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Suitable range finder

Fri, Aug 5 2016 3:31 PM (2 replies)
  • AMahmood129
    1 Posts
    Fri, Aug 5 2016 3:00 AM

    Hi folks,

     

    I am looking to find the best range finder, some of my friends suggested me this one 

     

    http://www.grumpygopher.com/best-golf-range-finders/

     

    Could you guys see if this is good, I have recently started the game and I would not say I am the best!

     

    Thanks to anyone taking time helping me with this.

     

  • alosso
    21,072 Posts
    Fri, Aug 5 2016 10:16 AM

    No offence intended, but me thinks you don't need any unless your stereoscopic vision is restricted.

    1) as a beginner, your shots won't be too long and quite unpredictable. Just try and check out which club to use in a certain situation and produce solid shots. Map your clubs and consider that you might improve ;)

    2) For good use of a range finder, you should be able to shoot the distance indicated. That is, a shot of 80 yds when 80 yds out. Many amateurs only scarcely succeed in that task.

    After ten years, I only want one distance marker on the course, and I try to figure out the best shot from my distance estimate as a part of the game. Most british courses have at least a 150 yds indication (+90 in many cases), German courses show 200 - 150 - 100 m, and my limited experience of US courses calls for markers there, too. Frequently, there are indications on the sprinkler heads, too, and modern carts have GPS and screens.

    My 2 Pfennig: Enjoy your time on the course and in nature without too much extra equipment!

     

  • srellim234
    2,077 Posts
    Fri, Aug 5 2016 3:31 PM

    I agree, alosso. I've played the game for 55 years and have carried a handicap between 2 and 14 for almost all of that time. Courses back then had only one marker on each hole, usually a bush at either 100 or 150 yards. Now, most courses here have markers at 100, 150 and 200 yards. That's good enough for 99% of players because unless you are a professional golfer hitting 100s (1000s?) of golf balls a day you are not going to be so consistent and precise as to benefit a whole lot from a GPS. Sure, it's fun to look at but you can usually just "eyeball" your shot distance by looking at the available markers.

    I will say I find the GPS helps a lot on tee shots. Knowing the distance to cut a dogleg, carry a fairway bunker or lay up short of a water hazard comes in handy. My eyesight not being what it used to be and a reduction in rounds per year means I just can't accurately estimate those tee shot distances any more.

    AMahmood - If you do get a rangefinder, get one with a "Pinseeker" ability to identify the flagstick, Otherwise they too easily lock onto a tree behind the green. If you decide on a GPS, get one with free lifetime map updates and no subscription fees. 

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