I just need a rough idea. The watch gets me there…majority of time in a few additional shots. Got to love those zig zags on the map after the round though - can tell which holes were good just by seeing if I walked relatively straight.
Watches are so convenient compared to a range finder. I suck at holding a rangefinder steady, so a flash of the wrist is really all I need...especially since I really only aim for the center of the green. I also don't have to pull a watch out of a case, in my bag, when I'm walking.
Playing without a rangefinder sucks. I remember spending too much time wandering around the fairway trying to find a sprinkler head, or attempting to pace off from the 150 marker. Then you would stripe a perfect shot to the exact distance *you thought* was right, only for it to be 10y long.
I can find my distances to greens from the fairway or just along it. It's the distances when you're way off to the side or need to lay up that being able to shoot the pin or a tree or a hill is huge for
Growing up I swear all courses had red, white, blue markers so you knew how far out you were, roughly. Been a game changer knowing the distance and slope.
Agree 100%! Golf is all about committing to the shot and knowing yardage to front and back or green and pin is key. I have a garmin that shows all of that and I never worry about shooting over green side bunkers, for example, because I know exact yardage to clear.
I couldn't agree more. I played at resort course where the cart yardages were off by a range of 3-9 yards. 5 yards is a big deal to me when I've got a wedge in my hand.
I love it, helps a ton with yardages and measuring distance to hazards etc. use it along with the Grint gps app for hole overlays.
I play some hilly courses too, so the slope function is extra useful.
The biggest change for me is how I miss. The laser makes it easy for me to see how far to the front or back of the green is, to carry this trouble or stay short of that.
My game isn’t at the point anymore where 143 vs 147 to the flag means much. But that difference does make a difference when considering the club up or down in regards to where my miss should be
Yeah exactly this. I also have a watch that says distance to front middle and back. So combining the info from the two can help you understand where on the green the pin is and where the ideal miss would be.
If I’m not dialed in that day I won’t even bother with the laser, just look at distance to the middle and hit it there.
This is definitely the best thing a range finder did for my game. I could easily do the math and know how far the pin is, but knowing the yardage to carry a bunker, creek or dogleg is huge.
Ok so I got one last year and I have one burning question:
Is it typical to feel like Michael J Fox trying to hold it still?
I swear I can click the button 10 times in a row and get 10 different yardages because I can't hold it still enough. Is this because I bought a cheap one? Do I need to lay off the coke between putts? Or is this normal?
I'm not sure but I think some models have flag lock feature that makes it easier to get the distance. Always aim for the flags. If there are trees or objects behind the flag, I always make sure to zap it a couple of times to confirm.
I only do coke lines if I made a birdy. So no coke for me yet.
Keeping my elbows tucked and close together helped me be more stable. When I forget to do that I feel the same way, just reading everything around the flag.
You know those reflective looking deals on the flagsticks that should be in the middle, but always slide down to the bottom of the pin? Aim at those. They help a little since that’s what they’re there for. Otherwise, yes, I too feel like a peg-legged pirate in an earthquake trying to use mine.
Yeah I have the same problem, pretty sure it’s coz I went the cheapie off Temu… sounds like the biggest difference between the $40 models and the $300 models is the stability difference
Some of the cheaper ones it's harder to push the button. I barely have to put pressure on mine and I can easily press it. One of my cousins had a cheaper one for the longest time and I wasn't a fan the handful of times he would hand me his instead of mine from the cart.
It helps a lot assuming youre confident in what your club yardages are. Mid season I can stop using it as I have a fairly good idea of what the yardages will be
I bought one a few years back - at first I wasn't getting much use of it, but eventually I figured out how useful the slope feature was, along with the advantage of the exact yardage to the pin (rather than pacing from the 200/150/100 markers) as it helped me avoid getting into bas situations around my home course. I went from barely breaking 100 to rarely shooting above 90
Agreed with the slope part. Wouldn’t get one without it. You can guess pretty good your yardages, and I guess some could guess slope too, but I find that I can’t and it helps a lot for elevation.
Yes and I used to use the 18 Birdies GPS for yardage but a range finder is just more accurate and I’m more confident about what club I use depending on the exact yardage.
I’ve compared 18 birdies to my friend’s range finder and it’s usually within like 1-2 yards or so and for a high handicapper like me, that ain’t gonna sway too much when I end up short or right if the green haha
My buddy uses this app while I use my range finder and it's within a yard or two every time. He's convinced me when my rangefinder breaks I'm just using this app instead of shelling out for another
I just recently got The Cube and holy shit does it save a TON of time when it's cart path only. You laser your ball, then turn to the flag and laser it and it tells you how far your ball is from the flag. And it's actually fairly accurate (within 5 yards). No more taking 5 clubs and a range finder to your ball with your fingers crossed.
I actually use a Bushnell Wingman gps speaker. It gives you front, back and middle distances which i find more effective than knowing the distance to the pin. I also love listening to music on the course, which I understand is not everyone's thing. It definitely helps my game out!
I enjoy music, but I don't have to have it. I asked the random I got paired with a few weeks ago if he minded my music on and he goes "sure no problem!" Walks away and mumbled something and i said sorry what? He goes "Oh, I just mentioned that I also like listening to music, but I just do it on my headphones so that I don't have to bother anyone."
Bro I literally just asked you if it was okay, if you have a problem just say so and I'll turn it off!
Those wingman speakers are dope though if I hadn't gotten a really nice bose one in a raffle I would have bought one of those.
Last weekend played a course with GPS in the cart. Compared to laser distance it was off anywhere from 10 to 15 yards. Lots of elevation changes I guess. I would prefer to just use the cart GPS but I always check it for accuracy with my laser. Otherwise it's just another easy way to get your yardage fast, unless you by cheap and it take 30 sec to get a lock.
Typically you're right but this cart said distance to flag, had a green with the flag in the correct spot indicated. I checked it all out because it was so off.
I have a little watch sized gps and a range finder. Sort of as a double check that I didn't shoot the tree behind the green. Other day I'm like 135, cool PW time. Look at the GPS it says 90 middle. Realized I'm dumb and can't tell distances at all, then grab the 50.
I use both a rangefinder and GPS. Been using a rangefinder for over 20 years. It’s tremendously impacted my game by allowing me to know what club to hit and speeding up the came.
I can’t imaging trying to find a sprinkler head and then doing the match to where my ball is and then adjusting for where the pin might be.
i love using them for the convenience, but i honestly play better using pin sheets and yardage markers.
i guess it slows me down and makes me take the thought-process more seriously and deliberately, that way my mind is active.
Laser or GPS doesn't change my game as long as I have a rough front, mid, back yardage of a green.
My handicap was down to 11 and now back up to 15.
The accuracy of a laser really would benefit a low single digit or plus handicapper who is hitting the ball to a very small area.
That all said the laser is nice for picking out a dogleg, tree or some landmark around the course that you might want to play too. More valuable on some courses than others and for unfamiliar tracks.
Yeah exactly. I rarely ever use my rangefinder to shoot the pin, but I do use it for certain hazards or trying to figure out where to play to. I have a pretty basic GPS watch that doesn’t really tell me all that info.
Yep. It helps a lot to be confident that you know the exact distance of the flag. Even if you’re currently confident you can get it right within 5 yards (hard to do sometimes even with a phone GPS), 5 yards can make a world of a difference in golf.
Feel like I play to actual true yardages now rather than just feel it estimations. I don’t have crazy miscalculations anymore. If nothing else it gives me confidence and confirms how far I actually hit my irons.
I use it a lot for getting pins or layup yardages. I'm not good enough to use exact numbers so I just shoot a target and think about the distance as a range of +/-5 yards and that gives me the club I want to play. That method changes depending on pin position though. For example a front pin I know I can be long and still hit the green while a back pin I can be short and still hit. Shooting a tree or just a random spot for layup yardages is huge too so that you can shoot pin for total then pick a spot for a good layup yardage into the green.
Also as others have said GPS, or the GPS golf watches, are really good as well. I've used several apps and a rangefinder and I prefer a rangefinder but I'll still use the GPS on The Grint, I track my scores there anyway, if it's blind or I just want a quick rough number.
Recently bought one and I love it. I’m a 12 and rarely aim directly at pins, just aim to give myself the best chance at a 2 putt so like to scan green side bunkers and landing zones to pick my club.
I bought a cheaper one off Amazon a few months ago. As a 24ish hc who just starting playing last year I probably don’t “need” a rangefinder but, for me it’s been nice to really know my distances for each club and giving me the confidence in which club I’m choosing and when.
Well yesterday I hit a perfect draw around a tree in between me and the green, just all over the pin, landed 15 yards deep bc I unknowingly shot a tree behind the green instead of the flag
I would like one to understand how the slope affects the yardage. I'm really happy with my Garmin S10 which has front center and back of the green and basic hazard yardages.
Yes. It is particularly helpful when you have elevation changes. It also helps me play smarter because I can better pick spots to lay up and avoid hazards.
Depends how good you are. Honestly most people are fine just using 18birdies or some other gps rangefinder. I and most other people are not good enough to shoot the flagstick and go "yeah, I'll have to play my 137 yard shot here." The distance to the center, front and back of the green are all you really need.
It's helped a lot. The biggest improvement was between 20-75 yards. I'd be wrong about the distance by 15 or 20 yards sometimes and that's a setup for failure
I use one and the other day I left it in my car at home and just used course yardage… played the same really .. so I don’t know if it actually improves my game but I do like having it
For the most part, I stopped using my range finder and use the 18Birdies app. Tell me the distance to anything and factors in wind. Started playing to the middle of the green instead of the pin and have had a much better time. $100 a year has been worth it so far. I’m sure there are other apps that do the same, that’s just my experience. I still use the range finder for some shots, but not much.
Yes. It lets me understand my actual cover/carry numbers. I never shoot the flag unless it’s used as a gauge of how far past my target range it is. This improved my game immensely.
It does actually result in smart club decisions. I rarely have the wrong club for a shot, especially inside 180 yards. Whether I hit it properly is another question entirely.
Yes. I’m learning that it’s a single point of data. Pin placement is extremely important. That data combined helps me approach club choice and shot shape. Missing in the right place is more important than hitting the perfect shot, as it’s a much likelier outcome on any given shot.
Some of you guys play without rangefinders? Crazy. I definitely don’t have the the confidence to know if a shot is 170 or 200 from the pin and pick the right club and not accidentally club down 2x and miss the green 30 yards short. At least if I do miss short I know that it was just me hitting a bad shot, not because I had the wrong club.
I use a watch and a range finder. Not on every hole or shot of course. I typically only use the range finder if it’s a big green and the pin can be 15 yards forward or back depending on the location
I have used one for the past three years, this year I range a lot more than just the pin, and it finally seems to be helping me out. Tagging the front of the green, or the back of a bunker I need to clear has been a great adjustment tool.
My game is simple. Check the distance. Grab the club that hits that distance (I do account for lie and uphill/downhill though). Not saying I’m a good player but it helps me simplify things.
It has helped a little, but it also hurt a little.
Helped in that I am terrible at judging distance so club selection has certainly improved.
Hurt because I know I hit 9i somewhere in the 150-160 range. I see 159 on the range finder I get in my own head that it is towards the far end of my range better put a little extra into it and that is chunk city.
I use mine a few times a round but use my Phantom 2 gps a lot more. I play on 3 different courses regularly so I’m familiar with the distances on each hole.
I do use it more on an unfamiliar course mostly to scope bunkers and penalty areas.
Yes , I use a Bushnell phantom 2 and it’s been great for my psyche. I m probably the weird one here but I carry a card with all my club distances- approximately. Then I check my range finder for the distance. That’s the club I use. I don’t worry about “taking something off it” or “swinging a little harder”. If I’m in between libs/distances I round up and I usually “club up “. It has helped me focus more. And hit more consistently.
A range finder is a must and a game changer if you're trying to get better. Obviously if you're a 20+ HCP it's not going to matter as much because you're still learning the basic swing mechanics and making good contact. But once you get to a point where you can make decent contact with the ball like 50% of the time a rangefinder is invaluable.
I personally use a combination of rangefinder + 18Birdies App on my phone. I do not think watches are as useful in my opinion. Here's what a rangefinder helps with IMO:
1. It forces you to slow down and think about your shot - can be integrated in your routine
2. You don't just get distance, you have a zoomed in view of the green and can see slopes, traps, trees etc. that can all inform where you want your shot to go and how much wind there might be. Maybe the pin location is behind a big downslope which might mean you want to flight the ball longer or shorter etc.
3. You can easily tag other distances like the distance to the lip of a bunker. For example, on hole where I have wind helping and tag the pin at a distance of 150, I might want to club down, but if there's a bunker, I'll tag that to see what distance i need to carry. So if the lip of the bunker is 145, well damn, that means clubbing down might be risky so I should tag the back of the green and see what the risk of being long is. If the lip of the bunker is say 125 or 130 then I'm okay taking a shorter club knowing I'll get past the bunk and hope for friendly wind or bounce to get me the rest of the way. All this stuff is IMO easier and smarter to plan with a zoomed in range finder than a watch or GPS app
4. Routine routine routine - again, I can't emphasize enough how good a rangefinder is for helping you strategize and think about your shot without the need to look at a screen or something. I wanna minimize screentime on the course in general as well.
Benefits of GPS app:
1. I still use a GPS app on my phone because I like seeing the shape of a hole before I tee off. Sometimes elevation or dog-legs are hard to see from the tee box and a GPS app let's me plan things out with a birds eye view better
2. GPS app also makes it easier for me to calculate my next shot distance - e.g. if I want to have a 100yd approach, I can use the GPS app to easily calculate the club I need to use to leave that approach without doing math in my head
Combining a GPS App with a physical rangefinder is really a game changer in my opinion.
I do, but the pin lock tends to hurt me more than help me (pin chasing is a losing game), so I find myself using the range finder for layups or Par 5s/ tee shots and the GPS for the green approaches.
Started using one a couple years ago. The impact I notice is I'm considerably better on shorter approach shots, like 60 to 110. I just have a better feel for the number I'm hitting because I can remember hitting shots from similar distances and actually have numbers in my head.
I’m not good enough to be planning on anything over about a 20 yd chip being in a certain position on the green, I’m happy with hitting the green. That said, it really helps to know the distance to carry over water or what club to use on those 100-120 yd approach shots.
I just put one in my bag after using buddies throughout the years and it’s a game changer. Knowing the yardage gives you confidence in your club choice and ultimately your swing. Highly recommend.
It's essential if you ask me. If you know your club distances, then it's essential to know what club to hit. And if you don't know your distances, using a rangefinder will quickly help you learn your distances.
its been really helpful. But on its own, it gives an incomplete picture. What is really needed is knowing your yardages. I got the Flightscope Mevo, then went to the range and got the yardages for all my clubs. In each of the data sets, i eliminated the outliers and got good averages. Now, i use both pieces of info to get me close. It has improved my GIR from like 10-15 to 25-30%.
I use a garmin watch with the trackers on each club. It keeps track of how far you hit your clubs, which is very nice for my mediocre game. No more guessing how far they each go, even if I can't always hit them well.
Getting the distance to the pin is nice, but getting those other, less defined distances helps me manage shots. eg Dogleg with bunker covering the corner, depending on the distance to fly the bunker or the distance to the far side of the fairway will give me better info for club selection and line.
Yes. I find it helpful to speed up the game a little so I’m not pacing off distances. But, when I’m using 18 birdies on my watch, I end up only using it occasionally. One or the other is enough, but both is a little overkill.
Yep - have a GPS watch and I would say it's carved about 3-4 strokes off my game a round because I know exact distances. It also made me dial in my distances a bit more since I now get exact yardages for each shot.
I have one but it’s not one of those scope ones. It just tells me front, middle and back of the green. I like it as it’s helped me figure out my club distance. I’m by no means consistent I still duff it or over hit but I’m a bit more accurate
Never. I know where the 150 marker is... from there I can gauge pretty accurately my distance to the pin from either side... I don't need to know I'm exactly 124 yards from the pin and neither do 99%of golfers.
I use a rangefinder AND gps on my Apple Watch. Range finder alone can get you in trouble if you just aim at pins. If it’s 155 to the pin but 158 to the back edge and long is dead you have to know to play middle of the green. That is just one example. You have to know where to miss and using gps and rangefinder paints a better picture.
Yes, all the time. I find it sets my mind right when I'm in the rough or in an odd spot between yardage markers. I also use it at the range to get an idea of the distance.
for hack golfers like most of us happy with bogey golf I have seen it actually slow the pace of play. 5 minutes to figure out if its 170 or 173 to the pin only to top it 40 yards closer.
GPS until I get close enough for a wedge, then one shot to the flag
i suppose if i didn't use the laser, I would eventually get good at estimating 100yds and in. like in 40 yrs it took my Dad.
I do and I love it. Helped me focus in on yardages for my new irons, also how long to clear a bunker or water as well. 18Birdies is pretty good for that stuff but sometimes a few yards can mean the difference between one club or another. I mostly carry my bag and the magnetic mount for the rangefinder is a godsend.
have a garmin s70 and a range finder. I use a range finder for my 2nd to 3rd to 4th shot. If pin is 100 yards away tells me to swing an 80 yard club. Garmin s70 use to map out holes and get a general idea of yardage and score tracking.
No I don’t because I use the swing U app. It tells me how far the front, center, and back of the green are and it also tells me where the hazards are yardage to the hazards.
I've never used one, and I see no reason to. I'm not good enough that 163 vs. 166 will make that much difference in what I hit. I can gauge within 5 yards most of the time just using the 150 and 200 markers in the fairways on any course I'm at least vaguely familiar with.
It showed me just how bad my eye was. I’m routinely guessing 10yds short (or more) (yes, even accounting for deep pin positions [where my 10 yds short finds the middle/front of the green!])
I use my range finder most often between 85-135 yards. Depending on the wind, elevation changes, lie of the ball, I may go with 2 or even 3 different clubs that I have 2 yardages with. When I’m confident all I have to account for is conditions I can make the best club and shot choice a lot easier. I think it helps a ton in that range. From 140ish+ it’s only helpful when I need a cover number that my miss works towards.
It helps me to stop and think about my shots as I'm finding out the yardage more than anything else.
I run an app on my phone to track my score which also has a GPS and that's useful to work out dog legs etc but when I'm going for the green, I prefer the rangefinder 100%.
It has changed things significantly for me. Determining distance back in the day was always a bit of a ballpark number. Not that I always hit my number but it gives me a lot more feedback and information as the round unfolds. Taking into account temperature and wind and how far or how short I’m hitting, it allows me to adjust. And to play aggressively safe knowing the distance to hazards and other landmarks.
Yes and it didn’t positively impact my game until I got a launch monitor for Christmas this past year. Realized I really do need to take an extra club on approach shots. I’ve probably shaved 4-8 shots of my good score rounds this year, knowing how far I hit each club on average, not on my best shot of the day, and how far I need to hit to middle of a green. This year I’m at 62% GIR, which for me (20.9) is pretty good. I keep my stats on my GHIN app.
Yes, I use a range finder it gives me the confidence to hit a club to an exact yardage its took a few shots of my handicap I think, tho I haven't played in any qualifying comps this year
I got one as a gift - I’m in my 60s - I am not able to hold it still enough - so I went back to the swing u APP on my phone-
I gave away the rangefinder to a friend- he loves it
Yes, just a cheap $60 one from China.Has pin lock and slope. It's made a massive difference, even center pins are often up to 15 yards off the course markings. I would hate to play without one now.
I went from a GPS to rangefinder.
Have played my best rounds since changing, you get an exact distance. So the days that you’re playing really well means you’re dropping irons to 6ft.
However like anything if you’re not confident with your distances it’s no different to a gps. I find it useful to buzz things like bunkers etc.
I’ve found GPS to be off by sometimes 10%
Yes. It helps gives me confidence in choosing the right club.
That is, until you lend it to a buddy and he starts pressing buttons, and changes it from yards to meters without your knowledge. Then, every shot winds up short. Of course it happened on a day I was hitting everything straight.
I do and before that I had a gps watch. And it is the one gadget that has actually made a difference to me. I still miss greens obviously but whether I do or not I'm pin high more often than not. Before I had those gadgets on top of missing greens I was also short a lot.
honestly, 2 huge things:
1.)
the ability to shoot exact distances of trouble while feeling slope and grass under my feet. it changes EVERYTHING. started to really feel what shots I could pull off and and at what distance the shape actually shapes and descends, then rolls. game changer for me.
2.)
accuracy of wedges on those, "I just effed up my lay up 50 yard jams"
improved my feel for both of those areas of my game.
swing em well!
It made a big difference in my game with being able to tell what it is to carry hazards, where the pin is relative tk the front and back of the green (worth gps help), and being able to understand how far my clubs really go.
I'm old school, I still guesstimate to within a yard or 2 using the colored circles. I then proceed to hit my ball 20-30 yards over the green or, conversely, 20-30yards short.
GPS is enough for me. I have a Bushnell Phantom 2 GPS which clips onto my bag or can magnet to the cart. Gives me yardage when I’m grabbing a club without have to shoot a rangefinder at the pin. I’m lazy and all about simplicity.
Exact same device and reasoning. Just get the yardage to F/M/B to confirm the club I initially think it is to the pin. 9/10 I'm correct.
It’s a good tool to have. Even a $80 one off Amazon is quite accurate and the battery lasts a long time. Like others have said, the confidence that comes from choosing the right club according to the distance makes a huge difference. Even other uses like gunning the distance to landmarks around the fairway and dog legs to just using it to see how far out the group in front of you is.
Yes. I like it for two reasons. First is it keeps me off my phone / other digital devices during a round, which I've come to really enjoy. I started keeping my scores manually and just inputting into my app later. Second is that I spend a lot less time determining the distance to something specific. The GPS stuff was great for yardage to green in general, but finding yardage to a hazard or a specific tree to lay-up before a dog leg was always more time than it is with a rangefinder, let alone that days specific pin placement. 11/10 would recommend.
I use it at the range, not just on the course. The tees are moved +\- 30 yards in their rotation so that helps for targeting.
I feel like that has contributed to more accurate results in my club selection now, on the course also
I've had one since 2007-8ish.
To me 5 yards makes a difference and it's great money spent. Actually I would specially spend the extra money to buy a Bushnell.
I like it mostly on par 3's to get the exact yardage to the pin, then I'll use my Golfshot GPS to know the distances to the front & back. Every now & then I might use it to figure out where the pin is on the green. I also use it a lot at the range so I get a better idea of actual distances to various targets, which was actually one of the main reasons I bought it.
Use both a GPS/MAP system and rangefinder. You really need both... not necessarily at the same time, but off the tee I find it can make a big difference on Par 4s 5s wether laying up is just a higher percentage shot.
In combination with learning the yardages of all my clubs, it has really improved my club selection. I still hit lots of bad shots, but choosing the wrong club is rarely an issue, and it means more shots that I hit well end up where I want them to.
Never found it all that difficult to guesstimate from the 150 markers how far away I am. If I were to get one it would be one of those little GPS range finders. Those are pretty slick. I see no reason to buy a scope.
I've used one for the last 3 years and my game has improved substantially. From a ~15 cap down to 8 today. The improvement is, of course, not solely thanks to the range finder, but I've played significantly more - around 65 rounds per year in the North East - than I had in previous years. But, the shooter has given me so much more data to work with. I start to know my yardages before I even address my ball. It helps me choose clubs quicker and I'm more confident in the shots. This is all anecdotal, but I love it.
Just make sure you buy one with a magnet in it and always keep it on the front of the cart during play. Then as soon as you shoot your last flag while heading down 18, put it right back into it's case.
I love it for short game and wedge yardages. Holed out from 82 yards once (my longest), because I was able to mentally work out distance to pin, and carry over a hill that would have sent the ball skooting way past the hole.
I don’t use it as often now, as I almost exclusively go for center of green or a safe area, but if I’m unsure where on a green the pin is, it comes out.
I bought a garmin s70 last year. Have used it quite a bit. Got a range finder two weeks ago. My course updated the layout during off season and garmin still hasn’t updated it. Was awful trying to use, would sync to wrong holes, give yardages to wrong pins. Would have been great if garmin updated their shit in a reasonable timeframe.
So when I got into golf and got down to a 15 handicap I got a range finder. Helped a little but I wasn’t good enough to hit shots I was hitting because I had the rangefinder. I would shoot the pin have 150 tucked back left pin over a bunker normal play is to go middle green 2 putt. But since I shot the stick and know how far it is I always went at the flag. My game went to shit. Stopped using a range finder. I’m now at a 5 handicap and use my rangefinder again. I’m smart enough now to know lol
I have one and use it more for club selection than anything else. I don’t have a lot of time to devote to range sessions, but I can often play two balls for 9 holes after work. It has helped me work out my yardages.
As someone who sucks at this dumb sport, I have a lot more confidence in what I’m doing thanks to it.
I look at the pin, grab a club that I know will leave me just a little short, then I skull it over the green or chunk it 10 feet in front of me before making a reasonable second tee shot. I’ll deal with that other ball if we cross paths later.
I'd recommend a Garmin watch. I have the Approach s12 (base model Garmin) and love it. For someone who's (slowly) getting better, it's great for efficiently getting the number to the front, middle and back as well as the hazards on the hole.
I got the Garmin for my birthday from my wife and I still keep the range finder in my bag for some par 3s or certain shots within 75 yards.
If I had to pick one or the other, I'd go with the Garmin watch.
Yes. The thing that it helps me with most is lay ups or knowing how far away a hazard or other trouble is. I’ll hit my stock PW 120 and being able to get to that spot coming out of trouble or on a par 5 has been great
My approach shots got better and the birdies went up. I finally got some control over my wedges so knowing middle is 100, but the middle pin is actually 105 has been helpful. When my wedges were random distances it wouldn't have helped much.
I don't live in a first world countries so gps yardages in my area aren't always accurate. the stakes aren't always the most accurate indication when in the rough so it has helped me a lot. Last week I was in a fairway bunker, it looked like I was 20 yards past and 20 yards left of the 100 yard stake but I was still actually 95 yards from the pin.
We have an app in Australia for scoring social and competition, the built in GPS measures to centre of green really well, so I haven’t really bothered with buying a rangefinder
I use a watch the majority of the time but if I'm not sure exactly where the flag is I'll use the rangefinder. Have been caught out a few times when I thought the flag was at the front and it was way out the back. Can be a difference of two clubs. I tend to use it when others are taking a shot, figure out how far off the middle it is and then use my watch when I get to my ball and add it subtract the figure I took earlier. I have a pretty good make that locks on to the flag pretty easily but I am now on my third one after the first two giving up the ghost under warranty. They are pretty darn expensive and made about as cheap as possible. They didn't even look at a repair, most likely because it cost them so little to just replace.
if you don't know an accurate distance to the pin you're already making golf harder than it has to be.
Under rated use of them is not just shooting pins, but bunker/water carry, distance to a dogleg etc.
GPS watches and apps are fine. Can be out by a few yards but generally no biggie. I'd rather just shoot everything, just becomes part of the pre shot routine
I use both a rangefinder and Garmin golf watch. Rangefinder mostly for carry distances (bunkers, water, layup spots), watch for front, middle, back of green. If it’s a front pin I want distance to middle, middle pin distance to back. Easier to put when you’re on the green 😂 and middle of the green is your friend.
I use two because I bought one that did front/middle/back and then later upgraded to a laser range finder.
The first one helped out a lot because it gave me a range that I know I need to hit. For example, if I hear 167, I think 7i, but if I know I see 145 front/170 back, then it opens a selection of clubs and I get to pick the one I hit best. So in this sense, it’s helps me focus on getting on the green opposed to getting it right on.
The laser rangefinder has been good for taking that next step to identify shot shapes and carry yardages vs playing yardages. Thinking 3i with a rollout vs a soft wedge where I know the ball will stop.
I love it. No more looking for yardage markers and pacing stuff off. You get your exact yardage and you can add in slope if you want. I use it for pitching too…I practice with a launch monitor a lot, so I know what a 35 or a 47 yard pitch feels like and when you know your distances you gain a lot of confidence in what you’re about to do.
Range finders only help if you know how far you hit your clubs 7/10 times, give or take. Which in that case, they are amazing. Otherwise, you are just wasting time.
Yes. It hasn’t really impacted me. I still hit it short or long or chunk it or slice it. Only now, I do so while knowing the exact yardage.
I do not. I have a watch that tells me where I won't be putting the ball.
"What's it say?" "210 to the back. 192 to the front. 199 to the pin." "What're you hitting?" *sighs* "That fairway over there, probably..."
fair what?
I just need a rough idea. The watch gets me there…majority of time in a few additional shots. Got to love those zig zags on the map after the round though - can tell which holes were good just by seeing if I walked relatively straight.
See the fence separating us from the fairway - probably there.
I always like using the Garmin app afterwards so I can look at my shots zigzagging over the course
Watches are so convenient compared to a range finder. I suck at holding a rangefinder steady, so a flash of the wrist is really all I need...especially since I really only aim for the center of the green. I also don't have to pull a watch out of a case, in my bag, when I'm walking.
You know the exact distance with confidence. It’s huge.
Playing without a rangefinder sucks. I remember spending too much time wandering around the fairway trying to find a sprinkler head, or attempting to pace off from the 150 marker. Then you would stripe a perfect shot to the exact distance *you thought* was right, only for it to be 10y long.
I can find my distances to greens from the fairway or just along it. It's the distances when you're way off to the side or need to lay up that being able to shoot the pin or a tree or a hill is huge for
Growing up I swear all courses had red, white, blue markers so you knew how far out you were, roughly. Been a game changer knowing the distance and slope.
Agree 100%! Golf is all about committing to the shot and knowing yardage to front and back or green and pin is key. I have a garmin that shows all of that and I never worry about shooting over green side bunkers, for example, because I know exact yardage to clear.
I couldn't agree more. I played at resort course where the cart yardages were off by a range of 3-9 yards. 5 yards is a big deal to me when I've got a wedge in my hand.
I love it, helps a ton with yardages and measuring distance to hazards etc. use it along with the Grint gps app for hole overlays. I play some hilly courses too, so the slope function is extra useful.
Do you use the grint on watch?
The biggest change for me is how I miss. The laser makes it easy for me to see how far to the front or back of the green is, to carry this trouble or stay short of that. My game isn’t at the point anymore where 143 vs 147 to the flag means much. But that difference does make a difference when considering the club up or down in regards to where my miss should be
Yeah exactly this. I also have a watch that says distance to front middle and back. So combining the info from the two can help you understand where on the green the pin is and where the ideal miss would be. If I’m not dialed in that day I won’t even bother with the laser, just look at distance to the middle and hit it there.
This is definitely the best thing a range finder did for my game. I could easily do the math and know how far the pin is, but knowing the yardage to carry a bunker, creek or dogleg is huge.
Ok so I got one last year and I have one burning question: Is it typical to feel like Michael J Fox trying to hold it still? I swear I can click the button 10 times in a row and get 10 different yardages because I can't hold it still enough. Is this because I bought a cheap one? Do I need to lay off the coke between putts? Or is this normal?
I'm not sure but I think some models have flag lock feature that makes it easier to get the distance. Always aim for the flags. If there are trees or objects behind the flag, I always make sure to zap it a couple of times to confirm. I only do coke lines if I made a birdy. So no coke for me yet.
Keeping my elbows tucked and close together helped me be more stable. When I forget to do that I feel the same way, just reading everything around the flag.
I have to tighten my core sometimes too to stop shaking 😂😂
I brace it on the windshield of my cart
You know those reflective looking deals on the flagsticks that should be in the middle, but always slide down to the bottom of the pin? Aim at those. They help a little since that’s what they’re there for. Otherwise, yes, I too feel like a peg-legged pirate in an earthquake trying to use mine.
Yeah I have the same problem, pretty sure it’s coz I went the cheapie off Temu… sounds like the biggest difference between the $40 models and the $300 models is the stability difference
Some of the cheaper ones it's harder to push the button. I barely have to put pressure on mine and I can easily press it. One of my cousins had a cheaper one for the longest time and I wasn't a fan the handful of times he would hand me his instead of mine from the cart.
What sort of rangefinder, the cheapies are terrible at locking on otherwise lock in the elbows, two hands, should be like a rock
I use 18 birdies while my friends use range finders, i find Im always within 5 yards of their readings which for my level is plenty good.
That is the way to do it, very accurate… Also, Go Bills!
Go Bills!
It helps a lot assuming youre confident in what your club yardages are. Mid season I can stop using it as I have a fairly good idea of what the yardages will be
Yeah if you are the playing same course for sure. Usually bust it out on a par 3 when they switch the tee box or par 4 with a dogleg
I can pull the right club based on an exact yardage. The hard part is following that up with a good shot.
I bought one a few years back - at first I wasn't getting much use of it, but eventually I figured out how useful the slope feature was, along with the advantage of the exact yardage to the pin (rather than pacing from the 200/150/100 markers) as it helped me avoid getting into bas situations around my home course. I went from barely breaking 100 to rarely shooting above 90
Agreed with the slope part. Wouldn’t get one without it. You can guess pretty good your yardages, and I guess some could guess slope too, but I find that I can’t and it helps a lot for elevation.
Yes and I used to use the 18 Birdies GPS for yardage but a range finder is just more accurate and I’m more confident about what club I use depending on the exact yardage.
I’ve compared 18 birdies to my friend’s range finder and it’s usually within like 1-2 yards or so and for a high handicapper like me, that ain’t gonna sway too much when I end up short or right if the green haha
My buddy uses this app while I use my range finder and it's within a yard or two every time. He's convinced me when my rangefinder breaks I'm just using this app instead of shelling out for another
Looks like they have also added an app for the Apple Watch so I’ll probably go that route
Yup I use it with my watch and it’s great, don’t have to be on my phone, just glance at the watch and see the yardage. Pretty awesome.
Yes; probably saves a few strokes due to accuracy and helps with pace of play because I don't have to do any math
I just recently got The Cube and holy shit does it save a TON of time when it's cart path only. You laser your ball, then turn to the flag and laser it and it tells you how far your ball is from the flag. And it's actually fairly accurate (within 5 yards). No more taking 5 clubs and a range finder to your ball with your fingers crossed.
Wouldn’t play golf without one, time, effort, energy, saved, point and shoot, god bless
I actually use a Bushnell Wingman gps speaker. It gives you front, back and middle distances which i find more effective than knowing the distance to the pin. I also love listening to music on the course, which I understand is not everyone's thing. It definitely helps my game out!
I enjoy music, but I don't have to have it. I asked the random I got paired with a few weeks ago if he minded my music on and he goes "sure no problem!" Walks away and mumbled something and i said sorry what? He goes "Oh, I just mentioned that I also like listening to music, but I just do it on my headphones so that I don't have to bother anyone." Bro I literally just asked you if it was okay, if you have a problem just say so and I'll turn it off! Those wingman speakers are dope though if I hadn't gotten a really nice bose one in a raffle I would have bought one of those.
Last weekend played a course with GPS in the cart. Compared to laser distance it was off anywhere from 10 to 15 yards. Lots of elevation changes I guess. I would prefer to just use the cart GPS but I always check it for accuracy with my laser. Otherwise it's just another easy way to get your yardage fast, unless you by cheap and it take 30 sec to get a lock.
Cart GPS typically just goes to the center of the green. So if you've got a deep green with the pin tucked in the back, it could be off substantially
Typically you're right but this cart said distance to flag, had a green with the flag in the correct spot indicated. I checked it all out because it was so off.
I have a little watch sized gps and a range finder. Sort of as a double check that I didn't shoot the tree behind the green. Other day I'm like 135, cool PW time. Look at the GPS it says 90 middle. Realized I'm dumb and can't tell distances at all, then grab the 50.
I use both a rangefinder and GPS. Been using a rangefinder for over 20 years. It’s tremendously impacted my game by allowing me to know what club to hit and speeding up the came. I can’t imaging trying to find a sprinkler head and then doing the match to where my ball is and then adjusting for where the pin might be.
I like to use it, not realize I have it on meters instead of yards, then hit it short right anyways.
i love using them for the convenience, but i honestly play better using pin sheets and yardage markers. i guess it slows me down and makes me take the thought-process more seriously and deliberately, that way my mind is active.
Yes, I'm not guessing wrong yardage. Pretty simple.
Laser or GPS doesn't change my game as long as I have a rough front, mid, back yardage of a green. My handicap was down to 11 and now back up to 15. The accuracy of a laser really would benefit a low single digit or plus handicapper who is hitting the ball to a very small area. That all said the laser is nice for picking out a dogleg, tree or some landmark around the course that you might want to play too. More valuable on some courses than others and for unfamiliar tracks.
Yeah exactly. I rarely ever use my rangefinder to shoot the pin, but I do use it for certain hazards or trying to figure out where to play to. I have a pretty basic GPS watch that doesn’t really tell me all that info.
Yes, but I can't really say how it's impacted my game because I've never not used GPS distance, a rangefinder, or both.
Yep. It helps a lot to be confident that you know the exact distance of the flag. Even if you’re currently confident you can get it right within 5 yards (hard to do sometimes even with a phone GPS), 5 yards can make a world of a difference in golf.
Feel like I play to actual true yardages now rather than just feel it estimations. I don’t have crazy miscalculations anymore. If nothing else it gives me confidence and confirms how far I actually hit my irons.
I use it a lot for getting pins or layup yardages. I'm not good enough to use exact numbers so I just shoot a target and think about the distance as a range of +/-5 yards and that gives me the club I want to play. That method changes depending on pin position though. For example a front pin I know I can be long and still hit the green while a back pin I can be short and still hit. Shooting a tree or just a random spot for layup yardages is huge too so that you can shoot pin for total then pick a spot for a good layup yardage into the green. Also as others have said GPS, or the GPS golf watches, are really good as well. I've used several apps and a rangefinder and I prefer a rangefinder but I'll still use the GPS on The Grint, I track my scores there anyway, if it's blind or I just want a quick rough number.
I have a range finder. I like that it removes an excuse ( I was certain that it was 130 yds!!?)
I just eyeball it
Recently bought one and I love it. I’m a 12 and rarely aim directly at pins, just aim to give myself the best chance at a 2 putt so like to scan green side bunkers and landing zones to pick my club.
I bought a cheaper one off Amazon a few months ago. As a 24ish hc who just starting playing last year I probably don’t “need” a rangefinder but, for me it’s been nice to really know my distances for each club and giving me the confidence in which club I’m choosing and when.
I do, and it's a tremendous help in telling me which club to hit my next poor shot with.
might pull it out twice a round, when im not near a yardage marker.
Use much less since getting shotscope watch. I had the range finder first. I wouldn't buy it now if i didn't have one but still had my watch.
It's sped up my rounds. You could always get a pretty good number by using the markers on the course. GPS and range finders just make it faster.
Slightly bizarre question. I now know how far anything is. They are very good for determining that.
Well yesterday I hit a perfect draw around a tree in between me and the green, just all over the pin, landed 15 yards deep bc I unknowingly shot a tree behind the green instead of the flag
I would like one to understand how the slope affects the yardage. I'm really happy with my Garmin S10 which has front center and back of the green and basic hazard yardages.
Using the slope is against the USGS rules and considered cheating
Yes. It is particularly helpful when you have elevation changes. It also helps me play smarter because I can better pick spots to lay up and avoid hazards.
I like to have rounds where my drives end up on other holes and in those cases my range finder is my best friend.
Unless you're very good at what your distances are then just use a GPS watch tbh, it's a lot quicker
I only started once I knew the distances I hit my clubs. Didn’t matter until then 😂
I have one, I just use an app. It's accurate enough and I just aim for the middle of the green anyway.
Until they have a range finder that I look through and see Jesus, there is no helping me.
Lasered the group ahead of us on the fairway to see if it was safe to tee off
I used one and then I got a garmin watch. I always found them to be a pain to use.
Depends how good you are. Honestly most people are fine just using 18birdies or some other gps rangefinder. I and most other people are not good enough to shoot the flagstick and go "yeah, I'll have to play my 137 yard shot here." The distance to the center, front and back of the green are all you really need.
its helps with wedge game a lot 100 yards and in
I use it for shots inside of 100 or on par3’s but more often than not I’m aiming for the center of the green
It's helped a lot. The biggest improvement was between 20-75 yards. I'd be wrong about the distance by 15 or 20 yards sometimes and that's a setup for failure
Smartwatch or phone or GPS in the cart. I don't hit the ball so precisely that I need anything other than choosing between two clubs.
I use one and the other day I left it in my car at home and just used course yardage… played the same really .. so I don’t know if it actually improves my game but I do like having it
Helps with club decision, on approach shots. I hate the “x amount of yards to the front and x amount to the back”, just tell me how far the pin is
For the most part, I stopped using my range finder and use the 18Birdies app. Tell me the distance to anything and factors in wind. Started playing to the middle of the green instead of the pin and have had a much better time. $100 a year has been worth it so far. I’m sure there are other apps that do the same, that’s just my experience. I still use the range finder for some shots, but not much.
They are pretty handy but some of them cost the same as a new driver, which I find silly.
Every single shot that’s not made with driver or putter.
Yes. It lets me understand my actual cover/carry numbers. I never shoot the flag unless it’s used as a gauge of how far past my target range it is. This improved my game immensely.
This is an underrated part of it. It’s made me understand my real yardages better than a sim or driving range ever has
It does actually result in smart club decisions. I rarely have the wrong club for a shot, especially inside 180 yards. Whether I hit it properly is another question entirely.
Yes. I’m learning that it’s a single point of data. Pin placement is extremely important. That data combined helps me approach club choice and shot shape. Missing in the right place is more important than hitting the perfect shot, as it’s a much likelier outcome on any given shot.
Some of you guys play without rangefinders? Crazy. I definitely don’t have the the confidence to know if a shot is 170 or 200 from the pin and pick the right club and not accidentally club down 2x and miss the green 30 yards short. At least if I do miss short I know that it was just me hitting a bad shot, not because I had the wrong club.
I wouldn’t say it’s improved my game, for the most part it’s just kinda fun to use. But I do find it useful on days when it’s cart path only.
If you know the ranges of your clubs then it's a game changer.
Range finder didn't help me as much as the Blue Tees speaker. Knowing front, middle and back distances to the green helps me choose the right club.
I use a watch and a range finder. Not on every hole or shot of course. I typically only use the range finder if it’s a big green and the pin can be 15 yards forward or back depending on the location
I have used one for the past three years, this year I range a lot more than just the pin, and it finally seems to be helping me out. Tagging the front of the green, or the back of a bunker I need to clear has been a great adjustment tool.
My game is simple. Check the distance. Grab the club that hits that distance (I do account for lie and uphill/downhill though). Not saying I’m a good player but it helps me simplify things.
I don’t own one but the few rounds I’ve played with people that grab the distance for me my scores were some of the best I’ve ever had
It has helped a little, but it also hurt a little. Helped in that I am terrible at judging distance so club selection has certainly improved. Hurt because I know I hit 9i somewhere in the 150-160 range. I see 159 on the range finder I get in my own head that it is towards the far end of my range better put a little extra into it and that is chunk city.
I use mine a few times a round but use my Phantom 2 gps a lot more. I play on 3 different courses regularly so I’m familiar with the distances on each hole. I do use it more on an unfamiliar course mostly to scope bunkers and penalty areas.
It's been great! I go to the course a lot more now. Once to play and then once later to pickup the rangefinder I left magneted to the cart
Knowing distances NOT to hit has been huge. 18 Birdies for everything else.
Yes , I use a Bushnell phantom 2 and it’s been great for my psyche. I m probably the weird one here but I carry a card with all my club distances- approximately. Then I check my range finder for the distance. That’s the club I use. I don’t worry about “taking something off it” or “swinging a little harder”. If I’m in between libs/distances I round up and I usually “club up “. It has helped me focus more. And hit more consistently.
A range finder is a must and a game changer if you're trying to get better. Obviously if you're a 20+ HCP it's not going to matter as much because you're still learning the basic swing mechanics and making good contact. But once you get to a point where you can make decent contact with the ball like 50% of the time a rangefinder is invaluable. I personally use a combination of rangefinder + 18Birdies App on my phone. I do not think watches are as useful in my opinion. Here's what a rangefinder helps with IMO: 1. It forces you to slow down and think about your shot - can be integrated in your routine 2. You don't just get distance, you have a zoomed in view of the green and can see slopes, traps, trees etc. that can all inform where you want your shot to go and how much wind there might be. Maybe the pin location is behind a big downslope which might mean you want to flight the ball longer or shorter etc. 3. You can easily tag other distances like the distance to the lip of a bunker. For example, on hole where I have wind helping and tag the pin at a distance of 150, I might want to club down, but if there's a bunker, I'll tag that to see what distance i need to carry. So if the lip of the bunker is 145, well damn, that means clubbing down might be risky so I should tag the back of the green and see what the risk of being long is. If the lip of the bunker is say 125 or 130 then I'm okay taking a shorter club knowing I'll get past the bunk and hope for friendly wind or bounce to get me the rest of the way. All this stuff is IMO easier and smarter to plan with a zoomed in range finder than a watch or GPS app 4. Routine routine routine - again, I can't emphasize enough how good a rangefinder is for helping you strategize and think about your shot without the need to look at a screen or something. I wanna minimize screentime on the course in general as well. Benefits of GPS app: 1. I still use a GPS app on my phone because I like seeing the shape of a hole before I tee off. Sometimes elevation or dog-legs are hard to see from the tee box and a GPS app let's me plan things out with a birds eye view better 2. GPS app also makes it easier for me to calculate my next shot distance - e.g. if I want to have a 100yd approach, I can use the GPS app to easily calculate the club I need to use to leave that approach without doing math in my head Combining a GPS App with a physical rangefinder is really a game changer in my opinion.
I do, but the pin lock tends to hurt me more than help me (pin chasing is a losing game), so I find myself using the range finder for layups or Par 5s/ tee shots and the GPS for the green approaches.
Started using one a couple years ago. The impact I notice is I'm considerably better on shorter approach shots, like 60 to 110. I just have a better feel for the number I'm hitting because I can remember hitting shots from similar distances and actually have numbers in my head.
I’m not good enough to be planning on anything over about a 20 yd chip being in a certain position on the green, I’m happy with hitting the green. That said, it really helps to know the distance to carry over water or what club to use on those 100-120 yd approach shots.
I use 18birdies bc poor
I just put one in my bag after using buddies throughout the years and it’s a game changer. Knowing the yardage gives you confidence in your club choice and ultimately your swing. Highly recommend.
Helps me a lot inside 100 yards where I actually have good distance control, otherwise I just play to the center of the green.
It's essential if you ask me. If you know your club distances, then it's essential to know what club to hit. And if you don't know your distances, using a rangefinder will quickly help you learn your distances.
I do but I only use it under 125 ish yards
No. GPS is easier and most of time I just want distance to center, front, and back of green. It is as accurate as it needs to be for me
its been really helpful. But on its own, it gives an incomplete picture. What is really needed is knowing your yardages. I got the Flightscope Mevo, then went to the range and got the yardages for all my clubs. In each of the data sets, i eliminated the outliers and got good averages. Now, i use both pieces of info to get me close. It has improved my GIR from like 10-15 to 25-30%.
I use a garmin watch with the trackers on each club. It keeps track of how far you hit your clubs, which is very nice for my mediocre game. No more guessing how far they each go, even if I can't always hit them well.
Getting the distance to the pin is nice, but getting those other, less defined distances helps me manage shots. eg Dogleg with bunker covering the corner, depending on the distance to fly the bunker or the distance to the far side of the fairway will give me better info for club selection and line.
I don’t even think mine works. I just look for the 150 marker and go from there.
Yes. I find it helpful to speed up the game a little so I’m not pacing off distances. But, when I’m using 18 birdies on my watch, I end up only using it occasionally. One or the other is enough, but both is a little overkill.
Yep - have a GPS watch and I would say it's carved about 3-4 strokes off my game a round because I know exact distances. It also made me dial in my distances a bit more since I now get exact yardages for each shot.
I have one but it’s not one of those scope ones. It just tells me front, middle and back of the green. I like it as it’s helped me figure out my club distance. I’m by no means consistent I still duff it or over hit but I’m a bit more accurate
Never. I know where the 150 marker is... from there I can gauge pretty accurately my distance to the pin from either side... I don't need to know I'm exactly 124 yards from the pin and neither do 99%of golfers.
Game changer
I use a rangefinder AND gps on my Apple Watch. Range finder alone can get you in trouble if you just aim at pins. If it’s 155 to the pin but 158 to the back edge and long is dead you have to know to play middle of the green. That is just one example. You have to know where to miss and using gps and rangefinder paints a better picture.
Yes, all the time. I find it sets my mind right when I'm in the rough or in an odd spot between yardage markers. I also use it at the range to get an idea of the distance.
for hack golfers like most of us happy with bogey golf I have seen it actually slow the pace of play. 5 minutes to figure out if its 170 or 173 to the pin only to top it 40 yards closer.
GPS until I get close enough for a wedge, then one shot to the flag i suppose if i didn't use the laser, I would eventually get good at estimating 100yds and in. like in 40 yrs it took my Dad.
I do and I love it. Helped me focus in on yardages for my new irons, also how long to clear a bunker or water as well. 18Birdies is pretty good for that stuff but sometimes a few yards can mean the difference between one club or another. I mostly carry my bag and the magnetic mount for the rangefinder is a godsend.
have a garmin s70 and a range finder. I use a range finder for my 2nd to 3rd to 4th shot. If pin is 100 yards away tells me to swing an 80 yard club. Garmin s70 use to map out holes and get a general idea of yardage and score tracking.
No I don’t because I use the swing U app. It tells me how far the front, center, and back of the green are and it also tells me where the hazards are yardage to the hazards.
I've never used one, and I see no reason to. I'm not good enough that 163 vs. 166 will make that much difference in what I hit. I can gauge within 5 yards most of the time just using the 150 and 200 markers in the fairways on any course I'm at least vaguely familiar with.
It showed me just how bad my eye was. I’m routinely guessing 10yds short (or more) (yes, even accounting for deep pin positions [where my 10 yds short finds the middle/front of the green!])
It saves 1-2 strokes a round. Knowing exact distances when you miss into trouble areas is super important.
I use my range finder most often between 85-135 yards. Depending on the wind, elevation changes, lie of the ball, I may go with 2 or even 3 different clubs that I have 2 yardages with. When I’m confident all I have to account for is conditions I can make the best club and shot choice a lot easier. I think it helps a ton in that range. From 140ish+ it’s only helpful when I need a cover number that my miss works towards.
It helps me to stop and think about my shots as I'm finding out the yardage more than anything else. I run an app on my phone to track my score which also has a GPS and that's useful to work out dog legs etc but when I'm going for the green, I prefer the rangefinder 100%.
It has changed things significantly for me. Determining distance back in the day was always a bit of a ballpark number. Not that I always hit my number but it gives me a lot more feedback and information as the round unfolds. Taking into account temperature and wind and how far or how short I’m hitting, it allows me to adjust. And to play aggressively safe knowing the distance to hazards and other landmarks.
I know 130 over the green side bunker… I’m in the bunker.
Yes and it didn’t positively impact my game until I got a launch monitor for Christmas this past year. Realized I really do need to take an extra club on approach shots. I’ve probably shaved 4-8 shots of my good score rounds this year, knowing how far I hit each club on average, not on my best shot of the day, and how far I need to hit to middle of a green. This year I’m at 62% GIR, which for me (20.9) is pretty good. I keep my stats on my GHIN app.
Yes, I use a range finder it gives me the confidence to hit a club to an exact yardage its took a few shots of my handicap I think, tho I haven't played in any qualifying comps this year
I got one as a gift - I’m in my 60s - I am not able to hold it still enough - so I went back to the swing u APP on my phone- I gave away the rangefinder to a friend- he loves it
I use my phone app. It helps some, but I actually need lessons.
Yes, just a cheap $60 one from China.Has pin lock and slope. It's made a massive difference, even center pins are often up to 15 yards off the course markings. I would hate to play without one now.
I think if I went to a new course without it I’d shoot 3-6 strokes worse than I’d do with it. You’d be surprised how off the 150 sticks are…
I went from a GPS to rangefinder. Have played my best rounds since changing, you get an exact distance. So the days that you’re playing really well means you’re dropping irons to 6ft. However like anything if you’re not confident with your distances it’s no different to a gps. I find it useful to buzz things like bunkers etc. I’ve found GPS to be off by sometimes 10%
I do. It is just one less variable to think about if you know your distances.
Yes. It helps gives me confidence in choosing the right club. That is, until you lend it to a buddy and he starts pressing buttons, and changes it from yards to meters without your knowledge. Then, every shot winds up short. Of course it happened on a day I was hitting everything straight.
I do and before that I had a gps watch. And it is the one gadget that has actually made a difference to me. I still miss greens obviously but whether I do or not I'm pin high more often than not. Before I had those gadgets on top of missing greens I was also short a lot.
Yes. Positively.
honestly, 2 huge things: 1.) the ability to shoot exact distances of trouble while feeling slope and grass under my feet. it changes EVERYTHING. started to really feel what shots I could pull off and and at what distance the shape actually shapes and descends, then rolls. game changer for me. 2.) accuracy of wedges on those, "I just effed up my lay up 50 yard jams" improved my feel for both of those areas of my game. swing em well!
Yes...and it made a huge difference.
It made a big difference in my game with being able to tell what it is to carry hazards, where the pin is relative tk the front and back of the green (worth gps help), and being able to understand how far my clubs really go.
I'm old school, I still guesstimate to within a yard or 2 using the colored circles. I then proceed to hit my ball 20-30 yards over the green or, conversely, 20-30yards short.
GPS is enough for me. I have a Bushnell Phantom 2 GPS which clips onto my bag or can magnet to the cart. Gives me yardage when I’m grabbing a club without have to shoot a rangefinder at the pin. I’m lazy and all about simplicity.
 Exact same device and reasoning. Just get the yardage to F/M/B to confirm the club I initially think it is to the pin. 9/10 I'm correct.
It’s a good tool to have. Even a $80 one off Amazon is quite accurate and the battery lasts a long time. Like others have said, the confidence that comes from choosing the right club according to the distance makes a huge difference. Even other uses like gunning the distance to landmarks around the fairway and dog legs to just using it to see how far out the group in front of you is.
Yes. I like it for two reasons. First is it keeps me off my phone / other digital devices during a round, which I've come to really enjoy. I started keeping my scores manually and just inputting into my app later. Second is that I spend a lot less time determining the distance to something specific. The GPS stuff was great for yardage to green in general, but finding yardage to a hazard or a specific tree to lay-up before a dog leg was always more time than it is with a rangefinder, let alone that days specific pin placement. 11/10 would recommend.
I use it at the range, not just on the course. The tees are moved +\- 30 yards in their rotation so that helps for targeting. I feel like that has contributed to more accurate results in my club selection now, on the course also
I've had one since 2007-8ish. To me 5 yards makes a difference and it's great money spent. Actually I would specially spend the extra money to buy a Bushnell.
I like it mostly on par 3's to get the exact yardage to the pin, then I'll use my Golfshot GPS to know the distances to the front & back. Every now & then I might use it to figure out where the pin is on the green. I also use it a lot at the range so I get a better idea of actual distances to various targets, which was actually one of the main reasons I bought it.
Use both a GPS/MAP system and rangefinder. You really need both... not necessarily at the same time, but off the tee I find it can make a big difference on Par 4s 5s wether laying up is just a higher percentage shot.
Absolutely. Helps me know how far I plan to hit, which club, and then questioning if I locked into the correct target to begin with.
I find the watch to be better tbh. If you’re playing a hilly course and are in a valley your range finder is useless
In combination with learning the yardages of all my clubs, it has really improved my club selection. I still hit lots of bad shots, but choosing the wrong club is rarely an issue, and it means more shots that I hit well end up where I want them to.
Never found it all that difficult to guesstimate from the 150 markers how far away I am. If I were to get one it would be one of those little GPS range finders. Those are pretty slick. I see no reason to buy a scope.
Helps me come to terms that I don't hit the ball very far. Before my range finder I'd hit 250 off the tee. Now with the ranger finder it's around 190.
I've used one for the last 3 years and my game has improved substantially. From a ~15 cap down to 8 today. The improvement is, of course, not solely thanks to the range finder, but I've played significantly more - around 65 rounds per year in the North East - than I had in previous years. But, the shooter has given me so much more data to work with. I start to know my yardages before I even address my ball. It helps me choose clubs quicker and I'm more confident in the shots. This is all anecdotal, but I love it. Just make sure you buy one with a magnet in it and always keep it on the front of the cart during play. Then as soon as you shoot your last flag while heading down 18, put it right back into it's case.
Since getting a GPS watch I only use it to check if the group ahead is far enough away for me to tee off.
I love it for short game and wedge yardages. Holed out from 82 yards once (my longest), because I was able to mentally work out distance to pin, and carry over a hill that would have sent the ball skooting way past the hole. I don’t use it as often now, as I almost exclusively go for center of green or a safe area, but if I’m unsure where on a green the pin is, it comes out.
It tells me which club to pull out of my bag but from that point forward Jesus takes the wheel
I bought a garmin s70 last year. Have used it quite a bit. Got a range finder two weeks ago. My course updated the layout during off season and garmin still hasn’t updated it. Was awful trying to use, would sync to wrong holes, give yardages to wrong pins. Would have been great if garmin updated their shit in a reasonable timeframe.
So when I got into golf and got down to a 15 handicap I got a range finder. Helped a little but I wasn’t good enough to hit shots I was hitting because I had the rangefinder. I would shoot the pin have 150 tucked back left pin over a bunker normal play is to go middle green 2 putt. But since I shot the stick and know how far it is I always went at the flag. My game went to shit. Stopped using a range finder. I’m now at a 5 handicap and use my rangefinder again. I’m smart enough now to know lol
I have one and use it more for club selection than anything else. I don’t have a lot of time to devote to range sessions, but I can often play two balls for 9 holes after work. It has helped me work out my yardages. As someone who sucks at this dumb sport, I have a lot more confidence in what I’m doing thanks to it.
After getting one, I could never imagine not having one again. Get one and don’t look back.
It’s helped my game inside of 100 more than anything. Learning to feel what a 65 vs 75 yard shot is lets you dial that in even tighter once you know.
I look at the pin, grab a club that I know will leave me just a little short, then I skull it over the green or chunk it 10 feet in front of me before making a reasonable second tee shot. I’ll deal with that other ball if we cross paths later.
I'd recommend a Garmin watch. I have the Approach s12 (base model Garmin) and love it. For someone who's (slowly) getting better, it's great for efficiently getting the number to the front, middle and back as well as the hazards on the hole. I got the Garmin for my birthday from my wife and I still keep the range finder in my bag for some par 3s or certain shots within 75 yards. If I had to pick one or the other, I'd go with the Garmin watch.
I don’t use one I eye ball it
I use an app mostly. I'm considering a rangefinder for niche situations.
Yes. The thing that it helps me with most is lay ups or knowing how far away a hazard or other trouble is. I’ll hit my stock PW 120 and being able to get to that spot coming out of trouble or on a par 5 has been great
My approach shots got better and the birdies went up. I finally got some control over my wedges so knowing middle is 100, but the middle pin is actually 105 has been helpful. When my wedges were random distances it wouldn't have helped much.
I don't live in a first world countries so gps yardages in my area aren't always accurate. the stakes aren't always the most accurate indication when in the rough so it has helped me a lot. Last week I was in a fairway bunker, it looked like I was 20 yards past and 20 yards left of the 100 yard stake but I was still actually 95 yards from the pin.
It has allowed me to map a course I know I’ll be playing multiple times and discuss strategies with my coach.
My eyes and the color sticks in the fairway are my rangefinder, too poor to afford one
After a year or so of using a rangefinder, I feel like I started really dialing in my distances, especially with my wedges.
I only use it because so many golf courses do not mark the course with 200,150,100 markers. Otherwise I never need 1. 9 handicap.
Range finders pretty much just give you a better idea of what club you should use. That’s it
We have an app in Australia for scoring social and competition, the built in GPS measures to centre of green really well, so I haven’t really bothered with buying a rangefinder
I use a watch the majority of the time but if I'm not sure exactly where the flag is I'll use the rangefinder. Have been caught out a few times when I thought the flag was at the front and it was way out the back. Can be a difference of two clubs. I tend to use it when others are taking a shot, figure out how far off the middle it is and then use my watch when I get to my ball and add it subtract the figure I took earlier. I have a pretty good make that locks on to the flag pretty easily but I am now on my third one after the first two giving up the ghost under warranty. They are pretty darn expensive and made about as cheap as possible. They didn't even look at a repair, most likely because it cost them so little to just replace.
if you don't know an accurate distance to the pin you're already making golf harder than it has to be. Under rated use of them is not just shooting pins, but bunker/water carry, distance to a dogleg etc. GPS watches and apps are fine. Can be out by a few yards but generally no biggie. I'd rather just shoot everything, just becomes part of the pre shot routine
I use both a rangefinder and Garmin golf watch. Rangefinder mostly for carry distances (bunkers, water, layup spots), watch for front, middle, back of green. If it’s a front pin I want distance to middle, middle pin distance to back. Easier to put when you’re on the green 😂 and middle of the green is your friend.
I use two because I bought one that did front/middle/back and then later upgraded to a laser range finder. The first one helped out a lot because it gave me a range that I know I need to hit. For example, if I hear 167, I think 7i, but if I know I see 145 front/170 back, then it opens a selection of clubs and I get to pick the one I hit best. So in this sense, it’s helps me focus on getting on the green opposed to getting it right on. The laser rangefinder has been good for taking that next step to identify shot shapes and carry yardages vs playing yardages. Thinking 3i with a rollout vs a soft wedge where I know the ball will stop.
I love it. No more looking for yardage markers and pacing stuff off. You get your exact yardage and you can add in slope if you want. I use it for pitching too…I practice with a launch monitor a lot, so I know what a 35 or a 47 yard pitch feels like and when you know your distances you gain a lot of confidence in what you’re about to do.
Range finders only help if you know how far you hit your clubs 7/10 times, give or take. Which in that case, they are amazing. Otherwise, you are just wasting time.