How do golf rangefinders work??

[Golfaway]

Do they use satellite like the GPS devices, or something else?
And do they work on all courses in the world, or restricted to courses registered on the GPS network like the GPS devices?

[iacas]

Do they use satellite like the GPS devices, or something else?

Rangefinders? The laser ones? They send out a laser beam pulse and time how long it takes to come back, thus telling the equipment how far away it is. Works anywhere, unless the flags and sticks at your club are clear or non-existent.

For GPS, they use the satellites, yeah, and you usually have to have a subscription AND the course has to be mapped. GPS devices usually aren't called "rangefinders," even though they are. Usually "rangefinder" = laser.

[Golfaway]

What does the beam strike against? The pin??
Wouldn't it be hard to aim the beam at the pin?

[Big_M]

What does the beam strike against? The pin??

or a bunker face, or a tree, or a person... pretty much anything.

No, they aren't that hard to aim at the pin (not the new ones anyway), unless it is crazy windy or something. Rangefinders (lasers) are still the most accurate device for measuring distance. Only drawback is they require line of sight and require the act of aiming. GPS is slightly less accurate (if working properly), but units are getting better every year. They do not require line of sight, but are limited to the objects mapped (except for some new ones that you can measure with). both are good options... depends on user preference. Do a thread search and you can read about either. Also, just check out Bushnell's site to learn about the technology in either.

[goblue107501]

What does the beam strike against? The pin??

or a bunker face, or a tree, or a person... pretty much anything.

I have found it pretty easy to aim at the actual flag. Even if there is no wind you can usually get a fix on the limp flag. Even limp, there is a big enough mass there to get a good reading. When it is windy, it is real easy to aim at the blowing flag. When waiting on other players, I will wait until someone puts the pin in the hole and aim at them, that is real easy to hit. Only on a non-windy day from 200+ yards is it hard to hit the pin, even then, it just takes a few extra seconds until you hit it.

[Fourputt]

What does the beam strike against? The pin??

I don't aim at the pin itself, but at the flag. Some course have reflector prisms on top of the flagstick and those are the best for a laser. It's almost impossible to get a bad reading from a reflector.

The best thing about the laser is that you get to make the choice of what feature is important for a particular shot. With GPS you are locked in to the programmed points.

[mkrolewski]

Just to clarify, almost any object is reflective. It is most likely impossible to create a pure dark body, something that absorbs all light. Many objects reflect light in many directions due to the texture of the surface. This diffusion of light reduces that amount of light that is reflected. To detect this, one either need a more power light source or a more sensitive detector. Modern rangefinders are these more sensitive detectors.

The laser beam or more accurately some part of that light pulse reflected off objects and is returned to the rangefinder. The electronics times the interval, and converts this into distance. The measurement is most likely an average of several round trips.

In addition, rangefinder have mechanisms to reduce errors. If you attempt to measure a flag in front of some trees, the rangefinder is most likely receiving both a signal for the flag and for the trees. For golf, the rangefinder "picks" the first distance. For rain, it assumes that the object is some distance away, so ignores nearby objects.


The gps works off a different model. The gps receives signals from several satellites ( 4 or more ) to determine its position on the planet. The gps compares this position to pre-recorded positions on the course to determine/calculates distances to objects. This is the information that is displayed to you. Obviously the GPS is limited to objects that it has the coordinates for.

Shot distance calculation are just like any other GPS measurement. The GPS can measure shot distances by recording a position, then calculating the distance to that spot from where it currently is.

The better GPS can do a fair amount of math. If you are getting the front and back edge to the green like SkyCaddie or GolfGuru, the GPS is determining its' position, determining a straight line through the pin and the intersection points of the green edge with this line. It then converts all those points into distance information. Not bad.

IMHO the GPS is faster and easier to use, as the information can be continuous displayed. The rangefinder has the major advantage of being able to measure distance to any point that can be seen.

[colin007]

with a rangefinder, if youre standing on the tee on a long hole, can you shoot the fairway and have it tell you how far it is to that point, or does it need to be a vertical face (tree, pin, bunker face...) that you shoot at?

[Mr3Putt]

with a rangefinder, if youre standing on the tee on a long hole, can you shoot the fairway and have it tell you how far it is to that point, or does it need to be a vertical face (tree, pin, bunker face...) that you shoot at?

The more vertical the target, the better, but you can measure anything. If you are elevated and can see the portion of the fairway you need to measure than you can get a number. Usually you can just shoot a nearby tree/trap/golfer and do your gazintas. I like to shoot the group in front to see if they are out of range, this is a good feature on the par 5's. I also like to see how far the biggest driver in the group ahead just hit. Although those other numbers are nice to know, the real beauty of the laser is for the approach shots to the flag. You can get exact carry numbers for bunkers/lakes/trouble, plus exact numbers to the target. Some folks don't want precise numbers, others do. I use mine at least 18 times a round...

[colin007]

i would imagine they would be good at the range, when they have the yardage signs in the same spot every day regardless of where they have moved the markers that you hit from.

[Mr3Putt]

i would imagine they would be good at the range, when they have the yardage signs in the same spot every day regardless of where they have moved the markers that you hit from.

Excellent point! The first thing I do when I get set up at the range is dial in the targets. Even at ranges where they have fixed stations, the distances vary from one end of the range to the other. The 100 sign is almost never really 100 yards. Many ranges at smaller courses don't even have signs, just random flags. It's nice to know how far you're actually hitting the irons. Reason #45 why I love my laser.

[Rangefinder]

Oh...My friends.

I will tell you How do Rangefinder working ? Because i am professionally.... LOL...

Rangefinder also called. Rangefinder Binocular or Monocular. always got optical design like 4x 6x 7x etc... Magnifications. that is view system, like Binoculars. you can uses your eyes view from one said. and this product got LCD display and Aim cirles inside that your eyes can see it. when you found any object like tree. house. people. dog. flag. any you want to measure distance just move the center aim circle on them. and push the power button then the distance between rangefinder and object will come out under 1 seconds. very quickly. and also rangefinder got many different working models. Scan. Automatically Measuring. no need any operations. and Flag Pinseeker models. specially for golfers. and hunting model. etc...

the principle for rangefinder is this product got laser diode design inside. but here you need to read carefully. cause Laser it.s means not safety for peoples eyes. that.s why you choice one rangefinder you need to see if they got any FDA or IEC safty certifications or symbol. aftery got such certifications eye safty. but you can not aim to the sun directly that will burn your eyes. when you push the power button. the laser diode will emitting many laser pulses..to the object and when those pulses comes with the object will back to rangefinders (got receives) then account the times of laser coming and back. then got the distances. the accuracy always will be like in 1 meter.

Like people said. not easy to aim the pin. cause it.s too crazy thin...but some rangefinder can measure distance to pin in 100-150meters. but most golfer aim golf flag can reach 300meters.

I hope this will help you know how rangefinder workes ?  if you got any concusious. feel free to contact with me. haha.

GPS uses satelite. can see maps. but the accuracy not good. and also can not uses for other outdoor uses. cause rangefinder can also be used for binoculars and monaculars for climbing or any you want in outdoor uses too. and those two kind price got almost same prices. i wish you can choices rangefinders if you want to buy some. but it.s just my personnel suggestions.

[Paradox]

Originally Posted by colin007

with a rangefinder, if youre standing on the tee on a long hole, can you shoot the fairway and have it tell you how far it is to that point, or does it need to be a vertical face (tree, pin, bunker face...) that you shoot at?

very easy to shoot a spot on the fairway or just a part of the green( I do this a lot to see where I actually want to land the ball) or anything else.

For my second shots on par 5's..I will take how far I wanna be from the green for my 3rd shot..and then laser from my ball that point(its easy for me because I like to be around 150 or 100 exactly) Easy club selection.

[wadesworld]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fourputt

None

The best thing about the laser is that you get to make the choice of what feature is important for a particular shot. With GPS you are locked in to the programmed points.

Depends on the GPS.  For example, even with my Golfshot app, I can click anywhere on the map and get a distance from that point.  Now, while it's true that I can't move the destination point from the green center (yet), it has the advantage of working over obstacles, when the green can't be seen.

Some of the more expensive GPS you can measure any point to any point I believe.

[luu5]

And the answer was not given three years ago?

[Paradox]

Originally Posted by luu5

And the answer was not given three years ago?

ahh hell that "rangefinder" guy tricked me!

[Chas]

. For my second shots on par 5's..I will take how far I wanna be from the green for my 3rd shot..and then laser from my ball that point(its easy for me because I like to be around 150 or 100 exactly) Easy club selection.

Why didn't I think of that ....... p.s. I've noticed that at some clubs the pins have little reflectors just below the flag. Very clever that - no wonder I have no trouble picking them up with my Bushnell. Pity I can't seem to end up near the blasted things tho'.