Laser Rangefinders vs GPS Golf Watches: Which to Buy

A laser is accurate to the meter because it ranges a real target (flag or tree), but you have to raise it and aim each time. A GPS watch is fast and convenient — green distances show up instantly on your wrist — but it isn't as target-specific as a laser. Plenty of serious players carry both: the GPS for a quick overview, the laser to lock the flag as they approach the green.

Slope adjusts your distance when the green sits above or below you, which helps you pick the right club in casual play. But it's banned in official competition, so choose a model where slope can be switched off (with a physical switch or a status light) for the most flexibility.

If you're just getting going and play regularly, a mid-range GPS watch is the best value and the easiest to use. But if you play for score and like locking onto the flag, a laser with JOLT or slope compensation gives you more confidence on courses you don't know.