In the past, when a golfer was on the course, the caddie was required not only to carry the golfer's equipment, but also to provide useful information, such as the approximate distance to the next hole and how many obstacles were in the way. Of course, what trajectory should the shot take. Obviously, this is not a satisfactory way to tell yourself what the conditions of the shot you need to take are, because no matter how well trained you are, you can't estimate these parameters very well.
Fortunately, technology these days helps golfers make more accurate shots without surprising any element by making trajectory, distance, and obstacles easier to detect and pinpoint. Of course, from this perspective, the golf equipment that helps players gather accurate information is the rangefinder. However, there are two main types of golf rangefinders available on the market, more precisely GPS and laser. Read the rest of this article to learn what is a better choice and why.
Advantages of laser rangefinders
Accuracy – The great advantage of laser models is that they are extremely accurate in providing yardages for visible targets. Plus, you'll get the exact yardage of the pin and better place it on the green for accurate shots. What makes them so accurate is their technology and how they operate.
Courses – These rangefinders do not need to be updated when taking on new golf courses. This is a major plus, as you don't have to remember to upload anything on your device before you head out and get home, as they will work fine for all sessions.
Magnification – Magnification plays an important role in the game, as it allows you to lock on to your target more easily and see exactly what awaits you. There is also no need for binoculars on the course due to the magnification feature, so there is less to pack when heading to the course.
Learning Curve – Ease of use is very important because of course you don't want to waste time learning to operate a rangefinder, but instead spend that time playing an easy game of golf. It only takes a few minutes for you to find all the settings and commands and become familiar with them, so if you end up using a laser golf rangefinder, it won't be a problem from this point of view.
Battery Life – Another great highlight of the laser model is its long lifespan. Depending on the particular rangefinder you buy and use, and depending on how often you use it, the device's battery can even last a year or more.
Disadvantages of laser rangefinders
Stability – Unfortunately, stability is required to operate a laser golf rangefinder. For some, this is a problem because trembling hands make life a lot harder when using golf equipment.
Inaccurate Targets – When using laser equipment, it is possible to lock on to the wrong target. This usually happens when you are too far away from the target, so the closer you are to the target, the more accurate the reading will be.
Obstructions - While this may not be a common problem, when it does, it renders golf equipment useless. Unfortunately, laser models can't read distance or lock onto obstacles you can't see.
Advantages of GPS Range Finder
Hole Layouts – Some GPS rangefinders are able to provide a layout of all the holes on the course before you start playing. This is a major advantage when you are unfamiliar with a new course.
EASY TO USE – Unlike laser units, the GPS Golf Range Finder does not require you to hold it steady. These devices will provide accurate yardages without you needing to aim them too accurately.
More Complete Distances - Another factor where GPS devices outperform lasers is that they provide distances to the back, middle and front of the green. This basic information helps users target more accurately.
Track goals you can't see - you won't see hazards and obstacles on the course. GPS devices can even provide accurate yardages for these targets, making it less likely that obstacles will clutter your footage.
Additional Functions – Contrary to laser golf equipment, GPS range finders have more functions such as statistics, shot measurement functions and many more. These features ensure that you will learn more elements and therefore make a big difference in the quality of the game.
Disadvantages of GPS range finders
Courses – As expected, not all golf equipment is perfect. Unfortunately, while they come with many courses preloaded, rangefinders sometimes require you to connect them to your computer to update them and load new courses, which can be quite an inconvenience.
Accuracy - Don't get me wrong, GPS units are very accurate, but the truth is, they are not as accurate as laser rangefinders. This is all due to interference with satellites, such as trees, clouds, etc.
Battery Life – Another downside to these models is that the battery life is not as long as with laser units. Golf GPS batteries need to be recharged every few rounds, which is a hassle.
Comparison between laser range finder and GPS range finder
Now that you know the pros and cons of both types of golf rangefinders, let's take a look at a side-by-side comparison of the two devices to get a clearer picture of which model is better and why. In this comparison table, we will insert a check mark to show which rangefinder type scores higher for a particular element of performance.
| Compare | laser range finder | GPS range finder |
|---|---|---|
| accuracy | ✓ | ✗ |
| robustness | ✗ | ✓ |
| number of courses | ✓ | ✗ |
| complete distance reading | ✗ | ✓ |
| obstacle | ✗ | ✓ |
| Feature | ✗ | ✓ |
| feature | ✗ | ✓ |
| easy to use | ✓ | ✗ |
| Battery Life | ✓ | ✗ |
Conclusion – what better option?
After looking at the above side-by-side comparisons, as expected, we believe a GPS rangefinder is the better option and we strongly recommend investing in GPS technology over laser technology. Sure, it may have its own flaws, but GPS rangefinders will only get better and more accurate over time, and what makes them superior at the moment is that they are more versatile in purpose and more functional powerful. They have more appeal to modern humans than laser golf devices, and they are certainly the future of rangefinders.
