Golf Rangefinder vs. Golf GPS Watch – Which is better? What’s the Difference?
By S. Dee Davis
First let’s acknowledge that use of these two products are not mutually exclusive, they have different attributes. There is no reason you could not use both a GPS golf watch which will give you accurate measurements to the front, center, and back of greens and use a rangefinder as well to dial in the exact measurement to the pin. The GPS watches are tournament legal for the USGA, while slope reading rangefinders are not.
The golf watch is obviously going to be easier to use and is probably sufficient for high handicap golfers. It has the added benefit of not only being more convenient, it’s almost impossible to lose. Better golfers may need the benefit of the rangefinder to dial in not only the pin, but fairway bunkers, water hazards, trees, layup areas and the like. While some GPS watches can be programmed with layup areas and doglegs, the rangefinder will be quicker and easier to use for this purpose.
The added benefit to the GPS watch of course is those special measurements to the front and back of the green. A rangefinder will not give you these. This feature is a great compliment to the pin distance as many of us know. If the green is uphill and you cant see the position it may be right at the back edge or front edge of the green which information should enter into your club selection.
So in sum, if you are serious about your golf game and want the maximum tools on the course (and money is not an issue) then I recommend both a golf watch and a rangefinder. With the added benefit of a $179 golf watch you could save some money on the rangefinder buy purchasing a $299 model since you will already have the front a back of green distances. Knowing the front and back of green distances will probably help you more than the slope distance measurements from a rangefinder with that function.
As an avid golfer and tennis player for most of his life, he enjoys researching the latest in golf and tennis technology as well as analyzing his own game. He has been a writer and reviewer for a dozen years… See more about S. Dee Davis |
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Filed Under: Golf • Rangefinders