Leoupold lost a loyal customer today

[chamgel2]

Leupold must have fixed the problem because I recieved my new gx4i yesterday from Discount Dan's, and it works perfectly. No problem picking up the flags at all. The TGR was dead on all day as well. I'll post a full review after I get in a few more rounds with it.

[balbowski]

I would think that the rule about being able to switch off the slope feature being deemed non-conforming was in response to the Bushnell devices that you could turn the slope off in a menu while looking through the eyepiece. In essence somebody would be able to change it with no one knowing.

Whereas the Leupold with the silver faceplate has no way to measure slope. Period. If someone were to switch back and forth between the I would hope their playing partners would be aware enough to call him on it and get a rules official.

[DaveLeeNC]

[quote name='balbowski' timestamp='1344839856' post='5459640']
I would think that the rule about being able to switch off the slope feature being deemed non-conforming was in response to the Bushnell devices that you could turn the slope off in a menu while looking through the eyepiece. In essence somebody would be able to change it with no one knowing.

Whereas the Leupold with the silver faceplate has no way to measure slope. Period. If someone were to switch back and forth between the I would hope their playing partners would be aware enough to call him on it and get a rules official.
[/quote]

I agree and IMHO the USGA blew it on this decision. I assume that there was some concern about precedent here (that I don't understand).

dave

[avgjoe]

[quote name='balbowski' timestamp='1344839856' post='5459640']
I would think that the rule about being able to switch off the slope feature being deemed non-conforming was in response to the Bushnell devices that you could turn the slope off in a menu while looking through the eyepiece. In essence somebody would be able to change it with no one knowing.

Whereas the Leupold with the silver faceplate has no way to measure slope. Period. If someone were to switch back and forth between the I would hope their playing partners would be aware enough to call him on it and get a rules official.
[/quote]




couldn't someone take a yellow faceplate and make it appear silver? difficult perhaps, but not out of the realm of possibility

[MaxBuck]

[quote name='avgjoe' timestamp='1344865979' post='5460652']couldn't someone take a yellow faceplate and make it appear silver? difficult perhaps, but not out of the realm of possibility
[/quote]There are far easier, undetectable means to cheat on the golf course. If a golfer is not honorable, there's no complete defense.

[Wardell Stone]

[quote name='Llortamaisey' timestamp='1339331181' post='5061036']
I can't think of one "big tourney" that allows range finders regardless if it performs slope functions or not.
[/quote]
Instead we are subjected to guys walking off yardages and the joy of 5.5 hour rounds.

[Dann]

The below was copied and pasted directly from Leupold's website describing the features of the GX-4i. It is currently not a legal device for USGA events even without the yellow faceplate.

[b] USGA Legal Notice[/b]


The ability to legally use this product in USGA events is under appeal. At the present time it can not be used.

[cardoustie]

I went thru three Bushnell's that all failed before moving to Nikon. Zero issues for 3 yrs. Great product

Up here in Canada ironically, you can use range finders in provincial amateur events (at least in Ontario) but you can't use them in national am events

Some strange rules out there. Surely most competitive golfers at a big event would know that a certain green is +3 yards based on shooting a pin in a practice round. Most other top am's without a slope device would eyeball the green and be able to say +5. Though, the slope feature would be great on those par 3's that drop 60 feet etc during a practice round

[Triple-Double]

would any of you honestly call out and guy to be DQ'd if he was using the GX-4i in a tournament with the chrome faceplate? it is incapable of any illegal functions and is simply a conforming rangefinder. only with the bright yellow face plate is it non-conforming. I don't understand why the usga is so hard-headed about this.

[matchavez]

The terrible farce is that they are making it illegal because a smart geek could jimmy that "faceplate" switch. It's all a little much for me.


Same thing with an iPhone. It's illegal because it has a compass in it. Really? A compass?

I think the USGA is losing its credibility very quickly. All anyone wants to do is have a fast round and good advice. The question really is whether a tournament player is somehow at a considerable advantage... in reality, you should be able to have whatever advice you want to get from a device. Right down to windspeed, as far as I am concerned. If it isn't attached to you during the shot, and isn't helping you during the shot, it's all just data. It's not helping any more than is already available.

You're 184y out. Or, you're 184 out up 1* (assuming you're holding it right). Hit it 186yd. That's your 5i. But hey, so is 184, so really? Would anyone always listen to a machine more than they'd always listen to a caddy? There is no level of information you can gain on a golf course that is unfair to me. As such, why is any of it banned?

[Blingy]

[quote name='Platapus' timestamp='1362157515' post='6527503']
would any of you honestly call out and guy to be DQ'd if he was using the GX-4i in a tournament with the chrome faceplate? it is incapable of any illegal functions and is simply a conforming rangefinder. only with the bright yellow face plate is it non-conforming. I don't understand why the usga is so hard-headed about this.
[/quote]if the gx4i is illegal so should be adjustable drivers, putters, and wedges with removable faces.