Laser rangefinders all offer the ability to provide line-of-sight distance to targets, but vary in how the user interacts with the device to get the distance reading and the different ways to take readings (such as scanning a course or focusing on a flagstick). Laser rangefinders that provide slope information vary widely in terms of features, ranging from the bare minimum of providing adjusted distances based on the degree of incline/decline to more advanced units that provide advice on what club to hit based on not just the incline/decline, but factoring in the altitude and air temperature.
To provide a quick overview, Table 1 highlights features of the various laser rangefinders.
- Mode: How many different “modes” are there that a player may use when trying to obtain readings? Most laser rangefinders offer two modes – the first allows the user to pinpoint the distance to any target while continuously scanning across different targets on the course, and the second is often a more specialized mode that helps the user find the closest target (usually a flagstick) within a line of sight and essentially ignore the objects behind it. Some devices offer additional information such as the average slope from the user to the target, along with the distance the user should actually “play”, that is, playing a shot longer than the line-of-sight distance for an uphill shot, and playing the short shorter for downhill shots. We preferred to avoid switching between modes when possible, doing so only in cases where there is difficulty obtaining a reading to a flagstick, which can start to occur at distances above 200 yards or when there are other objects close behind the flagstick.
- How obtain distance reading: Depending on the device, you either press and hold a button to obtain a reading, or press a button, point the rangefinder at the target, then release.
- Waterproof?: If you like to tough it out in the rain, or throw your bag in the lake after a disastrous round, you may want to look at a rangefinder that is waterproof. All of the devices tested were at least water-resistant.
Table 1. Laser Rangefinder Features
Laser Rangefinder | Mode(s) | How to Obtain Reading |
Waterproof? |
---|---|---|---|
Bushnell Pro 1M | 1 PinSeeker |
Press and hold or press and release |
Proof |
Bushnell Pro 1M Slope | 1 PinSeeker |
Press and hold or press and release |
Proof |
Bushnell Hybrid Laser GPS | 2 Standard with Automatic Scan PinSeeker |
Press and hold or press and release |
Resistant |
Bushnell Tour v3 | 1 PinSeeker |
Press and hold or press and release |
Resistant |
Bushnell Tour v3 Slope | 1 PinSeeker |
Press and hold or press and release |
Resistant |
Bushnell Tour Z6 JOLT | 1 PinSeeker |
Press and hold or press and release |
Proof |
Callaway iQ | 1 First Target Priority |
Press and hold or press and release |
Proof |
Callaway RAZR | 1 First Target Priority |
Press and release | Proof |
Laser Link QuickShot | 1 Line-of-Sight |
Press and release | Resistant |
Laser Link Red Hot | 1 Line-of-Sight |
Press and release | Resistant |
Laser Link Switch | 2 To reflective prisms only Line-of-Sight |
Press and release | Resistant |
Laser Link White Magic | 1 Line-of-Sight |
Press and release | Resistant |
Leica Pinmaster 2 | 1 Line-of-Sight |
Press and release | Proof |
Leupold PinCaddie | 1 Pinhunter |
Press and hold or press and release |
Weatherproof |
Leupold GX-1i | 1 Pinhunter |
Press and hold or press and release |
Weatherproof |
Leupold GX-2i | 1 Pinhunter |
Press and hold or press and release |
Weatherproof |
Leupold GX-3i | 1 Pinhunter |
Press and hold or press and release |
Weatherproof |
Leupold GX-4i | 1 Pinhunter |
Press and hold or press and release |
Weatherproof |
Opti-Logic InSight GL | 2 Line-of-Sight PinPoint |
Press and release | Resistant |
Opti-Logic InSight GT | 3 Line-of-Sight PinPoint Slope-Compensated |
Press and release | Resistant |