Anyone upgrade their non slope Rangefinder to a slope rangefinder?

[Splitter]

Soo.. I've got a Leupold Gx-i. One of the original rangefinders and a great tool. Worth every cent I paid.

 

Now Leupold has the new GX-4i out. It's capable of slope BUT, it's only on if a bright yellow key is installed. Without the key it does not have slope and would probably be legal for most tournaments.

 

The new GX-4i also has a better display and is a little quicker, but all I'm after is the ability to have slope or not as needed.

 

I'm figuring I could get $150 - $200 for my old unit which takes the sting out..

 

Has anyone made the move? We are all different, but for you, has it been worth the $200 +/- just for slope and display?

 

Thanks!

[bigred90gt]

As long as the device has the capability to account for slope, it is not legal. A bright yellow key won't change that.

[TheMoneyShot]

I have always used a sloped rangefinder, they are awesome! Go Bushnell if you can because you will not regret it...

[SPY ZINGER]

Maybe it's just the courses I play, but I've never found the elevation to be so drastically different that I found the slope feature to be essential.

[peteypro]

I've always found the slope not that big of a deal.

[Fornesto]

you dont need slope figure it out yourself its easy

[FairwayGolfUSA.com]

[quote name='Splitter' timestamp='1340238277' post='5138732']
Soo.. I've got a Leupold Gx-i. One of the original rangefinders and a great tool. Worth every cent I paid.

Now Leupold has the new GX-4i out. It's capable of slope BUT, it's only on if a bright yellow key is installed. Without the key it does not have slope and would probably be legal for most tournaments.

The new GX-4i also has a better display and is a little quicker, but all I'm after is the ability to have slope or not as needed.

I'm figuring I could get $150 - $200 for my old unit which takes the sting out..

Has anyone made the move? We are all different, but for you, has it been worth the $200 +/- just for slope and display?

Thanks!
[/quote]

Leupold makes very high quality rangefinders. I have used both the GX-2 and the GX-3 and loved them both. The new OLED display is brighter and clearer in the GX3 and GX4's.

The GX4 is tournament legal if you dont put on the YELLOW faceplate which turns on slope.

If you dont want to spend so much for the GX4 i'd say go with the GX2 which has all the options as the GX4 without the new OLED display but it is way cheaper.

-Ryan

[baseballfrk8998]

[quote name='FairwayGolfUSA.com' timestamp='1340242894' post='5139138']
[quote name='Splitter' timestamp='1340238277' post='5138732']
Soo.. I've got a Leupold Gx-i. One of the original rangefinders and a great tool. Worth every cent I paid.

Now Leupold has the new GX-4i out. It's capable of slope BUT, it's only on if a bright yellow key is installed. Without the key it does not have slope and would probably be legal for most tournaments.

The new GX-4i also has a better display and is a little quicker, but all I'm after is the ability to have slope or not as needed.

I'm figuring I could get $150 - $200 for my old unit which takes the sting out..

Has anyone made the move? We are all different, but for you, has it been worth the $200 +/- just for slope and display?

Thanks!
[/quote]

Leupold makes very high quality rangefinders. I have used both the GX-2 and the GX-3 and loved them both. The new OLED display is brighter and clearer in the GX3 and GX4's.

[b]The GX4 is tournament legal if you dont put on the YELLOW faceplate which turns on slope. [/b]

If you dont want to spend so much for the GX4 i'd say go with the GX2 which has all the options as the GX4 without the new OLED display but it is way cheaper.

-Ryan
[/quote]

False.

[Splitter]

Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate all of it.

For the guys who don't like the yellow keys.. Supposedly Leupold was working with the USGA to get them made "officially" legal, but it never made it though.. I'm not sure if it will affect lower level or not. But it's a fair point. I should double check before making the buy.

On brand... I guess I should have been more specific. If I'm going to upgrade it will be to another Leupold. After owning one for a few years and reading the tests on the new ones I'm hooked! I'm sure the Bushnells (among others are good). If I can't use the GX-4 even in local tourney play I may just get the GX-2 and keep my GX-1...

I think on these models the slope is more than slope. Supposedly it takes temp and elevation into account as well for that "overall distance" number.. Although three of the four courses I play have lots of elevation so elevation is important.

For me it's more of a training tool than a device to immediately improve score that day.. Without getting enough time on the course or range, I'm sometimes left guessing why my 7I went exactly 155 like I wanted, but it looks like my 6I just went 175. Was it wind, slope, heat, etc... Still don't know that it's worth shelling out the money though.

That's why I posted this... Just trying to figure out how good a tool it would be if others are using it. I May change the title to reflect the brand and model...

Thanks again!

-S

[greglarson2]

For Leupold the only units that are Legal for Handicap and Tournament play are the GX-1 and GX-3.

As far as the key part, while it may disable to feature it is current illegal for play. As long as the unit has that feature it is not legal, regardless if the feature is disabled. I know they are trying to get this changed.

Rules Decision:
Q.May a Committee, by Local Rule, permit the use of distance-measuring devices?
A.Yes. A Committee may establish a Local Rule allowing players to use devices that measure or gauge distance only (see the Note to Rule [url="http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Rule-14/#14-3"]14-3[/url]). However, the use of a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect a player's play (e.g., gradient, wind speed, temperature, etc) is not permitted regardless of whether such an additional function is used.

[Splitter]

Ya, after more research, it's not worth taking a chance. From what I understand the USGA said no again (very recently) and Leupold is done with the fight. Given that, I can't even see the smaller local tourneys letting them in.

Looks like it'll have to be a fully illegal scope and keep my legal scope if I do anything.

Thanks again for everyone's input!

-S