Golf GPS Devices vs. Laser Rangefinders: Which is Best for Your Game?

Working your way around a golf course can be like solving a puzzle because distances, hazards and slopes all need to be dealt with in order to piece together a good score. However, two modern pieces of equipment can help make drawing circles instead of squares easier: golf GPS devices and laser rangefinders. While both are designed to provide accurate distance measurements, they do their jobs in different ways, and both have their benefits and drawbacks depending on your style, level of play, and budget.

How Golf GPS Devices Work

Golf GPS devices connect to a network of satellites to measure distances to various points on the course, just like the GPS system in your car determines where you are as you drive. By cross-referencing your location with a pre-loaded course map, a GPS device can tell you the distance to the front, middle, and back of the green, as well as any hazards or doglegs along the way. Modern GPS devices now come in the form of watches, handheld units, and even mobile apps that can be downloaded to your smartphone.

GPS: The Advantages

There are some distinct advantages to using GPS as your distance-measuring system of choice, and the first is convenience. Whether you opt for a watch, a stand-alone unit or a smartphone app, golf GPS devices can continuously show you how far away you are from hazards, specific areas on a hole and different areas of the green. As you move, those numbers automatically update.

Golf GPS devices also typically come with other handy features, like the ability to keep your score and manage games you are playing with your partners. In some cases, golf GPS devices can pair with tags that go on your clubs so they track your performance over time and generate stats on your game.

GPS: The Disadvantages

The downside of using a GPS device can be the level of accuracy. We've all been behind the wheel when our car's GPS device shows on its map we need to turn now, but the road where we turn is 30 or 40 feet ahead. That tiny margin is not a big deal when you are driving, but golfers are demanding and want the highest level of accuracy possible. The technology that powers GPS devices has improved a lot over the years, but it can still be off by a couple of yards.

There is also a slight chance that a course you play has not been mapped, though most GPS devices come with tens of thousands of courses pre-loaded, so this is likely not a big deal.

What can be a big deal, however, are subscription fees. Some higher-end devices require paid subscriptions to unlock all their features, so take that into account before you make your purchase.

How Laser Rangefinders Work

Pointing a laser rangefinder at your target and then pressing a button shoots a beam of light out of the unit. Then, measuring how long it takes that laser beam to reflect back to the device, it calculates the distance. So, no, you are not Luke Skywalker, but you are shooting laser beams when you use a golf rangefinder.

Laser Rangefinders: The Advantages

First and foremost, laser rangefinders are the most accurate way to measure the distance between you and your target. Most units are accurate to with a yard from farther out than Bryson DeChambeau can hit a golf ball.

You also never have to worry about whether a golf course has been mapped when you use a laser rangefinder, and several models now come with a Slope function that can measure the upward or downward angle to your target and then reveal "plays like" distances. A few can even tether to your smartphone via Bluetooth to add wind, elevation or atmospheric information to the Slope calculations.

Laser Rangefinders: The Disdvantages

Laser rangefinders can't measure what they can't see, so you need to be able to see your target to make them work, and that can be tricky on blind shots.

Lasers can also struggle in rainy or foggy conditions because water droplets and vapor can disperse the laser beam and make it harder for the unit to attain the reflected light beam.

Holding the unit steady enough to hit your target can be challenging for golfers who have unsteady hands, making laser rangefinders frustrating to use. And, for inexperienced players, finding and locking onto a target can be tricky. Anyone who has used a laser, at one time or another, has accidentally shot the distance to a tree or object behind the green instead of the flagstick.

Golf GPS or Laser Rangefinder: Which is right for you?

Your decision ultimately depends on your playing style and preferences. If you prefer quick, comprehensive information and hazard management, a golf GPS could be a solid choice. For beginners and golfers who lack consistency and precision, GPS devices also provide more than enough accuracy.

If you are an elite golfer or a player who requires the highest level of accuracy, a laser rangefinder could be the way to go.

Below are several golf GPS and laser rangefinders you might want to consider.

Bushnell Phantom 2, $129.99

Available in black, orange, blue and white camo, this easy-to-read GPS device comes with 38,000 courses pre-loaded and shows the distance to the front, middle and back of the green, along with up to six hazards. It has a powerful magnet on the back, so you can affix it to your golf cart or utilize the included carabiner.

Garmin Approach S42 Watch, $299.99

Available in Rose Gold or Black, this watch comes with over 43,000 courses, its battery is large enough to let you play for 15 hours straight, and its color screen is easily visible in the sun. The AutoShot tracking system allows you to capture the location and distance of your shots for post-round review.

GolfBuddy Voice 2 S+, $129.99

This GPS unit is small enough to clip to your belt or waistband, yet its battery lasts up to 18-hour and it comes loaded with over 40,000 courses. Yes, it shows the distance to the front, middle and back of the green on its screen, but after it automatically determines the course you are playing, pushing a button gives you distances audibly in any of 10 languages, so you don't need to look. It even has a slope function.

SkyCaddie SX500, $399.99

Loaded with every feature you could ever want, the SX500 boasts a 5.5-inch, full-color touchscreen that makes seeing the entire hole you're playing easy. It comes loaded with over 35,000 ground-verified, error-corrected courses. The Dynamic HoleVue automatically orients the entire golf hole from your position, and the IntelliGreen feature shows the exact green shape and undulations from your perspective and angle of approach.

Bushnell Pro X3, $529.99

Accurate to within a yard from over 600 yards out, the Pro X3 allows you to switch between back and high-visibility orange in the viewfinder. The waterproof unit has a powerful magnet on one side to allow you to attach it to your golf cart and it vibrates when it acquires your target. Tether it to your smartphone, and it can adjust its slope feature (which can be turned off during tournament play) to account for altitude. It can even reveal how the wind will affect yardage.

Precision Pro NX10 Slope, $229.99

Precision Pro claims this device is accurate to within a yard from 999 yards out. Its slope function can be enabled or disabled in tournament play with the press of a button, and it pulses in your hand when it acquires your target. Precision Pro offers numerous "skins" that allow you to customize the NX10 Slope.

Nikon Coolshot Pro II Stabilized, $399.95

This is the flagship laser rangefinder from a brand that knows a thing or two about optics. It has stabilization technologies to reduce the effects of shaky hands, a bright OLED display in the viewfinder, and 6X magnification to make far-away targets appear closer and more clear. It has a slope function, and pressing and holding the power button allows golfers to continuously measure distances in real-time as they scan their surroundings.

Blue Tees Series 3 Max+, $199.99

Available in black, blue and white, the Series 3 Max+ has a range of up to 1,000 yards, is water resistant, has a magnet that allows you to attach it to your cart, and has a USB-C rechargeable battery. The slope function can be turned on or off, the display can be made red or back, and the pulse vibration system helps you know when you have hit your target with the laser.