Lasers with slope correction

[cristphoto]

Where do you aim slope lasers when measuring to a flag - the flag, the base of the pin, other? I would think it would affect the reading. Thanks.

[Hateto3Putt]

The flag, unless there's a reflector on the stick..

 

It won't impact the reading by more than 18 inches.

 

Science project for a downhill hole where everything is visible; Shoot the pin, then shoot the flag, then shoot the ground.

[cristphoto]

The flag, unless there's a reflector on the stick..

 

It won't impact the reading by more than 18 inches.

 

Science project for a downhill hole where everything is visible; Shoot the pin, then shoot the flag, then shoot the ground.

 

Thanks. I have an older laser now but am considering one with slope feature. I've never met anyone on the course with a slope model to compare with. Just curious how sensitive/accurate the slope yardage is and how to optimize for best reading.

[larrybud]

6 feet (height of a pin) at 150 yards is 0.76 degrees.

 

Should we get into the discussion of how slope is useless since it doesn't know the landing angle the ball is coming in at?

[Duke of Hazards]

The device uses algorithms based on flight trajectories to determine how much distance to add or take off. I own a Leupold GX-4i2 and in practice, there's a much greater difference in effective playing distance between an an approach to a an elevated pin 200 yards away vs one that's 100 yards away (because the 100 yard shot will be hit with a wedge and the trajectory much higher (and therefore less 'distance affected').

 

Further, the Leupold models request your average distances with reference clubs (8i, 6i, 4i) and computes further adjustments based on your relative distances. Someone that hits his 6iron 180 yards will get a different reading on an uphill approach to a 30 foot elevated pin at 150 yards than a person that only hits his 6 iron 150 yards (the longer hitter will be hitting a higher trajectory club into the 150 yard pin and his slope adjusted distance will be closer to the actual distance than the shorter player).

 

As to the original poster's question, I try to shoot as low as possible on the pin when there is a high negative or positive slope. The more incline or decline there is from where you are standing to where the hole is, the greater the difference in yardage readings (slope-adjusted) by where you shoot the pin. On extreme elevation changes, the difference in slope adjusted yardage between shooting the flag or the hole itself can be several yards (1/2 a club).

 

If the hole is below me, I shoot the cup. If the flag is above me, I scan-read back and forth across the lowest visible point of the flag stick. The Leupold is excellent about throwing back the closest reading (Pinhunter 2) and not the background). My buddy's Bushnell, although it does have the jolt tech, has given me bad readings (trees back of the green), where I swore I was shooting the flag.