Myths about golf GPS…
GPS companies routinely claim 1-3 yard accuracy
It's a common theme in their advertising. Unfortunately for them, it is simply NOT TRUE! The experts will tell you that the Handheld GPS accuracy of a distance to a given point can be expected to be +/- 7 yards 95% of the time. The GPS technology "estimates" yardages based on a number of different factors. This means that a 75-yard shot to the middle of the green could range from 68 yards to 82 yards. A 300-yard shot would be within 293 and 307 yards. In other words, the shorter the distance, the less useful the GPS technology.
Laser technology is just the opposite. The 75-yard laser measurement would be between 74 and 76 yards 98% of the time while the 300-yard measurement would be between 297 and 303 yards 98% of the time.
It's simple, GPS cannot estimate distance to the pin
Only to stationary landmarks, such as the front, middle, and back of the green. Some cart-mounted GPS claims the ability to estimate distance to the pin, but in reality they are only measuring to section of the green where the pin is located. So, if the pin is not located in this section (because the hole was cut in the wrong spot), you will not receive distance to the flagstick estimations.
Only if they didn't care about accuracy
Contrary to what you see in paid advertisements, NO professional player in the world is using GPS to prepare for tournaments. Why? Top players do not use GPS to map golf courses because of the inaccuracy of the measurements. With that kind of money and prestige on the line, distance estimates to within 8-10 yards aren’t good enough. If they were, you’d never see a caddie out walking a golf course prior to a tournament; they would just use the GPS to map the course. What you see on TV are paid endorsers telling you the company line.
In fact, it's NOT enabled most of the time
WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) is only available in North America, and it was designed to support high-precision GPS navigation of aircraft, not on-the-ground uses that can have significant problems with ground-level obstructions. There must be line-of-sight between a WAAS-enabled GPS receiver and at least one of the WAAS satellites. Across the United States, WAAS satellites are in the southern sky and range in altitude from 10º to 55º above the horizon. Tree canopies and other obstructions that block this part of the sky prevent GPS devices from receiving WAAS corrections. The golf GPS companies could put indicator lights on their units to let you know when WAAS is functioning. Why don’t they? Because you’d learn that it is not functioning more often than it is.
Laser wins the speed battle any day
One of the arguments heard in favor of GPS is that you don’t have to touch it like you do a laser rangefinder, which has to be picked up and fired for each shot (seems like a small price to pay for information that is accurate and useful). I think what they forget is:
- Course Downloads – take it home, plug it in, go to the website, find the course…
- Recharging – take it home every night to plug it in. Wouldn’t you like to just leave it in your bag? Well… you can’t.
Odds are the sprinkler head markings are correct
Your GPS is giving you the wrong measurement. As you read through this site, you’ll see that it is common to get GPS readings that are off by 7 or more yards. And keep this in mind - if you find that every sprinkler head on the course is incorrect, don't you have to question the tool you are using to "check" those measurements?
If you want to check sprinkler heads, use a laser. It’s simple, fast, easy, and, most importantly, accurate.
Is there a trade up program for new Laser Link Technology???
Where can I purchase an new Laser Link Red Hot @ Wholesale Price??? LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!
In Fl home and club we have Laser Link and cart is a must. I spend summer in NY and play public, where most golfers walk. I have gps and find it a nusiance. We have 6 public and three public in NYC. Why ae u not here? Your laser link is head and sholders better than GPS. THANX DG
Thanks average golfer! It didn’t make much sense to me that anyone regardless of skill level should spend all that money on a tool that gives you inaccurate info. You are right I would be very upset to hit a good shot and end up in the water because the GPS gave me bad yardage! Obviously tour players use lasers rangefinders and not gps for a reason!
Some golfers like to say that only top players need accurate information, with their reasoning being that only a top player can really hit it the right distance, and that the rest of the golf world should just settle for whatever they can get because they aren’t good enough anyway. But it bears the question — why? Regardless of handicap, wouldn’t you rather start with the best information you can get and at least have the chance to hit a great shot? Why start with bad data, then throw a bad shot on top of that, and end up in the bunker? Or worse, start with bad data, hit what you believe is a great shot, only to come up short in the water? It doesn’t make any sense to say that accurate measurements don’t matter because you aren’t good enough. Everyone is good enough, because we all have those good shots in us, and it’s important to have the accurate information when that good shot finds its way out of us.
Mark you say “If you are a single digit handicap then laser may be a better choice” Why?
GPS works very well for 99% of golfers. It gives more you more information without having to point and shoot. If you are a single digit handicap then laser may be a better choice.
Myth #5, you don’t have to touch…
The point isn’t the time it takes to download updated maps and recharge - the point is when you’re in the moment and trying to make a decision on a club you don’t have to take your head out of the game to play target practice. You get all the distances you need, not just one number at a time.
And try hitting a target 200+ yards out with a laser - a sure fire way to get your head out of the game. And now do that before every shot. No thanks.
Laser “IS” better–W.Gray Grieve, Eugene, Or. states it best in this GOLFWEEK issue( June 13,’09–page 17;letters section ); His statement about the value of Laser is “Totally” correct. Distance to the target and selecting the right club to get that distance is all we golfers need. Could not have been said better anywhere.
I just competed in a Sr. golf event in Northern Wisconsin and my riding partner had a Bushnell GPS unit, every time I got a distance with my “LL GOLD” he’d ask the distance and I shared, then asked, did you get that too? His consistent response was, sorta, close to that–just reinforces that GPS is not an “Accurate” Measuring tool!!!
GPS system ‘close to breakdown’
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown
Laser is Better. The new Gold NFE captures all the distances you could ever neeed.
Point, click, and hit. It is comical to be in a cart with GPS and a laser. The GPS is more often than not a little off.
GPS is just another gadget,,,The laser is a tool in which accuracy can be measured to a specific point. I’m just glad the USGA doesen’t make my NFE count towards one of my other fourteen tools in the bag!
Interesting! Beacon Hall Golf Club has been a Laser Link user for 3 years and continue to be very pleased with the products. I have been in groups where both are being used and there is always a discrepancy. The discrepancy is worth investigating.
Interesting site–information is useful to golfers who are concerned with accuracy. Hope to view more information in subsequent issues.
Golfed with a guy yesterday who used one of the new GPS units. He was consistently 5 to 8 yeards off from my laser measurements.
Great product but not at enough muni courses in the NW.
What is the attraction of GPS for golf? It is expensive, complicated, and cannot tell the player where the flagstick is!
Top players would never use GPS. The measurements aren’t good enough.