You will never see a professional golfer using a rangefinder in a tournament as they are banned from competition. However, professional golfers have a caddie on hand to tell them all the information they require to play a successful shot.
Beginner and amateur golfers rarely have the luxury of a caddie and that’s where a rangefinder can prove useful. While local rules differ on the use of a rangefinder, most allow them for judging distance but not elevation.
Always be clear about the rules before you begin a tournament and ask if you are not sure. The good news is you can use a rangefinder in any way you like when playing a practice round or having a round with friends.
A laser rangefinder differs to a GPS device, such as a watch because it can be used to measure distance to any object on the golf course. So, instead of knowing the distance to the hole, you may want to find the distance to some trees or a stake in the ground and that’s where the rangefinder is particularly useful.
If you like to attack the pin when playing golf, again the laser rangefinder is a great tool. It will give you the precise yardage to the hole, so you can select your club and play the shot with 100% confidence.
However, you must be efficient when using your rangefinder. If you are playing a round of golf with friends, you do not want to be wasting time fumbling around with your rangefinder as the rest of the group watch on. Have the rangefinder to hand, so it is easily accessible and know exactly how to use it before stepping onto the golf course.
Even when you are practicing alone, you do not want to be spending too much time with the rangefinder. This will disrupt your natural rhythm and the rangefinder could be more trouble than it is worth.
Do not expect to master the rangefinder immediately. You may not be completely accurate when you first start using the device and like anything, it takes a little practice and knowhow to produce the perfect result every time.
While the rangefinder is great for providing an accurate measurement to the flag or an object on the course of your choice, it does have limitations. One of the major limitations to be aware of is the weather.
If it is foggy or raining, using a rangefinder can be difficult and you may not get a reading at all, so always keep that in mind.
Finally, do not become reliant on the rangefinder. It is a great tool for practice and playing with friends but you may not be able to use it in a tournament or you could forget to pack it one day and be forced to play without it.
The golf rangefinder is a great device but use it in moderation to hone your distance reading skills, so you can easily play without it.
Recent Comments