If you’re a
beginner golfer, you might have heard about golf rangefinders but maybe your
not 100% sure what they do or how they are used in golf. Fun Golf are here to
help you answer some of the most common questions we’ve been asked by our
community about the best cheap golf rangefinder. Also, don’t worry, when we
say ‘cheap’ we actually mean ‘great value’. They are just as good but
maybe from a less well known brand.
How do golf
rangefinders work?
Golf
Rangefinders work by emitting a laser towards an object in the distance, in
golf it would be the flag. The laser then hits the flag and returns to the
rangefinder which calculates the time taken to return and changes this into a
distance measurement. There are different types of rangefinders which are used
in golf, Laser Rangefinders and GPS Rangefinders. The below image clearly
explains how this process works, thanks to rangefinderpro.com for
producing this amazing image.
Laser
Rangefinders are the most popular and work as described above by focusing on a
fixed target and calculating the distance. GPS Rangefinders work by downloading
golf course information onto the rangefinder and providing you with distance
information depending on where you are on the course. GPS rangefinders are
marginally quicker to produce distances, but they do often require you to
subscribe to be able to download course information. In our opinion, to get the best Cheap Golf
Rangefinder (with slope) you should focus on Laser Rangefinders.
Where do you aim a
golf rangefinder?
Choosing the
correct club for your approach shots to the green are vitally important to help
improve your golf game. Using a Rangefinder can help to judge your distance .
When aiming the golf rangefinder, it is best to aim the golf rangefinder is at
the flag on the green. You can also choose to aim at other fixed landmarks
during your game to help with calculating distances but predominately it is the
flag which golfers aim at as a target. Even with the best cheap golf rangefinder
you will find that the accuracy is excellent and will easily find the flag
stick.
Are golf rangefinders
accurate?
Golf
rangefinders are extremely accurate. If you want precise measurements for your
golf shots then we would recommend a laser rangefinder as the only option. Many
models are reported to be accurate to within half a yard, some of the more
expensive models are even more accurate.
In
comparison to GPS rangefinders which only provide pre-loaded distances to
specific landmarks on the golf course, laser rangefinders can be targeted to
aim at any fixed object you need to measure. Therefore if you wanted to find
out how far you’ve hit your drive you can accurately calculate this distance by
aiming the rangefinder at the flag and subtracting from the holes total
distance.
What makes a
rangefinder illegal in competitions?
The
functions available on some models which provide extra information regarding
playing conditions such as wind direction and slope information are not legal
in competitions. Unless these functions are able to be switched off you will
not be able to play with them in competitions. The best cheap golf rangefinder
that I’ve listed in this article all have the ability to switch off the slope
function meaning you can use these in all types of golf matches.
The USGA and R&A rules were
updated in 2016 which banned the use of rangefinders in
professional competition, but allowed local decisions to be made at courses to
allow rangefinders for amateurs. However, as mentioned if the functions which
artificially reduced the need for judgment cannot be switched off it will be
deemed illegal to use in competitions. The section highlighted below relates to
this rule:
Using equipment (other than a club or a ball) that artificially eliminates or reduces the need for a skill or judgment that is essential to the challenge of the game
USGA and R&A Rules of Golf
Do golf pros use
rangefinders?
Generally as golf rangefinders are illegal in competition you wont see PGA professionals using them. However, in February
2021 the PGA of America announced it
would allow the use of rangefinder measuring devices during its major
championships.“We’re always interested in methods that may
help improve the flow of play during our Championships,” said
PGA of America President Jim Richerson in a press release. “The use of distance-measuring devices is already common within
the game and is now a part of the Rules of Golf. Players and caddies have long
used them during practice rounds to gather relevant yardages.”
This is a
major change to golf at a professional level, for golf purists it presents an
uncomfortable rules update. However for the more progressive golfer this is a
natural step towards embracing technology in the modern game. We will watch with
interest as this change unfolds in 2021. What do you think? Comment below and
let me know?
What should I look
for when buying a golf rangefinder?
There are
many features which are listed by Rangefinder brands as being vitally important
and reasons to buy theirs over the competition. However in the best cheap golf
rangefinder guide we’ve broken this down to the most important three things to look for when buying a budget golf
rangefinder:
§
Slope Adjustment – Most good golf rangefinders will have a function where they can
accurately calculate the distance to the target, taking any slopes into
consideration. Please be aware that this function is illegal in golf
competition under the rules of golf, and it must have the ability to switch on
and off. It is fine to use in practice but not in the club medals and
competitions. All of the models in our list can switch slope on and off.
§
Pin Finder Technology – This has different by the rangefinder companies, but in essence
it has technology that distinguishes the target (the flag) from other objects
in the background which could confuse the laser rangefinder. So for example if
there are lots of trees around the back of the green it helps the rangefinder
to focus in on the flag to provide a quick and accurate reading. The good
models will vibrate when the target is fixed upon assisting the measurement.
§
Magnification – Some companies provide magnification technology on their
rangefinders, whether this is x5 the magnification or in the very expensive
modes a lot more up to x7 magnification. Definitely a feature to look out for
when assessing which model to add to your wish list.
What do I use?
My personal
choice is the Peak Pulse Rangefinder, I really like the black and
white coloring and lightweight design. It’s small enough to fit in the palm of
my hand, has a useful carry case with clip for the golf bag. It also has an
adjustable slope function as well as pin lock vibration sensor making it easy
to lock on to my target.
Blue Tee Golf
Rangefinder
Why not have
a look at the Blue Tee Golf Rangefinder. The Series 3 Max rangefinder looks
awesome, I’ve got one on order to test out and can’t wait.
It has pin
lock, with vibrate assist, you can switch the slope on and off, the display is
also crystal clear. Whats more if you use the discount code FUNGOLF at checkout
you can save an additional 10% on the purchase price.
Make sure to
let me know what you think of this when you make your purchase, I’ll
be sure to upload more pictures and a video when mine arrives. Enjoy and don’t
forget the code. Just so you know Fun Golf is a participant in the GoAffPro
Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means
for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to the partner
site. Your purchase of this item helps me keep the lights on in my site and
keep producing this useful content! Thanks in advance!
Conclusion
Are cheap golf
rangefinders (with slope) any good?
You will be really surprised with the quality you can find for a really cheap price. We
hope that you can find the right one for your game, and budget.
Should I buy a GPS Watch or a Golf Rangefinder?
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