Question on Range Finder and GPS

stateman · March 2, 2016

Hey all,

I have a couple questions as I am looking for a rangefinder and/or gps unit.

My main question is are the higher end range finders that much better than the lower price (example is the z6 over the v3 or leupold gx-3i2 over gx-1i2)?

My budget is $400 and was thinking about a v3 and a bushnell neo xs.

So I know only I can make the choice, but in your opinions is it better to have both rangefinder and gps as the lower end or just a higher end rangefinder?

Thanks

Fiveten03 · March 2, 2016

Don't pay retail - Here's one of the top of the line rangefinders under your budget on BST. http://www.golfwrx.c...gx-4i2-wextras/

Can't speak to GPS >< Rangefinder, but it's been argued to death. Lots of opinions there...

BlackDiamondPar5 · March 2, 2016

Hey all,

I have a couple questions as I am looking for a rangefinder and/or gps unit.

My main question is are the higher end range finders that much better than the lower price (example is the z6 over the v3 or leupold gx-3i2 over gx-1i2)?

My budget is $400 and was thinking about a v3 and a bushnell neo xs.

So I know only I can make the choice, but in your opinions is it better to have both rangefinder and gps as the lower end or just a higher end rangefinder?

Thanks

There are advantages to both. I don't know the difference between a high v lower end laser. I have a Callaway v300, (not the lowest end on the market) and it works great. Also have a neo-x. Love both for different reasons. It's like asking is a tape measure or yardstick better? Depends on what your doing.

If I were you I'd go with a decent mid range laser and spend the rest on a gps watch.

Best of both worlds.

joechang · March 5, 2016

Ever since switching to laser from a gps watch, have never felt the need to go back. Only one use case is if I'm going to play a new course and know I will be time pressured (bad playing partners etc and then not having time to shoot targets) the gps watch is a lot easier to get around the course quickly. If so regret not getting one with slope calculation so I can build a better sense of elevation change vs yardage.

HiSpeed48 · March 5, 2016

Personal preference between GPS and RF. Also depends on whether you play a lot of new courses every year or just the same ones. Also if your home course has a lot of blind shots then it might be more beneficial to use Gps.

Imo a low-end rangefinder is all most people need, as long as it's from a reputable company. In poor visibility, or if your vision isn't great, then the higher-end models start to get better. They usually use higher quality glass and more magnification. It really boils down to cost-benefit and how much you're willing to spend.

gripandrip · March 5, 2016

A great place to find close outs of previous years models is on Overstock.com. I got my rangefinder at about 1/2 retail. I have both. Laser first, GPS second. Each has its advantages. The GPS is great for playing new courses, as you can see the layout of the hole (Most units). Mine has a touch screen so I can get distance to hazards etc. I rarely use the laser any more. However, it is nice for approach shots, where the pin location on the green is not clearly known.

highergr0und · March 5, 2016

The Tour V3 is a FANTASTIC rangefinder. I had an older 1500TE, and I got the Tour V3 last year on a good deal at the amazon warehouse site. I've been blown away by the new unit. Zero issues hitting flags, and the Jolt feature is actually kind of cool even though I thought it would be dumb. I can get a flag inside of 300 yards within 1-2 seconds every time. I highly recommend it. Only reason, IMO, to spend more would be if you needed full waterproofing, although this unit is water resistant.

I used to use the old bushnell neo GPS device. GPS is useful if you play a lot of new courses. Once you play a course a few times and know the carries to hazards, I bet the GPS won't even come out of the bag. Only reason it's useful after that would be to work with the laser to know something like how far a pin is from the edge of the green. I might get the laser then see if you even need the GPS....

Do you have a good smartphone with GPS? I use skydroid that costs like $2. I've also been messing with one called hole 19 that you can drop pins on the aerial view of the hole to get distances. I think that one was free. I find both to be very accurate with the iphone 6+. Like I mentioned above with the dedicated GPS, I generally don't even turn the app on unless I go to play a new course. It is legal under USGA rules to use a phone to measure distance as long as you don't have a golf swing analyzer or app that measures weather conditions at the phone level installed.

So, yeah, get the Bushnell Tour V3. Try GPS on your phone. And if you really want to, get the Neo. I wouldn't provided I had the phone option

MarkFromTheUK · March 7, 2016

Rangefinder all the way, but then I'm OCD and I would freak out if I had to rely on a ballpark yardage. In my view if you're not going to get an exact number you may as well save a few hundred pounds, go in to the pro shop and buy yourself a Strokesaver book.

I played last Friday and almost ended up in an argument with someone regarding the yardage on a par 3. I got to the tee first, zapped the flag and said it was 193y to the pin. Some guy we were playing against then looked at his GPS watch thing and accused me of gamesmanship because his watch was saying 169. Needless to say, ended up about 20 yards short of the green.

As for whether more £££ equals better quality, I think it does. Better optics and zoom, better range, and most importantly they seem to pick out the correct yardage far quicker.