Hi Ant,

Check out the bushnell hybrid its definitely the best of both worlds!

I started with the bushnell neo ghost , then bought a bushnell tour v4 a few seasons ago to get exact yardages to pin (don't worry slope is off for comps!). I only use my rangefinder now to be honest, however, I do find GPS handy at new courses if I can't see the pin.. so maybe a hybrid is a good idea if the price is right.

I use a garmin g3 as it shows the hole and i know the distances to bunker, dog leg, water etc. great for courses you have never played, you can also move the flag on the green to get a better reading. I believe they now sell the g80 which is also a launch monitor
Hope this helps.

I love my skycaddie - always seems very accurate and stores any information I input such as fairways hit, greens in regulation, putts etc. It is great when you need distances to or over penalty areas. I also like the front, middle, back information for the greens. I also have a bushnell for the accuracy needed for different pin positions. Downside of the skycaddy, of course, is the yearly fee!

I’m using the bushnell V4 shift slope the now,
But been thinking about adding a sky caddie Sx500 to bag.

I've been using my Golfbuddy platinum for many years front/ middle/ back good enough for me as 17 H'CAP also distances to clear bunkers/ water etc, I play with a few cat 1 players who all use lasers but get caught out when foggy/misty when lasers fail and blind greens/pins, gps good when playing unknown courses as well for layout etc

Agree with the laser issue also seen them come up short of the green and hit drop off and plug in wetter months.

I have always preferred the laser option as you can use it to measure distances to other hazards, including the group ahead. Either option is only really useful if you know how far you hit each club and I am always amazed that other people I play with have no real idea of their actual distances.

Russell,

You're right knowing the yardages is key. That's why I liked the front middle back distances on the GPS.

When I first bought it I didn't know the distance for most of my clubs, and by using the front measurement I've been able to work out my carry distances. Now I check front distance for middle pin locations and back for uphill to centre pins which generally works to get me somewhere on the green.

When I've played with people using lasers it always seems to take them a long time to get ready to play, take out laser take readings usually several and put laser away before choosing club, which isn't the lasers fault.


Perhaps I'm making a case for a new GPS.


Ant

I’ve always toyed with both...but have finally settled on a laser. I just prefer the ease of use.

I have the Bushnell Pro XE and so far, it’s been brilliant

Matt, I have just upgrade my Bushnell to the new Pro XE.

The focus for the lens is incredibly stiff not like on my old Bushnell (Need to use both hands to change it). Is yours the same?

Good point Russell Y and most of us dont hit it as far as we think!

Bushnell Neo for me.


Madhatter

For me it depends how good a player you are and I hope that doesn't sound patronising. I would say if you're single figures and know your iron distances a laser beats a gps hands down but if you are happy with front/middle/back then a gps watch etc is perfectly good for the job.

Stuart,

I agree with you as I see higher handicappers with lasers who think they know their distances but can't hit them with any regularity or they measure to a tight pin position when centre of the green would be a better call.

Hopefully the tech gives them some feedback and they then recalculate.

Ant

I have a skycaddie watch that is getting near its end I’m just getting a round out of it and no more.
I think I’ll try the new garmin s40 next.

Still in the dark ages I'm afraid - Garmin S2 watch, and that didn't work today!!
Sorry, I'm not much help in your search...
JT

I am using the Golf Buddy PT4 for the last 3 years or so ....and love it.

Mostly use the laser as it’s exact yardage to the pin, but have a few GPS units also.

Hi Ant,

When reading your post the GPS / Lasers are two different things. I'm more than happy to explain a little tour a tour caddie perspective.

1. GPS
There are a large number of hardware "gadgets" who can assist you in telling you an approximate number to hit.
GPS is based on satellite. Calculating you on long/latitude towards center/front green can give you a number to hit. GPS has a difference of 1.5 - 2.7 meter difference from reality. For the average weekend golfer this should be more than fine. But more skilled players would like to have more info or advanced info on their shot. Which we come down to the 2nd option.

2. Laser
Well when the first came out on tour we call them lasers. Later in the modern day of today we call them rangefinders.
Lasers give you a more accurate info on your shot. This is accurate as it gets.
Lasers come in 2 variants:
- SLOPE edition
- Normal (tournament) edition

The SLOPE edition is a laser who calculates elevation based on the angle of attack to wards the target.
It can calculate slopes in how many meters/yards you go up or go down. (more club to hit / less club to hit).
The R&A came up some years ago with this **** rule that SLOPE edition lasers are not allowed during tournaments. It could potentially help the player to score better. (Well honestly, I'm more than happy to talk about this off-topic. Trust me this is nonsense). So if you play lot of tournaments consider yourself in the next edition.

The normal edition is a laser WITHOUT slope calculations. This model/type is allowed by international/national tournaments. You see lot of amateurs of large tournaments using this model. It will speed up the process of calculating numbers etc.

So now you know a bit more about these two subjects. Once you find your edition next step to do is to find a brand who sells these things.

I can confirm with 10+ tour caddie experience on the PGA European Tour that Bushnell is by far the best laser / rangefinder there is on the market. There is so much technology in this product you ever can possibly think off.
What I didn't like about Bushnell is they come every year with new models.

We tour caddies / pro's like the horizontal models. So you can hold in your hand like a pair of binoculars. The more recent models come in a vertical model. So something you can hold in 1 hand and use it.

I will give you some option:
- Pro 1M (RED) (TOUR ONLY edition) this model I have in my bag. It's so accurate and will always use it.
- PRO XE
- HYBRID
- TOUR v4 SHIFT
- TOUR v4
If you want to know the difference please have a look here: www.bushnellgolf.com/.../

Yes, the price is very much for the product. But again as mentioned you getting so much technology in return. Besides that this products goes for ever! No expire date!

Now the China market didn't sit still and yes lot of "look a likes" are made. If you don't want to invest that large number in Bushnell.

- NX7 Pro
- Nikon Coolshot 20
- TecTecTec
- the list goes on and on...

If you have more questions just feel free to drop in.

Happy swings,

Bart

Bart,

Thanks for the info lots to consider.

It does seem like Bushnell has the market for the pro tours and I've been following the progression in the tech over the years from the introduction of Jolt tech to the slope and hybrids.

I've considered the NX7 pro as it has slope and they offer batteries for life which is a great and the price is very competitive.

The tech is moving so quickly as I've now seen some GPS watches with hole layout and slope...I think price vs features will be the decider.

Ant

I have the garmin z80, absolutely brilliant particularly on courses you don't know well. Look through the viewfinder on the tee and it gives you a 2d vision of the hole, even with blind tee shots. In this vision it gives you distances to fairway bunkers from the tee and other hazards (or should I say penalty areas.

Can be a bit of a pain if you stray on to an adjoining fairway as it thinks you are playing that actual hole, also loading to start takes a bit of time but once you have your course, you are away. Gives to a gps number to front and rear upon zapping, then the exact number to flag with a nice little arc line showing where the flag is in relation to the green.

Though I should warn you, it's the most expensive laser on the market @£450 when I bought it.

Stuart,

That looks the business...I like the way the 2d map comes up when you locate the pin and all the distances are there so no need to zap anything else but the pin which makes it a lot quicker than the standard laser.


I might have to start saving for that one..


Ant

I went out and bought the garmin s40 watch and used it out on the course today and it’s fantastic for what I need I’m a midish handicap and it gives me all the info I need f/m/b of the green, lay ups, front and back of all hazards on par 4 & 5’s you can keep your score it gives you the distance of every shot you’ve hit except putts.........plus it hooks up to your phone so u don’t miss a txt or call and it’s a nice watch to wear with great battery life aswell prob get 3 rounds out it easy and no more extra fees ......glad I’ve changed from greedy skycaddie lol.

I carry both the SkyCaddie SX500 and a Garmin RangeFinder; if I had to choose 1, I would go with the RangeFinder. The SkyCaddie is great if you want to track your shots and stats but sometimes it's cumbersome...

Ric,

That's interesting as I was looking at the Garmin products earlier that do the shot tracking, but you have to input the club, when the shot scope does it for you at the same price but with a bigger and cumbersome watch which I don't like.

I'm still undecided …

Ant

I used to have a sky caddie touch until it broke so I decided to go for a bushnell laser and I love it. I do miss being able to see the layout of a hole if it’s a course I’ve not played before and yardages yo hazards. I think in an ideal world you would have both.
Cheers
Blair

I carry both. Have a Bushnell Neo attached to my bag that gives me quick yardages to front, middle, and back of greens. I also carry a Nikon Coolshot laser rangefinder. I occasionally find myself at a course that isn't mapped or went through a renovation so the Neo won't be working. In those cases, I really go to the laser. If I am using the laser but have a blind shot to the green over a hill or around some trees, the GPS is important to have too. I find that if the course has large greens and no way to know pin locations, i will use the laser more. If they are small greens and the course is mapped to GPS, i use it most often.