Last Updated on June 18, 2020 by MakeThingsReal
A golf rangefinder is a convenient tool in the game of golf. Even hunters have found it quite useful when going on a hunt. A good rangefinder helps players to precisely determine the distance between two points on a golf course.
Some professional golfers use their eyes and experience to gauge this distance, but it is seldom accurate because of slopes and elevations and even obstructions on the golf course.
A good rangefinder may come in the form of a device you need to carry or clip on to something, or they may installed as an application on your device, that is, a tablet or a smartphone with GPS.
The two types of golf rangefinders are Laser and GPS rangefinders. GPS rangefinders work faster as they make use of measurements to known points on the golf course after the course has been mapped. For laser rangefinders, the mapping is not necessary, and they are not as fast as their GPS counterparts, and they require some work on the part of the operator.
If you plan to purchase a GPS rangefinder, you should know how it works and how to use it beforehand.
You may need to pay a monthly subscription before you use the device. When you want to take it to the golf course, you start by loading the course you plan to play from your pc.
On the golf course, you turn on the good rangefinder so that it can receive the GPS satellite feed. All you need to do after that is to pick your target and the hole you plan to play, you do not need to find the distance to the pin manually as it will most likely be embedded in the device.
As you play on, automatically the units will move to the next target and hole on the course.
Laser rangefinders, on the other hand, work quite differently. Your target or hole must be within view so that you can point the device towards the object.
When the subject is in sight you will need to pull the trigger on the good rangefinder, and this will, in turn, send the laser beam to the object and it will determine the distance between you and the target. The range will be displayed on the rangefinder; if you don’t lock on to a target, there will be an error message instead.
When you are acquainted with the types of good rangefinder on the market and how they work, it is essential to know what to look out for when you are buying one.
Distance
A good rangefinder is only as good as the distance it can cover. Most rangefinders are advertised and labeled according to the distances they can cover, but the manufacturers leave out the circumstances under which the device will reach the particular distance. A rangefinder may be able to cover a thousand yard distance under the best conditions, like good weather but on a cloudy or rainy day or with a few obstructions, it may not be able to cover half that distance. It is important not to be misled by these claims and to do enough research on the specifications of the rangefinder you plan to buy.
Aiming circle
The aiming circles or reticles in your laser rangefinder are LED lights, and they are adjustable. The lights tend to be too bright at night and not bright enough in the daytime even on the highest setting. To bypass this problem, check that your laser rangefinder has a black reticle and a button for backlighting. It is much brighter than LED lights, and you can see through it in any lighting condition.
Priority
Your rangefinder can either be on a first or second priority mode. The first priority mode is more suitable for golf while the second mode is better for hunting, the reason being that there are hardly any obstacles on a golf course while hunting is a different case altogether. Golf rangefinders are usually in first priority mode, in this mode your rangefinder can spot your flag quickly and read the distance between there will be nothing between you and the flag. You can always switch between modes whether you are hunting or golfing.
Weight
Like we mentioned earlier, you can either carry your good rangefinder or install it as an app on your phone. However, if you decide to carry the unit, be sure to purchase a portable unit that you weigh you down during your game.
Model
A good rangefinder can vary in models as it does in sizes. Finding the right model for you does not have to be a difficult task if you do enough research. There are popular brands that a lot of people swear by, you can check out those brands and see for yourself if they are worth the hype.
Ease of use
Apart from size and weight of a good rangefinder, it is also vital that the unit be easy to operate. Most people who invest in rangefinders tend to be amateur golfers; most professional golfers rely on knowledge, their sight, and experience when gauging the distance between them and the flags while playing. However, it is not advisable for a beginner to try that as you may end up getting it wrong and your game will likely not improve. A smart device will be easy to use even for the average beginner, and the less complicated the unit is, the better for you. Always go for a unit that can function well even in the worst weather conditions, a rangefinder that measures distance, climatic conditions, time and altitude is a good option. If you are at a complete loss, use your instruction manual, contact the manufacturers or google the product for step by step instructions on how to operate your device.
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