Golf Rangefinder vs. GPS
News

Golf Rangefinder vs. GPS

Support our Mission. We independently test each product we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.

Golf Rangefinder vs. GPS

In the GPS vs. Rangefinder debate, there is a universal truth; If you want to play better golf, two things must be down pat: the towards and the how-fars.

I’d bet good money one of the first questions Young Tom Morris asked his old man was “how far?” You can see the towards as in “hit it towards that tree” or “towards the left side of the green.” The how-fars – as in “how far to carry that bunker?” or “how far to the stick?” – are trickier.

How do you figure how far?

Back in the Cro-Magnon days, like the ’90s, figuring your how-fars wasn’t terribly scientific. You’d whack it as far as you could off the tee and then find the stake, bush or whatever served as the 150 marker. Then you’d march yardage off to your ball, do a little math, and hope you were close to right.

If you were a Rockefeller, the course you played had yardage numbers on the sprinklers, which helped. Sadly, most of us weren’t Rockefellers.

GET FIT FOR YOUR GAME WITH TRUEGOLFFIT™

Unbiased. No Guesswork. All Major Brands. Matched To Your Swing. Advanced Golf Analytics matches the perfect clubs to your exact swing using connected data and machine learning.

FREE FITTING

The How-Far Revolution

Both laser rangefinders and GPS technology have changed the game for us everyday Joes and Janes. Those of us who play for fun, low stakes, and pure enjoyment probably aren’t fussing with yardage books. And we certainly aren’t striding around like a doofus walking off yardages if we don’t have to. Pine for the old days if you must but time, dear reader, marches on.

With or without us.

We’re 20 years into this techno-revolution. Many of us have chosen sides: we’re either laser luggers or GPS gazers. The true diehards are golf’s Crips and Bloods and should not be invited to the same scramble.

A man holding a GPS, trying to compare it to a rangefinder

The rest of us, however, remain open-minded. Just because you use a laser rangefinder now doesn’t mean it’s the best solution for you and vice versa. There are pros and cons to each and which one is best for you depends on how you process information and where you play your golf.

It’s not the purpose of this piece to dissect different models and analyze features side by side. We do that in our laser rangefinder and GPS Buyer’s Guides. Instead, we intend to examine each category’s technology and help you prepare a mental checklist. From there, you can choose the direction that’s best for you.

The Case for Rangefinders

Point. Click. Done.

It’s literally that easy to get a distance with a rangefinder, with a few caveats. Most people use rangefinders almost exclusively for approach shots – provided, of course – they can see the pin. Lasers share technology with rifle scopes and in both cases, you can’t shoot what you can’t see. For a blind uphill shot, you have to move to higher ground to get a visual on your target but now that laser accuracy becomes more of an approximation. You can also try shooting the distance to a fairway bunker or the trees at the end of a dogleg. Just make sure you lock onto the right thing. Most of the time, it works just fine.

Rangefinders and GPS's

And then there’s slope.

I believe it was Benjamin Franklin who said the slope function is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy. Or maybe he was talking about beer, but the sentiment is the same.

For those of us who don’t play tournament golf, slope is a nearly indispensable feature. It tells how much longer an uphill shot or how much shorter a downhill shot will play. The slope feature does that math for you in about a nanosecond, which is way better than doing mental geometry or – more likely – taking a wild-assed guess.

You’ll pay extra for slope, but it’s something you generally don’t get with GPS. Most often, all GPS will do is pinpoint your position and calculate the distance between you and a predetermined position, usually front-center-back of the green. The notable exception is  Arccos’ A.I. powered GPS rangefinder which is a feature on its subscription-based platform.  The Arccos Caddie Rangefinder adjusts in real-time for slope, wind, temperature, humidity, and altitude.

Uphill or downhill? Most GPS faithful will have to do without.

Looking through a rangefinder rather than a GPS

For courses you know and play regularly, a rangefinder gets the job done – provided you have a good memory. You may encounter the occasional blind shot but if you know the course well enough, you can certainly make do. As long as you can see it, you’ll be able to shoot the exact distance to any pin. Local knowledge will tell you if it’s wise to go for it or to simply aim for the middle.

When it comes to GPS vs. Rangefinder, simplicity and push-button accuracy favor the rangefinder.

The Case for GPS

Before Waze or Google Maps, do you remember what it was like asking for directions? Some people would draw you a map and others would write turn-by-turn instructions. Some people are visual; others are linear. And I’d bet most of Greg Norman’s money that the turn-by-turn guys use GPS watches and the map drawers use GPS handhelds or an app.

The folks that would rattle off directions and hope you remember? They’re using rangefinders.

GPS, of course, is broken into two categories. There’s the basic front-middle-back watch and there’s the full-hole imagery handheld device or smartphone app. You can get full-hole imagery with certain watches with varying degrees of features, which we’ll discuss later.

A Watch Golf GPS

Again, if it’s a course you know well and play often, a sub-$200 GPS watch giving front-middle-back distances will do just fine. It won’t be much help on a hilly course but local knowledge is always your friend. If that’s all the info you want or need, you won’t be fettered with extra detail. But if you’re the type of golfer who craves more information or who travels frequently, hole-imagery GPS provides tangible benefits.

There are GPS watches that provide varying degrees of hole imagery. Sky Caddie’s new LX5 watch, for example, gives you a look at the entire hole from tee to green. It also allows you to move a cursor on the screen to find the exact distance to anything: bunkers, trees, water or other hazards. You’ll get front-middle-back distances but you can move the cursor to the approximate pin location for more accuracy.

In the battle of GPS vs. Rangefinder, one could argue GPS’ biggest advantage is that it allow you to see more of the course.

Handheld GPS units take that functionality to a bigger screen. For the traveling golfer playing new courses, hole-imagery GPS can be a round saver. Carts with GPS screens used to be ubiquitous at resorts and destination courses but many are dumping them due to costs. On a buddy trip to Bandon or Streamsong, at least one guy in your foursome better have a GPS, just in case your caddie doesn’t have his A-game.

A rangefinder and 2 GPS's

Smartphone apps are an acceptable low-priced option. Free versions are generally limited to a handful of courses and you may not have the most up-to-date GPS imagery or overall functionality. There’s also the battery-drain factor. To make it through a round (if you don’t bring a backup battery or have a working USB port in your cart), you’ll need to set screen brightness at maybe 50 percent. On a sunny day, that might not cut it.

And you have your phone with you, which may or may not be a good thing.

Full-featured handheld units like the Sky Caddie SX500 and its kid brother, the SX400 for examples, give you full-hole imagery, moveable cursors, and complete course mapping. Sky Caddie walks and electronically maps damned near every course and has the most up-to-date and accurate imagery in the category. It’s a touch screen so you can move the cursor to your ideal landing spots, which is helpful on par 5s. The unit instantly calculates the distance to your next landing spot as well as what you have left to the green.

Slope? As we said earlier, you’re on your own.

4 GPS's and 4 Rangefinders

Price-wise, the best-equipped handheld units are in the same ballpark as the best-equipped range finders. On the lower end, you can find functional GPS watches and functional range finders for less than $200, so there’s no real price advantage one way or the other. Apps can be anywhere from free to 50 bucks and range from somewhat functional to pretty good. The benefit there is if you don’t like one, you can try another without blowing much cash.

GPS vs. Rangefinder – Determining Factors

There’s a school of thought that says the lower the handicap, the less GPS with full-hole imagery helps. That school believes better players can get around the course just fine with either a range finder or a simple front-middle-back GPS watch.

Five or 10 years ago, that was likely true. It’s still true for the better player who plays all his golf at the same few courses. But developments in handheld technology provide detail and information any golfer, regardless of handicap, can use no matter where they play.

Simply put, it’s all about course management.

“If you’re 250 out, do you hit a 3-wood no matter what or should you hit 6-iron and wedge?” asks Sky Caddie Sales Manager Paul Calabrase. “If you have a GPS, you can look at what’s in front of you and it’ll do the math for you and tell you what you have left for an approach.”

The higher handicapper may want to hit a 3-wood in that situation but the odds say the ball is more likely to wind up in the woods, a pond or a bunker than the green. That can turn what might have at worst been a bogey into a triple or worse pretty quickly. Eliminate a few dumb mistakes and you can easily shave four or five strokes off your score.

For the lower handicapper, being able to slide a cursor to preferred landing spots and get an idea of the actual shape and undulations of greens can be invaluable.

“Our IntelliGreen® function gives you the exact shape of the green,” says Calabrase. “It rotates based on your approach angle and you can move the cursor to the pin location. It creates a smaller target zone. It might read 142 to the front, 155 to the middle and 168 to the back. If you move the cursor to where the pin is, you’ll see it’s maybe 150, so you’ll have enough club to carry the front but not so much that you’ll be too far past it.”

The landscape of a golf course that can be seen through a rangefinder

As we’ve mentioned, if you play the same course or courses all the time and you know them well, a rangefinder or a simple front-middle-back GPS watch may be all you need. Hole imagery comes from your local knowledge and you eventually learn which holes you can go for and which require laying up. If the courses are hilly, investing in a rangefinder with slope would be a nice treat.

If you travel for business or pleasure or enjoy exploring new courses, a handheld unit with hole imagery has obvious benefits. Rangefinders and basic GPS watches don’t help much when faced with blind shots, hidden hazards or false fronts. And, sure, you can look over the scorecard or a resort’s complimentary yardage book to get an idea of what you’re looking at but units such as the SX 400 and SX500 offer more interaction. The screen automatically rotates based on your angle of approach and you can move the cursor to get precise yardages to specific targets or hazards.

In these cases, a handheld is the equivalent of a digital caddie or, at the very list, a digital version of a pro’s yardage book.

“For the average golfer, here’s a safe spot to hit it,” says Calabrase. “But you can move the cursor around to fit your needs. That allows you to personalize the experience based on your abilities and what you want to do on the golf course.”

GPS vs. Rangefinder – Final Thoughts

Technology is a wonderful thing. It gives you a barrel-full of options to help you figure your how-fars. It’s just a matter of which one fits your needs.

And depending on your situation, it doesn’t necessarily have to be just one. Many golfers use a laser or basic GPS watch on their home course and use either an app or a handheld when they travel. Some will even use both at the same time: the handheld to get an idea of the layout and layup and then the laser for their approach shot. The affordability of new technology makes doubling up a viable option.

A man looking through a rangefinder rather a GPS

If you decide a rangefinder is for you, slope is invaluable. Unless you use it in a tournament, it’s not cheating, no matter what golfers who take themselves way too seriously may believe. Most units today offer more than adequate optics and overall quality and MyGolfSpy’s Buyer’s Guide can help you weed through the marketing mumbo jumbo to make a good decision.

As mentioned, there are plenty of sub-$200 basic GPS watches that will do that job just fine. If you’re looking for more in a watch, both Sky Caddie and Garmin provide full-featured watches with varying degrees of hole imagery. Pricing, of course, will be higher, but so will the performance. Again, make sure to check MyGolfSpy’s GPS Buyer’s Guide.

Handheld units offer the greatest overall functionality for the golfer who wants it. It is, however, important to note that not all GPS is the same. Many apps and handhelds use satellite imagery, which may or may not be up to date and could miss new hole routings or tee boxes or up to 25 percent of the hazards on a given course. Sky Caddie spends a lot of money every year sending its people to walk each course to make sure every bunker, creek, pond and the shape of every green are accurately mapped.

A man on a golf course who might need a rangefinder or a GPS

A final consideration is shot tracking. While handhelds can do the job, albeit manually, this remains the domain of Shot Scope and Arccos. Both collect data automatically and both have developed extensive tools to analyze that data and present it to you in a usable way.

One last thing. It’s often said by the get-off-my-grass crowd that all this fancy technology does nothing but slow the game. Reality, however, tells another story. Time yourself finding a yardage marker and walking off the distance to your ball and then compare that to whipping out your rangefinder or GPS. You’ll be amazed at the difference.

A slow golfer is a slow golfer, no matter how he figures his how-fars. A slow golfer without a rangefinder or GPS will be a slow golfer with one. In the right hands, the technology has the potential to speed up the game. In the wrong hands, well, a slowpoke is a slowpoke, regardless of technology.

Your turn, GolfSpies. What do you use and why did you choose it?

For You

For You

Utility Irons
Oct 30, 2024
Top 3 Longest Driving Irons 2024
News
Oct 30, 2024
What’s the Right Way to Lay Up?
News
Oct 30, 2024
Tee Shots Falling Short? 8 Tips to Fix The Problem
John Barba

John Barba

John Barba

John is an aging, yet avid golfer, writer, 6-point-something handicapper living back home in New England after a 22-year exile in Minnesota. He loves telling stories, writing about golf and golf travel, and enjoys classic golf equipment. “The only thing a golfer needs is more daylight.” - BenHogan

John Barba

John Barba

John Barba





    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

      Dean M

      2 years ago

      Three years since this article was published and Sky Caddie products still do not support Slope.

      Reply

      Dean D

      4 years ago

      I miss the days when courses had yardage marked and you could pace to your ball anywhere near the fairway but my simple gps watch gives me front, center
      , back yardages instantly speeding up play. Rangefinders are slow & occasionally grab the wrong target. I loathe slow play so much prefer gps info used like marked yardage thinking before the shot.

      Reply

      Rodger

      4 years ago

      I like shiny new gadgets and have been looking at possibly getting a rangefinder. However, I cannot see the real justification. I’ve used Golfshot Pro (app) for years now as a combination distance gauge and score card. It is simple and excellent 8-9 times out of 10. The only issue is where hole layouts have been updated and the app hasn’t. No it doesn’t give me slope, but realistically there are many more facets to my game that I need to work on before that becomes a problem. I paid £6.99 for the app, have avoided the premium version and it caters for my every need. ….. so not sure why I would need to spend another £200-500 on anything else (the caveat being the need for a shiny new toy!)

      Reply

      hcp11

      5 years ago

      Garmin Z80 and you don’t need to make decision between rangefinder and gps.

      Reply

      Micah

      5 years ago

      Both: 18Birdies app on par 4s & 5’s to decide where I want to aim my tee shot, scope for all approach shots/ par 3’s. If I was forced to choose I’d take the gps app: front middle back distances are as use to me(6hcp) as the actual distance with slope. That being said, I bet slope saves me at least 2 strokes a round.

      Reply

      Dave S

      5 years ago

      Two questions:

      1. When discussion GPS’ and slope, you note that only one GPS (Arccos) has slope functionality built in, but the Garmin Approach S60 has “Plays-like Distance”, which adjusts for elevation changes. Why was this not mentioned? Is that different?

      2. Not to be “That guy”, but was this article sponsored in any way by Skycaddie? They’re the only brand you discuss when talking about GPS (other than the quick Arccos note I mentioned above), and you’ve included many embedded links to their product. Seemed a bit odd to me, especially when the conversation turned to GPS watches, considering the Garmin S60 won Most Wanted GPS watch. I don’t necessarily care if Skycaddie sponsored it (everyone needs to make money), but it would be great if there was a mini disclaimer if they did.

      Reply

      Gerry

      5 years ago

      Rules of golf forbid the use of the slope function. So in theory you cannot use it in competitions or even to post a score.

      Reply

      Ken

      5 years ago

      The golf industry must love reading all of these comments as we golfers consume at a high level! I also use both. Hole 19 on my Apple watch for GPS, scoring and stats. I will say, it is very accurate when I compare it to my rangefinder. I love the rangefinder for the practice range and some shots less than 110 yards, other than that, it is almost always GPS unless I am shooting a hazard from the tee box. I tend to leave my phone in the bag with bluetooth off, so that the distance is from the watch and not the phone.

      Reply

      Steven C

      5 years ago

      I consult my Garmin GPS watch on almost every shot. I use my rangefinder 4-5 times a round. It is nice to have both, but I would give up the rangefinder before the GPS.

      Reply

      David

      5 years ago

      I normally use both a rangefinder and Arccos. On windy days, I get actual yardage from rangefinder and then adjust for wind based on Arccos adjustment.

      Also on foggy/hazy days where rangefinder does not work use GPS

      However, right now our course has removed pins, all we have is a pin sheet each day. Rangefinder is not useful. GPS works great!

      Reply

      Joe

      5 years ago

      very easily as i owned both numerous times, at separate times and together head to head. For me is it was a course i played a lot and knew inside and out i pulled the rangefinder more. Outside of that any new course or courses im only vaguely familiar with a GPS all day and twice on sundays

      Reply

      Jeff

      5 years ago

      This year I plan on using both. As others have stated I noticed that simply using the laser it made it difficult to get yardages to blind hazards. Also I am looking forward to having F-M-B yardages quickly available at a glance rather than trying to shoot everything. I will still use both however, my mind may change at the end of the year.

      Reply

      Andrew

      5 years ago

      My choice is Shot Scope. All the GPS distances I need on my wrist and the data I get is unbelievable! 225 out on a par 5 I can hit my 3 wood but the data says I only hit that shot accurately 23% of the time. I now choose my 5 iron with almost 90% accuracy and chip and putt. The point is, great at providing the “how fars” but even more importantly, it has helped me be a better course and game manager because I play smarter.

      Reply

      Svenni

      5 years ago

      I use a Shotscope V2 watch (anxiously waiting for V3 to be available) for when I don’t see the pin, but otherwise use my old trusty Bushnell V2 . I play off 2 and hit about half of the green in regulation so I am reasonably solid on my iron and wedge lengths. Thus I feel I need to know the exact distance to the flag so a GPS is not accurate enough but for anything over 200 yards I know the watch is accurate enough plus it tracks all the shots which makes for a good post-game analysis.

      Reply

      mackdaddy9

      5 years ago

      Both! I have a Garmin Z 80 which has both range finder and gps with the features mapped. I like to have the yardage to the flag and front and back of green or bunker numbers. It also tracks my average driver yardages each round (256) today. It has a line that shows the depth of the flag on the green which is great on blind greens. It has a scan feature that helps with shaky hands. I would recommend it to anyone. Yes they are expensive.

      Reply

      Pete

      5 years ago

      I used a range finfer, plus slope, plus barometric pressure for the first time and was amazed. Hit every approach pin high. All you have to do is trust it and know your distances

      Reply

      LABillyboy

      5 years ago

      Both… a cheap bushnell GPS watch and laser…. use the watch 90% of the time unless there’s a reason to know +- 1 yard. Takes zero extra time, I know yardage as soon as I stop, even if I’m in the wrong fairway..

      Reply

      Linton

      5 years ago

      I don’t know about US but here in Australia any handicapped competition must follow the Rules of Golf and distance measuring devices Must only measure distance. Any additional measurements including Wind and Slope are Not Allowed.
      Slope on a rangefinder (or GPS) are not allowed to be used unless it is a social or practice round.
      You refer to “tournaments” like it is Pro or very high level Amateur events and not “any handicapped” competition.

      Reply

      gkcapers

      5 years ago

      I started using a GPS (Garmin- GolfLogix) a number of years ago and I loved it. I then added a Bushnell Rangefinder to augment the GPS. As the years, with both, went by I noticed I tended to use the Rangefinder more regularly as I find it is more accurate for approach shots due to fact it provides the exact distance to the pin! I recently upgrade my GPS to a Garmin G30 (too small for someone aged 61 who needs reading glasses) to provide information on all aspects of the course. When I plan my home course the rangefinder is my “go to” tool, but, when playing an unfamiliar courses the GPS is invaluable. If I had to pick only one – the rangefinder would be my #1 choice!

      Reply

      Steven

      5 years ago

      I have both. I primarily use my watch. But at times it will go haywire and give outrageous readings or I forget to charge it. I use my laser on shots inside 150 yards. I also don’t waste time waiting for the green to clear , I just fixate on a player picking up their ball or the if it’s left in. No wasted time.

      Reply

      JohnQ

      5 years ago

      I’m in the both camp. A Garmin Approach X40 and Bushnell Pro X2. I generally rely on GPS with the exception of Par 3s and shorter approach shots which I’ll gun. I’m also a firm believer that GPS on the wrist of most players would speed up the game significantly. I’ve spent waaay too much time in my golf life watching guys who struggle to break 90 checking sprinkler heads and pacing of yardages.

      Whatever you choose, be quick about it. Get the number and go.

      Reply

      BT

      5 years ago

      About 8 or 9 years ago, I invested in a Bushnell Rangefinder with slope. It’s been invaluable. There have been times when I wanted a GPS like: The course is wet and it’s cart path only, or the green is elevated or obscured where a laser is not able to get a flag stick lock. Recently, I bought a Golf Buddy WT6 watch. Now when I am away from the cart or am facing an obscured green, I can estimate better what club to play. The combination seems to work well. I still rely more on the rangefinder and use the GPS as a backup.

      Reply

      Jimmy Mitchell

      5 years ago

      I use GPS. I have an application (The Grint) that I use, it aslo keeps my handicap. I can’t align the rangefinder I take too long.

      Reply

      Justin T.

      5 years ago

      +1 for The Grint. The fee is fairly minimal for the Pro version and the yardages are usually accurate. The stats feature is awesome to help me keep track of how I’m doing- perhaps it requires more effort than Arcos, but really it’s super minimal. The only downsides I experience are that new tee boxes are occasionally unaccounted for and the GPS is occasionally off- it works better when I keep my phone on though- so bringing a cheap USB battery pack can be helpful, but usually I keep it off and then turn it on while walking to my ball. 99% of the time I am really pleased and it costs me something like $40/year including all the stats.

      With all that said, since the USGA starting keeping a stats feature on their app and The Grint raised their price, I am considering dropping my Pro subscription and using the free version for GPS and doing stats through the USGA app.

      For me- it’s about how much money I want to spend on greens fees and how much I want to spend on extra devices. I’ll save my money for an extra round or two.

      Reply

      Stuts

      5 years ago

      I’ve used about every SkyCaddie that has been made and currently have the SX500. It’s absolutely perfect for me. I play with a gentleman who has a Rangefinder. When I get to my ball, I just look at the GPS, and pull out the clug I need. My buddy takes time in finding the pin, then putting it back in the cart and then getting his club. Rangefinder people are definitely slower and they get limited information. I’m a 10 handicapper from the Sr. Tees, I don’t need to know the exact yardage, I just need to know the generally distance, and where the yardage to the front and back. If you know those you can shoot a great round without too much difficulty. GPS for me all the way!!!!

      Reply

      WB

      5 years ago

      I am not sure why the article was limited to Rangefinder Vs GPS, when there is another option. There are devices like the Garmin Z80 that use both laser rangefinding and GPS (including slope). Both features come in handy during a round, so why not have both?

      Reply

      TvGuyJake

      5 years ago

      I am certain that laser rangefinders are more accurate (if you can see the pin) but I drink too much coffee. My hands shake; so need to use a Garmin GPS. to get my yardages.

      Reply

      Chris C.

      5 years ago

      I much prefer a simple GPS watch. First, it is faster than any laser. As I walk down the fairway, I simply glance at my wrist and I know my distance and club before the bag comes off my shoulder. Second, unless you have a clear line of sight, lasers are worthless. Third, I realize that lasers are small but why bother to carry one in my bag when my GPS watch will do just fine. The only time that I have found a laser useful is when my GPS fails to give me yardages to end of fairways, to doglegs or to/over hazards and bunkers.

      Reply

      Bryce

      5 years ago

      But don’t you have to wait a while once you reach your ball for the GPS to recalculate your distance?

      Reply

      Tony

      5 years ago

      both for me…still use my Skycaddie 2.5 (still works awesome and don’t need aythng fancy for a number) off the tee and rangefinder on all shots to the green

      Reply

      lgv

      5 years ago

      I used to have a Sky Caddie, then switched to rangefinder. The reason I switched was because I could never remember to charge the GPS unit. I have since added a cheap GPS. I still can’t remember to charge it half the time.

      Reply

      Shay hogan

      5 years ago

      I use the GPS , and have for many years. I tried the rangefinder but, like someone else mentioned, my hands are not the steadiest so it takes me a long time. I don’t have confidence I’ve nailed the correct target.
      I absolutely LOVE my skycaddie, charge it religiously, and have the utmost confidence in it.
      I’ve recently made the mistake of not bringing it with me on a golf trip to Florida, assuming all the carts would have “screens”. Boy was I wrong. Never again without my Skycaddie.
      Shay

      Reply

      Glen

      5 years ago

      I use both, Skycaddie SX500 and a Bushnell Tour V4. When playing new courses the GPS is a must but I use the Bushnell with it. On local courses that I play often I normally use just the Bushnell.

      Reply

      SV677

      5 years ago

      One thing left out is if you can hold a rangefinder steady long enough to get a good reading. My Bushnell Ghost give me the yardage I need to hazards and greens and I know it’s accurate. Besides, for most golfers, if they hit the middle of a green they should be in great shape unless the greens are extremely large and undulating.

      Reply

      Dean

      5 years ago

      No wonder ply has gotten so darn slow. All the idiots who have no idea how far they hit the ball double checking gps & rangefinder before topping their 7 wood.

      Marked sprinklers are still nice to have since technology picks the worst time to fail. I’ve been using laser rangefinders hunting for decades but never on every shot slowing down the course.

      Whatever allows you to play well under 4 hours is OK with me. Faster is better when it comes to golf.

      Reply

      mackdaddy9

      5 years ago

      75 shots with a range finder takes less time than 90 without one. Pacing off yardages take way longer.

      Reply

      Dean

      5 years ago

      Bull! many guys Breaking 80 using technology every hole to check their position in relation the front, back green slopes etc can play – but quite a bit slower than my wife shooting 125 but hitting it without delay. I’m old & slow these days walking 18 in a twosome takes me 3 hours & withe a cart 2.5 Or less if I’m first off. When I paced yardages in my 30’s it was about 20-30 minutes faster. I’ve never been better than a 7 & normally a 10 so it’s usually 80 some strokes. Too much watching the tour Posing & not enough thinking before the shot.

      Bob

      5 years ago

      My brother and I shared one. Really, we used it once we were 150 yards or less from the hole. I think some people with new technology want to play with it, and after a while, they get there’s no point really to finding long ranges.

      Reply

      Dave V

      5 years ago

      I use both. I’m presently using Shot Scope to give me GPS data and to track all of my shots. In my opinion, it gives me the data I need for most of my shots. Short approach shots, however, I think that the GPS resolution is questionable. For those shots and par 3’s, I’ll pull out the Bushnell V4. Even that has variations in accuracy and can have trouble finding the flag if there are trees or poles in the background. Mostly, if the GPS and the laser agree, within reason, I’m happy.

      Reply

      Dokes

      5 years ago

      Neither one tells you how Wide a target is, which for most, is more important (or embarrassing.)
      Rangefinders take too long, most people I know that have them don’t need them because they can’t hit to a distance anyway. Then there’s all that fussing out of the case, then back into the case. I believe most rangefinders were gifts and not actually bought by a golfer with a purpose or need in mind. Adds 10 minutes to every round.
      I have a Garmin watch, I glance at the distance, mostly the front of the green, and go. If a tell a person with a range finder the distance, they usually have to verify it anyway.

      Reply

      Brad Ferrini

      5 years ago

      I have the SX500 and all the others from sky caddie before this one and very much like it…The draw back is if your course has changed or the greens have become smaller over years. Then the unit will be off in distance to the green. Range finders are great for quick and simple to use and are very accurate. I like GPS they keep information to see how I’m doing over time and keep track of everything.

      Reply

      Brian

      5 years ago

      I use both – a Garmin Approach S20 on my wrist and a laser rangefinder with slope (that replaced my old Bushnell w/o slope).. Haven’t yet had a chance to try out the new rangefinder, but expect I’ll use it a bit more than the old one, especially on courses that have elevation changes. Before it was 80% GPS / 20% rangefinder.

      Reply

      Dr Tee

      5 years ago

      I started out many years ago with a primitive early rangefinder, lost it in a move from Ohio to AZ and switched to gps watch. I am going back to rangefinder–reliable, simple, slope if desired, and visual mag to reliably assess pin postion.
      I have now had 3 different gps watches and all required too much “putzing” around and were disruptive to the golf experience. I can’t read my I-phone golf gps in sunlight. Look, half the fun of playing is walking and figuring the course out mentally–who needs WATSON to tell you where to hit every shot ?? I do think gps green putting guides are useful if your greens have a lot f movement and are challenging as they are here in AZ

      Reply

      Joe M

      5 years ago

      I have been using a Bushnell Excel gps watch for a few seasons but added a RH2 Laser Link rangefinder late last fall. Got the rangefinder for practice more than play but have found using it more on the course than originally thought. Especially from 180 yards out or, for example, to get a distance on a tree that might be an obstruction if not gotten past.

      Reply

      Willie T

      5 years ago

      I tend to use both – Garmin S20 Approach and Bushnell laser rangefinder. The Bushnell does have elevation adjustment function, but I’ve not really had to use it as most courses I play are relatively flat. The Garmin is good about noting where I am in relation to center of green. I am not accurate enough to need to know within the yard of where the pin is – I am good guesstimating front, back, middle and going from there. The S20 does a good job of tracking shots that I can upload to Garmin Golf app. It has helped me to understand the truer distances I actually hit and had made club selection much more realistic. For now I will continue to subscribe to both camps.

      Reply

      Alex

      5 years ago

      I use a small Garmin GPS that I got on sale for $100. a few years ago.. Besides Front, middle, back, it does give approximate pin positions you can hone in on–while not as accurate as a range finder, it may be only a yard or so off–which is fine for me and my 11 handicap. I find really GPS useful on Par 5s, when I need to figure out how far away is the flag– and using subtraction, how far I am from my desired layup yardage (and how far that bunker, hazard is, etc).

      Reply

      PETER

      5 years ago

      I currently use a rangefinder, but owned a couple GPS watches in the past. Two things you didn’t mention.

      (1) My short game is pretty strong; its how I can be an 10 handicap despite only hitting an average of 3-4 greens in regulation. I’ve been to a Dave Pelz school and love his books, and one of the keys is knowing how to hit short yardages.. So I use a rangefinder to get exact yardages that might only be in the range of 25-50 yards. GPS won’t give me that accuracy.

      (2) Battery life. My disposable rangefinder battery lasts me months and I keep a spare in my golf bag for when it dies. I used to own rechargeable GPS watches and found I had to recharge after each round. (Once in a while I’d play two rounds in a day and the watch MIGHT last both rounds.) If I forgot to recharge after the round, or something went wrong with the charging, or I got to the golf course only to remember the watch was at home on the charger, I was out of luck. (Its possible the technology has changed so that’s not as much of a problem now.)

      Reply

      GilB

      5 years ago

      My handheld GPS is just perfect. I certainly need an upgrade to my old unit but as long as I can get distances and the course layout what more do I need?

      Reply

      Alf.S

      5 years ago

      I’m a bit of a Technophile. I have 3 devices on the course. My phone with Arccos running for shot tracking, it stays in my pocket most of the time. An SGX500 on my trolley and a Nikon Coolshot in my bag. I’ve used a Skycaddie for the last 12 years starting with the 2.5 and now the SGX500 and this tends to be the device I use 80% of the time. If I can’t make out if the pin is front centre or back I will ping it with the Coolshot. I also use the Coolshot if I want to know carries across a hazard. My Arccos on my phone I have found isn’t that accurate with errors of 5-10 yds. If I was to told I could only take one device it would be the Skycaddie.

      Reply

      Mhb

      5 years ago

      Glad I’m not the only one with problems of accuracy with Arccos. My mobile phone and Arccos had inaccuracies of more than 10 yards and that has been confirmed by Arccos. They returned my $99. But according to them their system is accurate. My mobile phone provider said they were accurate too! Whenever 2 technologies join there is always room for it to be someone else’s fault.

      Measuring devices are all very well but still require us to execute the shot, therein lies the problem. Us golfers!!

      Technology improvements whether balls, drivers, hybrids or irons have all made the game we all love easier, but by how much ? The average golf handicap is around 14 and that is only 2 better than it was 30 years ago.. So all the improvements, and they generally cost us golfers a lot of money have made only marginal gains. But as long as we are happy playing this glorious game who cares.

      Reply

      MIgregb

      5 years ago

      There are so many benefits to using a GPS based system before getting to the green that I keep trying different types/models (both paid-for and free). But I’ve never been happy with approach accuracy on any of them so I keep going back to my 15+ year old Nikon laser that still performs as well or better than any of my friends units that are MUCH newer.. No, I’m not good enough or precise enough for the 4 to 7 yard discrepency to matter with my ultimate shot. But If the GPS is that far off, I don’t know whether I hit a great shot like I planned but the distance was wrong or if I used the wrong club/swing. If I hope to get better with my short game, I need to know who screwed up. Usually me, but that’s the point – I know!

      Reply

      gpavm

      5 years ago

      Does it really matter which one? I love it when a GPS and a range finder on the same hole differ by a few yards. 99% of golfers are not good enough for 3 or 4 yards to make a difference. Y’all are the ones on the T-box holding up play. Just swing you are probably not going to ht the green anyways.

      Reply

      Nick J

      5 years ago

      I use both! TheGrint GPS and a NX7 pro rangefinder. I use a push cart so my gps stays up on my phone as i walk to the ball. I can see the hazards and shape of the hole, as well a get a number to center of the green. I shoot the flag for approach shots and that gives me a decent number to keep in mind because greens can carry greatly in size and hitting to the center on a large green can make for a long day with the putter. At the small town course i play in the summer, we regularly play as a fivesome in under 4 hours.l and usually around 3 1/2. It can be done. Play ready golf and go for it!

      Reply

      B.Boston

      5 years ago

      the correct answer (for me) is: Both!

      I use Arccos on my phone or before that a free GPS app for tee shots or par 5 layup distances, then use my rangefinder when I can see the flag or tree to a corner or something like that.

      IF I don’t know the the course or greens I’ll also combine the GPS Front, Middle, Back numbers with the rangefinder distance to figure out where the flag is an try to miss to the middle.

      Also, I do all of this while my partners are playing their shots or waiting for the green to clear so I don’t take up any extra time. :)

      Reply

      RT

      5 years ago

      I have an older model rangefinder that works great for my needs . But the range finder is not the cure for slow play. I play with a group guys that most all have range finders and that doesn’t help in speed of play . Most want to take many practice swings and then still hit the ball out of bounds etc.We started a rule that if a ball is out of bounds throw one down hit another and forget hunting for the ball unless it’s quickly retrievable . I don’t like the slope range finders because it takes the skill of understanding to add yardage or subtracting yardage … Next we will see an app for the phone that will tell you what club to select . PLAY GOLF LIKE IT WAS INTENDED ,TOO MUCH TECH CAN RUIN THE GAME ie CaddyShack (Rodney Dangerfield’s putter)

      Reply

      JR2

      5 years ago

      “next we will see an app that tells you what club to select”…The Arccos app already does that – based on it’s accumulated data of how far you typically hit each club, which it tracks based on each swing you take in every round.

      Love the rule your group uses! Wish I could get my in-laws to adopt that one – my father-in-law and bro-in-law can start a round with one ball and finish with a dozen. Always walking through the woods!

      Reply

      Chris Nickel

      5 years ago

      I get there’s a reasonable spectrum of golfers regarding the benefits (and even definition) of technology.

      With that said, what’s the difference between a caddie telling you which club to select and an app on your phone? Don’t they do fundamentally the same thing?

      Reply

      Mike

      5 years ago

      Why not both? For me, the only thing about the GPS is that my course is a links style with zero shade, so sun glare at times would make it hard to read the (small #’s) on the screen. I like the point & shoot convenience of my rangefinder, but on a new course (for me) or on a course with blind shots, I definitely see how the GPS would help. My only concern with the GPS would be that people start fiddling with it and/or over analyzing data on every single shot. But if you’re fully keeping up with the group in front of you, I couldn’t care less If you’re constantly looking at your GPS or phone for texts, stock quotes, porn, etc.! Just keep up.

      Reply

      JasonA

      5 years ago

      With range finder I can dial in my club distances with confidence (i.e. pitch mark relative to the pin). On a course I haven’t played much then GPS software on the phone can be a useful addition.

      Reply

      Joey

      5 years ago

      I have the Bushnell Phantom, Front , middle and back is all I need.The only time I use my range finder are for extreme uphill or down hills .And that’s if I’m having a really good game.

      Reply

      Deacon

      5 years ago

      To me the yearly fee charged by Sky Caddy is excessive given the relatively small benefit their products give me. I did purchase the Garmin g80 because it doubled as a launch monitor. The GPS portion works just fine but the launch monitor is a major disappointment.

      Reply

      Michael Scales

      5 years ago

      Though you mentioned arcos and shot scope the best of them all is game golf. The ap requires nothing on my clubs and the smart caddie feature is accurate. I’ve played with just my phone and ap with game golf for over 200 rounds and I’ve heard they are closing their doors and as I’ve tested other aps on my phone to track my shots, use on the course as my distance tool, and keep stats, none of them compare to the ease of use and details of game golf. Sad to see it go.

      Reply

      TR1PTIK

      5 years ago

      I used GG for several years. I don’t know what changed, but they quickly went from #1 or #2 in the category to the very last product I’d ever recommend. I’ve been predicting their demise for a while now. Not surprised.

      Reply

      JR2

      5 years ago

      Guessing they lost marketshare to Arccos. I know when I used GG, it just got in the way of the game, because of all the tagging the butt of the club to the device on my belt (I think they removed that eventually) – but that caused constant interruptions to the flow. I’d walk off the green, realize I hadn’t tracked that shot, and (as the next group is getting ready with their approach shots) I’d run back onto the green to tap my putter to my belt at the spot where I had last put from. I loved being able to see the entire round, but that aspect killed it for me.

      Gary

      5 years ago

      I have used the Golfshot app for years on my iphone and it works well for me. The readings golfers get with their rangefinders are within a couple yards of what my app gets.

      Reply

      jimmytim

      5 years ago

      Rangefinder . . . no contest!

      Reply

      pauls

      5 years ago

      I have both, but usually use only one depending on the course. Both are budget models. My rangefinder locks onto flog stick with prisms just fine but just too shaky when byond 100yds except for big objects. Several course I play don’t have prisms so I have to rely on the gps. Guess I prefer the rangefinder as that is my choice unless prisms missing or I am at a blind spot.

      Reply

      Tom

      5 years ago

      The Garmin rangerfinder with GPS is the best of both worlds. Hard to believe you didn’t include mention of it in your article.

      Reply

      Spitfisher

      5 years ago

      I use both GPS (watch) and Bushnell laser. We have a lot of undulating greens, many are uphill from our approach shots. I hit a high, steep descending shot. A quick look at the watch tells be F, C, and Back. The Laser tells me where the pin is in relationships to some of the known challenges on the green. I don’t hold up the pace of play using both.

      Reply

      Tom

      5 years ago

      I used to use a golf logix unit when they first came out. It was not very accurate on several courses I played. So it got retired to the closet after a season or two. I went to a laser range finder and it has been working great as long as you can see where you are going so to speak. I thinking about getting something where I can see the entire hole. I do get to play a lot of new to me courses. Not a big fan of watches but it’s probably easier than pulling out a devise the size of a cell phone out of my pocket. 36 times a round. I’m investigating the GPS watches currently. I’m sure the technology is much better than it was years ago.

      Reply

      Johnny'O

      5 years ago

      I am a recreational golfer. I don’t have the precision of the PGA Tour players. So I like my GPS watch.

      It’s frustrating to see many recreational golfers with their range finders attempting to hone in on the exact yardage. Only to miss the green time-after-time. I think range finders should be limited to low handicap golfers. Front/Middle/Back is fine with me and I get instant yardage on my watch

      Reply

      Kenny B

      5 years ago

      I have both but use the GPS most of the time. While knowing the exact distance to the pin is nice, I’m not good enough as an 9 index to hit the ball consistently to that distance. I want to know what club will get me to the front and what club will put me off the back. Depending on the hole location, I choose my club. The red, white and blue flags are usually adequate to make that determination. If those colored flags are not available, then I will use the laser if I can’t tell visually.

      I can also say that a high handicapper has the chance to mishit that 6i just as often as that 3W and then has a long approach for the next shot. Most likely, the high handicapper will hit whatever club they feel most comfortable with instead of the 3W or 6i.

      Reply

      Mark M

      5 years ago

      I employee both a rangefinder and GPS (phone app, 18 Birdies – works well, it’s free & I can keep stats) on a consistent basis.
      I find that they’re both helpful on the course, depending on the situation and shot being played.
      There are occasions when I don’t have line of site to the pin/green/etc so I’ll use my GPS in those situations.
      I also use the GPS after scoping a pin number to find out if that pin is back, middle or front when it’s hard to tell from my position.
      And although I play most of my golf on courses I know the GPS is really handy at new courses or those I haven’t played in a while to remember features & layouts of some holes.

      Reply

      Barry Schwartz

      5 years ago

      I have the Callaway hybrid that is both a GPS and laser. Works very well and prevents you from “missing” the flag with the laser since you have the F,M,B distances right there. No slope reading on my model but for the courses I play I pretty much know how the slope affects the distance and club selection.

      Reply

      Bill Thomas

      5 years ago

      I couldn’t decide, so I bought both – a Bushnell Tour V4 with slope and a Bushnell Phantom. Together they cost less than the new Bushnell Pro XE laser range finder. Prices fluctuate on Amazon so watch for a bargain. I’ve seen the Pro XE for $100 less than it’s current advertised price.

      Reply

      Beanpats24

      5 years ago

      Both have their purpose. New course I’ve never played, need gps. But otherwise is my laser!

      Reply

      Brian Pickton

      5 years ago

      Both. The range finder particularly on the driving range where I have found the distance to markers is not always as advertised. My now aging Garmin is used on the course. At this point I am looking at Shot Scope for stroke information. However whether I pull the trigger is pending the decision whether we will have a golf season this year.

      Reply

      Phil

      5 years ago

      I have the Garmin S60 GPS watch and it has slope along with colour screen etc. I also use golfshot on my iphone for full course views.

      Reply

      Brian

      5 years ago

      Garmin S60 GPS watch calculates slope as well, seems like it was too dismissive to say slope is something only rangefinders can do

      Reply

      TonyG

      5 years ago

      I carry both but use the Laser almost exclusively when I play my home course. For example, even on blind holes, I have trained myself to shoot tree X and add 30 yards for center of the green. On strange courses, I use the GPS to navigate my way around and the Laser to pinpoint the flag location. My least favorite feature of the GPS is that it requires charging. I would sometimes forget and then you’re screwed. The Laser, I can always carry an extra battery.

      Reply

      Art

      5 years ago

      I use a Bushnell Hybrid. Best of both worlds. Only thing missing is the slope feature

      Reply

      Carl

      5 years ago

      I use GPS because my hands are not steady enough for a laser.

      Reply

      Robin

      5 years ago

      A Ventilator or golf which one do you approve of ?

      Reply

      Steve S

      5 years ago

      I use both. The GPS(old golf buddy) for distance to traps, hazards, etc. and the rangefinder for distance to the pin when I’m close enough.

      Reply

      mike byford

      5 years ago

      I use GPS and have for years – accurate to 1-3 m – which is better than me 5m is about it except for 100m in . Fast live data no need to faff around pull out the scope point shoot and realise you can’t actually see the target . Played against people with Rangefinders and they are slower because of the measurement time. As for slope use your imagination what golf is about

      Reply

      retired04

      5 years ago

      Bought a used Bushnell about 20 years ago, and replaced it with the same model (used) 4 years ago. All my club yardages ae based on the numbers I get from the unit-am 73 and no thoughts of spending bucks to change. Have been a single digit my whole life although the from shorter (read “funer”) tees now and time has told me 138 yards is 138 yard no matter how you get the number.

      Reply

      Andy LaCombe

      5 years ago

      IMO the answer is that you need both. I use my GPS only for front, back and middle yardages, Then if I can shoot the flag I know where it is front to back. Left to right is a visual thing if the green is not visible you have to improvise :)

      I am very used to using both at this point. If I had to use only one I could use either with the GPS being better if there are blind shots and the RF being better if you can see the pins – hence the reason I like to have both.

      The GPS is a quick glance while the RF depends on how cooperative the flag is to being shot. The best way to shoot a flag is to aim to the side first and then scan over and when the # gets smaller you know you hit the flag – I see people give a number and I know they missed the flag.

      Reply

      Harry

      5 years ago

      Regardless of your Our promise to you statement, this article is a blatant add for the Sky Caddie brand.

      Reply

      Dave

      5 years ago

      I need to use reading glasses so unless a GPS has a very big screen, putting my glasses on on to read distances is inconvenient. I can still use a rangefinder without any problems but when that changes (as it probably will), I’ll likely end up wearing glasses when I golf. At that point I just might reevaluate the options.

      Reply

      Mark

      5 years ago

      Dave, I am in the same boat, needing reading glasses. I use the SkyCaddie SX500, which has a large 5″ screen, large numbers.

      Reply

      Geoff

      5 years ago

      Or you can use Arccos’ AI Rangefinder in the app and it not only shows you the gps layout but also gives you slope, wind, etc and recommends a club.

      Reply

      joe

      5 years ago

      Neo Ghost and a Golf Buddy LR7S. While the laser is awesome, quick and easy to use, I use the Ghost more often. Just glance down at the bag (on a watch strap attached to my bag), pull a club and shoot.

      Reply

      Cap

      5 years ago

      The only time I regret using a basic ‘front/middle/back’ GPS is when the flags at the course aren’t color coded for position (or indicated on the scorecard). As long as the relative position of the pin is indicated I can always ascertain the distance to the hole within 2 or 3 yards. Even as a low hcp player this is plenty accurate for my purposes and having the additional front and back numbers more than makes up for the slight yardage margin. I mean, if you know that the pin is EXACTLY 150 yds away but don’t know that the back of the green is 153 yds–you’re bound to make some costly errors.

      As an aside, I’ve actually played some of my better rounds when I’ve had zero help with pin location. It’s amazing how well you can play when you think nothing more than the middle of the green.

      Reply

      Richard Schrager

      5 years ago

      I’m a gadget geek. I have the SkyCaddie SX500, the Bushnell Jolt rangefinder (with slope) and the ShotScope.. The best thing about the ShotScope is i don’t have to do anything with it during the round. SX500 is usually for new or unfamiliar courses. I always have the rangefinder in my bag.

      Reply

      Ron

      5 years ago

      Read the Hogan quote in John Barba’s bio.

      It’s sprinkler head yardages for me.

      Reply

      Dan

      5 years ago

      I purchased one of the first combo Bushnell laser/gps units over 10 years ago . Still works well and I’ve got the best of bot worlds .

      Reply

      Bob W

      5 years ago

      Shot Scope is my pick as a weekend player because it is convenient to use during play, provides enough information on hazards and distances for my game and some neat post-game analysis. I considered getting a range finder like most players I see on the course but it just didn’t seem as easy to use and from what I can observe did take those players longer to decide how to play the shot.. Finally the cost differences between the two sealed it for me, cost benefit, value and ease of use.

      Reply

      JL

      5 years ago

      Perhaps I am in the minority but I have both. I primarily use my GPS but will often use the rangefinder to shoot land marks and hazards to decide on club selection and layups.

      Reply

      Brian

      5 years ago

      Boiled down to one simple fact for me: One battery lasts most of a season. I needed to charge my GPS at best, every second round or so.

      Reply

      Bryce

      5 years ago

      ^^^
      Very good point.

      Reply

      Troy

      5 years ago

      I have and carry both, a Garmin G30 GPS and a Precision Golf NX7 Pro rangefinder. Both have their benefits and uses. The NX7 is more accurate and the Garmin is more beneficial when you don’t have a clear line of sight to the pin. Also the NX7 cannot keep track of my stats such as GIR, Fairways hit, which direction I missed the fairway and to track putts. Why does it have to be one or the other, why not both?

      Reply

      Wayne

      5 years ago

      I’m with Troy. I use my Bushnell ProXE for 85% of my course management and will use my ShotScope V2 for measuring carry distances over penalty areas. Occasionally, I’ll pull out the Arccos app to measure the wind speed but I find it cumbersome. Technology is great so why not leverage it?

      Reply

      Imafitter

      5 years ago

      I use both, watch and laser w/slope.

      Reply

      Matt

      5 years ago

      I have a Garmin Approach G7 GPS. It has PlaysLike Distance, which accounts for elevation changes, essentially slope.

      Reply

      Brandon

      5 years ago

      I broke down and purchased a laser range finder, but then the subscription I purchased for keeping my HDCP came with a very good gps as well… the problem with the gps is two fold from what I have been told… what happens when they move the pin and second I was told they are not legal for tournament play. The person who told me I blindly trusted but the range finder I find much more simple and accurate every time.

      Reply

      Mark

      5 years ago

      Your friend is wrong. GPS is as legal as rangefinders, more so if the rangefinder has slope enabled.

      Reply

      Jonathan

      5 years ago

      The Arccos gps function does calculate slope as well as wind speed and direction.

      Reply

      Billy Chapel

      5 years ago

      So does the Garmin SG8. I have laser with slope and the SG8. The GPS is more accurate.

      Toss this post away and start again.

      Reply

      TR1PTIK

      5 years ago

      Unfortunately, it’s not as accurate as a dedicated GPS unit or rangefinder. It probably works well enough for most users, but it’s dependent on the hardware in the phone which is not always the same.

      Reply

    Leave A Reply

    required
    required
    required (your email address will not be published)

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Utility Irons
    Oct 30, 2024
    Top 3 Longest Driving Irons 2024
    News
    Oct 30, 2024
    What’s the Right Way to Lay Up?
    News
    Oct 30, 2024
    Tee Shots Falling Short? 8 Tips to Fix The Problem