Look for yardage no more!

celtic_oz

Hmm a watch that tells you the exact distance to the back,centre and front of the green..



Garmin Approach S1 Waterproof Golf GPS Watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8WwStVTCXg

GC covered

Bit pricy at €185 .. what you think ?

Dr.Silly

why bother when you have markers for free !!!!!!!!!!!!

golfnut1

If i was going to spend 185e id add a bit more and get a laser rangefinder.
I wouldnt trust GPS at all

thewobbler

At 185 EUR, me, I'd just buy a strokesaver as and when I need it.

There are few things in golf more frustrating than watching a person who has played a course umpteen times, pulling out a set of lasers to tell me that my 165 yard estimate is 3 yards out. When they do it 10-12 times on a round, it puts me proper angry.

I really doubt anyone over a 5 handicap can reliably state how far their ball will travel through the air, especially when there's a wind or a chill in the air. We all know what we're capable of hitting, but few of us hit the max often enough to be able to qualify the need for ultra precise yardages. 162 / 170? who cares?

Dr.Silly

thewobbler wrote: »

At 185 EUR, me, I'd just buy a strokesaver as and when I need it.

There are few things in golf more frustrating than watching a person who has played a course umpteen times, pulling out a set of lasers to tell me that my 165 yard estimate is 3 yards out. When they do it 10-12 times on a round, it puts me proper angry.

I really doubt anyone over a 5 handicap can reliably state how far their ball will travel through the air, especially when there's a wind or a chill in the air. We all know what we're capable of hitting, but few of us hit the max often enough to be able to qualify the need for ultra precise yardages. 162 / 170? who cares?

here here...it really is a joke watch some 12 handicappers using these gadgets, when you could easily, within 3 or 4 yards determine your yardage.

I would say less than 0.5% of all golfers on this forum get their shots within 3 yards pin high 5 times out of 10 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FixdePitchmark

Dr.Silly wrote: »

here here...it really is a joke watch some 12 handicappers using these gadgets, when you could easily, within 3 or 4 yards determine your yardage.

I would say less than 0.5% of all golfers on this forum get their shots within 3 yards pin high 5 times out of 10 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is a mad one, I don't even think that they should be allowed.

What next an electric car that has a robotic arm to hit the ball,

Use your eye and head.

golfnut1

Yeah I have to agree with you if you are of a particularly poor standard a rangefinder won't help you but neither will markers, stroke savers, Gps a good eye or anything else. If your that bad your probably better off trying your hand at something else like walking

irish bloke

thewobbler wrote: »

At 185 EUR, me, I'd just buy a strokesaver as and when I need it.

There are few things in golf more frustrating than watching a person who has played a course umpteen times, pulling out a set of lasers to tell me that my 165 yard estimate is 3 yards out. When they do it 10-12 times on a round, it puts me proper angry.

I really doubt anyone over a 5 handicap can reliably state how far their ball will travel through the air, especially when there's a wind or a chill in the air. We all know what we're capable of hitting, but few of us hit the max often enough to be able to qualify the need for ultra precise yardages. 162 / 170? who cares?

Also agree,

Ive played with 2 guys recently on different occasions. One had a laser range finder/pin seeker thingy.. the other had a GPS device (golf buddy i think) attached to his trolley.

The guy with the rangefinder would take this thing out of his bag on almost every shot and spend up to 60 seconds at times finding the flag.:mad:

The guy with the golf buddy just took one look at his bag and selected his club. I wouldn't have known he had it only for I was so interested in how it worked.

As already said it wouldn't be as accurate, but anywhere inside 5 yards is plenty accurate for almost everyone IMO.

thewobbler

Golfnut, you're dealing with the other end of the extreme with your comments.

Scratch players are capable of dealing in small percentages.

For beginners (and walkers, as you describe them), yardages are irrelevant - it's driver, hybrid, wedge or putter, depending on whether they can see the flag or not.

But for the majority of us between those two stools, a 10% swing in perceived and actual yardages doesn't matter a damn. I play occasionally with a guy who has convinced himself hits one of his wedges 85 and the other 97. He's an 18 handicapper, and normally misses the green short. So he's full of sh1t. Nice guy though.

FixdePitchmark

Was just thinking about this product.

I don't wear a watch playing golf.

Don't like anything touching key parts of hands ?

Anybody else ?

Kid Charlemagne

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Was just thinking about this product.

Don't like anything touching key parts of hands ?

I dont like touching cloth during a round.

Find it happens most when standing over short birdie putts.

Luckily these are rare occasions for me.

Webbs

Dr.Silly wrote: »

here here...it really is a joke watch some 12 handicappers using these gadgets, when you could easily, within 3 or 4 yards determine your yardage.

I would say less than 0.5% of all golfers on this forum get their shots within 3 yards pin high 5 times out of 10 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was definitely in your camp but since playing in a comp with a guy who was able to give me accurate readings with the laser (GPS would be the same) it just gave me more confidence to take a club and hit it as a result I think I hit more greens that day than I had done for a very long time (may have been coincidence who knows).
Now this is a personal thing and am sure people have them for different reasons but for me its just this confidence thing and as a result am hitting the ball more solidly.
I also will use it more next year in practice to get a much better gauge on yardages for different types of shot etc.

waterville72

Kid Charlemagne wrote: »

I dont like touching cloth during a round.

Find it happens most when standing over short birdie putts.

Luckily these are rare occasions for me.

Ha! Cheers. Had a right laugh at that.

I think if people want to buy a bit of kit which tells them the yardage and makes them enjoy their round a bit more then let them go for it. It works for me. You can buy those Garmin watches for 159 in Dublin.

thewobbler

If it adds 10 minutes to a four ball's time, I say ban them, ban them forever.

dvemail

In some cases people may take longer but if its used right it shouldn't take any longer to take your shot. It's certainly a lot better to use a GPS/Rangefonder rather than pacing from a yardage marker back to your ball.
If used correctly it can even speed up play, its the people that wait until everybody has hit until they finally decide to take it out of their bag, then read the yardage that give these products a bad reputation. All of this can be done while waiting for your turn.

kingshankly

totally disagree it actually saves time stepping out yardage I have used one for a couple of years now walk up to my ball put down my bag beside it see my yardage and select a club.
would much prefer gps than a laser as some of my drives tend to put me in some strange positions with no view of the flag and a laser isn't much use in some links courses where there can be a lot of blind shots royal county down especially

tayto lover

Too many gimmicks and gadgets in golf now. A friend of mine has every gadget going and can't hit the ball out of his way. The markers on the course tell you the distance and the little flag on the pin tells you whether its at back, front or middle. Nothing else needed.

mike12

Think they are great on courses where u have big greens and u have no idea where the flag is on them.
Love portmarnock as all the sprinklers have a front middle and back and the have where the pins are on the greens so no need to take the range finder out there if all courses were like that then there would be no need for them.
Mike

monkey 456

They are a rip off i think nothing of the sort should be allowed!

Amen!

fullstop

Dr.Silly wrote: »

why bother when you have markers for free !!!!!!!!!!!!

Well firstly because the markers are wrong in a number of places I have played. Secondly, if the green in big and you don't know how far on the flag is, the markers aren't much use. I use a Bushnell and there is no way it slows things down as some are saying here, if anything it speeds play up.

Dr.Silly

fullstop wrote: »

Well firstly because the markers are wrong in a number of places I have played. Secondly, if the green in big and you don't know how far on the flag is, the markers aren't much use. I use a Bushnell and there is no way it slows things down as some are saying here, if anything it speeds play up.

I find that nonsense to be honest, unless as said, you're a very low handicap.

Markers 99% of the time are correct. The yardage is always to the middle or front of the green. You always know whether the pin is at the front, middle or back. Doesn't take a genius to be within a few yards of the pin.

As I said, if you're a scratch golfer and are pin high with your gismo's, then fair play.

fullstop

Dr.Silly wrote: »

I find that nonsense to be honest, unless as said, you're a very low handicap.

Markers 99% of the time are correct. The yardage is always to the middle or front of the green. You always know whether the pin is at the front, middle or back. Doesn't take a genius to be within a few yards of the pin.

As I said, if you're a scratch golfer and are pin high with your gismo's, then fair play.

Well I'm probably lower than 95% of people on here. Markers on my home course were redone last year and some of them were 7 or 8 yards out which is a massive amount with a wedge in your hand.

If you play links golf a lot of the approaches are semi-blind with massive greens so it's not as easy as you seem to suggest to get a yardage unless you walk to where you can see the bottom of the pin, slowing play in the process.

k.p.h

Some yardages do be a little off now I must say, maybe not on some of the better courses but all the same.!

My yardages could a off a good bit either way on any giving day depending on how I'm hitting the ball so measuring devices would be no help to me. I find the estimate and then hit to a target approach much better, e.g Fabergas dose not take out a range finder before he passes the ball when playing soccer. Golfers have that skill too ..! I understand why lower handicap players would use them, really getting that extra little bit of info. But I don't see too much use for them for the average golfer.

Also I play with a couple of low handicappers occasionally and none of them use one either, obviously not a necessity

Kid Charlemagne

My view on all these measuring devices is that they are basically legalised cheating.

They are fine if you are on holidays or something and a playing a few leisurely rounds on unfamiliar courses but they are not justifiable in comps.

At a very mimumum using a range finder should reduce your club allowance to 13.

Webbs

k.p.h wrote: »

Some yardages do be a little off now I must say, maybe not on some of the better courses but all the same.!

My yardages could a off a good bit either way on any giving day depending on how I'm hitting the ball so measuring devices would be no help to me. I find the estimate and then hit to a target approach much better, e.g Fabergas dose not take out a range finder before he passes the ball when playing soccer. Golfers have that skill too ..! I understand why lower handicap players would use them, really getting that extra little bit of info. But I don't see too much use for them for the average golfer.

Also I play with a couple of low handicappers occasionally and none of them use one either, obviously not a necessity

The problem comes from how good is your estimate. Some guys I have played with when using GPS etc have put me more than 10yards out from my guess this would equate to a club or more and could be the difference in whether I carry the bunker or put me in the right part of a green.

dnjoyce

I don't see what all the fuss is about tbh - even the GUI have made them ok for competition so there is no debate to be had really. If used correctly they should speed up play versus pacing off to the nearest marker and figuring out where flag is and adding/subtracting etc. Regardless of whether people feel the average golfer will benefit or not from these exact numbers, if they are already calculating their yardages then this should make it quicker for them. And as for "legalised cheating" - hardly, given that it is just a quicker way of obtaining information that is already available.

JD Dublin

GPS is handy where used judiciously, and the gizmos that are integrated in to the trolleys are the business.

I played with someone that had the gizmo integrated in to the trolley recently on a course I had never been on and it did help. As a previous poster said, he stopped the trolley, looked at the gizmo and picked a club - no messing around.

I have also played with people that used the handheld gizmos and they can delay things. Checking and thinking and choosing and changing the mind - it all takes time, and it all boils down to lack of consideration for the rest of the 4 ball. 20 years ago the same blokes would be taking 14 practise shots before hitting the ball. They'd be better off practising a few times before taking to the golf course.

Bear in mind that Colin Byrne aka Bagman / onetime caddy to Retief Goosen used 2 gizoms when walking the course the day before his employer played a course, so the pros and their helpers use these devices.

thegen

Love the hate of the rangefinder on here. It basically speeds up play. You point, click have yardage, no pacing back and forth then looking for correct page in strokesaver. Love the claim its cheating. The pros map a course out using rangefinders and custom build their own strokesavers.

Obviously the people who dislike them cant afford them(Large dose of sarcasm in the last comment);)

Kid Charlemagne

Personally I dont agree with the idea of caddies either.

I just think the game should be you versus the course.

Look - this is just my opinion, obviously its not going to change anything.
Its still the best and one of the fairest games in the world by a long shot, notwithstanding any minor gripes I have.

Webbs

Kid Charlemagne wrote: »

Personally I dont agree with the idea of caddies either.

I just think the game should be you versus the course.

Look - this is just my opinion, obviously its not going to change anything.
Its still the best and one of the fairest games in the world by a long shot, notwithstanding any minor gripes I have.

Presumably then you dont really agree with course distance markers, info at the tees telling you hole length and strokesavers you can get from the clubhouse?

stringy

thegen wrote: »

Love the hate of the rangefinder on here. It basically speeds up play. You point, click have yardage, no pacing back and forth then looking for correct page in strokesaver. Love the claim its cheating. The pros map a course out using rangefinders and custom build their own strokesavers.

Obviously the people who dislike them cant afford them(Large dose of sarcasm in the last comment);)

Why do players pace out 5 yards from a marker or on tee boxes, surely they can gauge the small distance with their eyes? As for the laser finders and GPS, in my experience the majority of players with them still end up short! what's the point in having them if they cannot consistently hit the required distance, and are too proud to realise they aren't as long a hitter as they think (90% of golfers in my opinion).

The gadget I want is one that tells you how much the wind if going to effect your distance. Is it one extra club, 2 extra clubs or even 3? Now that would help.

dvemail

stringy wrote: »

The gadget I want is one that tells you how much the wind if going to effect your distance. Is it one extra club, 2 extra clubs or even 3? Now that would help.

Yes that would help but I'm pretty sure that type of gadget is illegal.
Think anything that reads wind speed or direction besides yourself ain't allowed on the golf course.

dnjoyce

stringy wrote: »

Why do players pace out 5 yards from a marker or on tee boxes, surely they can gauge the small distance with their eyes? As for the laser finders and GPS, in my experience the majority of players with them still end up short! what's the point in having them if they cannot consistently hit the required distance, and are too proud to realise they aren't as long a hitter as they think (90% of golfers in my opinion).

The gadget I want is one that tells you how much the wind if going to effect your distance. Is it one extra club, 2 extra clubs or even 3? Now that would help.

Sure it would help, but it would also be illegal in comps, so what's the point really.

There seems to be a fixation on the opinion that most golfers are not consistent enough to warrant the use of gps/rangefinders - this is not a fault of the device itself, so the beef should be with these players, not the devices. When used properly, they are quicker than gathering distances manually (pacing etc). Anything that speeds up play should be applauded imo.

Kid Charlemagne

Webbs wrote: »

Presumably then you dont really agree with course distance markers, info at the tees telling you hole length and strokesavers you can get from the clubhouse?

The main thing is that the distance markers/info at tees are clearly visible to everyone, whereas a rangefinder is an extra piece of kit and IMO - should count as a club. (or be totally banned, my preference)

thegen

Kid Charlemagne wrote: »

The main thing is that the distance markers/info at tees are clearly visible to everyone, whereas a rangefinder is an extra piece of kit and IMO - should count as a club. (or be totally banned, my preference)

How can you count it as a club. Then we might as well say, not trolleys, umbrellas, wet gear etc as these make the golf expierence more enjoyable as do rangefinders (speed up play).

blue note

dnjoyce wrote: »

There seems to be a fixation on the opinion that most golfers are not consistent enough to warrant the use of gps/rangefinders - this is not a fault of the device itself, so the beef should be with these players, not the devices. When used properly, they are quicker than gathering distances manually (pacing etc). Anything that speeds up play should be applauded imo.

I think the "not good enough" to use a rangefinder is nonsense anyway. I hit an 8 iron about 145-155 yards. If the flag is 150 away, I might not get pin high, but I should be within about 5 yards of it either side. If I use a 7 iron I might hit it 155, but I might also hit it 165. Yards are important even for us hackers!

Kid Charlemagne

thegen wrote: »

How can you count it as a club. Then we might as well say, not trolleys, umbrellas, wet gear etc as these make the golf expierence more enjoyable as do rangefinders (speed up play).

Thats your opinion.
However - it is not the opinion of the R&A.

thegen

Kid Charlemagne wrote: »

Thats your opinion.
However - it is not the opinion of the R&A.

You might provide a link to that please?

stringy

dvemail wrote: »

Yes that would help but I'm pretty sure that type of gadget is illegal.
Think anything that reads wind speed or direction besides yourself ain't allowed on the golf course.

thanks I'm well aware of that

Kid Charlemagne

thegen wrote: »

You might provide a link to that please?

Except as provided in the Rules, during a stipulated round the player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment, or use any equipment in an unusual manner:
a. That might assist him in making a stroke or in his play; or
b. For the purpose of gauging or measuring distance or conditions that might affect his play

The Committee may make a Local Rule allowing players to use devices that measure or gauge distance only.

http://www.randa.org/en/Rules%20and%20Amateur%20Status/Rules%20of%20Golf.aspx#/rules/?ruleNum=14&subRuleNum=3&decisionId=7A58597F-8FA2-4842-A954-2C3B451A5E64

Basically what they are saying is that the default position for rangefinders is - not allowed. However, clubs are given the right to allow them if they choose. Obviously no such rules exist for brollys or whatever.

Furthermore, it is not allowed to have any markings on the scorecard to assist in measuring distances when holding the card up to the flag to gauge distance. Again - this suggests to me that measuring distance using the human eye is viewed as an integral part of the skill set.

thegen

Kid Charlemagne wrote: »

Except as provided in the Rules, during a stipulated round the player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment, or use any equipment in an unusual manner:
a. That might assist him in making a stroke or in his play; or
b. For the purpose of gauging or measuring distance or conditions that might affect his play

The Committee may make a Local Rule allowing players to use devices that measure or gauge distance only.

http://www.randa.org/en/Rules%20and%20Amateur%20Status/Rules%20of%20Golf.aspx#/rules/?ruleNum=14&subRuleNum=3&decisionId=7A58597F-8FA2-4842-A954-2C3B451A5E64

Basically what they are saying is that the default position for rangefinders is - not allowed. However, clubs are given the right to allow them if they choose. Obviously no such rules exist for brollys or whatever.

Furthermore, it is not allowed to have any markings on the scorecard to assist in measuring distances when holding the card up to the flag to gauge distance. Again - this suggests to me that measuring distance using the human eye is viewed as an integral part of the skill set.

Good job were governed by GUI then.

Thanks for the link.

slave1

If these devices
are legal, and
do not hold up play
then what's the problem with what other golfers spend their money on.

tayto lover

slave1 wrote: »

If these devices
are legal, and
do not hold up play
then what's the problem with what other golfers spend their money on.

No problem. They are just another needless gimmick. If we could consistently hit the required the yardage we would be pros. Knowing or estimating the yardage is one thing, hitting it is another. That's why we are amateurs.If an 18 handicapper knows the pin is 180 yards away, how many times out of 10 will he hit that yardage? I'd say 1 out of 10 myself. So whats the point in having a gadget?

FixdePitchmark

slave1 wrote: »

If these devices
are legal, and
do not hold up play
then what's the problem with what other golfers spend their money on.

I blame the R & A and US PGA for pushing an agenda to help companies sell rubbish. As a child i remember the R&A being the guardians of the game and it's traditions. What next adverts along fairways like Football.

golfnut1

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

slave1 wrote: »

If these devices
are legal, and
do not hold up play
then what's the problem with what other golfers spend their money on.

I blame the R & A and US PGA for pushing an agenda to help companies sell rubbish. As a child i remember the R&A being the guardians of the game and it's traditions. What next adverts along fairways like Football.

Golf has always moved with the times. We have come along way since the hickory shafts and the gutta percha this is just the natural evolution of the game.

FixdePitchmark

golfnut1 wrote: »

Golf has always moved with the times. We have come along way since the hickory shafts and the gutta percha this is just the natural evolution of the game.

But is it for the evolution of the game or products.

Webbs

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

But is it for the evolution of the game or products.

Arent they intrinsically linked, very hard to have one without the other.

Genuine question here would you prefer that clubs stayed at say persimmon woods and blade like irons of say 20-30years ago? If no then surely a GPS is just a continuation along this evolution

FixdePitchmark

Webbs wrote: »

Arent they intrinsically linked, very hard to have one without the other.

Genuine question here would you prefer that clubs stayed at say persimmon woods and blade like irons of say 20-30years ago? If no then surely a GPS is just a continuation along this evolution

No, I find the use of an electonic device a paradigm shift. I know I'm in the minority , but i also find the clubs have been allowed to go too far as well.

blue note

tayto lover wrote: »

slave1 wrote: »

If these devices
are legal, and
do not hold up play
then what's the problem with what other golfers spend their money on.

No problem. They are just another needless gimmick. If we could consistently hit the required the yardage we would be pros. Knowing or estimating the yardage is one thing, hitting it is another. That's why we are amateurs.If an 18 handicapper knows the pin is 180 yards away, how many times out of 10 will he hit that yardage? I'd say 1 out of 10 myself. So whats the point in having a gadget?

This is the attitude that always annoys me. I'm a 15 handicap golfer and if I'm 180 yards I'll hit my 6 iron. Distance wise that should leave me a few yards long or short. If I hit my 5 ill certainly be over the back and a 7 will certainly be short.

I don't use a distance finder, but it is necessary to look at distances.

slave1

Jesus, is it possible to have an informative discussion here without the constant personal jibes, by the time threads hit a third or fourth page they just self-destruct

mikeunt

slave1 wrote: »

Jesus, is it possible to have an informative discussion here without the constant personal jibes, by the time threads hit a third or fourth page they just self-destruct

ya i hate it when that happens alright