How often do you use a golf range finder?

[golfpinseeker]

Seems not many discuss about rangefinder in this forum. 

Is it convenient to use a rangefinder during play?

[Dr Strangelove]

I use it on every shot to the green that is over 50 yards.

[PMookie]

Every shot, and also to gauge distances to traps/trees/etc


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[Mr. 82]

I use my @PrecisionProGolf Nexus range finder on every hole that ends with a green and a hole on it.  Best gift ever!

[tony@CIC]

21 minutes ago, GSwag said:

I use my @PrecisionProGolf Nexus range finder on every hole that ends with a green and a hole on it.  Best gift ever!

Same here. Love my NX7 Pro. 

[Mr. 82]

15 minutes ago, Middler said:

Never, I use GPS - with front, center, back yardages it’s plenty accurate. And distance to hazards can be handy - can rangefinders always do that?

Only if you can see the hazard.  Hidden lakes and other assorted bunkers not seen won't help you get the distance from a range finder.

[TR1PTIK]

I use my rangefinder on every shot (except for most par 4 & 5 tee shots), but there are instances where GPS is the superior choice and I will revert to using SkyDroid on my iPhone. I'd really like to get a nice GPS watch or possibly even a handheld unit to accompany my Bushnell rangefinder. Especially since I just moved and will have to learn a whole bunch of new golf courses.

[CarlH]

I prefer using a laser rangefinder over any GPS unit.  I carry mine with me and use it any shot where I can feasibly hit the green or layup to a specific area.  I happen to use a Bushnell rangefinder.  

[Mr_Theoo]

2-3 times a hole unless it’s a par 3. I like to shoot hazards and trees that might be in my way to better plan my shot

[DaveP043]

Playing at my home course, maybe a dozen times a round.  Playing away, every shot to a green, and probably a dozen times more.  I'm also aware of distance markers, and will use those once I've checked enough of them to believe in their accuracy.  I'm not one of those people who will ALWAYS reach for the laser before every single shot as some kind of comfort blanket.  

[alfriday101]

I have used a range finder for years.  This year I added in a basic GPS that gives front, middle and back distances to the green.  My home course is hilly so there can be a number of shots where one can't laser the pin.  I still use the laser but not nearly as often as I used to.  

 

I've played my home course enough that I can generally pull the club for my second shot before leaving the tee.  It's nice to have the distances when I get out of position, however.  

[pulledabill]

Bought my first LRF last spring and use it on every hole.   Realy love it for layups, yardage to hazards and doglegs. 

Best golf purchase ever.

[patrickleeleep]

If I'm playing some where that doesnt have a gps in the cart or I am walking, I would say every par 3, and at least once each par 4, and maybe twice on par 5s. Basically every hole it is used at least once. 

[DawgDaddy]

Every pin that I can reach unless the shot is a chip, then I dont shoot it. 

[GolfSpy_BNG]

When playing my home course I will only use it if I'm in an unfamiliar place. When I play new courses or ones that I don't play often I will use it on every hole.

The one I use is a hunting range finder so I always shoot the front of the green.

 

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[Rickp]

I’m kinda poaching here but I’m not a Range Finder guy, Golfbuddy has been my choice .


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[Kenny B]

2 hours ago, Rickp said:

I’m kinda poaching here but I’m not a Range Finder guy, Golfbuddy has been my choice .


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My wife and I use both.  She carries the laser, and I use my 7 year old Golfbuddy.  Many times a round she will ask me how far is it to the front.  Some holes we can't visually tell where the front is exactly.  With the gps I pull clubs based on whether it's a red, yellow/white or blue flag.  A red flag... I split the difference between front and middle distance; a blue flag... I split the difference between middle and back distance. She does give me the laser distance on par 3's and my Golfbuddy method usually agrees close enough for my abilities.  

[Will_Mac]

I formerly used GPS. Still have one but haven't used it in forever.

I use the laser on every hole, sometimes multiple times. I ride and use a Frogger Latch-It that attaches to the cart. Makes accessing it even quicker.

I may fire up the GPS again but can't see me ever abandoning the laser for it.

[Rickp]

One of our guys bought a Laser Range Finder few weeks ago. The grumbling has started about how slow he’s gotten checking, dbl checking distances. He was a little slow to begin with.


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[golfpinseeker]

5 hours ago, Rickp said:

One of our guys bought a Laser Range Finder few weeks ago. The grumbling has started about how slow he’s gotten checking, dbl checking distances. He was a little slow to begin with.


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so you mean skillness on using the rangefinder, right, it will do better for users to know the working principle of the rangefinder before achieve good experience, such as what is golf flag lock, slope etc..

[HardcoreLooper]

5 minutes ago, golfpinseeker said:

so you mean skillness on using the rangefinder, right, it will do better for users to know the working principle of the rangefinder before achieve good experience, such as what is golf flag lock, slope etc..

Yes, and most golfers get better as they use their LRF.  You learn how to lock in quicker, what's a real read vs. getting a hit on a tree behind the green, etc.

As for me, I use a very old Bushnell laser that I've had for years.  I shoot every approach shot over 50 yards, and I also shoot trees, hazards, doglegs, etc.  Even if I know the yardage, I'll use the scope to see the flag better, especially on courses that do not publish pin positions or have color-coded flags.

[tony@CIC]

15 hours ago, Rickp said:

One of our guys bought a Laser Range Finder few weeks ago. The grumbling has started about how slow he’s gotten checking, dbl checking distances. He was a little slow to begin with.


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While I don't doubt he's a bit slow playing and using the LRP, part of the problem could be the quality of the rangefinder and whether the course uses reflectors on the pins. I use my LRF on different courses and those with reflectors I pick up the measurement even before I see it in the viewfinder. I use to have a cheapo one that didn't have either the pinseeker tech or vibration on target acquisition and it would take patience and a steady hand to distinguish pin measurement from the trees behind the green. 

[Rickp]

While I don't doubt he's a bit slow playing and using the LRP, part of the problem could be the quality of the rangefinder and whether the course uses reflectors on the pins. I use my LRF on different courses and those with reflectors I pick up the measurement even before I see it in the viewfinder. I use to have a cheapo one that didn't have either the pinseeker tech or vibration on target acquisition and it would take patience and a steady hand to distinguish pin measurement from the trees behind the green. 

I’m sure he’ll pick up the pace as it’s a new toy.
He’s also a bit of an ole fart, like all of us here.


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[revkev]

Occasionally - I have a gps watch with front, center and back but there are time when I want an exact number or I know my watch may be a bit off because of where the pin is.

 

Regardless I’m comfortable doing either, saves time over the old days where you had to pace things off in hopes that the 150 marker was accurate.

 

But I also know guys that abuse it as Rick described in the post above.

 

 

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[Siamese Moose]

My experience with LSRs is that they make fast players faster, and slow players get even slower. There's a guy in my league, while a pretty good player,  is deliberate to a fault. (His brother is a PGA pro, and encourages him to "follow the process " - geez!) The rangefinder has made him even slower. Get to the ball, put the bag down, look at the shot, judge the wind, pull the rangefinder out of the bag, deliberately take it out of the case, shoot the pin, try to shoot the front and all bunkers, look at the green, probably shoot something else,  put the rangefinder back in it's  case, put it back in the bag, look at the green again,  pull a club, toss some grass into the wind, change clubs, and maybe hit the shot after three to four minutes. And none of this starts until it's his turn to play. There's another guy (me) who gets to his ball, shoots the yardage, takes a look at the wind, pulls a club and plays, whether I'm away or not. The other guy thinks I'm disrespectful. 

[Rickp]

Occasionally - I have a gps watch with front, center and back but there are time when I want an exact number or I know my watch may be a bit off because of where the pin is.
 
Regardless I’m comfortable doing either, saves time over the old days where you had to pace things off in hopes that the 150 marker was accurate.
 
But I also know guys that abuse it as Rick described in the post above.
 
 
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He’s a great guy, decent golfer but deliberate. The rangefinder made him a lot more deliberate.
If it continues I “have a way” of talking to him about it, nicely, very nice


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[PrecisionProGolf]

On 10/28/2019 at 8:22 AM, GSwag said:

I use my @PrecisionProGolf Nexus range finder on every hole that ends with a green and a hole on it.  Best gift ever!

Wow! That's great to hear! 

And don't forget, your Nexus comes with a 30% trade-in discount to all Precision Pro Golf products. So whenever you're ready for an upgrade, just let us know!

That said, your Nexus should last you for many years to come!

Thanks again for the shoutout, @GSwag!

[PrecisionProGolf]

On 10/28/2019 at 8:44 AM, tony@CIC said:

Same here. Love my NX7 Pro. 

And we love you, @tony@CIC!

[PrecisionProGolf]

On 10/30/2019 at 5:32 PM, Rickp said:

One of our guys bought a Laser Range Finder few weeks ago. The grumbling has started about how slow he’s gotten checking, dbl checking distances. He was a little slow to begin with.


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In our experience, a slow player is a slow player. A rangefinder isn't going to really exacerbate that issue if it's already an issue. He'll just be a slow player who actually knows which club to hit.

[Tarheelvolvo]

33 minutes ago, PrecisionProGolf said:

In our experience, a slow player is a slow player. A rangefinder isn't going to really exacerbate that issue if it's already an issue. He'll just be a slow player who actually knows which club to hit.

 agree @PrecisionProGolf! I caddied for a ProAm couple weeks back and my player had a range finder. As soon as he walked up, if there was any question in his mind, he scoped the distance, grabbed a club, and was ready to hit when it was his turn in about minute/ minute & a half. We played 9 in about 1:30hr and the total 18 in about 3:30, due to some slower players in front of us. They played the pace of the pro, so it made folks keep up!