1st Round with Pinseeker 1500 TE

After an errant tee shot, my second shot from the rough put my ball on the left side of the fairway. I was just inside the 150 marker that was in the middle of the fairway with the flag playing up on a level approach. I pull out the Pinseeker and it quickly tells me 157 to the front with the pin at 165...which I don't believe since I am inside the 150 marker. Pull 8 iron to play for the front of the green...hey, I am inside the 150 marker. WRONG!! hit it good and came up 10 paces short of the green. This was my first outing with the Pinseeker and I will never second guess it again!

I have had the same experiences with my pinseeker as well, you just dont know how inaccurate markers on courses are until you get one. It has definitely taken strokes off my game, at least when I am swinging well, and helps me think around the course better than before. Only trouble I have with it, is when I cant see the putting surface, and dont know exactly if the flag is front, middle, or back... makes it tough to know whether or not to go long or short. Other than that, I highly recommend one of these gadgets, it greatly improves the speed of play.

Also helps with club selections. I found how long I can hit each irons and woods.

Just don't lose the battery cover. I lost mine off my 1500 and Bushnell says they are backordered and I won't get a new one for 3-4 months...... ;)

this pretty much locks it up for me.

the course i play pretty often has the standard 200/150/100 markers and some sprinkler heads, but they're few and far between.

i've got some cash stowed away i'll end up using. nikon or bushnell -- i don't think it'll matter much.

this pretty much locks it up for me.

 

the course i play pretty often has the standard 200/150/100 markers and some sprinkler heads, but they're few and far between.

 

i've got some cash stowed away i'll end up using. nikon or bushnell -- i don't think it'll matter much.

Both Nikon and Bushnell are excellent units that perform as advertised. However, I urge you and anyone else who is looking at a laser rangefinder to hold both brands in your hands and shoot some objects. They are very different in the way they are held. The Bushnell's are held like a pair of binoculars and the Nikon/Callaway's are held like a camcorder. Buy whatever feels good in your hands and trust it!

I have the smaller Bushnell Yardage Pro that is held more like a camcorder. It works well, but a little harder to pick up the flag from more than 180 unless there are reflectors. I am quite happy with it and love the smaller size.

The 1500 TE is a much better unit than mine, though.

I'd really like to pick up either a 1500 TE or Medalist. I tried both out inside a store shooting at different things but would be nice to try each out for a round. The smaller size and the lower price of the Medalist makes it attractive. I just hope I don't regret not getting the 7x of the 1500.

I just hope I don't regret not getting the 7x of the 1500.

The better question is would regret getting the 1500? Factor that $100 difference in cost over time and I don't think you would regret it at all....

Scott

I'd really like to pick up either a 1500 TE or Medalist. I tried both out inside a store shooting at different things but would be nice to try each out for a round. The smaller size and the lower price of the Medalist makes it attractive. I just hope I don't regret not getting the 7x of the 1500.

I dropped the coin on the Pinseeker for the following reasons:

1. Felt better/more stable in my hands due to its size. It only weighs a few ounces more...I think my 200 lbs frame can handle it.

2. With the 7X optics it seemed easier to hit flags from 180 and out. Not that I will be shooting at flags from 250 but I am guessing it will be easier to shoot flags on windy days.

3. I subscribe to the notion that very few have regretted buying top shelf...but many have for not buying enough.

4. Most important was that the Pinseeker is WATERPROOF! I shoot with a digital SLR (Canon 1D MKII) and being weather sealed has saved me and my camera.

The Pinseeker 1500 fully featured is definitely the way to go, 7x optics really helps hit smaller tagets. Don't forget these things can work up to about 400 yrds, not that we can hit it that far but it helps to have the extra zoom. Another plus is that you can aim it at just about anything, the PinSeeker models dont need reflectors, so there are no more what if's when it comes to carrying bunkers or other hazards.

I would go with the Pinseeker for a couple of reasons.

1. Much easier and quicker to hit targets with the 7X optics compared to the Medalist or the Nikon. Had both.

2. The Pinseeker is waterproof.

3. The Pinseeker uses a 9 volt battery unlike the Nikon which uses a special camera battery.

I think this is the best piece of equipment that I have ever purchased. I now know exactly how far each club goes and I never have to search for a yardage marker again. When I play a new course it really helps identify trouble and club selection from the tee.

I believe that this is money well spent.

I would go with the Pinseeker for a couple of reasons.

 

1. Much easier and quiker to hit targets with the 7X optics compared to the Medalist or the Nikon. Had both.

 

2. The Pinseeker is waterproof.

 

3. The Pinseeker uses a 9 volt battery unlike the Nikon which uses a special camera battery.

 

I think this is the best piece of equipment that I have ever purchased. I now know exactly how far each club goes and I never have to search for a yardage marker again. When I play a new course it really helps identify trouble and club selection from the tee.

 

I believe that this is the money well spent.

Alright.

That sells me on it.

I like the fact that it's waterproof. Maybe not entirely practical for me, but I would hate to have a unit crap out on me because of any amount of water.

I like the fact that it's waterproof. Maybe not entirely practical for me, but I would hate to have a unit crap out on me because of any amount of water.

Waterproof was a big consideration for me. We are talking about electronics and most electronic items don't mix well with moisture of any kind. Every play on a hot HUMID day or a cool morning with a light mist in the air? Or have your cart partner spill his drink outside of the cupholder in the cart? I just wish someone would invent a waterproof golf ball.

You have no idea how a rangefinder is handy until you get one. Best investment this year!!!!

[quote name='Norboo' post='744619' date='Oct 6 2007, 11:27 AM']Also helps with club selections. I found how long I can hit each irons and woods.[/quote]

how does it tell you how far you hit each club?

experience tells you how far you hit each club... Knowing exactly how far the last shot went improves your distance control in the long run.

[quote name='mantan' post='744628' date='Oct 7 2007, 12:33 AM']Just don't lose the battery cover. I lost mine off my 1500 and Bushnell says they are backordered and I won't get a new one for 3-4 months...... [/quote]
I hear you. I had and lost my 1500TE which had that problem. I replaced it with a Medallist and it has the same problem! I've lost count on the number of times the battery cover on the medallist popped out. Poor poor design.

After using the Bushnell 1500 TE for the entire season this year, I would hate to play a round without it. It completely eliminates any guesswork, and it certainly taught me EXACTLY how far I hit each club. By far the best investment I have made related to golf in years.

To add to the above, the Callaway Nikons are waterproof, so that is not a reason to choose the Bushnell over them.