I just bought a Yardage Pro 1500 and can't believe the difference in numbers that were running through my head and the actuals that are being shot. Of course, you have to still account for the conditions but a great tool on the course and on the range.
Pat

Pat

Do you have any questions about the 1500 or about the proper use of the incline option?

salut:

I bought the one without the degree of slope inhancement. My thought was to be able to use it in some events as well as practice rounds. I haven't been disappointed. I would like to hear what you have to say about the other model.
Pat

Pat

The degree of slope inhancement chip in the 1500 uses a formula that was created using a suveyors tool called a clinometer (incline meter). The original formula was done in % and as you know the 1500 uses degrees. This is unfortunate, because degrees are not as tight as % (0 to 90, degrees gives you 90 segments, % gives you 100). Also, it is very easy to do the math using % , very difficult using degrees. This may change, there is still talk of bringing out a model using %.

Most of the people on the various Tours who use this concept, (the # is growing every week) use % because, lazers are not allowed for shots in Tour events and being able to do the math quickly is critical. Interestingly enough, Jim Flick was asking about this same issue at the John Deere on Tuesday.

One final point, how tight do you want to be with your numbers; when I do a new course I use reflectors to check yardages because the varience with reflectors is very tight ( plus or minus 1 yd). Just shooting a flag or a bunker, the varience is probably plus or minus 3 and therefore your slope yds will also be affected

Hope is helps, if not, I'll try harder

:salut:

Friends Helping Friends
 

Thanks, OK. :salut:

Is this a great place or what?! :)

Bushnell Pinseeker 1500
 

I just got one Friday and I'm sold. Shot below my handicap Friday and Sunday wearing a soft cast on my left leg up to the knee. On the eleventh hole (the one in Bucket's backyard) today I hit the ball pin high. This is our toughest approach and I think knowing the yardage was the difference. On the twelfth hole (the only one Bucket gets to play very often) the reading was 145 for a playing companion who was right on the 125 marker. The green is 43 yard deep and they almost missed the sucker with the flag. That was very good info to have that was not apparent just lookin' at it.


I have used a skycaddie for the past year but think I'm going to like this much better. I bought the tournament model without the slope calcuation so that it will be legal in tourament play.

I'm not sure about my boot!!!!

Clinometer
 

It should be known, and OK is too modest. OK introduced the clinometer to golf. He found the instrument and worked out the correlation of percentage to golf shot (he did have some help with this). There is some difference in the effect based on the club being used and the trajectory. It has become a standard piece of information that players want. My personal opinion is that the most important piece it yields is a hard number instead of "it's 150 yards plus about half a club," it becomes "150--up 4% = 156 total."

He also consulted with and product tested for Bushnell as they introduced their version.


HB

OK

Nice post, some really good info there. I think as golfers we all under estimate the rise and fall aspect of the golf course and we overlook how much of a difference it will make in the yardage. The more info about the shot at hand you can give a good player the more exact he/she will be.
Thanks for the info, I'll keep my eye open for an opportunity to try the other model of the 1500.

Pat

Pat

Where it really makes a big difference is when you play a course that you have never seen before. I was on the 13th hole at Weschester a number of years ago (second shot is very uphill) checking elevation with my clinometer.

A seasoned Tour player came by and asked me what I was doing; I told him and he said "well I've learned over the years that it plays about a club uphill ". I thanked him and said "well I've been here for 30 seconds and it actually plays 9 yards uphill. N and I were using this info for several years before it became of interest. However, when VJ started using my formula (about 6m before he became #1) the whole concept really took off .

Today, players and caddies on every major Tour in the world either use a clinometer or the pinseeker 1500. Just a small hint, when using the elevation part of the 1500, shoot your target at eye level so that you get a proper reading.


:salut:

Mac is my boss . . . just bought one of them 1500 lasers . . . is it still illegal to steal?

Good advice. PLAN: Steal laser. Off to 5. Shoot laser. Make pars. Me likey.

OK on your "virus" . . . . that's a sign of evolution my friend . . . so you'll be developing some very interesting super-powers.

Bushnell Pinseeker 1500
 

I think I posted this to the wrong thread or something, but here goes again.
I got a Bushnell Pinseeker 1500 last Friday and it is pretty awesome. I have bee using a Skycaddie for the past year and have been pretty satisfied.

This ne tool is the bomb. On Friday I used it for the first time at my local muni (which is not skycaddie ready) and shot 75 with two doubles. I was amazed at how quickly it locks on the flag. I reall gives you confidence in the shot.

On Sunday afternoon, I took it to my club and again shot under my handicap. There is a hole with a 43 yard deep green that I advised my playing partner that he was 145 from the pin. "But I'm on the 125 marker." he was two clubs short as they almost missed the back of the green with the pin.

I'm sold.

Real numbers
 

MacParrot,

I was shocked by the kind of numbers you mention when I started as a caddie. I had become a pretty decent player without any idea how much pins changed the yardage. I added some but not nearly enough. It gets really out of hand with diagonal greens where you end up in a trap or hazard with a good shot but the wrong yardage.

We still double check the numbers when we come up with 145 when we are standing by the 125 marker. Big green, back pin. After you have looked at the real numbers for a while, it just sinks in. You get much better at judging them on the fly without the laser.

HB

Should you point the crosshairs at the flag or the base of the flag for best results?

Here ya go.
 

Today, players and caddies on every major Tour in the world either use a clinometer or the pinseeker 1500. Just a small hint, when using the elevation part of the 1500, shoot your target at eye level so that you get a proper reading.


This was the last sentence in posting #9. :)

By elevation I assume you mean slope. I do not have the one with slope as they are illegal for competition play.

Can anyone help with the original question.

Cj

If course you are playing has reflectors on the flag poles, aim at the reflector. if not aim at the flag


:salut:

I shoot at the flag and it seems to be easier to hit and just as accurate. I really like the 1500 during practice too. You can get a great feel for distances on the range and build confidence in half and 3/4 swings as well.
Pat

i have the pinseeker with the slope option on it. This is a great tool to use durring practice rounds. If you take the slope difference and write it down then you have a close figure to what the hole will play when you are not allowed to use it. I generally take the yardages from my practice round as well as difference in slope and write it down, then when i get there the next day for a round, i have very similar yardages ( depending on the pins ) to what i have written down and seem to be within 2 to 3 yards of the correct distance.

G

To be as accurate as possible (because of the 3 yd varience when shooting a flag); during your practice round I suggest you take three readings and average them out.

Sorry for being so slow with this, I coudn't get the site to come up while I was in N Y (Barklays) this week

:salut:

clinometer
 

Hi
Are they hard to use ? Say I just have a standard laser no slope feature. I shoot the pin and I get 200 yds uphill. Now I use the clinometer and it tells me its a 10% slope. Would I just take 200 X 10% and play the shot at 220 yds. One more thing how long would it take me to get the slope with the clinometer . I'd love to map out my home course I play at cause it has a lot of elevated tee's on the par 3's.
Thanks
Ralph

Ralph

You have the right idea, but if you have a 10% uphill slope you better get a 4 wheel drive/////. Most slopes are from 1 to 3%. There are exceptions of course, there is a par 3 at San Diego that plays 14% downhill. The yardage is about 180 but it plays 17 yds less.

Back to your question; a clinometer is not hard to use once you become comfortable with it. However, it is a hand held tool and like a compass it takes time to learn how to use it properly. For the first while it will take you some time to get a proper reading; a minute or two; however you will quickly get the hang of it and your time will quickly drop off. A reading takes me about 3 seconds.

If you want to be really accurate, here is the formula that is built into the Lazer chip. The need for this is because of the traj. of the ball.

For 0 to 100yds, use 50% of the percentage (uphill or down)
For 100 to 140 use 75% of the percentage
For shots over 140 yards use 100%

Hope this helps.

:salut:

Hi
Thanks for your reply. I did play a par 3 elevated tee, in the Poconos (Sky Top ) where it was 185 yds long. I hit an 8 iron by luck onto the green. I normally hit an 8 iron 135 to 140.
Thanks again
Ralph

OK,
Would the following product be similar to what you determine the slope of the greens?

http://www.eez-read.com/

Thanks,

UPP in damp and chilly Ohio

UPP

Looks somewhat similar, haven't seen this one yet, will check it out and let you know. The one I use is about 8" across, this one looks to be a bit smaller


:salut:

OverKill or hennybogan: If you were buying a laser device, which would you recommend? And with or without slope?

Also, when you say shoot your targets at eye level to get the most accurate slope reading, what do you mean?

Laser
 

I use the Bushnell Pinseeker 1600 (1500?) (it's in the truck). With the elevation. Not legal for tournament golf. I hear the Callaway/ (Nikon?) is good. I've had a number of Bushnell's, upgrading as the latest came out. I like to be able to hit the flag out to 300+-.

To get an accurate reading for elevation. Notice that you are about as tall as the flag. Stand up straight and shoot the flag. Close enough.

I just got one Friday and I'm sold. Shot below my handicap Friday and Sunday wearing a soft cast on my left leg up to the knee. On the eleventh hole (the one in Bucket's backyard) today I hit the ball pin high. This is our toughest approach and I think knowing the yardage was the difference. On the twelfth hole (the only one Bucket gets to play very often) the reading was 145 for a playing companion who was right on the 125 marker. The green is 43 yard deep and they almost missed the sucker with the flag. That was very good info to have that was not apparent just lookin' at it.

Jeez! What are the odds two guys posting 3 years apart could have gotten on on a Friday, shot below their handicap and been wearing soft casts up to the knee!!1

Wow, what the heck is that crap!