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Why Distance Control Matters More Than Direction on Approach Shots

Photo by Lo Sarno on Unsplash Statistical analysis of amateur golf performance consistently reveals a counterintuitive finding: distance control errors on approach shots cost recreational golfers more strokes than directional errors, even though most golfers practice and worry about direction far more. The Statistical Pattern Shot-tracking data from systems used across recreational and competitive golf shows that amateur golfers are typically far more likely to miss an approach shot short or long of their intended distance than they are to miss significantly left or right of their intended line. A shot that's 15 yards short or long frequently finds trouble — a bunker, water, or simply a much longer subsequent putt — in a way that a shot 10 yards left or right of the pin, but still on the green, does not. Why This Happens Directional misses are usually caused by face-to-path errors, covered in our ball flight laws article , which tend to be relatively consistent for an individual g...

Best Golf Rangefinders 2026: Laser vs GPS Compared

golf ball on green grass field during daytime
Photo by Soheb Zaidi on Unsplash

A rangefinder eliminates distance guesswork. Here is the complete 2026 comparison.

Laser vs GPS

Lasers fire a beam at a target for yard-precise distances anywhere in the world. GPS devices use pre-loaded maps for front/centre/back distances automatically without aiming.

Best Laser Rangefinders

The Bushnell Pro X3 ($400) is the gold standard with slope adjustment and PinSeeker technology. The Bushnell Tour V6 Shift ($250) is the most popular on tour. The Precision Pro NX10 ($100-$130) is the best budget option.

Best GPS Rangefinders

The Garmin Approach S70 ($500) is a full GPS smartwatch. The Bushnell Phantom 3 ($100) is a simple handheld unit. The Garmin Approach G30 ($130) covers 40,000+ courses.

Which to Choose

Laser for precision on known courses; GPS for automatic distances and hazard info on new courses.

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