GPS watch or Range Finder? best options?

Jesper

I'm looking to get a GPS watch, range finder or GPS golf tablet. I am looking for advice on what people use and if they are happy with it?
I'll be visiting America next month so I'd be interested to know if anyone thinks value will be better over there?
Garmin S1 or Garmin G3 approach options.

big_drive

Garmin S1 watch can be got for a bit over €100 now which is great deal

m r c

It's very subjective tbh kinda like drivers everyone who has an opinion is right if you get me.
I have both, gps first and recently bought a laser. If it had to only be one probably the laser.
The lasers are universally accurate, I've a Nikon and it is very handy. Very underrated in playing for your miss ie picking up the bunker carry or the front of raised greens. But they are line of sight and if you are on another fairway you won't often be able to zap through the trees.

The reason I bought the laser is because my gps works two ways either you pay a sub or you map the courses yourself. I wanted the self mapping function because my playing partner has the garmin s1 watch and it has one if the par 3's mapped wrong reads 300 instead of 140 ish which would make me think it may not be too accurate elsewhere. That's fine so long as I'm playing the same courses all the time which I'm not so I bought the laser.

On balance buy the laser IMHO.

Russman

+1 that its very subjective.

Op, it depends on what your own personal needs/wants are. Do you play mostly the same course all the time ?
Most importantly, do you know how far you hit your clubs ? If you don't, then any of them will be pretty much useless.

I've had a laser for the last couple of years, but tbh find it a bit of a pain in the ar$e to use, just the hassle of pulling it out of the bag, using it, packing it back etc. I'd say I now never use it on my home course and maybe 5 or 6 times on an away course.

I've bought a Garmin watch to try out for this season, don't know which I'll prefer yet. My gut feeling is that front, middle and back will be enough info 90% of the time. I'm not consistent to within the 2-3 yds extra accuracy that a laser would give. And I'm hoping the added convenience of just quickly looking at my wrist will make it much easier.

A few friends of mine have used GPS for the last season and, interestingly, they felt that the main benefit was that, over the course of the year, they learned how far they actually hit their irons. On a day to day basis they mostly said they'd take or leave them and that fairway markers and Mark II Eyeball were enough a lot of the time.

Wassily Kandinsky

it has to be the bushnell tour v2 for me. i can use it in club competitions. you do need a steady hand alright. much quicker to take out and scope instead of pacing out yardages or looking for markers. great from 180 yards in. spent €4 on mittens and €250 on my range finder. best two golf purchases ive ever made.

First Up

Wassily Kandinsky wrote: »

it has to be the bushnell tour v2 for me. i can use it in club competitions. you do need a steady hand alright. much quicker to take out and scope instead of pacing out yardages or looking for markers. great from 180 yards in. spent €4 on mittens and €250 on my range finder. best two golf purchases ive ever made.

Same with me - laser every time. Works anywhere and 100% accurate. Clips onto bag - takes about 5 seconds to use. I frequently get more accurate readings than those with gps to centre of the green and it's great for course management.

michael1930

I have used both and would prefer the laser, for the same reasons stated above. Two less obvious benefits of the laser are:

1. The laser can be used at the range
2. The laser is just as useful if you are on winter greeens

Dublin Spur

why are lasers so expensive ?

price is very off-putting IMO

reckon the margin on them is massive

Ronney

Laser for me.

Picked up a Bushnell V3 in the States last summer. Worked out about €220 compared with €350 in shops here.

It has really helped getting exact yardages from 60-120 yards, by eye i would sometimes be 10+ yards out.

First Up

michael1930 wrote: »

I have used both and would prefer the laser, for the same reasons stated above. Two less obvious benefits of the laser are:

1. The laser can be used at the range
2. The laser is just as useful if you are on winter greeens

Yes, first thing I do at the range is check the real distances and almost always find them different to the markers. Matters a lot with short irons/wedges.

golfguy1

Dublin Spur wrote: »

why are lasers so expensive ?

price is very off-putting IMO

reckon the margin on them is massive

Margin is between 10 & 20% on lasers at best.
at under €300 i think they are great value as there is no reason they cant last for yrs.

Dr_Colossus

How long do the batteries last in a laser? One concern I'd have with the gps watches is that a lot of reviews only have the battery life at something like 5-6hrs so playing 36 holes in one day or without always remembering to recharge after a round could be an issue.

benny79

The garmin S3 gps is £99 on amazon and got great reviews ill be investing in 1 of these next pay day!

neckedit

Dublin Spur wrote: »

why are lasers so expensive ?

price is very off-putting IMO

reckon the margin on them is massive

Expensive to buy because they are an expensive piece of technology to build, with Class 1 Lasers and highly efficient lenses with up to 7 times optical magnification coupled with a 2 year warranty on most, That in all possibilities will last you a lot longer I don't feel the price is that excessive.
Personally I would rather them than the GPS do to its real easy functionality i.e. point and shoot. With the GPS, while they are very handy and give you the numbers you require, I personally found them a bit fidgity, if that makes sense. I am however not a gadget kinda guy and I like simple.
My own opinion on the best over all is the Golf Buddy LR3, light compact, good clear display, adjustable eyepiece and has a pinseeker type mode on it all for 280ish depending on the deal you can do.
Anyhoo just my 2 cents worth.

dan_ep82

I got the S1 at Christmas and I think its a great piece of technology. For the courses I played (some well known others not so) it is very accuarate. It doesn't get in the way of your swing and the battery life is quite good.

The downside is if your playing a dog leg or want to know how far that hazard is its not much use. The reason I went for one over a laser is simply the cost, its was half the price. I played recently with someone who had a laser and both were giving the same readings to the green but at times I did notice him leaving it in the bag due to the hassle of taking it out and getting the distances, where as I can just look at my wrist. For me it wouldn't bother me but for now I'll stick with the S1.

m r c

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

How long do the batteries last in a laser? One concern I'd have with the gps watches is that a lot of reviews only have the battery life at something like 5-6hrs so playing 36 holes in one day or without always remembering to recharge after a round could be an issue.

The Nikon laser battery is rated for 10000 8 second uses. It's about €6 per battery

Edit I believe the bushnell battery is some way better than the garmin in the watches.
My gps is called the neo not the watch Just a little handheld unit and a round uses %5 ish so 17-18 rounds per charge. The watch is smaller so the battery may well not be as good.

big_drive

I've used Bushnell laser for past 3 years. In October I bought the Garmin S1 watch second hand cheaply, wanted to try it out. Found it very good and easy to use. For winter I felt I didn't need the exact distance as much anyway. Not sure which I'll use for year ahead but don't think I'll ever have the situation where I take both with me. Think I'd prefer one or the other

Out of interest does anyone know any very low handicap players who use GPS? (Under 3 handicap) they all seem to use laser from what I've seen

First Up

big_drive wrote: »

I've used Bushnell laser for past 3 years. In October I bought the Garmin S1 watch second hand cheaply, wanted to try it out. Found it very good and easy to use. For winter I felt I didn't need the exact distance as much anyway. Not sure which I'll use for year ahead but don't think I'll ever have the situation where I take both with me. Think I'd prefer one or the other

Out of interest does anyone know any very low handicap players who use GPS? (Under 3 handicap) they all seem to use laser from what I've seen

As do the caddies when mapping the course.

mister gullible

Laser rangefinder good for exact distances and quick measurements to bunkers/ doglegs/trees for lay up distances also handy for rangefinding when shooting rabbits etc.
GPS watch handy if you carry a light golfbag, particularly if you use a half set (minimalist golf) and don't want to lug a rangefinder around.
Have the laser, going to get the watch also! If I had to choose one it would be the laser.

blackwhite

If you're thinking about a laser then why is the GPS option restricted to a watch?

A full GPS unit will be around the same size as a laser, and given that you are considering a laser then surely carrying something of that size isn't an issue.

I have this unit, and I find it great. Very accurate and the map of each hole is excellent. Lets you know if there's any hidden water/bunkers, and is great on blind holes. You can use a tee to select on point on the hole and get a distance to it as well.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garmin-Approach-Golf-GPS-Unit/dp/B003VS2NSA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390986915&sr=8-1&keywords=garmin+gps+golf

Alpha Dog 1

Not for everyone but I downloaded an app on my phone called skydroid which is free and have found it works flawlessly.

tonc76

Alpha Dog 1 wrote: »

Not for everyone but I downloaded an app on my phone called skydroid which is free and have found it works flawlessly.

I have an app called swing by swing but phone apps are not allowed in competitions so only any good for casual golf

Carpo86

I find laser range finders a bit awkward and time consuming to use to be honest so prefer the GPS. If you're of a level where knowing exact yardages to the flag is going to make a significant difference to your ability to score though, I can see the attract of a laser device.

Jesper

I went with this one instead. Works out about 155Euro. I'll be in Boston in 2 weeks and I have friends in the house who can collect it for me when it arrives.

http://www.amazon.com/Golf-Buddy-GB8-VT3-GolfBuddy-Rangefinder/dp/B00BN5SXGE/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1390952377&sr=1-1&keywords=vt3+golf+buddy

Seems to be a good step up from the S1 and I wanted a watch. Also they seem to have ironed out the strap/clip/manufacturing issues that a lot of negative reviews have talked about.

golfguy1

Be warned.
Your golfbuddy if bought outside eu has no warranty in ireland. 2 yr warranty when bought here.
Vt3 straps are still a big problem. lots still snapping.
wt3 much better purchase for that type of money in ireland

Par72

For accuracy it's a laser rangefinder for me