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Rangefinder versus GPS on app

Posted on 7/14/22 at 3:06 pm
Posted by HergetMonsta
Covington
Member since Jul 2022
82 posts
Posted on 7/14/22 at 3:06 pm
Fairly new to golf and have been using the Hole19 app. Is there an advantage to using a rangefinder versus a similar app? Thanks
Posted by Mingo Was His NameO
Brooklyn
Member since Mar 2016
25455 posts
Posted on 7/14/22 at 3:10 pm to
5 yards is a big difference in golf. Using GPS, you're location could be slightly off, the flag could be in the wrong position on the GPS, etc. A rangefinder you know is right.

I don't ever use GPS
Posted by DestrehanTiger
Houston, TX by way of Louisiana
Member since Nov 2005
12478 posts
Posted on 7/14/22 at 3:15 pm to
quote:

5 yards is a big difference in golf. Using GPS, you're location could be slightly off, the flag could be in the wrong position on the GPS, etc. A rangefinder you know is right.

I don't ever use GPS



If you have accurate GPS, I think it can be helpful. I need to stop going at pins and take the middle of the green yardage. I'm just not good enough to use the exact number, and it more than likely gets in my head.
Posted by HergetMonsta
Covington
Member since Jul 2022
82 posts
Posted on 7/14/22 at 3:17 pm to
I see your point. I guess I’m just not there yet where 5yds matters yet. Thanks for the feedback
Posted by Naked Bootleg
Member since Jul 2021
1840 posts
Posted on 7/14/22 at 3:17 pm to
First: what Mingo said. And sometimes for example you may want to see the distance to the back edge of a bunker, or a tree you need to shape around, and that can be a PITA with a phone app. I did GPS for a few years before getting a rangefinder, I'll never go back. It's way more useful & easy.
Posted by Mingo Was His NameO
Brooklyn
Member since Mar 2016
25455 posts
Posted on 7/14/22 at 3:19 pm to
quote:

I did GPS for a few years before getting a rangefinder, I'll never go back. It's way more useful & easy.


Rangefinders are no longer really cost prohibitive either. You can get a good rangefinder for like 200 bucks
Posted by LSUDbrous90
Lafayette
Member since Dec 2011
1451 posts
Posted on 7/14/22 at 3:20 pm to
I use phone app for everything including data, hole layouts, distances to hazards, and front/middle/back of green. Once I know the approximate front/middle/back of green I shoot the pin with my range finder to know how much room I have everywhere and helps me pick my shot better.
Posted by BigNastyTiger417
Member since Nov 2021
3095 posts
Posted on 7/14/22 at 3:28 pm to
A good gps will not be 5 yards off. I like to see the outlay of the hole and calculate particular distances you may not have line of sight to shoot with a rangefinder (carry bunkers, cart paths, water layup, water carry, etc.). GPS for an amateur golfer is much more efficient overall than a rangefinder.
Posted by KingofthePoint
Member since Feb 2009
10138 posts
Posted on 7/14/22 at 3:28 pm to
The GPS does offer things a rangefinder can’t. It’s helpful if you’ve never played a course (hidden hazards, how much room around a dogleg, green depth, etc)
Posted by notsince98
KC, MO
Member since Oct 2012
18053 posts
Posted on 7/14/22 at 3:57 pm to
GPS is helpful on courses you dont know so you can get yardages to obstacles you can't see.

IMO, there is no replacement for a range finder. Knowing the distance to the stick is a big deal for me. As long as there is some indication (flag color or marker flag) of whether the flag is in the front, middle or back, I am 99% covered with just a range finder.
Posted by RedHawk
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2007
8853 posts
Posted on 7/14/22 at 4:23 pm to
If you have good coverage, I like the GPS better. I can get middle of the green which for most amatuers is what you want. I can also read the distance to various hazards on the course a lot easier than I can with my rangefinder. Plus, if you can't see the flagstick, you can't get a reading with the rangefinder.
Posted by Big4SALTbro
Member since Jun 2019
14933 posts
Posted on 7/14/22 at 4:56 pm to
I use 18Birdies, the gps is pretty close and gives a lot of data plus can track fairway hits green in reg and putts. I also like the shot tracking and saving shots. It has helped me dial in what club to use since I can track distance on the shot.

I might still get a range finder at some point but 18Birdies does the job with a lot of good data.
Posted by BMoney
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2005
16278 posts
Posted on 7/14/22 at 5:16 pm to
I like a combination of both. I use The Grint app for scoring and GPS purposes. I'll check front/middle/back yardage as I'm grabbing my rangefinder to shoot the flag, which will confirm.

Sometimes the GPS can lag if you don't give it a chance to catch up when you stop to check (particularly if you're in a cart).

Thinking about getting the Precision Pro R1 rangefinder, which has a GPS function and shows the front/middle/back on the screen as you shoot the flag.
Posted by farad
St George
Member since Dec 2013
9722 posts
Posted on 7/14/22 at 5:19 pm to
how long do you guys spend shooting yardages and cross referencing sources before you hit the ball...
Posted by J_pearce01
Member since Jul 2022
21 posts
Posted on 7/14/22 at 5:35 pm to
I just started playing golf last summer and I use the 18Birdies app. I feel like I’m not quite good enough to get a range finder yet
Posted by Mingo Was His NameO
Brooklyn
Member since Mar 2016
25455 posts
Posted on 7/14/22 at 5:37 pm to
quote:

I'll check front/middle/back yardage as I'm grabbing my rangefinder to shoot the flag, which will confirm.


Yardage: 130
Flag: in front

Don't be short, hit 135 club. Not that hard. Can be done with a rangefinder in 5 seconds
Posted by bopper50
Sugarland Texas
Member since Mar 2009
9174 posts
Posted on 7/14/22 at 5:46 pm to
quote:

Rangefinders are no longer really cost prohibitive either. You can get a good rangefinder for like 200 bucks


Just got this one on Prime days from 160.00 with slope and great optics.

LINK

Posted by BigNastyTiger417
Member since Nov 2021
3095 posts
Posted on 7/14/22 at 6:02 pm to
Not if the green slopes from front to back. Your ball would run well off the green. Rangefinder can’t tell you that.
Posted by Mingo Was His NameO
Brooklyn
Member since Mar 2016
25455 posts
Posted on 7/14/22 at 6:19 pm to
quote:

Not if the green slopes from front to back. Your ball would run well off the green. Rangefinder can’t tell you that.


You'd always want to be on the green rather than off and maybe you are an old man that can't generate spin or needs to hit a 7 iron from 130, but no.
Posted by Big4SALTbro
Member since Jun 2019
14933 posts
Posted on 7/14/22 at 6:29 pm to
Not that long I’m pretty quick about it. I usually keep my phone in the desert Fox cart caddy and pull up right to the ball on the fair way dial in a distance and move off just slightly. If I’m off fair way or it’s cart path only then it might take slightly longer.

I’m a pretty quick player, my friends take longer or I get on the heels of a group.
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