with the GPS mapping being off. At any rate at least I know my rangefinder is good and reliable. 

Chris 

[heavygolffeels]

Depends on what your are using. Alot of GPS is to center of the green and can easily be off my 10 yards. Does your rangefinder have a slope feature as well? That's going to change the actual yardage as well versus GPS. And of course some courses could just be mapped incorrectly. 

[LeftyHawk]

1 hour ago, scooterhd2 said:

Depends on what your are using. Alot of GPS is to center of the green and can easily be off my 10 yards. Does your rangefinder have a slope feature as well? That's going to change the actual yardage as well versus GPS. And of course some courses could just be mapped incorrectly. 

The cart GPS would give me front and back of the green. So the first day I was using those yardages, gaging pin placement and was consistently over shooting, something I rarely do.  My Rangefinder does have slope, but that wasn't an issue with the readings. I wouldn't have noticed except for the over shooting the pin which prompted me on the second day to verify the yardage with the rangefinder before hitting the shot. I was quite surprised on the first couple of holes, and even more surprised when the trend continued over the course of the round. I mentioned to the guy in the pro shop, but he didn't seem to care.

[carfig]

Are you getting distance to the Pin with finder? GPS is typically front back center, as well as all the yardage markers on the course. 

[LeftyHawk]

3 hours ago, carfig said:

Are you getting distance to the Pin with finder? GPS is typically front back center, as well as all the yardage markers on the course. 

I always shoot the pin with my rangefinder. The GPS on the cart gives you front and back, but you can also touch the screen to get a yardage to a specific spot, say the pin when needed.  The issue was I would shot the pin that was toward the back of the green, get a reading of 80 yards. The GPS on the cart would give me 100 yards to the same spot on the green. I've never been a fan of GPS units, had them in the past and found them to be most unreliable, my rangefinder has always come thru for me.

Chris

[Chip Strokes]

i use a Bushnell wingman as a speaker/gps and i play one course around here that has the cart GPS 

while my bushnell is spot on (checked against rangefinders) the cart GPS leaves a lot to be desired. i just think it’s too cost prohibitive for the courses to keep updating that software.