Enlighten me please - Lasers

[FuzzyKnuckles]

I've been using a Garmin Approach S1 for a few years now, and I think i would like to upgrade to a laser. I know nothing about lasers, what I should look for, etc. I'd like to not spend more than $150

 

I greatly appreciate any of your help, tips, advice, and such. Thank you!

 

[RSinSG]

Unless you get used I'm not sure you can get a decent one at your price limit. I have a Bushnell Pinseeker which I consider very accurate. The new version of it is quite pricey but if you can snag a good used one you possibly could get it close to $150.

I've had some other cheaper ones and it was too hard to lock on the flag. My buddy tried a cheaper hunting rangefinder and it too was hit and miss on the flag lock.

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

sorry dude but there is no laser technolgy at $150. double your budget and then some and now your getting a good selection of Leupold or Bushnell choices.

[jdl]

[quote name='Kenny Lee Puckett' timestamp='1434858123' post='11797836']
sorry dude but there is no laser technolgy at $150. double your budget and then some and now your getting a good selection of Leupold or Bushnell choices.
[/quote]

Don't even have to go that high, I just picked up the Tour V3 Patriot pack for $225 @ Golf Galaxy.

[FuzzyKnuckles]

I found some Bushnell Tour v2 lightly used on eBay for low 100's lightly used. Would that be a decent pickup? Much difference between v2 and v3? Or should I go for a bushnell tour v3 for like $233 with a deal golfsmith is running?

I'm fine with buying previous years' models, thats why I was looking to spend under $150 or so.

I appreciate the help! Thanks

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

I wouldn't buy a used Bushnell. Even the new ones can have more warranty issues than Obamacare. but V3 is decent product and new you'll get a little factory coverage time in case it's an outright lemon.

[eppey]

My Pinseeker 1500 Tournament is still going strong. I keep looking at others but the Tournament series takes a standard 9 volt battery which is great for me when the battery dies and I'm traveling. I haven't looked in a while, do the newer Bushnell lasers take a nine volt again or are they still using the more expensive camera batteries? At least something to keep in mind when searching for a laser.

One of the above posters is correct with the Bushnell having optic issues. Mine does have a small "worm" in the optics but I can still hit the pin and get my yardages without issue.

[FuzzyKnuckles]

Thanks for the help gentlemen. Is there a company that is better than Bushnell (sorry I know nothing about the market)?

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

there's only one I'd spend my money on, Leupold Gx-3i. look dude if you play often enough your range finder becomes one of the most serious pieces of your equipment. you're gonna use it CONSTANTLY. the purchase expense has great benefit. courses don't even mark replacement sprinkler heads anymore cause everyone is walking around with yardage tech. why dwell on whether you're only getting some bargain price or some pre-owned which turn out to be a p.o.s. get a kick-@ss laser and run it till the battery dies, get a new battery, and then run it hard again.

[ZBUCK]

$319 on Amazon for a Bushnell Tour Z6 - can't beat that, especially if you have Prime... I couldn't live without my rangefinder now, worth spending the money on getting a good one... I had the Tour V2 and just got the Z6 and I can't even begin to tell you how much more accurate and fast it is locking onto a flag.

[Titleist1455]

[quote name='FuzzyKnuckles' timestamp='1434924577' post='11802542']
Thanks for the help gentlemen. Is there a company that is better than Bushnell (sorry I know nothing about the market)?
[/quote]

Leupold is pretty solid. I've had Bushnells forever and I've had good experiences with them.

Either of those 2 would be good quality.

[_Hawk3y3_]

[quote name='Titleist1455' timestamp='1434981598' post='11808928'][quote name='FuzzyKnuckles' timestamp='1434924577' post='11802542']
Thanks for the help gentlemen. Is there a company that is better than Bushnell (sorry I know nothing about the market)?
[/quote]

Leupold is pretty solid. I've had Bushnells forever and I've had good experiences with them.

Either of those 2 would be good quality.[/quote]I would also add Nikon to that list. Great optics, and the technology is equivalent to the other brands. They seem to be more popular in Europe than here in the States, but still a solid brand.

[BlackDiamondPar5]

The laser will complement your garmin watch. I don't see it as an upgrade since they both provide information the other can't or doesn't do as well as the other.

[size=4] Now that we have semantics out of the way let me recommend taking a look at the Callaway 300 for $250 plus you get a $30 rebate if purchased by July,??, 2015. You just aren't going to find something new for $150. Also look at the Bushnell v3 and I think Nikon just released a lower cost model. [/size]

[size=4]I just got a Callaway 300 (after demoing it a couple rounds) to complement my watch. I don't really need one but I like gadgets and the price was right. A long time laser user recently wrote a nice review in this forum on the Callaway 300. Unless the thing craps out prematurely I don't see how it could be beat. [/size]

[golfdad907]

A laser is a laser, Nikons are good and cheaper than Leupold or Bushhell, any hunting model is same as golf, just doesn't say golf on it, so cheaper as well

[joeunc]

My Nikon is great, got it under $200 brand new off Ebay

[wlargen]

I just received a Nikon Coolshot 20 for Father's Day. Took it out yesterday and it worked great. Was able to get a read at 394 yards so distance is good. I think my children paid slightly less than $200 for it. I would recommend Nikon as well.

[FuzzyKnuckles]

Went ahead and got a bushel tour v3. I love it! Thank you everybody

[jkc-rva]

[quote name='FuzzyKnuckles' timestamp='1435077750' post='11819166']
Went ahead and got a bushel tour v3. I love it! Thank you everybody
[/quote]
Was that the Patriot Pack that I've seen everywhere for $275ish? I'm really intrigued by it...

[Fade to Black]

Curious...what do you think a laser will give you that your Garmin GPS watch wont, such that you consider the laser an "upgrade"?

[sheldonjhacker]

I recently bought a Nikon Coolshot 40 for less than $200-and love it...works as well as any Bushnell and Leupold I've ever had....and it's waterproof.

[operator]

Do any of them pick up bunker faces, bulkheads, etc better than others?

[FuzzyKnuckles]

[quote name='jkc-rva' timestamp='1435188383' post='11828960']
[quote name='FuzzyKnuckles' timestamp='1435077750' post='11819166']
Went ahead and got a bushel tour v3. I love it! Thank you everybody
[/quote]
Was that the Patriot Pack that I've seen everywhere for $275ish? I'm really intrigued by it...
[/quote]

It was
[quote name='Fade to Black' timestamp='1435188786' post='11829002']
Curious...what do you think a laser will give you that your Garmin GPS watch wont, such that you consider the laser an "upgrade"?
[/quote]

Pin yardages, bunkers, doglegs, hazards, on the range, short game practice, lay up distances. It is good for most anything. I had the Garmin S1 and have nothing bad to say about it, it is just I was ready for more accurate numbers. I would still recommend the S1 to my buddies if they were not gonna buy a laser

[BlackDiamondPar5]

[quote name='FuzzyKnuckles' timestamp='1435207280' post='11830802']
[quote name='jkc-rva' timestamp='1435188383' post='11828960']
[quote name='FuzzyKnuckles' timestamp='1435077750' post='11819166']
Went ahead and got a bushel tour v3. I love it! Thank you everybody
[/quote]
Was that the Patriot Pack that I've seen everywhere for $275ish? I'm really intrigued by it...
[/quote]

It was
[quote name='Fade to Black' timestamp='1435188786' post='11829002']
Curious...what do you think a laser will give you that your Garmin GPS watch wont, such that you consider the laser an "upgrade"?
[/quote]

Pin yardages, bunkers, doglegs, hazards, on the range, short game practice, lay up distances. It is good for most anything. I had the Garmin S1 and have nothing bad to say about it, it is just I was ready for more accurate numbers. I would still recommend the S1 to my buddies if they were not gonna buy a laser
[/quote]

You're gonna keep using your watch aren't you? The GPS is way faster for center, front, back of green and blind shots. A laser/watch combo is about as good as it gets

[BobRoberts]

I've not tried one but GolfBuddy make laser rangefinders that are getting good reviews and look reasonable value.

[Tundralag]

[quote name='Andy L' timestamp='1435233553' post='11831530']
[quote name='FuzzyKnuckles' timestamp='1435207280' post='11830802']
[quote name='jkc-rva' timestamp='1435188383' post='11828960']
[quote name='FuzzyKnuckles' timestamp='1435077750' post='11819166']
Went ahead and got a bushel tour v3. I love it! Thank you everybody
[/quote]
Was that the Patriot Pack that I've seen everywhere for $275ish? I'm really intrigued by it...
[/quote]

It was
[quote name='Fade to Black' timestamp='1435188786' post='11829002']
Curious...what do you think a laser will give you that your Garmin GPS watch wont, such that you consider the laser an "upgrade"?
[/quote]

Pin yardages, bunkers, doglegs, hazards, on the range, short game practice, lay up distances. It is good for most anything. I had the Garmin S1 and have nothing bad to say about it, it is just I was ready for more accurate numbers. I would still recommend the S1 to my buddies if they were not gonna buy a laser
[/quote]

You're gonna keep using your watch aren't you? The GPS is way faster for center, front, back of green and blind shots. A laser/watch combo is about as good as it gets
[/quote]

I agree, I have a garmin G6 that mounts on my cart or i can carry it in my pocket, It gives me everything i need for every course i play... My buddy has the Bushnell Laser, He is a PITA to play with... I will tell him its 142 to the pin.. he will pull out his laser and lase twenty times and then say i got 144.. Ok great... but your golf game cant come within 20 yards of your laser... so what good is it..
I use my Garmin for quick reference for yardage, it tells me what club to use... Doesnt mean i will get it there or even close... it also gives me great info on courses i have never played.. Bunker, lakes etc.. No laser can do that..
I do have a Leica laser.. but i use that for shooting Goats in Germany from mountain top to Mountain top..

[FuzzyKnuckles]

[quote name='Tundralag' timestamp='1435239600' post='11832012']
[quote name='Andy L' timestamp='1435233553' post='11831530']
[quote name='FuzzyKnuckles' timestamp='1435207280' post='11830802']

It was
[quote name='Fade to Black' timestamp='1435188786' post='11829002']
Curious...what do you think a laser will give you that your Garmin GPS watch wont, such that you consider the laser an "upgrade"?
[/quote]

Pin yardages, bunkers, doglegs, hazards, on the range, short game practice, lay up distances. It is good for most anything. I had the Garmin S1 and have nothing bad to say about it, it is just I was ready for more accurate numbers. I would still recommend the S1 to my buddies if they were not gonna buy a laser
[/quote]

You're gonna keep using your watch aren't you? The GPS is way faster for center, front, back of green and blind shots. A laser/watch combo is about as good as it gets
[/quote]

I agree, I have a garmin G6 that mounts on my cart or i can carry it in my pocket, It gives me everything i need for every course i play... My buddy has the Bushnell Laser, He is a PITA to play with... I will tell him its 142 to the pin.. he will pull out his laser and lase twenty times and then say i got 144.. Ok great... but your golf game cant come within 20 yards of your laser... so what good is it..
I use my Garmin for quick reference for yardage, it tells me what club to use... Doesnt mean i will get it there or even close... it also gives me great info on courses i have never played.. Bunker, lakes etc.. No laser can do that..
I do have a Leica laser.. but i use that for shooting Goats in Germany from mountain top to Mountain top..
[/quote]

If I cannot sell my GPS, I guess I'll have to use it lol

[vsteel1991]

i got my tour v2 patriot pack a few years ago at GG for $180 on black friday, so they can be had for very good prices just keep and eye out for sales

[B.Boston]

[quote]
I agree, I have a garmin G6 that mounts on my cart or i can carry it in my pocket, It gives me everything i need for every course i play... My buddy has the Bushnell Laser, He is a PITA to play with... I will tell him its 142 to the pin.. he will pull out his laser and lase twenty times and then say i got 144.. Ok great... but your golf game cant come within 20 yards of your laser... so what good is it..
I use my Garmin for quick reference for yardage, it tells me what club to use... Doesnt mean i will get it there or even close... it also gives me great info on courses i have never played.. Bunker, lakes etc.. No laser can do that..
I do have a Leica laser.. but i use that for shooting Goats in Germany from mountain top to Mountain top..
[/quote]

haha! Good point, but me and my golfing buddy are the exact opposite. I have a Leupold Gx 3i2 and he has a watch GPS (not sure which one). He's always tapping it and powering it on and off waiting for a good signal while I get the reading (once or twice, not twenty times) and give him the yardage. Granted, it's not as useful for tee shots and blind shots, thats what my hole 19 app is good enough for.

The best situation is to have both. But if I could only have one, I would want the laser. too many course are poorly marked and with greens around me as big as they can be there can be a 2-3 club difference between a front pin and back pin. That's info that I need to know to win in my league.

[mkmcfrlnd]

[quote name='_Hawk3y3_' timestamp='1434986128' post='11809646']
[quote name='Titleist1455' timestamp='1434981598' post='11808928'][quote name='FuzzyKnuckles' timestamp='1434924577' post='11802542']
Thanks for the help gentlemen. Is there a company that is better than Bushnell (sorry I know nothing about the market)?
[/quote]

Leupold is pretty solid. I've had Bushnells forever and I've had good experiences with them.

Either of those 2 would be good quality.[/quote]I would also add Nikon to that list. Great optics, and the technology is equivalent to the other brands. They seem to be more popular in Europe than here in the States, but still a solid brand.
[/quote]

Second on Nikon. I have a Nikon Coolshot 20 that works well enough for me. Haven't had an issue with it. Close to the original poster's price point -- Refurbs can be had for ~150 on the 'bay, around 199 new.

[cristphoto]

I have the Bushnell Z6 and it works great. Very accurate and locks on virtually instantly. What I find interesting is when I play with people using GPS devices after a couple holes they often start asking me for a yardage. That's because I have a number to the flag and they have FMB readings which can vary quite a bit. Where the laser is versatile is planning tee shots to avoid hazards of get positioned in a dogleg. Or distance to clear a bunker/water hazard or come up short of it. Often the GPS units don't list the many hazards you encounter on the course.