Current Rangefinders Slope Switch

[yellowlover519]

We’re still using an old bushnell range finder, but looking at the newer ones with slope switch. How do you know if someone is using a slope rangefinder? Is it just the honor system? What happens if someone plays with one during a tourney and forgets to turn off slope after shooting the first flag? Just curious if any of this matters - the old range finders were designated with or without slope, so curious how the current ones work/are regulated.

[wlm]

Honor system. Last year the winner at sage accidentally used slope on the first hole and had a 2 stroke penalty. It is important to note that there may be tournaments that do not permit using a device that has slope capability, even if turned off.

[wildcatden]

Honor system. The ability to abuse said system is easy if you own said type of rangefinder. I'm sure it's never abused. :blink:

 

There was a good thread on rangefinders before: http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1608754-range-finder/

[tiger1873]

Here is the thing like everyone said it is the honor system. For the most part I think most people do honor it as well. The thing is as tournaments get bigger you really have to be careful because it's something that could easily checked during a round by an official.I don't know if they check but would not be surprised if they randomly checked rangefinders on courses where it would make a difference.

 

Honestly I rather buy rangefinders without the slope and it does away with the whole issue. Most of the courses we play are flat so even having slope is not going to be a huge difference like courses out west.

[davep043]

Everyone so far is right, its the honor system. What matters isn't what the device CAN do, its how you use it. Its probably a good thing to understand the actual rule.

Common examples of uses of equipment that are allowed and not allowed during a player’s round under this Rule are:

(1) Distance and Directional Information.

• 
  Allowed. Getting information on distance or direction (such as from a distance-measuring device or compass).
  
• 
  Not Allowed.
  
  • 
    Measuring elevation changes, or
    
  • 
    Interpreting distance or directional information (such as using a device to get a recommended line of play or club selection based on the location of the player’s ball).
    

.....

Penalty for Breach of Rule 4.3:

• 
  Penalty for first breach from single act or related acts: General Penalty.
  
• 
  Penalty for second breach unrelated to first breach: Disqualification. This penalty applies even if the nature of the breach was entirely different than the breach resulting in the first penalty.
  

I have seen cases in which a local rule disallowed any device that has the potential to measure things like elevation change, so its a good idea to make sure you read the Conditions of competition. I've also met people who THINK (incorrectly) that the normal rule (previously the Model Local Rule) prohibits devices that have the potential to measure elevation change, so its good to understand what the rule actually says.

[kekoa]

If you play tournament golf, I see no reason to have a rangefinder with any slope capability.

[kcap]

We do not use/own a slope capable rangefinder but have always wondered whether that is the right decision.

 

What is wrong with using the slope capability enabled during the practice round prior to a tournament? The idea is to gather all the Intel (especially for par 3s that have slope) and use it during the tournament. The tournament will be played with a normal range finder but the notes should help you understand club choices. At the end of day, it takes guess work away at least during the tournament.

 

Does anyone do that? I assume professionals have all sort of information in their yardage book and probably use the slope functionality.

[wlm]

The slope feature is useful for practice rounds and non-tournament rounds.

[davep043]

The slope feature is useful for practice rounds and non-tournament rounds.

Its certainly useful, but you should NOT post scores for handicap, at least under the USGA rules. And if you intentionally use the slope feature to avoid posting scores, you should come under the scrutiny of your Handicap Committee.

[tiger1873]

Another thing to watch out for is GPS watches some of them have slope functions on them as well. If you use those watches or other GPS devices you have to make sure they are in tournament mode.

[davep043]

Another thing to watch out for is GPS watches some of them have slope functions on them as well. If you use those watches or other GPS devices you have to make sure they are in tournament mode.

The same would apply if you use GPS on your phone, make sure you don't use any of the prohibited functions.

[mrshinsa]

Another thing to watch out for is GPS watches some of them have slope functions on them as well. If you use those watches or other GPS devices you have to make sure they are in tournament mode.

The same would apply if you use GPS on your phone, make sure you don't use any of the prohibited functions.

 

Aren't phones prohibited in Junior tournaments?

[darter79]

If you play tournament golf, I see no reason to have a rangefinder with any slope capability.

 

I have a leupold that you have to switch the face off, its bright freaking yellow. Pretty easily to tell if you are using it. I probably switched it twice in 2 years.

[Tannerbug33]

We currently have a cheap GPS that does not have slope on it. But I am getting ready to buy the bushnell hybrid because sometimes my son has a hard time finding the flag if the wind isn't blowing. At least with it he can look at the GPS and see if he's in the correct ball park. Not an issue yet because I still caddy for him so not a issue yet just want to get something with fail safe in it just in case. As for slope I'm glad I'm reading this a whole other issue. Good post

[leezer99]

We currently have a cheap GPS that does not have slope on it. But I am getting ready to buy the bushnell hybrid because sometimes my son has a hard time finding the flag if the wind isn't blowing. At least with it he can look at the GPS and see if he's in the correct ball park. Not an issue yet because I still caddy for him so not a issue yet just want to get something with fail safe in it just in case. As for slope I'm glad I'm reading this a whole other issue. Good post

 

Yep, when my son started playing on his own I doubled him up. I have an old GolfBuddy GPS thing that gives him yardages to the front / middle / back. He would then use the rangefinder to shoot the flag. If the number was close to what the GPS unit said he knew he was good. Way off and he would re-shoot... we went through lots of those special batteries the first year.

[tiger1873]

We currently have a cheap GPS that does not have slope on it. But I am getting ready to buy the bushnell hybrid because sometimes my son has a hard time finding the flag if the wind isn't blowing. At least with it he can look at the GPS and see if he's in the correct ball park. Not an issue yet because I still caddy for him so not a issue yet just want to get something with fail safe in it just in case. As for slope I'm glad I'm reading this a whole other issue. Good post

 

The hybrid GPS laser finders have a bunch of cool features that help you locate the pin. The problem is they do not work in tournament mode. You can still see distances but using the compass features is not legal. Having said that just turn on tournament mode and you are good to use them in most tournaments. The hybrid gps laser finders are very very good on new courses and worth every penny. The Garmin though is much better then bushnell version.

[Tannerbug33]

We currently have a cheap GPS that does not have slope on it. But I am getting ready to buy the bushnell hybrid because sometimes my son has a hard time finding the flag if the wind isn't blowing. At least with it he can look at the GPS and see if he's in the correct ball park. Not an issue yet because I still caddy for him so not a issue yet just want to get something with fail safe in it just in case. As for slope I'm glad I'm reading this a whole other issue. Good post

 

The hybrid GPS laser finders have a bunch of cool features that help you locate the pin. The problem is they do not work in tournament mode. You can still see distances but using the compass features is not legal. Having said that just turn on tournament mode and you are good to use them in most tournaments. The hybrid gps laser finders are very very good on new courses and worth every penny. The Garmin though is much better then bushnell version.

 

Thanks I'll check it out

[iteachgolf]

We currently have a cheap GPS that does not have slope on it. But I am getting ready to buy the bushnell hybrid because sometimes my son has a hard time finding the flag if the wind isn't blowing. At least with it he can look at the GPS and see if he's in the correct ball park. Not an issue yet because I still caddy for him so not a issue yet just want to get something with fail safe in it just in case. As for slope I'm glad I'm reading this a whole other issue. Good post

 

The hybrid GPS laser finders have a bunch of cool features that help you locate the pin. The problem is they do not work in tournament mode. You can still see distances but using the compass features is not legal. Having said that just turn on tournament mode and you are good to use them in most tournaments. The hybrid gps laser finders are very very good on new courses and worth every penny. The Garmin though is much better then bushnell version.

 

A compass (directional not geometrical) is 100% legal during tournament rounds of golf.

[leezer99]

We currently have a cheap GPS that does not have slope on it. But I am getting ready to buy the bushnell hybrid because sometimes my son has a hard time finding the flag if the wind isn't blowing. At least with it he can look at the GPS and see if he's in the correct ball park. Not an issue yet because I still caddy for him so not a issue yet just want to get something with fail safe in it just in case. As for slope I'm glad I'm reading this a whole other issue. Good post

 

The hybrid GPS laser finders have a bunch of cool features that help you locate the pin. The problem is they do not work in tournament mode. You can still see distances but using the compass features is not legal. Having said that just turn on tournament mode and you are good to use them in most tournaments. The hybrid gps laser finders are very very good on new courses and worth every penny. The Garmin though is much better then bushnell version.

 

A compass (directional not geometrical) is 100% legal during tournament rounds of golf.

Yeah but most people don't know why it would be useful.

[tiger1873]

We currently have a cheap GPS that does not have slope on it. But I am getting ready to buy the bushnell hybrid because sometimes my son has a hard time finding the flag if the wind isn't blowing. At least with it he can look at the GPS and see if he's in the correct ball park. Not an issue yet because I still caddy for him so not a issue yet just want to get something with fail safe in it just in case. As for slope I'm glad I'm reading this a whole other issue. Good post

 

The hybrid GPS laser finders have a bunch of cool features that help you locate the pin. The problem is they do not work in tournament mode. You can still see distances but using the compass features is not legal. Having said that just turn on tournament mode and you are good to use them in most tournaments. The hybrid gps laser finders are very very good on new courses and worth every penny. The Garmin though is much better then bushnell version.

 

A compass (directional not geometrical) is 100% legal during tournament rounds of golf.

 

Legal or not they turn it off during in tournament mode which is the only way to turn off slope so you can’t use it.

 

Calling it a compass feature is not really accurate either. It basically will point you the center of the green and tell you the distance. Very useful if can’t see the flag because of hill or say a tree in the way. Have no clue if it’s legal but assume there must be an issue because they turn it off if you turn slope off.

[nsxguy]

There are often external cues that will tell anybody watching whether the slope function is on.

 

One poster mentioned the different color faceplate for the Leupold.

 

The Nikon Stabilized Pro has an external green light that flashes when the RF is in tournament mode, i.e. slope is NOT on.

 

Other units (Bushnell) have a visible slider switch on the side of the unti that indicates whether slope is on or not.

[jj9000]

If you play tournament golf, I see no reason to have a rangefinder with any slope capability.

 

I have a leupold that you have to switch the face off, its bright freaking yellow. Pretty easily to tell if you are using it. I probably switched it twice in 2 years.

 

I was about to suggest that in my part of the world...the slope function serves almost zero purpose.

 

Then I read your post...and you switching it twice in 2 years kinda makes my point.