I dont see how using a pp can make your diggs cleaner or neater. A probe does that , but before you can use the pp you still have to make a hole or a flap in order to go through it with the tip of the pinpointer , which can end up taking actually more time than waving a handfull of dirt past the MD coil or atleast as much time. Either way you have still cut the hole and gone through the dirt , and done either way you can still keep the hole nice and clean if you do it right. At times when the target is lost in the grass roots the pp can help you locate it without tearing the grass up too bad but thats the best advantage to having a pp that I can see and thats usually only a small percentage of the time and on targets that havent been in the ground that long. I used a borrowed pinpointer a couple times and found it to be just an extra step in the process and something extra to carry with me. Different people have different styles of doing things so maybe thats the difference , they might be of more use to those used to doing things a different way. I dont think pinpointers are useless they have their place but I think for the most part people like gadgets , the more gadgets the better even if they are not always needed. But I think its important to point out that I have been doing this for a pretty long time , since the early 90's and its possible that I am just set in my ways.
Well Chris I dont use a probe though I know many of the old timers who are very good swear by them. Me , I just dont wanna be poking what I am going to dig up. ( I realize you guys use soft metals like brass for probing )
My argument for using a pinpointer is thus...
With the Garret ProPointer it will give me a spot on location for objects down to about 3 inches depending on size. In the process it gives even more information with practise.
Before doing any digging check the target.
For loud chatter coin pop is best.
Fairly loud ..pizza slice or pop it.
Moderate chatter...dig a horseshoe flap.
Faint... dig a plug.
Silent...dig a deep plug
At dig a plug stage being able to use the machines pinpointing is def a must.
The end result is..
Faster recovery
No damage to shallow targets
No lost targets
Minimal damage to the sod
Ease of recovering multiple targets in same hole.
No frustration and more money in your pouch at the end of the day.
The ProPointer has a great holster and resides on my pouch belt causing no inconvenience of any kind. It runs on a single 9 volt battery which seldom needs replacing.
For shallow finds using the machines pinpointing is rather pointless
For deep digging yeah you gotta learn the machines pinpointing capability
I went 6 months just using my machine with no pinpointer and I thought I was doing just fine. It wasnt until I got a free pinpointer that I realized how much better having one made the experience.