Lost My Laser Rangefinder Today - May Not Replace

I lost my laser rangefinder somewhere early on on the front 9. Of course, nobody saw it or found it behind us. So then I went back to old school walking off the yardage to the center, and on this course there's sprinkler markers too. What I found was I didn't miss it at all. I may replace, but it was kinda fun playing like I did years ago.

Just had the exact opposite reaction. So much fog yesterday that the rangefinder wouldn’t lock on a target and I was reduced to pacing off yardages. Made me feel like Old Tom Morris.

I agree. Usually when i walk mine stays in the car. It doesnt take me any longer either bc im usually walking by something marked as i get closer to the ball. Ive only had one for 1.5 seasons and i really dont use it nearly as much as i thought i would.

So what you are saying is you enjoyed playing slower and with less precision, yes? ;)

So what you are saying is you enjoyed playing slower and with less precision, yes? ;)

Ahh...the age-old argument that a laser saves time. It doesn't. What it provides is convenience. I can eye 10 yards without walking it off. I can eye-up 140 yards within a five yards. I may still buy one...but not for speed...it's for a "data point".

For what it's worth, Busnell keeps running studies that "show" that rangefinders improve pace of play:

Found a rangefinder yesterday on the front 9. Saw the poor shlub who lost it walking off yardages the rest of the day. Jk ;)

When I don't use mine I actually find that I hit more greens in regulation because I just fire at the middle of the green instead of lasering a pin that's cut 4 feet from the edge and over a bunker and being suckered into dumb decisions.

I like the rangefinder, but I can live perfectly fine without it too.

Found a rangefinder yesterday on the front 9. Saw the poor shlub who lost it walking off yardages the rest of the day. Jk ;)

 

When I don't use mine I actually find that I hit more greens in regulation because I just fire at the middle of the green instead of lasering a pin that's cut 4 feet from the edge and over a bunker and being suckered into dumb decisions.

 

I like the rangefinder, but I can live perfectly fine without it too.

It was YOU! LOL. You saw me slowing everyone down while I was waiting for the green to clear? I think I walked it off twice and still had time to picture my shot. If anyone needs to play faster than that, play tennis.

Lasers are fine...but they can distract from making better choices because as you stated, hitting to the center provides the best odds. Yesterday, a back-right pin was at 152.3 (the other guy offered the info with his laser). It took all of 10 seconds to find the sprinkler head showing 147 to the center. Aiming at the "corner spot" meant a slight miss right would miss the green, or a little extra distance would be off the back. Thus, aiming for the center allowed both misses to work. Also, IMO the exact yardage can be "too much info". Just hit the "150 club" to an area. I have yet to see any of my buddies hitting any closer to pins using lasers.

What really takes time is waiting for folk's to labor over shot #3 because they missed the green.

During "The Match" and the HBO special, it was interesting to see that Tiger always asked for what the carry to the front of the green was AND where the pin is. My rangefinder (Nikon Pro Stabilized) has a continuous mode where you can shoot the front of the green and keeping holding the button and it will continuously show distance as you sweep from the front to the pin. I think this lets him know whether he can attack the pin or has to ensure he reaches the green.

That being said, everyone should know pin hunting has its risks, otherwise they wouldn't tuck the pins.

UPDATE: Amazingly enough....my laser was returned by someone and returned to the pro shop. The benefits of a private CC. Anyway, i did use it for some shots, but I still checked center of the green distances on the sprinklers. As posted above, i manually did the Nikon sweep which actually makes a lot of sense. And oddly enough, a guy today lasered the front of the green just as posted above.

Now here's the part that surprised me (maybe I'm old school). The pro handed it to me and I asked if he uses a laser. He said mostly for 120 and under shots. He said it's not all that valuable info from 150 and on....good info...but he said he's hitting to the center in those instances. I always thought the opposite. Shows how much I know LOL!

For what it's worth, Busnell keeps running studies that "show" that rangefinders improve pace of play:

 

Wait, what!?!? A rangefinder company telling us that their product is the perfect thing needed to speed up your play? Shocking!

4 keys to speeding up play (hint, a rangefinder ain’t one of them):

- take 1 practice swing instead of 12

- park the cart or place your bag between the flagstick and the next tee box, not 20 yards short of the green.

- you’re not playing in the Masters, no need to view your 45 ft putt from six different angles.

- hit a ball OB? Spend a minute or two looking for it, not 15. It’s a golf ball, not a lock of hair from your child’s first haircut.

With heavy heart, I have to report that I cannot hit the exact yardage that the laser gives me. So, wether it's a 141yds to the pin or 133 (my GPS watch states) to the centre then I'm still hitting the same 7 iron.

I've got both watch and range finder and find I use the watch all the time and laser once a week.

As for speed, it depends on the user. I play with one guy who only uses the laser but his bloody shaky grip takes forever to 'lock on' to target. I'd like to see Bushnell time him!!!

With heavy heart, I have to report that I cannot hit the exact yardage that the laser gives me. So, wether it's a 141yds to the pin or 133 (my GPS watch states) to the centre then I'm still hitting the same 7 iron.

 

I've got both watch and range finder and find I use the watch all the time and laser once a week.

 

As for speed, it depends on the user. I play with one guy who only uses the laser but his bloody shaky grip takes forever to 'lock on' to target. I'd like to see Bushnell time him!!!

Agreed, I had a GPS watch first and then got a laser. The laser is great if the watch reading is not what I expected or the green shape makes the desired line's front/middle/back harder to discern. But if I had to choose between one or the other, the front/middle/back is the more valuable information to me. I do like having both though.

I've found the on-course yardages for the public/muni courses i play at are not always the most reliable and typically just give middle of the green, so having something somewhat reliable for that info is immensely helpful.

If you have a pin sheet, (which you likely won’t at a public course not playing a tournament) it is better to try and get the sprinkler yardage and calculate the actual number from there imo. It takes longer, yes, but I think it keeps you more focused and interested. Less focused on score and more focused on each shot individually.