[DrHitch]

Prisms on flagsticks - pros and cons
Pros: Help rangefinders quickly and easily "lock on" to the flagstick, especially from longer distances or with less advanced rangefinders.
Cons: Can be damaged easily and require replacement, adding to maintenance costs. May not be as crucial for newer, more powerful laser rangefinders.

[gighilton]

Originally Posted by jimhoward

Did you ever notice that there are no corner-cube reflectors on the pins in the Villages? I have been having a lot of trouble shooting the pins with my LRF. So I looked closely at one and now I think I know why.

My rangefinder has pin seeking, but it works erratically at distance when there is no reflector on the pin.

Anybody else notice this?

I have since got around the problem by going to a Garmin golf watch. Any excuse for adding kit. But I thought the lack of reflectors was odd.

Bushnell is great at picking up the "Pin". However, there is no mention of Pins, they are properly referred to as Flag Stick, or Hole Locations. Next TV broadcast listen... they never mention "Pin locations", as that is referred to as slang..... but no problem, we know what you mean!

[forebubba]

Originally Posted by jimhoward

Did you ever notice that there are no corner-cube reflectors on the pins in the Villages? I have been having a lot of trouble shooting the pins with my LRF. So I looked closely at one and now I think I know why.

My rangefinder has pin seeking, but it works erratically at distance when there is no reflector on the pin.

Anybody else notice this?

I have since got around the problem by going to a Garmin golf watch. Any excuse for adding kit. But I thought the lack of reflectors was odd.

Been gone for several years. They break when players drop the flags. As the broke they were not replaced. $$$

[Rocksnap]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

Estimating distance isn't a golf skill.

Sure it is. Any time you swing less than full, it’s an estimate. Some people can do that better than others.
When I play executive, I only use 2 clubs. Putter and wedge. And with both, I’m always estimating how much power to use. ANY less than full swing. If that’s not a skill…?

[paqdkq]

Originally Posted by jimhoward

Did you ever notice that there are no corner-cube reflectors on the pins in the Villages? I have been having a lot of trouble shooting the pins with my LRF. So I looked closely at one and now I think I know why.

My rangefinder has pin seeking, but it works erratically at distance when there is no reflector on the pin.

Anybody else notice this?

I have since got around the problem by going to a Garmin golf watch. Any excuse for adding kit. But I thought the lack of reflectors was odd.

To heck with the on. I’m just happy to get on the green

[jimmy o]

Originally Posted by jimhoward

Did you ever notice that there are no corner-cube reflectors on the pins in the Villages? I have been having a lot of trouble shooting the pins with my LRF. So I looked closely at one and now I think I know why.

My rangefinder has pin seeking, but it works erratically at distance when there is no reflector on the pin.

Anybody else notice this?

I have since got around the problem by going to a Garmin golf watch. Any excuse for adding kit. But I thought the lack of reflectors was odd.

My 13 year old Bushnell still works great shooting the flag. Why should TV invest in more expensive flags when the golf I usually see is Mulligan after Mulligan, moving the ball onto a nice fluff of grass for every shot, then if first putt misses the second is always a gimmie even is 4 feet away. After all that the biggest laugh is that they then enter their fictional score in the GHIN system that they pay good money for to arrive at their imaginary handicap.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

Estimating distance isn't a golf skill.

No? What did they do before range finders were invented? And what about elevation? I used my eyes.

[Whatnext]

Look at fairway yardage marker approaching ball, then plus or minus your estimate, then hit the D*****d ball.
Stop holding up play messing about with gadgets.

[jimhoward]

Originally Posted by kcrazorbackfan

My Bushnell LRF has absolutely no problems shooting the pins.

Interesting. I have a top-of-the-line Bushnell LRF with the pin finding feature, and it doesn't range off of them consistently. But no matter, the GPS based watch is working fine for me now.....although I do still laser the flagsticks on occasion and sometimes it sees them.

[jimhoward]

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580

No? What did they do before range finders were invented? And what about elevation? I used my eyes.

Yardage books.

[Hape2Bhr]

Originally Posted by gighilton

Bushnell is great at picking up the "Pin". However, there is no mention of Pins, they are properly referred to as Flag Stick, or Hole Locations. Next TV broadcast listen... they never mention "Pin locations", as that is referred to as slang..... but no problem, we know what you mean!

I still hit shots into hazards (occasionally); not penalty areas.

[jimhoward]

Originally Posted by jimmy o

My 13 year old Bushnell still works great shooting the flag. Why should TV invest in more expensive flags when the golf I usually see is Mulligan after Mulligan, moving the ball onto a nice fluff of grass for every shot, then if first putt misses the second is always a gimmie even is 4 feet away. After all that the biggest laugh is that they then enter their fictional score in the GHIN system that they pay good money for to arrive at their imaginary handicap.

If you play for money, having an ego handicap is a very expensive proposition. If you don't, then it doesn't matter what your index is.

[SHIBUMI]

For most golfers rangefinders are not needed. They are just fun, a little foreplay before their missed shot. Golfers love technology for what it does but very rarely for them.

The shot is 145, they top it, the shot is 80 they chunk it, the shot is 40 they skull it over the green. BUT, they knew their distance.

if you got no swing mechanics, then just have fun with the foreplay. Some want to know details and others want to perform, it's a choice .

Shibumi Golf
A Golf Swing Surgeon

Originally Posted by BrianL99

The USGA disagrees.

Distance to the Green, Pin, or otherwise, is considered "public information". If you don't have a rangefinder, you can ask another player for the distance ... no penalty.

[Topspinmo]

So, you know the exact distance down to foot, you STILL have to have skill using what ever club you pick. Which boils down to feel and of course how well you hit ball on club face. If you get within 10 feet of hole you got lucky with all choices you had to make.

[Hape2Bhr]

Originally Posted by SHIBUMI

For most golfers rangefinders are not needed. They are just fun, a little foreplay before their missed shot. Golfers love technology for what it does but very rarely for them.

The shot is 145, they top it, the shot is 80 they chunk it, the shot is 40 they skull it over the green. BUT, they knew their distance.

if you got no swing mechanics, then just have fun with the foreplay. Some want to know details and others want to perform, it's a choice .

Shibumi Golf
A Golf Swing Surgeon

I find that my Bushnell watch, front, middle, back, is all I need. It helped me get to a 7 index some years back, prior to major surgery.