The poor golfer's rangefinder/pinseeker?

[rosskoss]

Does something like this actually work

Does this work reasonably well? I know it'll definitely be a few yards off but if I can get within 5 yards, that'd be great.





Here's their bit on accuracy -

The size of the apertures in the Stintz are based on a 24" distance from the eye and a 78" flagstick. Accounting for human error, you should be able to gauge distances within 5+-%, and as you approach the hole the Stintz becomes more accurate because your field of vision expands parabolicly.

Has anyone used something like this? Mathematically, it makes sense and will work if you hold it at the right arm distance. However, I was wondering how practical and effective something like this is in actual use.

[hbear]

I wouldn't imagine it to be to accurate...you're better off with the sprinkler head yardages.

 

E.g. What happens when you can't see the enitre flagstick? Or can you even keep it steady enough to read?

[David D]

Some of my buddies already give me a hard time for using my Nikon, I can only imagine what they would do if I pulled that thing out...

[rosskoss]

I wouldn't imagine it to be to accurate...you're better off with the sprinkler head yardages.

 

E.g. What happens when you can't see the enitre flagstick? Or can you even keep it steady enough to read?

 

Mathematically, it is accurate. I don't think holding it would be a problem.

 

Good point about the flagstick though. If you can't see the entire flagstick, it wouldn't be accurate at all. The object you're measuring has to fit reasonably well in the hole diameter.

[TheCapedAvenger]

Mathematically, it depends heavily on the holding distance being accurate- I guess you could just re-figure the yardages for your arm length and do it that way.

 

Aside from that, the only problems I see are elevation related- either not being able to see all of the pin due to an uphill approach or mounding, or having the pin visually shortened by a downhill approach.

[rosskoss]

All readings are based on an arm measurement of 24" (2ft)

 

So if you can figure that distance from your eyes, you're good.

 

But you're right, elevation changes would be an issue because of the way the flag would appear.

 

I still think that it may be worth the $4-$5 to try one out.

[Solutions Etcetera]

As has been said... you need to see the entire pin from the surface of the green to the top of the flag for these to work. If this is ok with you you might look at the little monoculars with the reticle as it will be much easier tou se and only a few bucks more.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-5x20-Scope-...r/dp/B0000A0AII

[hoganfan924]

Not every course uses standard length flagsticks nor does every course use the same length flagstick on every hole. Some will use extra long one's on elevated greens so you see to top of the flag. One course I play uses very short flagsticks. These type of scopes would be no better than yardage markers IMO.

[xplyboy]

Don't know why but that's the funniest thing that I've seen in a while! ;)

[brettcra]

Don't you need to stick that thing into a view master?

[TheCapedAvenger]

Alright ross, fasten your seatbelt, I did some quick math.

 

(this all assumes that you're at worm's eye level and everything is a right triangle, but it doesn't affect the overall calculation that much.)

 

From 150 yards (5400 inches), assuming a 6' (72") flagstick (I know thats not right, but again, it doesn't affect the math all that much), the hole in the little card would be .32 inches tall.

 

The ratio is .32/24 = 72/5400

 

If you solve for the yardage, you get 5400= (72*24)/.32

 

Now, if you hold the card at 26" and solve for the distance to the pin using the same hole, you get (72*26)/.32 = 5850.

 

This means that, if you hold the card 2" farther from your face (not unreasonable to assume), the pin has to be 5850" away, or 162.5 yards, to fit in the 150 yard hole. Thats 12 yards off to the pin for 2" of face-card offness!

 

It will get better as you get closer to the pin, but it still seems like thats a fair amount of error. The only way to really do this effectively would be to hold it at arms length every time to make sure your eye-card distance is consistent and just write the new yardages next to the holes.

 

Just a friendly tip! I encourage you to go for it and give us a review!

[golfjam]

Man, save your money and keep your dignity. Find sprinklers!!