Using a rangefinder

zebra2955 · July 4, 2018

What do you folks try to hit with your rangefinder when the flag has no reflector?

Flag ? Stick ? Or at the bottom near the hole ?

What if the flag is limp because of no wind?

Sean2 · July 4, 2018

I go for the flag regardless of conditions.

ThinkingPlus · July 4, 2018

Flag. You always want to shoot the place with the largest optical cross section which would be the retro-reflector (just under the flag) or the flag if there is no retro. This will give you maximum laser pulse return making it less likely you range the tree or house behind the green.

Naptime · July 4, 2018

If the group ahead is still on the green I can bounce off one of them standing where I want to land the ball, which may not be where the pin is.

Twism86 · July 4, 2018

Slightly off the main topic but are rangefinders legal in competition? Obviously the pros down use them so im curious to when they are allowed.

If your goal is to become better and better why use something that at one point will not be allowed.

ThinkingPlus · July 4, 2018

Slightly off the main topic but are rangefinders legal in competition? Obviously the pros down use them so im curious to when they are allowed.

If your goal is to become better and better why use something that at one point will not be allowed.

Rangefinders are legal for use under the rules of golf as long as they do not provide slope information or that feature is disabled. The tournament committee can choose to disallow use of rangefinders as a local rule wich is what the PGA tour, LPGA tour, USGA premier events, and R&A premier events do. Many state and local amateur events don't have a problem with using rangefinders.

cristphoto · July 4, 2018

What do you folks try to hit with your rangefinder when the flag has no reflector?
Flag ? Stick ? Or at the bottom near the hole ?
What if the flag is limp because of no wind?

Always shoot at the flag. As previously stated it’s a larger target than the reflectors even if the flag is limp. Also don’t try to lock onto the flag. Instead slowly sweep left and right of the flag once or twice. The technology of (the better) lasers will sense what is closest and ignore items behind the target.