Slope vs Non Slope Rangefinders

[schaperb90]

So I've had just a normal, straight up range finder for probably close to 10 years now. I never really thought about upgrading until I played with a buddy of mine who upgraded to a slope version. Seemed cool and took a little bit of the up/downhill guesswork out, but I was always guessing pretty darn close anyway. But that leads to my question. Those who made the switch, would you recommend it? Is it as useful as it seems or would you have been just has happy to have never upgraded and just eye balled the slope. I guess I can add, I don't play any crazy mountain range courses where I'm at. I play a decent number of hilly courses, but more so +/- a club and a half maybe 2 clubs max. 

[golfgirlrobin]

I don’t feel like it was a worthwhile upgrade. It’s generally a club more or less if it’s a significant slope, but I pretty much knew that already. Once you’ve played awhile, you just have a feel for that. 
 

I bought it because I felt like I’d be missing out if I didn’t have it but I wouldn’t bother with it again. 

[Beeez]

I find the slope function very useful. Im still using a Bushnell Pinseeker 1500 with slope feature since about 2005. If it bites the dust I’ll definitely replace it with another one that has a slope function, Just one more piece of instant data that can only help in my opinion. 

[schaperb90]

Yea I guess to consolidate my question, if you had a completely functioning nonslope rangefinder, would you still do the upgrade? Or continue to use it until it died? Although I've had mine for ages the thing may never die lol

[North Butte]

On 6/27/2021 at 6:03 PM, schaperb90 said:

Yea I guess to consolidate my question, if you had a completely functioning nonslope rangefinder, would you still do the upgrade? Or continue to use it until it died? Although I've had mine for ages the thing may never die lol

I had the same thought about 4-5 years ago. My ancient Bushnell Medalist was working but pretty beat up. A guy sold me a slope model Bushnell really cheap (maybe $150?) and I tried it for a few rounds.

 

It absolutely did not tell me anything I didn't already know. A lot of shots that looked slightly uphill or downhill to my eye, it would tell me to add one or two yards to the playing distance. A few shots that were obviously very uphill, it would tell me to maybe maybe eight yard or ten yards. Well, duh. In all those cases that's what I would have done anyway.

 

So I sold on the slope rangefinder for about what I'd paid. Gave away the Medalist. Bought me a nice Nikon (non-slope) and been using it ever since. 

[Hateto3Putt]

Like most things in this game, the answer is "it depends".

 

The courses around here are very hilly, just about every approach shot plays different (sometimes 30+/- yards) from it's straight line yardage.

 

I can make my way around the course without slope information, but since it's so readily (and now cheaply) available, why would I?

 

Now when playing Florida, or many other flat places where slope is of little consequence, it matters not.

 

 

 

 

[RCGA]

What I found interesting is what I thought was a half-club slope was really only 2-3 yards. I have it on but almost never pay attention to it. It's nice to have though if you play a new course.

 

What I really want is a "smart" rangefinder that can connect to your phone, get wind speed and direction and calculate a "plays like" distance based on distance, slope and wind. 

[cristphoto]

I have both the slope and non-slope versions of the Bushnell V4.  Got a great deal on the slope model when the V5 was introduced so I gave the regular version to my wife.  Looking back if I had to pay the extra $100 to get slope I wouldn't do it.  Surprisingly there is little difference in the adjustment for height changes in the shot.  I play most of my golf in the mid-Atlantic area which isn't super hilly for the most part. I might re-think that if I played in more mountainous areas. I learned just eyeballing the distance was close enough for me.   

[Fairway14]

Using a slope range finder would cause me to feel like I was cheating.

[MattM97]

I really think it depends where you play. I have a rangefinder with slope cause i got it on sale but even with slope on for where I live and play there are not many distances where the calculated distance is too off from the actual distance. So for me I don't think I really need slope. Now if the prices are similar I'd just get a slope again but if there is a large difference just a regular is fine.

[flaghunting1987]

On 6/26/2021 at 12:02 AM, schaperb90 said:

So I've had just a normal, straight up range finder for probably close to 10 years now. I never really thought about upgrading until I played with a buddy of mine who upgraded to a slope version. Seemed cool and took a little bit of the up/downhill guesswork out, but I was always guessing pretty darn close anyway. But that leads to my question. Those who made the switch, would you recommend it? Is it as useful as it seems or would you have been just has happy to have never upgraded and just eye balled the slope. I guess I can add, I don't play any crazy mountain range courses where I'm at. I play a decent number of hilly courses, but more so +/- a club and a half maybe 2 clubs max. 

Save the extra $ and go with on that DOES NOT have slope. I've had bot and prefer non slope

[schaperb90]

1 hour ago, flaghunting1987 said:

Save the extra $ and go with on that DOES NOT have slope. I've had bot and prefer non slope

Well that's the beauty, I don't need to spend anything as my non slope still works. I'm just going to keep using it after seeing the responses here. If it dies, I'll reassess, but until then I'm going to take the advice given here, and just stick with what I got. Slope is a nice to have, not a need to have.

[theboypinoy]

I actually like the slope function. It's really nice for practice rounds, especially on courses with elevation change. If nothing else, eases my mind during tournaments that I've done the necessary groundwork.

 

Easy to turn off the slope function for tournament play.

[Righty to Lefty]

Rangefinders have become stupid expensive lately and I will cry when my $180 Bushnell with slope function dies as they not cost double that which is crazy.  The slope function is for sure worth it because it gives you and accurate number and does all the calculation for you so there is no guesswork.  You have an actual number to work off of and you  don't have to try and calculate or guess at it so why would you give that up especially if you are playing on unfamiliar courses often.  

[HackerD]

Do any of the slope models give an actual elevation change in addition to yardage adjustment?  I’d almost rather have that number and then work out my own adjustment based on the type of shot I’m hitting.

[BirdieBob]

6 minutes ago, HackerD said:

Do any of the slope models give an actual elevation change in addition to yardage adjustment?  I’d almost rather have that number and then work out my own adjustment based on the type of shot I’m hitting.

 

Yes...the Garmin Approach Z82 provides the Green View and shows the elevation change:

 

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/672620#overview

 

[KARL M]

After using a slope adjusted rangefinder for awhile, i could get by without it.

The slope reading may speed up the thought process ever so slightly.

 

I also don't rely solely on the laser's slope adjusted reading.  I play a hilly course where approach shots may have a 75 vertical foot elevation rise.

 

In practical terms on uphill shots i find that the slope yardage doesn't allow enough extra yardage. I usually add an extra 5-10 yards.  Most of the uphill shots are to greens with fairly severe slopes from back to front so the ball stops quickly.

 

On downhill shots the sloped yardage play to short as well.  When the laser is taking off 10 yards, i find that i only take off 5 from the actual distance.

 

The slope distance is 120 yards on a 130 yard downhill shot into the wind from an elevated tee.  The ball is in the air longer from the elevated tee, and the shot will play more like 140

 

The slope adjusted laser reading is a good reminder on some holes where you don't notice the elevation change. 

[OKMrazor]

On 7/2/2021 at 8:16 AM, RCGA said:

What I really want is a "smart" rangefinder that can connect to your phone, get wind speed and direction and calculate a "plays like" distance based on distance, slope and wind. 

Sounds exactly like the Precision Pro R1...

[JamesRichardson]

If you play on a course with a lot of uphill and downhill shots, then I would definitely buy a rangefinder with slope because it will give you fast and accurate distances for all of your uphill and downhill shots, saving you the trouble of trying to figure out yourself how many yards you are supposed to add or subtract for these types of shots.