The Laser Link Red Hot features a pistol-shape design, where users simply hold the unit at a distance and point the red dot in the viewfinder at the target. The Red Hot can be used to target any object on the golf course, unlike Laser Link’s QuickShot, which can only target flagsticks equipped with reflective prisms.

The “point and shoot” design seems great at first blush, and Laser Link emphasizes the fact that users don’t need to hold the device close to their eyes. The Red Hot does work well for targeting a flagstick equipped with a reflective prism. Unfortunately, we found it much more difficult to hone in on other targets, such as flagsticks without reflective prisms, unless we actually DID hold the device close to our eyes, which sort of defeats the purpose of the design. This problem was only exacerbated by the lack of magnification in the viewfinder.

If your home course features flagsticks with reflective prisms and you like the form factor, the Red Hot is worth checking out; otherwise we think you’re likely to find competing products more to your liking.

SCORE
83
GRADE
B-
Ease of Use
80
Features
86
Obtaining Readings
78
Cost/Value
84

Pros:

Cons:

Retail price: $389
Availability: Discontinued. Replaced by the Laser Link Red Hot 2.
Amazon.com: Check price now


80 / B-

EASE OF USE

The Red Hot is designed to be held like a radar gun, using the red alignment dot in the viewfinder to aim at the appropriate target. The resulting distance to the target is displayed on an LCD screen on the body of the device (and not within the viewfinder). In theory, this is great, as you can keep your sunglasses on while using the device.

This system generally works well for easily targeted objects like flagsticks with reflective prisms. Trickier targets (such as a flagstick without a reflective prism), however, required holding the viewfinder up to the eye and then engaging in a convoluted dance of waiting for confirmation (through vibration or an audible chime) that the Red Hot had locked onto a target, looking down at the LCD screen to read the distance, and, if the distance seemed incorrect, putting the viewfinder back up to the eye and starting the process all over again. Contrast this to other devices where users see the calculated distance while looking through the viewfinder, enabling them to easily double check the distance or hold the button and pan across multiple targets.

Compounding the problem is that the Red Hot is one of the few laser rangefinders that lack any magnification (the others being the Laser Link QuickShot and the Opti-Logic family of devices) – compare this to the 6x or 7x magnification of competing devices. The lack of magnification, which is necessitated by the pistol-shaped design, makes it challenging to solidly lock on to thin targets at a distance – like, say, a flagstick.

The device is average in size and weight versus the competition, and comes with a carry case that easily clips on to a bag. Hypothetically, it could also be clipped on to a belt, but we found that to be a bit awkward due to the bulk of the Red Hot. The device is easy to grip, with a hard red and black rubber exterior.

The Laser Link Red Hot takes one 9-volt alkaline battery. When the battery runs low on power, a low battery indicator icon will appear on the LCD display.

For more details, check out the Critical Golf comparison of laser rangefinder ease of use.


86 / B

FEATURES

The Laser Link Red Hot is a basic device (not always a bad thing), with a somewhat limited feature set. The device has just one button, which fires the laser and display the red aiming dot in the viewfinder when pressed with the trigger finger. The same button can be used to change the preference settings (accomplished by holding the button down for about a minute). Players can modify the LCD readings between yards and meters, and can also choose between an audible beep to confirm a lock on a target or the Red Hot’s vibrate mode, which vibrates the handle (nice for getting measurement confirmation without irritating your playing partners).

The Red Hot will continue to fire the laser and display the firing dot as long as the trigger button is held, but will stop displaying the distance on the LCD (and turn off the red aiming dot) after approximately six seconds.

The Laser Link Red Hot offers only a point-and-shoot mode at targets, and lacks the pan-and-scan capability available in other devices.

For more details, check out the Critical Golf comparison of laser rangefinder features.


78 / C+

OBTAINING DISTANCE READINGS

While the Laser Link website claims measurements to trees and bunkers at up to 400 yards, and to a Laser Link reflector to 800 yards, they do note that “many players will find it challenging to get easy measurements to the flagsticks without a flagstick reflector in place” and that “Laser Link flagstick reflectors are strongly recommended in order to receive consistently simple measurements to the flagstick.” We couldn’t have said it any better ourselves.

Ease of Locking on a (non-reflective) Flagstick:

While we have not done a comparative test of all devices on reflective targets/prisms, our on-course testing found that the Laser Link Red Hot, like all rangefinders tested, can easily lock onto flagstick reflectors at distances well in excess of 300 yards.

Speed Test:

The Laser Link Red Hot finished toward the back of the pack in our speed test for obtaining distance readings. The Red Hot simply has one mode, and was tested against the full set of rangefinders, all but four of which have one mode as well.

For more details, check out the Critical Golf comparison for Ease of Obtaining Distance Readings.


84 / B-

COST/VALUE

At a retail price of $389, the Laser Link Red Hot sits in the middle of the pack in our laser rangefinder cost comparison. Our struggle at times to obtain distance readings, however, affected our value perception, particularly when excellent devices such as the Leupold GX-1 and Bushnell 1600 are available at similar price points. It’s a cool gadget, but not the first one we would pick if our lives depended on obtaining a quick and accurate distance to a target lacking a reflective prism.


5 Responses

  1. I bought my Laser Link Red Hot at a the Everglades Golf Course in Bonita Springs in Fla. We had caddies for the two rounds and they used this device. I was very impressed and bought one for $300+. From my perspecitive this was an ill advised purchased. Our country club in Ohio does NOT have the prism on the pins on the greens and this makes it difficullt at best. Very discouraged about the purchase of this product.
    Do it over again, I would purchased a gps w/magnifying feature and not the apparent accuracy needed to use the Laser Like.
    Vote: not a quality purchase, not a buy for me!

  2. I like it but if you dont center red doy in eye piece you get false read .it would be nice if it had cross hairs to target before you trigger it on

  3. just bought one and have no problems at all getting readings..works great for me ..maybe they need a course in how to use it

  4. Laser link not only has great products and great customer service. They donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and their fight stop childhood cancer. They donated 100% of the sale price on a set number of Range finders. That speaks volumes about who they are and what kind of a company they are. They did not do a portion but 100% of purchase price to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and their fight stop childhood cancer. Buy Buy Buy support this company as they give back.

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