Is it best to buy a golf watch or handheld device to assist you when playing golf?
If you asked a handful of golfers this question I am sure opinions would be split because both have their pros and cons along with their fans and naysayers. It is hard to look past the best golf gps watch 2023 because they are easy-to-use and provide accurate distances which in years gone by could only be achieved by the best handheld devices.
With so many options now available to golfers it can be hard to distinguish which option is best. It may be the case that all options are worth having for different occasions. However, one thing for certain is that having at least one will benefit your game massively.
Handheld or watch?
For that is the question. The answer to this question can perhaps be answered more simply by asking… Do you like wearing a watch when you play golf? If the answer to that question is no, buy a handheld device. If you answer yes, buy a watch. Simple.
However, if you are unsure because you have never worn a watch or never owned a handheld device looking at the pros and cons of both is incredibly beneficial.
In years gone by watches would have been considered very one dimensional because they would only show distances and would have no other real function. Today’s golf watches often incorporate means of tracking performance and analytics.
Golf watches also tend to be more fashionable than a handheld device. There are many stylish watches to choose from without compromising on performance. Depending on what you want from your golf watch you can get something simplistic or highly technical.
Handheld devices can either be a GPS rangefinder or a device you hold and read information from in the same way you would from a golf watch. The advantage of a handheld device which gives you numbers in a similar way to a golf watch is the information displayed is larger and therefore clearer to read.
The advantage of a rangefinder is it provides highly accurate and reliable distances for whichever target you desire. Also, perhaps the biggest perk of a rangefinder is slope technology which encounters for elevation change.
Depending on what type of course you are playing, watches and handhelds have both advantages and drawbacks. If you are playing a course with a lot of blind holes a watch will help you gage distances with greater accuracy than a handheld rangefinder. If you play somewhere where each target is visible a handheld device – particularly a rangefinder – will be better suited because you can attain precise distances.
DMDs (Distance Measuring Devices) are not always accepted in all competitions but it is more likely a watch will be accepted over a rangefinder. One thing for certain is slope technology is definitely not allowed in competitive golf and this is a feature of most rangefinders which can easily be turned off.
Both handheld devices and golf watches are useful accessories to any golfer and, in an ideal world, every golfer would have one of each for every eventuality. The option which will improve your game most is the best option for you.