My first rangefinder, Leupold GX-3i...

Finally broke down and bought a rangefinder today. Man, this thing is sweet. I have avoided buying one in the past because the ones I saw were large, bulky, plastic, and cheap looking. Being an avid shooter, I am quite familiar with Leupold. That got me interested from the start. Still, I left the rangefinder in the golf shop I found it in and came home to search online for info. Read all the old threads here, Ebay, Amazon, reviews here and there, etc.. the normal search mode online. Upon doing so, I wanted one even more so. Leupold is a top shelf company and this rangefinder is very small in size, has superior optics, and is housed in a weatherproof aluminum body. How could I say no?

Took it to the range just before dark today and it worked flawlessly. The three pins I hit at often with some doubt as to actual distances were now 79 yards, 99 yards, and 148 yards. Sure was nice actually knowing this. As we all know driving range yardages can be way off at times and coupled with the moving grass tee's, it is always a mystery. Same applies for golf course, the yardage markers are often inaccurate, sometimes grossly. Aim the rangefinder to the flag, you get an exact yardage. Nothing could be simpler. And the red display is pretty slick too I must confess. There are three different display points (you aim at flag) and an adjustable diopter on the eyepiece as well. Coupled with the 6x magnification, this is a cool little gadget. And small enough to fit in the cup holder as well. Slick.

I've been looking at rangefinders and have found that anyone who bought the Leupolds have been very happy with the products.  How has yours been treating you Dan?  I'm still looking at all the different rangefinders. Don't really require the slope function, but I want something that is really accurate and I don't have any golf shops near where I can test any out.  I have been avoiding the purchase but I think it would really help me nail down my distances and improve my accuracy as far as knowing exactly what my clubs hit.  Sometimes it seems like the fairway markers are out quite a bit. Maybe its me

Mitch G

I bought this rangefinder not too long ago. It's great, returns distances lightning fast to the point where I can basically spam the button and get results back if I'm unsure.

Absolutely outstanding. Love this thing. Extremely well made, small, easy to use (click button one to activate, click again to show yardage). Just love it. I know have an exact yardage for any shot. Easy to hand hold out to 200 yards. I prop my hands on the steering wheel at times to steady it. 150 yards and in, where yardage matters even more, it is super easy to acquire the distance. Leupold has some "Pinseeker" mode, where it locks or something, but I have not had a need to try it. Saw it in the owners manual I think, but not needed. Awesome unit.

-Dan

Congrats!

I put a folded hand towel in the shelf on the golf cart to cushion my range finder from the shocks and vibrations so it is readily at hand to keep up our playing speed. And, as stated above, bracing on the top of the steering wheel makes target acquisition quicker and stress free.

I played with a guy who kept his hanging on his bag and he was sooooo slooooooow.

I played a round this past weekend with my dad, who was given a Bushnell Tour V2 for Christmas. He really didn't know what it was or how to use it, and I had never used a laser range finder before (have a Garmin S1 watch that I received for playing in an outing last summer). All I can say is WOW! Super easy to acquire yardages (this course did not have reflectors on the pins), and feedback was quick....like less than five seconds from the time i was out of the cart to having the yardage.

I have to admit I'm kind of a "yardage snob" and am looking to put one in my bag. Nice to be able to read about Bushnell vs. Leopold, etc. Thanks for the input.

I am more of a GPS guy but my club intalled prisms on the pins and had demo rangefinders so I tried on for the last couple times out.  The are selling Laser Link brand.

It is a different style then most.  A pistol type arrangement.  To the pin it is amazing.  Point in the general direction and in a second it kicks out a distance.

I currently have a Callaway Upro and I am probably going to get a Skycaddie SGX or SGX-W.  Whenever I have used the laser side by side with a GPS unit where you can move the pin placement on the green I can get no more then 2 yards different then the laser, usually within a yard.  Quite frankly I am not that good one yard is not going to make a difference.

The added benefits of the GPS make me want to lean that direction.

I had a Bushnell 450, bottom of the line scope. Didn't like it. After hanging out here on the boards and reading the reviews, I bought the Leupold GX-2. I love it.

Picks up exact yardage on pins with reflectors. Club selector, if needed. Measures slope if needed. About the only thing missing is a Anemometer :)

Thanks to Eric for suggesting this.

I played in a tournament this past weekend and one of the guys was using a GX-3 - I tested it out and wow.  It was sweet.  Much better than the old Bushnell unit I picked up back in 2003 which is sitting in my garage collecting dust.  The Leupold unit was so good - I'm going to pick one up.  But was wondering... What is the difference between the GX-3 and GX-3i?

Basically the GX-3i has a few more bells and whistles and is the 2012 version. The 3i is supposedly "faster" and also gives yardage distances to the tenth of a yard (the necessity of which is questionable).

Ok cool.  I wanted to make sure it didn't include slope readings as I plan to use it for tournaments.

I ordered one too (3 GX i)..the only time they really come into use are courses that have no yardage markers.  To me, whether the the holes is 150 or 153..it's all the same.  It's more of an aid when I get to those courses where I'm unfamiliar with and the yardage is not clearly marked.

I also just purchased a 3Xi. Should be here Saturday. One of the big reasons I purchased mine was for the range. The ranges that I practice on NEVER have accurate distance markings. Pretty tough to practice wedge distances when you don't know how far you're hitting.

Just purchased this unit for my wife. Love it! I use a Sky Caddie SGX and wish my wife would trade me. The lighted yardage and sound alert for hitting the pin prism is absolutely great. Fits snugly into the cup holder which is a plus. Good solid feel. Highly recommend