Leupold PinCaddie 2 Laser Rangefinder Review

The debate between GPS systems and laser rangefinders hasn’t ended, and probably won’t for some time. GPS is convenient for a quick glance, and the course mapping is nice, but I always feel a little dissatisfied whenever I use a GPS unit. The touchscreens are generally poor, the distances take a few precious seconds to update (particularly annoying when you’re driving in a cart), and you’re still at the whim and mercy of whoever mapped the course in the first place (not to mention GPS accuracy, cloud cover, etc.).

The GPS systems in use for golf simply cannot match the accuracy of a laser rangefinder, and I’ve yet to come across a GPS unit constructed as well as even an entry-level laser rangefinder. (And that’s without mentioning smartphone app GPS systems, which I find virtually unusable due to the massive amounts of cellular data and battery they gobble up.)

Oh, and did I mention membership fees? What about battery charging? Or course data syncing?

No, the laser rangefinder I got a few years ago is easily one of the best golf purchases I’ve ever made. It was one of those buys that works out exactly the way you hoped it would.

When I got the chance to review the Leupold PinCadde 2 though, I snapped it up. Leupold has a reputation of incredible performance and quality, and their golf rangefinders are consistently rated among the best. Even their entry-level model, the PinCaddie 2, looked very enticing. When you strip out many of the features of a top-of-the-line rangefinder but keep that backbone of quality, what do you get?

As it turns out, quite a bit, and more than enough.

Technology and Specs
The Leupold PinCaddie 2 is an entry-level model, and doesn’t have many of the fanciest technologies found on the Leupold GX-4i2. No Prism Lock or PinHunter 2, no Fog Mode or inclinometer, no True Golf Range, no Club Selector, no Smart Key. The display is an LCD rather than OLED, it’s made of plastic rather than aluminum, and there is only one available reticle.

Its range for a reflective prism only stretches out to 650 yards rather than 800 (only 300 yards for a plain old flagstick), and it’s not fully waterproof.

But honestly, do you really need any of that stuff, or is it mostly feature bloat that drives up the price?

The lack of slope capabilities means it’s within USGA regulations whenever rangefinders are allowed (which is virtually always, unless you’re playing on Tour). The lack of customizable reticles or Club Selector or True Golf Range means that there’s only one lone button – no on/off switch or fiddly menu to painstakingly scroll through while looking down the sights. The lack of Prism Lock and PinHunter 2 are probably big reasons why the PinCaddie 2’s replaceable battery is rated for 5,000 actuations rather than 4,000 on the GX-4i2. And the featherweight plastic construction makes the PinCaddie 2 Leupold’s lightest and smallest rangefinder, coming in at only 6.3 oz.

Leupold lists the PinCaddie 2 as waterproof. I didn’t have any problems in a light drizzle, though I obviously would try to avoid taking it for a swim after dunking an approach shot.

Comparing the specs of the PinCaddie 2 to the Bushnell Medalist, its closest competitor, is a bit laughable (and this coming from someone who is very happy with his Bushnell rangefinder). The PinCaddie 2’s 6x magnification is a revelation at the $200 price point (the Medalist is $250), and blows away the Medalist’s 4x. It’s simpler, with one button compared to several. The PinCaddie 2 is also far lighter than the Medalist, significantly smaller, and, frankly, better looking. The PinCaddie 2 owns the entry-level price point.

Ergonomics and Esthetics
The PinCaddie 2 is much smaller than my old Bushnell Tour V2, and despite having large hands, I didn’t find any problem with the overall size of the rangefinder. In fact, I liked the way I could grip it nearly all the way around. It’s still not carry-all-18-in-your-back-pocket small, but it is at least fits-in-your-smallest-stand-bag-pocket small, which is nice. Alternatively, I found it convenient to affix it to the outside of my bag, and had no fear with the PinCaddie 2 bouncing around on the back of my golf bag.

It has a sturdy, dense construction despite being an entry-level plastic model, which I very much appreciated. I could drop the PinCaddie 2 on a cart path without a second thought. All of the lenses and laser cover are thickly covered by firm rubber.

The rubber mat on the top of the unit is embossed with a golf ball dimple-like pattern that looks pretty good and grips well rain or shine. The main body of the unit is a ruggedized plastic that also grips nicely and holds up to shock when dropped. The focus adjustment dial strikes just the right balance between ease of use and resistance.

One thing I really appreciate about the PinCaddie 2 is the design; it’s very plain. The red is looks awesome in a sea of grey and white and black rangefinders. Frankly, I don’t want a rangefinder that’s shaped like a fighter jet, which is what Bushnell seems to be doing with most of their models. Give me something that people won’t ask about when I pull out of my bag, that doesn’t have goofy plastic wings and gaudy accents mucking up the look and just waiting to snap off.

The way this thing is put together is a refreshing example of function winning out and complementing form.

Performance
I like the PinCaddie 2 roughly 90% of the time. I like pulling it out of my bag, I like putting it back, and I appreciate its lightness and ease of use. I like the clicky feeling of the unit’s only button, and I like how easy it is to focus the lens.

I like how it fits against my eye, and I like the simple actuation. I love the 6x magnification, and the minimalist screen is a breeze.

In practice, the PinCaddie 2 is extremely easy to use. It fits nicely in my hand, and grips even when they’re slick with sunscreen or sweat.

The PinCaddie 2 appears to be quite accurate, and was never more than a yard away off from my existing rangefinder (well within the tolerance for user error and slight movement of the target). It’s easy to laser flagsticks, the lips of bunkers, trees, etc., and the 6X magnification made it very easy to locate targets. That level of zoom means that the flag fills more of the lens, which makes it easier to lock on to your target, absent a dedicated pin-seeking feature. Particularly at the $200 price point, that level of magnification is incredible.

In short, it has all of the benefits of a laser rangefinder.

What I did find – that 10% when it isn’t perfect – is that not all of the differences between the PinCaddie 2 and a more expensive model were due to feature bloat. Fog mode – sure, I can do without that. But the lack of a pin-scanning feature was occasionally annoying. With my more expensive rangefinder, a little flag icon pops up when I lock onto the target, but there’s no similar feature on the PinCaddie 2. The PinCaddie 2 does have Leupold’s Pin Hunter technology, which combines both hardware and software approaches to identifying the flag as your target, but it doesn’t provide any feedback aside from the yardage number.

This is far from a dealbreaker, but it adds a little bit of time to each measurement. I didn’t have any problem lasering the flagstick – at least not any more than I usually do, which isn’t much – but the fact that I didn’t have that second level of assurance (aside from simply knowing roughly how far I am based on the yardage stakes) was a bit of a disappointment.

There is no stabilization – optical or otherwise – on the PinCaddie 2, and if 6X magnification has a downside, it’s that every little hand movement gets magnified that much more. I have particularly shaky hands (my Jenga skills are laughable), so two-handed operation is already my baseline, but if you’re the type of person who can usually laser a target one-handed, that might not be possible with the PinCaddie 2.

As far as downsides, that’s about it. Using the PinCaddie 2 is a breeze. I didn’t care about its relative lack of range because, well, I don’t really care if the range is 650 yards or 800 yards. I didn’t miss the ability to change reticles in the slightest. The entire package is abundantly simple.

What’s in the Box and Available Accessories
The Leupold PinCaddie 2 comes with a faux-leather and nylon pouch, a cloth for wiping the lenses, and a battery. The pouch fits snugly, but has a somewhat annoying latch that isn’t really operable with one hand. Compared to the magnetic latch that my rangefinder came with, it’s a disappointment.

Leupold also offers a retractable tether for easier access. It looks extremely well made, with a Kevlar cord and what Leupold calls an “industrial strength” velcro strap, but its $50 street price is a bit steep.

Conclusion
I wouldn’t recommend the PinCaddie 2 at $500. I wouldn’t recommend it at $400, or $350. But for $300, I’d say go for it. You get a rangefinder that’s every bit as capable as more expensive models, without all of the confusing faux-features.

And that’s for $300, which is not what the PinCaddie 2 sells for. It doesn’t sell for $250 either – it sells for $200.

$200.

You can’t usually buy anything in golf for $200. Anything useful, at least. But you can be out the door with a PinCaddie 2 for $200, and never have to pay another dime in subscription fees or course fees.

And you should.