How to Choose a Golf GPS or Rangefinder
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Lets face it, golf is all about distances. Knowing distances will improve your course management and strategy in hitting more greens. Having a golf device to measure distance is indispensable and it will allow you to plan better. Imagine having a lake between your ball and the green. Do you go over the water or do you lay up? With a good device, you can find out the distance that you will have to carry your ball. And if that device has a clever feature to factor in the slope and wind, you can improve the chances on making a more educated shot.
Traditionally golf gps units were handheld but now they can be worn on your wrist. With the Voice Caddie, you can clip it on your cap or visor, press a button when you want the distance and it will even talk to you, telling you the hole you are playing on and how far away the pin is. Then there are apps on our smartphones that now give you an aerial fly over along with distances to various markers on the course.
Traditionally golf gps units were handheld but now they can be worn on your wrist. With the Voice Caddie, you can clip it on your cap or visor, press a button when you want the distance and it will even talk to you, telling you the hole you are playing on and how far away the pin is. Then there are apps on our smartphones that now give you an aerial fly over along with distances to various markers on the course.
GPS Technology
Golf GPS units use a golf course map to determine the distance from one object to another. To use a golf GPS, you hold the device in your hand and the device figures out your GPS location in relation to the golf course map and identifies the distances to stored objects (eg. trees, lakes, bunkers) on the map.
Pros: Gives lay of the land and distances to trees, bunkers and other landmarks, can give you shape of fairway and whereabouts of landing areas, greens and hazards. Cons: Depends heavily on up-to-date course data or data downloaded from the manufacturers' servers prior to round. |
Rangefinders
Popular on the PGA Tour as well are rangefinders that became legal for tournament play. You will see caddies on tour carry rangefinders during a PGA event to determine distances for the pro. Rangefinders are the most used golf devices these days, thanks to Amazon and Aliexpress for bring them down in price in the last few years. You can buy a decent rangefinder for less than $150. Rangefinders give an accurate distance to the pin by using laser technology.
Free Golf Apps
Have you ever been on the middle of the fairway and wonder whether your smartphone in your pocket can help you decide on the club to grab? Wonder no more because yes, there is a handful of golf course apps available for the iPhone or Android phone that you have.
- Hole 19
- Golf Shot
- Golf Logix
- Mobitee
- SwingU
- 18 Birdies
- Golf Pad GPS
- TheGrint
- FreeCaddie
- Tag Heuer
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