Ok so I'm new to the sport, I can swing and hit the pill fairly straight. II want a rangefinder, but don't know what to buy. I want to keep cost at a minimum. There are some on Ebay for less then $30 and some for $400. and anywhere in between. How do ther cheap non-laser style work? I get the laser one and how it works. I don't need it to be perfect, but something user friendly would be good.
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Golf..Rangefinders
- Thread starter dpricenator
- Start date
my dad had one used it to get the range of his shots and such. I would suggest going to a golf store they may have one especially made for golfing
Volusianator
BoM Nov '07 & Jan '09
They work as good as you looking at the target and guessing, their crap, don't even waste the $40. I know the laser ones are pricey, but man, they do come in handy, or you could just golf at courses that have GPS mounted in the carts roof, those are handy too!
BagfullofPings
IEHHC
Walk off the distance between your ball and the nearest sprinkler...it's free.
Craig Mac
BoM 4/10 7/11 12/14
Now I can help you here. As Wade said the non laser ones are just as good as guessing. Bushnell makes several different models of range finders and they can get pretty pricey, but these are the best rangefinders IMO.
As far as GPS units SkyCaddy is one of the top ones, however there is a subscription required as well(I think it's around $10ish a month) and if it runs out on the course the device is unusable. We reviewed a device called the uPro recently uPro review and it has gotten great reviews. You'll have to check the course guide at their website to see what is available course wise, but they have most of the larger markets covered and adding courses all the time. Basic course info is free and more detailed course views are around $10 a course, but there is no monthly fee.
With all that being said Dave, I am a 10 handicap and have found NO reason for a range finder. I don't think that I am good enough to worry whether I am a yard or two off from the marker in the fairway. Hell, if I was that good I wouldn't be a 10!! They are nice toys to have, but a little too much information for the average golfer IMO.
As far as GPS units SkyCaddy is one of the top ones, however there is a subscription required as well(I think it's around $10ish a month) and if it runs out on the course the device is unusable. We reviewed a device called the uPro recently uPro review and it has gotten great reviews. You'll have to check the course guide at their website to see what is available course wise, but they have most of the larger markets covered and adding courses all the time. Basic course info is free and more detailed course views are around $10 a course, but there is no monthly fee.
With all that being said Dave, I am a 10 handicap and have found NO reason for a range finder. I don't think that I am good enough to worry whether I am a yard or two off from the marker in the fairway. Hell, if I was that good I wouldn't be a 10!! They are nice toys to have, but a little too much information for the average golfer IMO.
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BagfullofPings
IEHHC
Ditto, I didn't want to spew too much info but bballbaby is 100% correct.
smokingIsh
BoM July '09
I have a bushenell 450???? I really cant remember the model, but it works great. I agree with Craig however, not very useful for my golf game. I got it for setting up my tree stands and for hunting purposes. Never tried it on the golf course, but it is very easy to use and accurate to withing one foot.
we coul add that knowing how far you hit a certain club is one thing, but then being able to dial that 180-190 yd club to exactly 184.5 yards is a whole different story...those are PGA skills. if i'm 186 yards out, i hit my 180-190 club and hope that it goes somewhere in between...oh, and straight too.
i'm a 4 hdcp and i still hope for those 2 things.
Volusianator
BoM Nov '07 & Jan '09
I was gonna say that as well. Until you really know how far you hit each club in the bag, and then get consistent hitting those distances on a regular basis, as in not chunking or thinning a high percentage of shots, you have to really justify the cost of a laser unit.
Ok So I know where my clubs hit on the range. At least with Range balls, and using the flags for distance. I know range balls go dead, so i'm not sure yet with good balls. So I've got that down, but gauging the distance from mid fairway to a green is a crapshoot. So I need a laser version if i am getting one, but I certainly don't need the subscription based GPS modle with all the bells and whistles.
Volusianator
BoM Nov '07 & Jan '09
Payne Stewart told a story once about asking his caddie why his yardages always came in distances ending in 0 or 5 and not say 187 for example. His caddie told him, "you're not that good." I'll never forget watching that interview when he told that story, of course I'll also never forget the day his plane went down. I cried like a baby.
yea wade payne stewart was a great guy and a outstanding golfer
Craig Mac
BoM 4/10 7/11 12/14
Look in to the Bushnell's then. I think the one Ish refered to is around $150. Most courses have reflectors on the flags for rangfinders and the 450 version is good up to 300 yards with reflector and 200 yards without the reflector.
BagfullofPings
IEHHC
Several years ago I made my own yardage book for my local course. It looked like something "Rainman" would carry...Count the cards, Count the cards. At that point, I knew what my flight distances were. That was great, but I just could not master the direction issue...:angryteet
Volusianator
BoM Nov '07 & Jan '09
What the hell good is that one if it only provides information for up to an 8 iron!? :hysterica
Bushnell Pinseeker 1500- nice tool, had the skycaddie-didn't care for it personally. My Pinseeker operates on a single 9V battery, and I have to replace it about every 6 months.
A rangefinder is helpful to shoot other objects as well as bunkers, trees and such.
Standard range balls are 75-80 percent of a normal ball, so take the range/practice ball distances with a grain.
Craig Mac
BoM 4/10 7/11 12/14
Hit that club twice and you might be on from 200 yards Wade.
Volusianator
BoM Nov '07 & Jan '09
I was kinda hoping that DPrice was gonna get sucked in on that one. My 8 is right at 155.