Heard rumors that one of the major companies is working on a small GPS position transmitter that fits onto the top of existing flagsticks. They also work on a universal software interface so that the position signal can be picked up by GPS watches, smartphone golf apps and GPS screens on electric trolleys to show the exact pin position on the green. That would be a fantastic feature!
Ive been looking at getting a rangefinder and or a gps device to really hone in my distances and precision but its tough to choose I think they are both for different things one to improve your precision distance control etc the other to improve your course strategy. Ideally both together would be best. I think Gps is really only good for getting an overview of the holes and better course management planning, don't get me wrong that alone is able to save probably 5 shots easily of someones game. It is also great for playing new courses. Everyone should have some form of course planner or yardage book etc tbh and even a diy yardage book of Google earth is better than nothing. Anytime I've ever used a free golf gps app on my phone its either kept crashing, been way off on distances at least once per round, cant see screen because its too sunny, cant find me because of clouds, drained my battery etc all of that has completely put me off buying a "proper" golf one - plus the courses need to be always up to date. On the plus side they have great shot tracking if you bother to put it in. A good Gps can realistically be accurate to within 2 to 5 yards IF it picks up your exact location on the fairway i.e not the level right first cut which could be a 5 yard difference (half a club) to your shot and that doesn't inspire confidence if you are wanting an exact yardage there is nothing worse than 2nd guessing yourself in this game. So a rangefinder is the only option if you want to know an exact distance to the pin or hazard . I know people say 2 or 3 yards doesn't matter but it does. You will never be precise in this game or become more precise if you don't take the time to plan, measure and practice precisely, how will anyone expect to learn what an 87 yard wedge shot feels like if they just go oh thats about 90 yards I'l swing that to about there (it goes about 93) but they don't know how far they hit it in practice because they didn't measure because it looks close enough so they don't learn. In other words the smaller your focus is the smaller your miss. 5 yards is about 15 feet and 3 yards is about 9 feet thats only 2 yards of a difference but when you get to the green a good putter will make that birdie 43% of the time vs only 22% for the 15 footer. So I think a range finder will be absolutely invaluable for learning your EXACT club yardages for all kinds of shots 3/4, grip down, fade etc and perfecting your distance control on the range especially from inside 150 yards where it matters most. Put down targets at 90 yards 135, 82 etc and alternate between them thats how the pros get good at distance control they pick a number and try to hit to it exactly on their trackmans. On top of this after using a rangefinder for a long time people have generally gotten very good at judging the distances before shooting them so it will at least help in that way. Main Problems with range finders are blind spots and getting front, back middle of green etc. Which is were the GPS would be better but if your blocked out behind trees etc you likely wont be able to get to the green anyway and just hack onto fairway, on a blind shot you might be able to walk closer shoot distance and shoot your bag at the ball and add them. For green distances you could use yardage markers and learn the length of the greens. Pretty much all my greens are about 30 yards long. So at 150 marker to middle, pin shows 157, which means +8 to back and -22 to front and -7 to middle regardless of where my ball is. Or if your course has pin placement sheets you could see its at the front so generic -5 for the front, +10 for middle and +25 for back. I think I will be buying a range finder and use it in combination with a free gps phone app to at least track my stats.
Did you check that the greenkeeper mowed at the exact same line as on the GPS map? Check the GPS distance at point zero, I bet it says something more than zero? But in general the GPS will never be as precise as the laser.
For me as a very average player, I use a Garmin GPS watch; hugely convenient and at least helps with the best club selection. If I were a highly skilled golfer I would probably use the GPS but as that's a pipe dream, I'll go for convenience all the time!
When I forget my watch which gives an approximation of front, middle and back I revert to 'Old School' and look a markers in the fairway and adjust to flag colours. It's OK for my level.
I own a sky caddie 500. If you leave on from tee to green and or drive to the green it’s spot on. If you operate the device as in this video Yes will take 20 seconds or so to catch up.
hold up bro i use both on the course gps sometimes does exactly match my laser range finder., but its true other times they disagree by up to 10 yards :/ its starnge sometimes gps is bang on the laser range but other its not. i use both as sometimes you cant see the pin
I have always played without any electronic device, and relied on estimations and course markers. Too many players nowadays use these devices thinking it will somehow improve their game, when in reality, they have no idea how far they even hit each club.
Good point - knowing the distance is useless if you don't know how far you hit your clubs. I think with the emergence of GPS devices, lasers and launch monitors, more golfers these days now know roughly how far each club goes. But there's not much point in buying a GPS or laser if you don't! Joel
By trial and error I know how far I hit each club but I am absolutely useless at judging distance so the free GPS app "Golf Pad" on my smartphone is extremely helpful and usually accurate enough for my handicap, to the middle of the green. The only trouble is there is no slope assistance for hilly courses such as Lamlash on Arran.
This is where GPS devices fall down, although you can't employ the slope mode on lasers in competitions. But in practice, you'll gain an understanding of how different slopes effect the actual distance, so a slope laser is always useful to have. Joel
I haven't watched the video yet but to me a rangefinder is always the most accurate atleast I think that I never trusted GPS fully to many variables to make it not 100% accurate on some courses
Should re do the test using Centre of green. Depending where the mower cut that fringe will effect the gps measurements. The rangefinder is simply hitting your bag. Looking at this video where you put ur bag looks like the fringe has been moved. If you noticed the 1st GPS measurement then the 2nd GPS measurement was exactly 50 metres further on. 55 1st measurement and 105 2nd measurement. I have found my sky caddie accurate to within 1 yard compared to my friends laser.
Exactly. I guess skycadie has their own system but most gps measure from the reading in the ground. The ground has no idea where the green is. Lasers always measure to the exact object. I've always found GPS to be more useful
I did consider this, but it is almost impossible to tell where the middle of the green would be just by looking at it without guessing. At least on the front there is a clear visual to go off. I wasn't overly keen on putting my golf bag in the middle of the green either! Joel
@@BTatHome like I said look at the 2nd measurement it was exactly 50m further on and so was the laser which showed the gps was measuring accurately. The laser was hitting the bag the gps uses satellite fixed points. It's a fact that these are shown to be accurate to less than 1 yard (although they always state 3 yards). You best hope they are accurate because they will be driving the driverless cars we will all have in the near future. And that green had clearly moved and not by a few cm by yards... Go look back you can see it. I don't mean moved by mowing that day I mean moved over time. Did he get all the updates on the gps? If so report that green to the gps manufacturer and they can ask for the new course measurements. If you own a skycaddie (like I do) they will go out and remeasure that hole exactly and it is extremely accurate. I have used GPS since they 1st came out because they are more accurate than I am by far.
@@BTatHome but if you buy a gps and then report the that the measurements are out they remeasure them so it is then accurate plus if you take yardage to the centre of the green no the fringe it would be more accurate. How do you laser a pin position when the green is behind trees and you can't zap the flag? They both have advantages and disadvantages but if your playing a hole that for example has 3-4 greenside bunkers a stream or ditch you have to go over and trees in the way it can take you 5 mins using a laser to get all those numbers. They are instant with a gps. Each to their own but i have used gps for years and it's far more accurate than this "test" would have you think and its instant. And cheap lasers are dodgy too. I have been playing and using both for many years (since they 1st came out) and an speaking from experience. Plus 99% of people playing aren't as accurate as the measurements are and use lasers incorrectly.
It's often difficult to know if they are to the front or the middle of the green. Plus some golfers like to know how far it is to both, or to carry bunkers etc.
NO BAG LEGS ON THE GREEN!!!!!!!! Had I done that some old chump would have come running from across 2 kilometres telling me how to not do that, as that's what they seemingly do all day.
We all managed perfectly well with 150yd marker posts well before all this nonsense came out. The 'art' and skill of golf is being lost as so much technology invades our beautiful game. for unknown courses though, a yardage chart/course planner, is helpful, i'll concede that, and I have used them (not to great effect) but helpful for line of play and carry distances. I do try where possible not to rely on a bushnell (only cos i like to pitch my old school views) to the plates or makers at the side of the fairway. We'll be allowed to measure wind strength and direction by the end of the decade.
That is your choice, which of course you are perfectly entitled to make, and there will others that do the same. Some prefer having the extra information a GPS or laser provides, myself included. I don't want to be hitting wedge shots just to the middle of the green, I want to hit it close to the flag. There must be some value in it given the level of detail the tour pros go in to. Thanks for watching. Joel
The level of specialists L1 Technologies (PixelsMatter LLC - Developers of this device) is very low, it is not clear how bushnell golf, motocaddy, and the Yamaha were order development of devices and mobile applications from them. Developers are engaged in theft and copying of branded electrical and GPS devices while presenting the development as their own. Also, the main boss turns out to be violates for women as evidenced by several lawsuits from women against him in the USA! I will not advise this disgusting company. They periodically open a new company, probably to make a rebranding, since there are no orders at all, the last company was opened under the name Pixels Matter LLC, which is essentially the same as L1 Technologies. #l1technologies #pixelsmatter #bushnellgolf #motocaddy #powakaddy #golf #golfprofessional #igolf
a metre wheel would have been better then the tape. do a similar test with launch monitors
Heard rumors that one of the major companies is working on a small GPS position transmitter that fits onto the top of existing flagsticks. They also work on a universal software interface so that the position signal can be picked up by GPS watches, smartphone golf apps and GPS screens on electric trolleys to show the exact pin position on the green. That would be a fantastic feature!
My garmin fenix 6 is always within 3 yards of my buddy's bushnell and I am nowhere near good enough for that to be an issue to me!
The equipment is accurate, but my shot consistency.......
....that's another matter.
I use both. Laser for the flag on approach and a gps for everything else.
Ive been looking at getting a rangefinder and or a gps device to really hone in my distances and precision but its tough to choose I think they are both for different things one to improve your precision distance control etc the other to improve your course strategy. Ideally both together would be best. I think Gps is really only good for getting an overview of the holes and better course management planning, don't get me wrong that alone is able to save probably 5 shots easily of someones game. It is also great for playing new courses. Everyone should have some form of course planner or yardage book etc tbh and even a diy yardage book of Google earth is better than nothing. Anytime I've ever used a free golf gps app on my phone its either kept crashing, been way off on distances at least once per round, cant see screen because its too sunny, cant find me because of clouds, drained my battery etc all of that has completely put me off buying a "proper" golf one - plus the courses need to be always up to date. On the plus side they have great shot tracking if you bother to put it in. A good Gps can realistically be accurate to within 2 to 5 yards IF it picks up your exact location on the fairway i.e not the level right first cut which could be a 5 yard difference (half a club) to your shot and that doesn't inspire confidence if you are wanting an exact yardage there is nothing worse than 2nd guessing yourself in this game.
So a rangefinder is the only option if you want to know an exact distance to the pin or hazard . I know people say 2 or 3 yards doesn't matter but it does. You will never be precise in this game or become more precise if you don't take the time to plan, measure and practice precisely, how will anyone expect to learn what an 87 yard wedge shot feels like if they just go oh thats about 90 yards I'l swing that to about there (it goes about 93) but they don't know how far they hit it in practice because they didn't measure because it looks close enough so they don't learn. In other words the smaller your focus is the smaller your miss. 5 yards is about 15 feet and 3 yards is about 9 feet thats only 2 yards of a difference but when you get to the green a good putter will make that birdie 43% of the time vs only 22% for the 15 footer. So I think a range finder will be absolutely invaluable for learning your EXACT club yardages for all kinds of shots 3/4, grip down, fade etc and perfecting your distance control on the range especially from inside 150 yards where it matters most. Put down targets at 90 yards 135, 82 etc and alternate between them thats how the pros get good at distance control they pick a number and try to hit to it exactly on their trackmans. On top of this after using a rangefinder for a long time people have generally gotten very good at judging the distances before shooting them so it will at least help in that way.
Main Problems with range finders are blind spots and getting front, back middle of green etc. Which is were the GPS would be better but if your blocked out behind trees etc you likely wont be able to get to the green anyway and just hack onto fairway, on a blind shot you might be able to walk closer shoot distance and shoot your bag at the ball and add them. For green distances you could use yardage markers and learn the length of the greens. Pretty much all my greens are about 30 yards long. So at 150 marker to middle, pin shows 157, which means +8 to back and -22 to front and -7 to middle regardless of where my ball is. Or if your course has pin placement sheets you could see its at the front so generic -5 for the front, +10 for middle and +25 for back. I think I will be buying a range finder and use it in combination with a free gps phone app to at least track my stats.
Did you check that the greenkeeper mowed at the exact same line as on the GPS map? Check the GPS distance at point zero, I bet it says something more than zero? But in general the GPS will never be as precise as the laser.
For me as a very average player, I use a Garmin GPS watch; hugely convenient and at least helps with the best club selection. If I were a highly skilled golfer I would probably use the GPS but as that's a pipe dream, I'll go for convenience all the time!
When I forget my watch which gives an approximation of front, middle and back I revert to 'Old School' and look a markers in the fairway and adjust to flag colours. It's OK for my level.
I use a gps for the reason you mentioned. I like to know front middle and back distances!
Good to know for future purchase. Thanks.
I have the Bushnell Hybrid, as I cannot always hold it steady.
I have used several gps watches and lasers and have found the Precision Pro laserfinder to be absolutely the fastest and best out of them all. JMO
Great one , I have the SX500 , it’s GREAT !
I thought that looked familiar at 0:35, 8th at my home course!
Great info
B.s. test
I own a sky caddie 500. If you leave on from tee to green and or drive to the green it’s spot on. If you operate the device as in this video Yes will take 20 seconds or so to catch up.
Good and well needed test indeed! Finally we can clearly say that GPS is never very accurate
hold up bro i use both on the course gps sometimes does exactly match my laser range finder., but its true other times they disagree by up to 10 yards :/ its starnge sometimes gps is bang on the laser range but other its not. i use both as sometimes you cant see the pin
I have always played without any electronic device, and relied on estimations and course markers.
Too many players nowadays use these devices thinking it will somehow improve their game, when in reality, they have no idea how far they even hit each club.
Good point - knowing the distance is useless if you don't know how far you hit your clubs. I think with the emergence of GPS devices, lasers and launch monitors, more golfers these days now know roughly how far each club goes. But there's not much point in buying a GPS or laser if you don't! Joel
Why anyone would buy anything other that a Bushnell is beyond me. Accurate, change the battery once every few years and robust.
All GPS devices do not have access to something called the Y Code. Once inputted to a GPS device its then down to 1 meter
By trial and error I know how far I hit each club but I am absolutely useless at judging distance so the free GPS app "Golf Pad" on my smartphone is extremely helpful and usually accurate enough for my handicap, to the middle of the green. The only trouble is there is no slope assistance for hilly courses such as Lamlash on Arran.
This is where GPS devices fall down, although you can't employ the slope mode on lasers in competitions. But in practice, you'll gain an understanding of how different slopes effect the actual distance, so a slope laser is always useful to have. Joel
But are all GPS the same accuracy?
I haven't watched the video yet but to me a rangefinder is always the most accurate atleast I think that I never trusted GPS fully to many variables to make it not 100% accurate on some courses
Should re do the test using Centre of green.
Depending where the mower cut that fringe will effect the gps measurements.
The rangefinder is simply hitting your bag.
Looking at this video where you put ur bag looks like the fringe has been moved.
If you noticed the 1st GPS measurement then the 2nd GPS measurement was exactly 50 metres further on.
55 1st measurement and 105 2nd measurement.
I have found my sky caddie accurate to within 1 yard compared to my friends laser.
Exactly. I guess skycadie has their own system but most gps measure from the reading in the ground. The ground has no idea where the green is. Lasers always measure to the exact object. I've always found GPS to be more useful
I did consider this, but it is almost impossible to tell where the middle of the green would be just by looking at it without guessing. At least on the front there is a clear visual to go off. I wasn't overly keen on putting my golf bag in the middle of the green either! Joel
@@BTatHome like I said look at the 2nd measurement it was exactly 50m further on and so was the laser which showed the gps was measuring accurately.
The laser was hitting the bag the gps uses satellite fixed points.
It's a fact that these are shown to be accurate to less than 1 yard (although they always state 3 yards).
You best hope they are accurate because they will be driving the driverless cars we will all have in the near future.
And that green had clearly moved and not by a few cm by yards... Go look back you can see it.
I don't mean moved by mowing that day I mean moved over time.
Did he get all the updates on the gps?
If so report that green to the gps manufacturer and they can ask for the new course measurements.
If you own a skycaddie (like I do) they will go out and remeasure that hole exactly and it is extremely accurate.
I have used GPS since they 1st came out because they are more accurate than I am by far.
@@BTatHome but if you buy a gps and then report the that the measurements are out they remeasure them so it is then accurate plus if you take yardage to the centre of the green no the fringe it would be more accurate.
How do you laser a pin position when the green is behind trees and you can't zap the flag?
They both have advantages and disadvantages but if your playing a hole that for example has 3-4 greenside bunkers a stream or ditch you have to go over and trees in the way it can take you 5 mins using a laser to get all those numbers.
They are instant with a gps.
Each to their own but i have used gps for years and it's far more accurate than this "test" would have you think and its instant.
And cheap lasers are dodgy too.
I have been playing and using both for many years (since they 1st came out) and an speaking from experience.
Plus 99% of people playing aren't as accurate as the measurements are and use lasers incorrectly.
A course has indicators for distance so why not use them?
It's often difficult to know if they are to the front or the middle of the green. Plus some golfers like to know how far it is to both, or to carry bunkers etc.
Range finder every day. Doesn’t matter how recent pin positions have been moved, range find the flag and you can’t go wrong.
I like using a rangefinder over the laser. I score better when I use that. In general, i like using both at time especially laying up to a hazard
Use a Tom Tom Golfer 2 SE Watch.
Don’t - mine is useless. Never registers shots despite being returned and replaced. Could be so good - but it isn’t.
NO BAG LEGS ON THE GREEN!!!!!!!! Had I done that some old chump would have come running from across 2 kilometres telling me how to not do that, as that's what they seemingly do all day.
No damage was caused in the making of this video! :-)
@@GolfMonthly il sure, it looked quite responsible. :) (laser user here by the way, with a gps app on my phone for when I can't see the flag)
Sky caddie is best when you can’t see green 🤨
The tape isn't straight.
Not arrow straight, but close enough! Thanks for watching. Joel
Straighter than you are.
Why would anyone buy this GPS device - just use an app on your phone...
We all managed perfectly well with 150yd marker posts well before all this nonsense came out. The 'art' and skill of golf is being lost as so much technology invades our beautiful game.
for unknown courses though, a yardage chart/course planner, is helpful, i'll concede that, and I have used them (not to great effect) but helpful for line of play and carry distances. I do try where possible not to rely on a bushnell (only cos i like to pitch my old school views) to the plates or makers at the side of the fairway.
We'll be allowed to measure wind strength and direction by the end of the decade.
That is your choice, which of course you are perfectly entitled to make, and there will others that do the same. Some prefer having the extra information a GPS or laser provides, myself included. I don't want to be hitting wedge shots just to the middle of the green, I want to hit it close to the flag. There must be some value in it given the level of detail the tour pros go in to. Thanks for watching. Joel
The level of specialists L1 Technologies (PixelsMatter LLC - Developers of this device) is very low, it is not clear how bushnell golf, motocaddy, and the Yamaha were order development of devices and mobile applications from them. Developers are engaged in theft and copying of branded electrical and GPS devices while presenting the development as their own. Also, the main boss turns out to be violates for women as evidenced by several lawsuits from women against him in the USA! I will not advise this disgusting company.
They periodically open a new company, probably to make a rebranding, since there are no orders at all, the last company was opened under the name Pixels Matter LLC, which is essentially the same as L1 Technologies. #l1technologies #pixelsmatter #bushnellgolf #motocaddy #powakaddy #golf #golfprofessional #igolf
Where's Tappers ?! 🙄