Most sports enthusiasts have adopted technological advances to improve their game and take the sport further. Golf is no exception to this. There has been continuous innovation in golfing equipment over the past few decades. One of the more recent advances includes the addition of range finders to the mix. These devices leverage GPS technology along with complex terrain mapping software that help golfers in making better decisions and shave a few strokes off their score.
With the dozens of range finders on the market you might be wondering which one is better for you or more importantly what should you be looking for. Here are a few pointers to get you started:
1. Accuracy and Measuring Distance
The biggest reason rangefinders are used is to avoid doing mental calculations or approximations for distances. This helps golfers conserve their energy on the course and reduces the human errors in distance measurements. So, its essential that the GPS rangefinder you look at provide accurate measurements over large enough ranges to suit your needs.
2. Magnification and Targeting Options
You might be wondering how magnification and targeting differ from accuracy. They are related in that you definitely need to know how far you are from the flag or whatever point you are trying to reach. In addition, you also need to be able to have a have a look at what the area looks like. You don't want to get the ball in the region you are targeting only to discover that there is a nearby hazard that you missed or some other elements of the course that are going to impede your next few strokes. The magnification and targeting options help you plan a few strokes ahead. Definitely keep an eye out for these during your search.
3. Gradient and Slope Measurement
This is a nice-to-have feature in your rangefinder as far as leisure or practice golf is concerned. You should try not to get overly dependant on this ability of rangefinders because devices which can measure gradient or slopes aren't allowed in most tournaments. The specs of the range finders that you look at will definitely mention what sort of gradient measurements are possible.
This is a great starting checklist of things to look for when you start looking for rangefinders. As your golf game evolves and you have tried out a few rangefinders you will build your own checklist and keep adding to it. Besides the rangefinder itself, you might also want to check out some basic accessories to get along with it so that caring for the rangefinder and prolonging its life and getting the maximum use out of it becomes easier.
