Golf laser rangefinders for the course and range

How a golf laser rangefinder works

A laser rangefinder sends out short pulses of infrared light and measures how long they take to bounce back from the target. From that time it works out the distance. You look through the small telescope, put the aiming mark on the flag and press the button, and the distance appears in the display.

Features worth knowing

• Magnification. Both of our rangefinders have 6x magnification, which makes it easier to hold the aiming mark on a flag far away.
• Flag lock. With trees behind a green, a rangefinder can pick up the trees instead of the flag. A flag lock mode gives priority to the nearer target, which is usually the flag.
• Angle readings. Some rangefinders also show the angle up or down to the target. That helps you judge uphill and downhill shots in practice, but see the rules below.
• Power. A rechargeable unit charges from a cable. Others take a battery that you replace.

Rangefinders and the Rules of Golf

Under Rule 4.3a of the Rules of Golf you may get distance information from a device during a round. Measuring elevation changes is not allowed, and a committee can ban distance-measuring devices with a Local Rule. So if your rangefinder shows angles, do not use that reading in a competition round, and check the rules of your club or event.

Rangefinder or launch monitor?

A rangefinder measures the distance to a target. A launch monitor measures your shot: ball speed, launch and carry. They answer different questions, and many golfers use both. Our guide golf launch monitors explained covers the second.

Using a laser safely

Never point the laser at people, animals or vehicles, and never look at the sun through the eyepiece. Read the safety notes in the manual before you use it for the first time.