Stop asking if you are outside the circle!

[biscoe]

Good to know about the cheap rangefinder vs the more expensive one. I figure an objective reading from said is likely more palatable to the card than me subjectively guessing. Help them make the best decision.

Yesterday, I was at a course that has a practice basket with markers at different distances. Maybe starting at 20 ft and going out to 33 ft. All of that looked a whole lot shorter than what I would have thought it was!! Indeed, I would have thought 33 feet was 20.

For a truth, I will not be winning any "name that measurement" trophies!! Definitely not.

One of my buddies and I wind up betting on distances a lot (we will bet on pretty much anything)- I am definitely better at eyeballing them than he is.

 

[playrecords]

I feel like I must reiterate this point. A modern rangefinder (unless you have a military grade device) cannot establish if you are in the circle at any questionable distance circles edge due to the plus / minus reading tolerance of 3 feet on (probably the best) of commercial devices.

Know the limitations of your tools and apply them appropriately.

If questioning between 25' and 40' might be a good tool to maybe help to gain depth perception?

(BTW I have a Bushnell and enjoy playing around with it, mostly to verify when tee sign distances seem out of wack with my visual estimations).

 

[biscoe]

I feel like I must reiterate this point. A modern rangefinder (unless you have a military grade device) cannot establish if you are in the circle at any questionable distance circles edge due to the plus / minus reading tolerance of 3 feet on (probably the best) of commercial devices.

Know the limitations of your tools and apply them appropriately.

If questioning between 25' and 40' might be a good tool to maybe help to gain depth perception?

(BTW I have a Bushnell and enjoy playing around with it, mostly to verify when tee sign distances seem out of wack with my visual estimations).

Agreed. I use my rangefinders all the time when I am working on designs but I don't even carry one around when playing.

 

[Cgkdisc]

Eliminate 10m circle and allow players to jump or step putt if they first mark their lie back one meter. No runup allowed, just allow one step prior to the jump or step putt. No need to worry whether they released the disc precisely before they landed. The only stance violation would be when the group observed the player did not mark back a meter before executing a jump or step putt.

This proposed rule change eliminates: (a) the need for a timing call, (b) the player getting an advantage releasing the disc in front of their original lie, (c) a running long jump putt, (d) the time and expense for marking a 10m circle around each target, and (e) the current discrimination of the arbitrary 10m circle that prevents lower powered players and kids who need to jump closer than 10m to generate enough putting power, especially uphill, for accurate putting like the big boys.

 

[DumfriesLizzie]

I feel like I must reiterate this point. A modern rangefinder (unless you have a military grade device) cannot establish if you are in the circle at any questionable distance circles edge due to the plus / minus reading tolerance of 3 feet on (probably the best) of commercial devices.

Know the limitations of your tools and apply them appropriately.

If questioning between 25' and 40' might be a good tool to maybe help to gain depth perception?

(BTW I have a Bushnell and enjoy playing around with it, mostly to verify when tee sign distances seem out of wack with my visual estimations).

If the rangefinder is no good at C2 and inward, would you please elaborate on your comment about using it for depth perception? If ultimately, I'm not going to be able to come to a number, then I guess I better carry some twine with a loop.

 

[playrecords]

I didn't mean to be rude, just reacting to your comment about being confused about 20' vs 40'.

Actually I've seen the string stretched out from the basket pole and think that is the most fool proof method to establish the circle.

 

[biscoe]

Eliminate 10m circle and allow players to jump or step putt if they first mark their lie back one meter. No runup allowed, just allow one step prior to the jump or step putt. No need to worry whether they released the disc precisely before they landed. The only stance violation would be when the group observed the player did not mark back a meter before executing a jump or step putt.

This proposed rule change eliminates: (a) the need for a timing call, (b) the player getting an advantage releasing the disc in front of their original lie, (c) a running long jump putt, (d) the time and expense for marking a 10m circle around each target, and (e) the current discrimination of the arbitrary 10m circle that prevents lower powered players and kids who need to jump closer than 10m to generate enough putting power, especially uphill, for accurate putting like the big boys.

So would fairway runups become illegal as well? If not, how/at what point do you differentiate?

 

[playrecords]

If the rangefinder is no good at C2 and inward, would you please elaborate on your comment about using it for depth perception? If ultimately, I'm not going to be able to come to a number, then I guess I better carry some twine with a loop.

I was more thinking that the rangefinder would develop your depth perception via practice rounds. Apologies if that was unclear.

 

[DumfriesLizzie]

I was more thinking that the rangefinder would develop your depth perception via practice rounds. Apologies if that was unclear.

No worries. Thanks for the clarification. I suppose it's worth a try. Rangefinder I'm looking at is $20

 

[DumfriesLizzie]

So would fairway runups become illegal as well? If not, how/at what point do you differentiate?

Yes, there will have to be some point where a run up or walk up is no longer allowed. I don't envy the PDGA Rules Committee!

 

[playrecords]

No worries. Thanks for the clarification. I suppose it's worth a try. Rangefinder I'm looking at is $20

Accuracy plus / minus 3 meters lol.

 

[Cgkdisc]

So would fairway runups become illegal as well? If not, how/at what point do you differentiate?

That's a good question. The suggested runup restriction to just one step lead-in would only be when choosing the jump/step putt where your mark is moved back one meter before doing so. Otherwise, you would still be able to stand or run up like the current rule at any distance from the basket BUT you still must release the throw while your foot is on your lie. If it wasn't clear, my proposed change allows the player to release AFTER their stance leaves the lie via jumping or stepping with no need for the group to make a timing call under the current rule.

 

[biscoe]

That's a good question. The suggested runup restriction to just one step lead-in would only be when choosing the jump/step putt where your mark is moved back one meter before doing so. Otherwise, you would still be able to stand or run up like the current rule at any distance from the basket BUT you still must release the throw while your foot is on your lie. If it wasn't clear, my proposed change allows the player to release AFTER their stance leaves the lie via jumping or stepping with no need for the group to make a timing call under the current rule.

In that case why would anyone ever mark back? Doesn't eliminate the timing call imo. Unless I am misunderstanding this gives the player a choice between doing what they do now (step/jump of dubious legality) or doing same from a meter farther out in a less dubious fashion. I don't think many will choose the added meter.

 

[biscoe]

Yes, there will have to be some point where a run up or walk up is no longer allowed. I don't envy the PDGA Rules Committee!

Writing comprehensive rules is tough. There is no way the runup/walkup will ever be disallowed though.