Range finder recommendation ?

stackerman

Hi all

Looking for a recommendation for a good range finder, at a somewhat reasonable price.
Like the look of this one and it does what I need it to do

http://www.golfsmith.com/product/30058264/leupold-gx3i-rangefinder

Don't want slope extra etc

Obviously there may be an import Duty issue, there def would be, if any of my previous experience is anything to go by (very hard to slip one through the net these days :mad:

Any ideas of similar ones, at reasonable prices here, or within Europe ?

Many thanks in advance

Stacker man

m r c

Most people would probably agree that bushnell make one of the better laser rangefinders. It depends what you want to spend really. I just checked there mcguirks have the v2 on sale at €290 which wouldn't be too far off the one in the link. If €290 is a bit expensive you can get them 2nd hand for less than €200. I've seen a few on adverts lately going around that money.

The only other one I'd reccomend is the Nikon. I'm not sure how much you'd be paying but my bro has one and I'd put them ahead of the v2. Seems more user friendly or something.

Mat the trasher

+1 on the Nikon, I have one, it has a better optical magnification than the V2, not by much though. 6x for Nikon V's 5x for V2 if I remember.

J6P

Ebay is the way to go..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p4712.m570.l1313&_nkw=bushnell+v2&_sacat=0&_from=R40

You should get a bushnell V2 for around €100 cheaper than McGuirks/Halpenny are selling them for

TheGolfer01

stackerman wrote: »

Hi all

Looking for a recommendation for a good range finder, at a somewhat reasonable price.
Like the look of this one and it does what I need it to do

http://www.golfsmith.com/product/30058264/leupold-gx3i-rangefinder

Don't want slope extra etc

Obviously there may be an import Duty issue, there def would be, if any of my previous experience is anything to go by (very hard to slip one through the net these days :mad:

Any ideas of similar ones, at reasonable prices here, or within Europe ?

Many thanks in advance

Stacker man

You should also seriously consider a GPS rangefinder, as a laser one has limited usability and can be time consuming to actually get a yardage, in contrast a GPS unit is instant and you don't have to have a "line of sight" to your target.
The best GPS unit out there is the golfbuddy World platinum IMO, all courses come preloaded and there is also a full hole layout feature and most importantly there are no extra charges like annual subscriptions.

TRS30

I have a Bushnell 1600 and it is excellant. Is a bit more expensive but worth it in my opinion.

I got mine sent from the US by USPS, never had anything stopped by this method. Fedex all the time and DHL some of the time.

ssbob

I am using the Nikon 350g and find it great for what it needs to do, it gives you pin yardage all the time, no GPS unit can do that, however the big drawback is line of sight to the pin, you need to have that to get a yardage.

I am a high handicapper so maybe I would have been better off going for GPS rather than rangefinder as I spend a lot more time in the wrong fairways:rolleyes: than a low handicapper would!

Also GPS units are good for pointing out hazards on courses that you have never played!

stackerman

Thanks all for the input

Looked at all suggestions, but pulled the trigger on the Leupold linked above.

Main reason being that I managed to find a guy on a golfing forum, selling a new one won as a prize. Working out at €270 to the door, marked and packaged as gift, and sent USPS.

I know GPS systems have their advantages, but all I really want is the exact yardages. I've seen too many with the GPS, who just end up leaving them in the bag.

Will revert back with an update once I receive and use the rang finder.

Thanks again
Stacker man

BigChap1759

TheGolfer01 wrote: »

You should also seriously consider a GPS rangefinder, as a laser one has limited usability and can be time consuming to actually get a yardage, in contrast a GPS unit is instant and you don't have to have a "line of sight" to your target.
The best GPS unit out there is the golfbuddy World platinum IMO, all courses come preloaded and there is also a full hole layout feature and most importantly there are no extra charges like annual subscriptions.

In fairness now the OP asked specifically about rangefinders - a GPS is a GPS and a rangefinder is a rangefinder :rolleyes:

TheGolfer01

BigChap1759 wrote: »

In fairness now the OP asked specifically about rangefinders - a GPS is a GPS and a rangefinder is a rangefinder :rolleyes:

A common mistake for you to make, there are two types of rangefinder, laser and GPS, both are rangefinders, but mistakenly people assume when they say rangefinder that they are referring to laser only.

onlyfinewine

TheGolfer01 wrote: »

A common mistake for you to make, there are two types of rangefinder, laser and GPS, both are rangefinders, but mistakenly people assume when they say rangefinder that they are referring to laser only.

Just to muddy the waters a little more, when I was looking at the Bushnell Site it appeared to suggest that there were three types of rangefinder, making an extra category distinction of Hybrid Laser.



Hybrid Laser GPS
Hybrid Laser/GPS
Hybrid Accessories

Laser Rangefinders
Pro 1M
Tour Z6
Tour V2 Slope
Tour V2
Medalist
Laser Accessories

GPS RangeFinders
neo+ GPS Watch
neo+
XGC+
GPS Accessories

Mind you not having any one of the types mentioned I am certainly no expert on the matter.

TheGolfer01

onlyfinewine wrote: »

Just to muddy the waters a little more, when I was looking at the Bushnell Site it appeared to suggest that there were three types of rangefinder, making an extra category distinction of Hybrid Laser.



Hybrid Laser GPS
Hybrid Laser/GPS
Hybrid Accessories

Laser Rangefinders
Pro 1M
Tour Z6
Tour V2 Slope
Tour V2
Medalist
Laser Accessories

GPS RangeFinders
neo+ GPS Watch
neo+
XGC+
GPS Accessories

Mind you not having any one of the types mentioned I am certainly no expert on the matter.

I stand corrected, you're right of course there're are now three types of rangefinder, GPS, Laser and hybrid.

Almaviva

If I may correct ou both. You are forgetting the fourth type: the flagstick height rangefinder. Seem to be less common these days, and not helped by some courses using non standard flag sticks. Accuracy at times can be better than a blind man taking a guess based on the loudness of the voices of the group ahead. Cheap though.

stackerman

Well, as I already mentioned, I went ahead and bought this via private sale

http://www.golfsmith.com/product/30058264/leupold-gx3i-rangefinder

Delivered to the door, and no issues re customs

Went out on Thursday (beautiful day) and traveled over to Tullfaris.
I'm an average golfer playing off of 14 at the mo, but only playing 7-10 times a year. Haven't been able to play more due to trying to drag a few more years on the GAA pitch out of my sorry ass Hope to rectify that over the next few years, anyway
The rangefinder was really easy to use, and made a real difference to my game. As I only play a little, trying to judge my distances and how far I hit various clubs, has been my biggest problem (ESP on unfamiliar tracks).
I found very quickly, that I had the confidence to know what to hit, and felt very comfortable in knowing the exact yardages.
This bit of kit is not cheap (but managed to squeeze it out as a Birthday gift ) but very well worth it IMHO. I very quickly found my shots landing pin high, and as I already said gave me huge confidence, which as we all know is a big part of the game. I can honestly say that it took probably 5-6 shots off of my round, although I wouldn't judge it 100% on just one round.
You can change between mtr and yards, input club lengths etc, find the target very easily and various other features which, to be honest I wouldn't use.
Anyway
All in all, for the type and amount of golf I play, I think it is well worth it. ESP if you manage to get someone else to buy it :pac: