I tell people not to use lasers. That might sound like a strange thing to say, especially for someone who is involved in the sport from a coaching perspective, but I think golfers can get far too wrapped up in how far they are from the flag.
Rangefinders are a brilliant bit of kit, I’m not arguing against that. They do what they say they advertise, can be used by everyone and are extremely reliable. I just can’t help but wonder if this sort of hand-holding is doing more harm than good.
Particularly when golfers become obsessed with finding the exact distance to the pin. Just because you know how far you have to the hole doesn’t mean you should be playing towards it.
Think about how often you see a flag tucked right at the front of the green. You get your rangefinder out, find the number and start working out how to hit the ball that exact distance.
Have you stopped to consider whether that’s the best target in the first place? For a lot of amateur golfers, they’d be best served not fussing over the flag stick at all. It should be a complete irrelevance to them.
The middle of the green is your friend
I always tell people I’m coaching that if the flag is at the front of the green then you should automatically be thinking about finding the middle of the putting service. Really, the same applies when the pin as at the back too.
Percentage shots are what’s going to help keep your score down. Don’t chase a low score by attacking every pin position, rather give yourself the best chance with a putt for birdie or par.
The more golfers push the boundaries of their capabilities, the more they bring trouble into play. Whether it’s avoiding water hazards, bunkers or awkward chip shots around the greens, increasing the margin for error is only a good thing.
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It sounds simple, but the temptation to go for it is always there. You have to block out those instincts in wanting to hit it close and take dead aim.
Having that yardage be so accessible and right in front of golfers can make a tucked-away pin seem less risky. I don’t think it does people any favours in recognising the danger of a hole or where it’s best to avoid.
Personally, I only use a GPS because I like having access to carry distances and information about hazards. I want to know how far it is to get over a bunker, how far away the front of the green is and where the back edge sits.
That’s it. Everything else is irrelevant to me and I’m never really thinking about the number to flag all that often.
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Golf rangefinder: Do you use a rangefinder out on the golf course? Which metrics help you the most? Do you hold any particular value in zapping the flag? Let us know in the comments or by getting in touch with us on X!
