range finder question

[coopizzez]

ease of use?

I've searched and read lots about range finders such as the bushnell pin seeker as well as the numerous gps units.

My question is...are range finders easy and quick to use? I have zero experience using them, but am familiar with the skcaddie as my buddy has one. I don't need my distances to be dialed in to within a foot or two, but I'd like a quick way to get a yardage when I'm on another hole (unintentionally, but happens too often) or I'm on an unfamiliar course.

So, can you get the yardage quickly with range finders??? I don't want to be fiddling around to get a yardarge. I hate to play slow...and I think the ability to get a distance quickly is my highest priority...am I better off going with a gps unit?

Any input would be appreciated.

[jo_bus]

I've not used them on the golf course but only in hunting situations. Once you acquire the target it's quick and easy....just a couple seconds.

[ddd908]

I have the Bushnell Pinseaker 1500 Tournament edition. Works great, finds accurate yardages quickly. You do need a steady hand to use but other than that, I highly recommend it.

[MoGolf]

I actually use a Nikon rangefinder made for hunting, on the golf course. And yes, it only takes a couple of seconds to acquire the target and distance.

If there's a group in front of you, no problem, just shoot the guy that pulls/replaces the flag. If nobody is in front of you, then that's a little tougher finding a target to fix on.

I play with several guys that have Skycaddies, and we compare notes often. Usually, we're both very close. In fact, with the rangefinder, I can fix on the guy pulling the flag and get the exact distance since the Skycaddie doesn't know where the stick is. Yes, it gives front, middle, and back, but not the exact distance.

[BALLARD2]

i just have to say i have a skycaddie and i love it.

i have tried lining up targets with my friends rangefinder and i don't find it all that easy for "me" to lock in a target.

with skycaddie i get front back and middle as well as detail on a lot of courses for trouble to avoid.

 

jmo

[telluwhat]

I use a Nikon 500G and can usually get a reading in about 3-5 seconds. When the pin doesn't stand out clearly against what's behind it, I have to hold the measurement button down and scan for a reading. That can take about 10 seconds.

[2underpar]

I have the Bushnell yardage pro "Legend" model. 100% waterproof and even floats (just in case it finds its way into the lake ).

 

I'm really impressed with the scan feature which allows me to scan the entire green in a matter of seconds.

[EnglishBob]

Nikon here too (well the Callaway badged one) Takes less than 20 seconds and that includes taking it out the bag, getting the reading and putting it back.

[AirTime23]

I have the Pinseeker 1500 w/slope and you just hit the button to activate, aim it press again to acquire the target and release for the slope reading. Couple of seconds and you're done. Good thing is, it does give the exact yardage and not just a potentially 50ft error loaded GPS reading to every object you see.

[muxi87]

Bushnell TE 1500 w/o slope...

 

Hands down the best golf purchase I've ever made. The older rangefinders gave you fits if your hands shook at all, but with this one, you can shake it/move it all over the place, and just as long as the little dot makes "contact" with the pin at some point it'll lock in your distance.

[daydreamer]

I was at the same place you were at in the Summer. I picked the Rangefinder over the GPS due to its overall simplicity. No plug in wires or cables, no yearly fee, no making sure the course you went to is loaed into your GPS, etc. I went with the Bushnell 1500 Tournament Edition, ease of use is fantastic. Point and shoot. Seconds from shooting your target and picking out your club. No regrets. Best purchase I've made (actually my wife gave it to me as a gift). I tell her each outing that its the best golf gift she's ever bought me. It save me a few strokes a round.

 

I, too, play fast and you won't be slowed down at all.

[blade_man]

I am on my second Skycaddie and won't play without it (except the USGA Senior AM) and find they are very accurate, easy to use and I like being able to dial in the target on the green, something you can't do with the other that tell you what it takes to clear the front of the bunker or how far to the back of the green. IMO the best!

[SuaSponteMn]

I purchased a Pinseeker 1500 last year (no slope). Outside of good instruction, it's the best investment I've made in golf.

[billybaroo]

How do these units work when you are trying to shoot a distance for a layup shot or something like that? Say you want to be just short of a water hazard, how would a laser range finder work in that scenario? Would it require a substantial embankment to target?

[golfnguitarz]

How do these units work when you are trying to shoot a distance for a layup shot or something like that? Say you want to be just short of a water hazard, how would a laser range finder work in that scenario? Would it require a substantial embankment to target?

 

Good question, I have always wondered how to handle this situation with a range finder as well.

[sanddog28]

I have a pinseeker 1500 and think its one of the best investments you can make. As for the lay up question you can get a reading off of anything, it would be bets to use a bank, rock or tree any feature that gets you away from shooting the ground will work. Even though I wouldn’t think it would be as accurate a number you can get a reading off the ground, problem being of course is what part of the ground are you hitting that’s why I always use an object, and so far I have never been in a situation where the course has been totally barren of a useful object to use as a lay up reference.

[Hifade]

Pinseeker 1500 TE for me too...can't say enough good things

[EnglishBob]

With bunkers I will usually aim for the rake if I can see one.

 

The only issue I have come across is very light fog. I could see the flag at over 200 yds, the rangefinder told me everything was 14yds away.

[dwoo01]

I have been looking to get a rangefinder and noticed that the Nikon rangefinders for hunting look and seem exactly like the Callaway rangefinders by Nikon. Is there any difference between the Nikon Monarch 800 (for hunting) and the Callaway LR 800 (by Nikon) other than the price ($125!!) and that the Nikon Monarch I think has a bullseye instead of the crosshairs. Does anyone know if you can you scan the whole field with the Monarch and get multiple distances? They must think golfers have too much money don't care if they get ripped off.

Thanks.

[MoGolf]

As I mentioned in a previous post, my rangefinder is for hunting. It's a Nikon Laser 440. It has crosshairs for target fix. And from 100 yds in, it's in .5 yd increments.

I bought mine at Bass Pro Shops outlet store. Original price was about $200, got it at the outlet store for $100. One of the best purchases I've made.

[TBIRD67]

What about blind shots ? I would think the range finder is useless. The GPS would work in that situation. I do like the range finder idea. It would be great for the practice range.

[laseranimal]

What about blind shots ? I would think the range finder is useless. The GPS would work in that situation. I do like the range finder idea. It would be great for the practice range.

 

 

I find with a "blind" shot its pretty easy to leave my bag or golf cart at the ball, walk to where I can see my target and get the yardage, then turn and get the yardage to my bag. Add the two together and you've got a pretty close estimate.

 

Most of the time I find when I've got a truly blind shot the rangefinder is an estimate anyway. Its either an uphill shot, meaning you'll have to guess how much more club to play, or you're so far in jail that the only yardage that matters is back to the fairway, which can be paced off or you could use the rangefinder.

[2underpar]

What about blind shots ? I would think the range finder is useless. The GPS would work in that situation. I do like the range finder idea. It would be great for the practice range.

 

 

The Bushnell Legend has a setting that allows you to shoot through brush and thicket. It will ignore everything within 150 yards of you. As long as you have the slightest opening to the target it will work. I've tried it several times and it works great every time. So if you hit it in the thick stuff and have just the slightest sight of the flag, let's say 165 yards away, it will give you an accurate reading without being bothered by the crap in front of you.

[Matt10]

SkyCaddie to me is the best out there. Giving you yardages for front,middle and back of the green - can't beat that. You want to lower your handicap, I can't imagine a better way to do so than the SkyCaddie. I've used mine for everytime I've gone out - it is just the best.

[TeeTime907]

I also purchased the Nikon Monarch 800 hunting version. You can save yourself some money, so you don't need to buy the Callaway. What I did was called callaway and asked them I needed a new carrying case for my range finder and I called this number and $20.00 later I had a Callaway cover that fit my My Monarch perfectly and it attaches to my bag. Its an awesome range finder. You can go up to a half yard on these babies. Very accurate.

 

As far as I'm concerned Range Finder are the most accurate out there. The only people that should NOT use Range Finder instead of Sky Caddie is those that have a shake in their hand. If you cannot hold it steady for a few seconds the range finder will not work for you.

 

One other thing to not Sky Caddie people will say they like there's better because they can move it to front, middle, or back. Depending up on your skill, that is NOT good enough for me. I mean if I'm five yards off that is 15 feet. I think the range finder works best from 200 yards in. When I have a sand wedge in my hand and I know the yardage is 115. I know that I need it hit it full. Its like throwing darts when you know the exact yardage. Sky caddie cannot give you exact yardage.

[BrendanH]

Obviously there are a lot of fans of laser units and a similar number of fans of gps units. Makes the decision tough eh ? I've been through this over and over and I recently figured out that I really needed BOTH ! Now I'm not suggesting that's what you should do but here are my reasons for wanting each so that might help you decide :

 

GPS :

Immediate accurate yardages to any target, including reach and carry

(A previous poster suggested a 50ft margin of error. This is completely false. The new SG5 from Skycaddie is accurate to 1 yard. That's what I'm using and their claims are true in my experience)

Front, middle & back yardages to green plus an adjustable crosshair (with Skycaddie) to estimate yardage to various spots on the green. If using this to estimate the pin yardage don't expect to be reliably any more accurate than say 3-4 yards.

 

LASER :

Exact pin yardages. This is important to me inside 120 yards.

 

So right now I'm using the SG5 and Pinseeker 1500 TE. They are both simple and fast to use. If you go with laser, definitely stick with a pinseeker as it locks on very easily.

 

Here is what I suggest you do. Take an imaginary walkthrough your most frequently played course(s) and count up all the targets you would most easily get with gps and laser. You should assume that all reach yardages are best found with gps whereas all pins can only be accurately taken with laser. Some but not all carry yardages can be taken with both gps and laser but gps will get them all (provided you get detailed course mapping - and I highly recommend Skygolf for that).

 

I went through that exercise and found that on my home courses there were about 30% more targets that only gps would provide vs those that only laser would provide. Since adding the SG5 to my arsenal I find that I use it at least 50% more than the Pinseeker.

 

Ultimately only you can decide. One final note - stay away from the SG3/4 as the hardware is not as good as the SG5 and possibly the SG2/2.5. I've done some side-by-side comparisons vs my SG5 recently and both the SG3 & 4 have frequently been off by up to 3 yards whereas the SG5 was spot on virtually every time.

 

Good luck !

[scotchblade]

Nikon here too (well the Callaway badged one) Takes less than 20 seconds and that includes taking it out the bag, getting the reading and putting it back.

I use a Speed Cart and the Sky Caddy just sits in the cup holder. All I have to do is look down and there is F-M-B distances, good enough for my skill level. Once in awhile, I'll adjust the crosshairs relative to the pin to get a more accurate number. I tried both and found the Sky Caddie much more convenient.

[Nachosgrande]

I don't mean any offense to anyone, but I'm just curious about the hand shake issue. I have a Bushnell 1500 and have never used any feature other than scan, even from 300 yards. I can't imagine how anyone can even play the game of golf with shaky hands, putting would be near impossible. Is there something about the way you hold a rangefinder that causes shake more than holding a golf club?

[MoGolf]

I don't mean any offense to anyone, but I'm just curious about the hand shake issue. I have a Bushnell 1500 and have never used any feature other than scan, even from 300 yards. I can't imagine how anyone can even play the game of golf with shaky hands, putting would be near impossible. Is there something about the way you hold a rangefinder that causes shake more than holding a golf club?

No offense taken but, ....some of us "older" guys would be included in that group. I'm not there YET, but several of the guys I play with are there already. One of them, a VERY good golfer in his younger days has Parkinson's, and shakes all the time UNTIL he gets his putter in his hands. Then he's like a rock. It's amazing how he does it.

Someday, you young'uns will be there as well unfortunately. He does not use a rangefinder.

BTW, if you didn't notice in previous posts, I'm with the rangefinder bunch and I can use it just fine.

[lets_rahk]

I don't mean any offense to anyone, but I'm just curious about the hand shake issue. I have a Bushnell 1500 and have never used any feature other than scan, even from 300 yards. I can't imagine how anyone can even play the game of golf with shaky hands, putting would be near impossible. Is there something about the way you hold a rangefinder that causes shake more than holding a golf club?

No offense taken but, ....some of us "older" guys would be included in that group. I'm not there YET, but several of the guys I play with are there already. One of them, a VERY good golfer in his younger days has Parkinson's, and shakes all the time UNTIL he gets his putter in his hands. Then he's like a rock. It's amazing how he does it.

Someday, you young'uns will be there as well unfortunately. He does not use a rangefinder.

BTW, if you didn't notice in previous posts, I'm with the rangefinder bunch and I can use it just fine.

 

Well with Parkinson's in general people only shake at rest and when they are active there is no shake.

 

With the rangefinders, it's not so much that you are shakier than normal, it's just that from that far away, even a slight movement will be very off when you are say trying to laser a flag.