range finders?

[vthokie1157]

what kind of things can i get distances to?

hey fellow gwrxs,
this is directed towards those who have rangefinders and i was wondering what kind of objects, like bunker lips or trees, i can shoot to get the distance to or is it just the pin? i really wanna learn more about rangefinders and what the best kind is, including price because i am really interested. if i can only shoot to the pin i might still be interested in getting one but id def want one if i can get the distance to the edge of a green, carries, or layups. any feedback would be appreciated, thanks!

:)

[Simp]

You can get a distance from just about everything on the course. Like you mentioned: bunker lips, front of greens, trees...you name it. I have the Nikon hunting model. I believe it cost a couple of hundred dollars a few years ago and it works like a charm. Still on the original battery! I'm sure they're probably cheaper now. It's nice and small. Fits in the golf bag very easily. Simp

[taylormadefan]

If it has a definable edge, you can shoot it. That means bunkers, trees, stakes on hazards, everything is game. That's the big reason why I'd always pick a range finder over the sky caddie. You can pick the yardages you want.

 

Most bushnell (and I believe the Nikon) have scan modes where the range finder will steadily shoot a series of beams as you pan so you can get yardages to a clear a water hazard, cut a dog leg, and all the way back to a fairway bunker in one shot.

 

Now as far as buying a range finder, the bushnell pin seekers have higher magnification and are designed to pick up the pin on the first shot. They're hands down the best on the market for getting the pin on the first shot every time. Drawbacks are physical size (they're large) and price. The one which calculates slope one is also illegal for all play.

 

The next step down are the Bushnell Yardage Pro Tour and the Nikon 500G. I think these are the best value and for amateur golfers. They're both small and compact, have long battery life, have scan and reflective modes (the bushnell has a rain mode for inclement weather) and are very good at picking up flags. If I was going to pick one, I'd pick the 500g.

 

Hunting range finders can be used for golf. However, you need to take a look at the specs and see what the smallest object it can scan is. Also, buy the one with the smallest targeting reticle, because the smaller the reticle is, hte less background there will be and the less the chance the rangefinder will pick up background like a tree.

 

I hope that helps, if you need any more info about spceific models or range finders in general, just shoot me a PM.

[bjackson]

i have an old bushnell tour pro sport, but it works impressively well for how much i payed for it (in wrx's classifieds). shoot flags, bunkers, trees, people on the green, rocks, bushes, carts up by the green/ in the fairway. I love this thing!!!

[nikemike]

I'll say this...

 

I bought a Pro Sport used, and it was AWFUL. If I was sitting in the cart, I had a chance of hitting the flag and getting the number. Otherwise, no shot. It was fine for getting bunker lips, trees, etc (things that were easy to zoom on).

 

I sold the Pro Sport and got a Pinseeker 1500 w/o slope. AMAZING unit. I can carry my bag, and with the same hand, zap the flag as I walk and get it every time. To me, that was worth the extra 100.

 

I'm very interested in this 1500 model. Any other info you can provide will be highly appreciated! That is a Bushnell product, correct?

[Ken_In_CA]

I have the bushnell pinseeker 1500 w/slope (yes I know...illegal, but I don't care... :) ) I Love it, I can shoot anything I see, shoot the pin at 300 yards with ease (farther it is, the steadier the hand needs to be), and it's not THAT large. Yes its larger than the all the other models, but only less than 1 lb and fits in my small pouch on my bag.

 

Love the slope option, I normally never play a course that requires a shot like that, but played the other day, and it really helped.

 

Worth every penny! I had the older Nikon 400, which was ok for trees, bunkers, other golfers... but not the flag.

 

Hope this helps,

Ken

[mljones99]

I, too, have a 1500 and love it. You have an endless number of targets to get distances to and with the pinseeker feature, locking on to them is simple.

[vthokie1157]

thanks guys, that really helps, im workin on gettin one now and its a pretty good bet!

 

:)

[SwingMan]

There is laser and GPS.

 

I'd forget the old laser finders - some guys have even complained about the Nikon 500g. The game is difficult enough - why add to it?

 

If you go laser, go Bushnell Pinseeker 1550 (haven't heard anyone complain about it on 5 different boards).

 

The GPS has some advantages over lasers and some disadvantages - I don't want to peer through a binocular and want my information at the press of a button and quickly if I have more than one target. My memory is not that great, either, so the GPS works well - I don't have to point and shoot over and over.

 

You just have to do some research and find out what's best for you and what advantages a GPS system like SkyCaddie (or another) offers you.

 

Personally, I'd have the Caddie on my bag and a Pinseeker in my bag as a backup.

[taylormadefan]

It's up to the tournament comittee, call them to be sure. Quite a few states haven't accepted them for tournament play yet . . .

[cleatsupkeep]

I had the Yardage Pro Tour, loved it, but it was stolen. :) :beee:

 

I found a great deal on a demo Yardage Pro Trophy, which looks to be a similar style, a touch bigger, and 5x vs. 6x magnification, but for 150, the price was right.

 

My favorite feature is scan, as that eliminates any worry about a steady hand, and just lets you pan across until you see the number change, and boom, there is your yardage.

 

With a range finder, I was able to stop doubting the yardage, and just make a smooth, aggressive swing, because I could trust my yardage, the club, and the swing. I found myself becoming pin high more often, and I know, between 100-150 yards, I can carry a ball +/- 3 yards of the target. Once I am outside 150, it is +/- 6 or 7. Now direction and judging release, that is why I don't make many birdies.

 

I think it really helps to give you an idea of how far you hit your clubs, and is great for a range, or zoning in on your wedge distance if you want to use the Pelz method or even just play by feel.

 

500 points to everyone if you read through this, I am impressed.

[forrre]

I have the yardage pro xl and love it. I do think it makes about a 2 stroke diff in my game as well due the fact of knowing the depth of the flags. I got it for $200 on ebay and it is still under warranty. The bushnell here in town sells them for $244 new I believe. I love mine.

[Ken_In_CA]

500 points to everyone if you read through this, I am impressed.

 

What do I get for 500 points?! :)

 

Ken

[cleatsupkeep]

That's a good question, it'll be like at an arcade, where 500 tickets can get you a bouncy ball or a rub on tatoo.

[pitbull808]

Just received by Bushnell Yardage Pro range finder from one of our very own sponsors here at Golfwrx Discount Dan's Golf. Wouldn't you know, I got it in the mail after I came back from playing golf. :beee:

 

First of all, let me tell you, if you haven't made a purchase from Discount Dan's you're in for a great surprise. The service is top notch, the pricing is great, the shipping fantastic! I can go on and one about them. They are simply great guys over there willing to answer your questions and help you out. If they've got a product I'm looking for in the future and can't find it locally, I'll definitely look at Discount Dans first before any other online store. Best of all, by supporting Discount Dan's, you're supporting a Golfwrx sponsor! :)

 

Now the Yardage pro, the reason I picked this model up is two guys I played with last week had one. It worked excellently. The scan mode was terrific for finding yardage to the front of the green, to the sides, to the pin and to the back edge. The size of the Yardage Pro was also a plus. Small enough to fit in the valuables pocket of my carry bag, very lightweight and fit well in my hand. It's everything that I was looking for in a range finder at a great price.

 

Even if I had completed my round today, it didn't stop me from putting in the batteries and heading out to the street to start checking yardage from my house down the street to another house, the mail boxes, the trash cans....It was great. I already told my buddy "pm hacker" that we'll definitely have to get out on the course soon this week to put it through the real paces on the course.

[i_luv_golf_]

are rangefinders illegal in tournament play...just like a local club compo etc

 

i just want one of those little small cheap ones (which one????,ebay???) but they only go up to 200 yards

 

im lookin for around 230-250

[bjackson]

as stated earlier... the legal-ness of range finders are up to the tourn commitee. one's with slope are ILLEGAL though. I found mine, yardage pro sport, here in the classifieds. a steal only $85!! works great for what I need.