Optical Versus Laser Rangefinder Versus GPS
Best Rangefinders for Golf and Hunting
Accurate distance measurement is useful for golf and hunting. The main types of sports rangefinders are laser, optical and GPS.
Laser Rangefinders
Laser rangefinders send a pulse of light to the target and measure the time it takes to bounce back.
Advantages
- Accurate. 1 yard accuracy is common.
- Flexible. Can be used to measure distances to any point.
- Wide minimum to maximum measurement range. 20 to 300 or 20 to 500 yards is common. Can measure further depending on reflectivity of target and power of laser.
Disadvantages
- Heavy.
- Depends on batteries.
- Some are difficult to use. Need to hold steady, some people don't get reliable readings beyond 100 or 200 yards. Can be confused by rain, snow, objects in the background (for golf) or foreground (for hunting). Some advanced models have smart modes to counter this.
Hunting rangefinders should give the furthest distance measured (to ignore branches in the foreground). Golf rangefinders should give the closest distance measured (to ignore trees in the background). Some rangefinders can be switched to either mode.
Popular brands include Bushnell (Pinseeker), Nikon, Leupold and Leica.
Optical Rangefinders
Optical rangefinders are monoculars (binoculars with one eyepiece) with built-in scales. The height of the golf flag is measured against the scale and the distance read off against a conversion table.
Advantages
- Simple, light, cheap, reliable, no batteries.
- Not confused by branches, rain, snow in its path.
- Can be quick in hands of skilled user.
Disadvantages
- Difficult to use. Need to hold more steadily than laser rangefinder to line up the scale on to the target, then read the conversion table.
- Limited accuracy, 80 to 90 percent accuracy.
- Assumes all golf flags are the same height, which might not be true.
- Limited range, typically 50 to 200 or 50 to 300 yards.
Optical rangefinders are more suited to hunting than golf. Hunters don't need as much accuracy as golfers and will appreciate the light weight and ruggedness of optical rangefinders.
Golf rangefinders can be used for hunting if manually recalibrated for the height of the animals hunted (instead of the golf flag). Hunters can draw up their own conversion table and ignore the golf conversion table.
GPS Rangefinders
GPS rangefinders work like GPS maps. A map of the course is downloaded into the unit. The position of the rangefinder is calculated by triangulating with orbiting satellites, and shown on the map.
Advantages
- Easy to use.
- Doesn't require line-of-sight.
- Shows map of area, including traps.
Disadvantages
- Most require yearly subscriptions.
- Depends on batteries.
- Not all golf courses are mapped.
- Satellite signal can be blocked by clouds.
- Less accurate than laser rangefinder.
- Gives ranges to a few fixed points, not flexible.
- Gives ranges to front, center and back of green but pin/flag might not be in center of green.
- Suitable for golf but not for hunting.
- Need to install software on PC to download maps.
Popular brands include SkyCaddie, iGolf, Garmin (GolfLogix) and Bushnell.
It is possible to use a generic GPS unit (Garmin, Lowrance, Magellan) and map out the local golf course manually. This requires more work compared to a dedicated golf GPS but allows customization and there's no annual subscription fee.
Tournament Legal
Some laser rangefinders can measure slope (tilt) angles. These are not allowed in USGA tournaments. Tournament players should check tournament rules before purchasing any rangefinders.
Too much Technology?
Rangefinders will improve a golfer's game and a hunter's aim. The question of whether or not this is somehow cheating or unsporting will have to be answered by each individual.
Rangefinders can be used to improve distance estimation. The distance can be estimated manually, then checked with the rangefinder. This will improve distance-estimation skills, until perhaps a rangefinder is no longer needed.
Accurate Distance Estimation is Useful in Golf
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