Leupold GX-1 Questions

[iacas]

With Pinseeker on, the Tour V2 will only the display the distance to the nearest object that the reticule has passed over while the button is depressed. If you are taking a measurement to the flag and someone walks across the front of the green past your aiming point while you are doing it, you will only see the distance to that person because he is closer than the flag is, even if you continue to shoot after he has passed. This guarantees that you will always be able to separate the flag from any background clutter. When you turn the Pinseeker mode off the unit is in continuous scan mode while the button is held down, and will display whatever it was last aimed at, regardless of distance.

Thanks for clarifying. The Leupold does the same thing but in what I'd consider a more intuitive fashion. Click to get the PinSeeker/Hunter mode, click and hold to get the scanning mode. No worries about switching something on and off (and you have a few seconds to get the "click" to find the flag).

[abraxas]

was recently looking into a rangefinder and saw that they had a "slope" version
anyone have any experience with those either in the leupold or the bushnell
how accurate are they?

[Fourputt]

was recently looking into a rangefinder and saw that they had a "slope" version

No idea. Since I play virtually every round for handicap or in competition, I've never considered one of those because they are prohibited in the Rules of Golf.

[MJP]

That makes no sense at all. How would you get 133 to the middle with any laser if it's 137? What are you pointing at?

i was attempting to point at the flag but got the piece of green it behind it. (i guess it should be more like 133 pin 137 middle because more often than not its long not short) its a completely different club choice. Completely correct. Both the gx-1 and v2 will But you still don't seem to understand. In my experiences, grabbing the pin with the GX-1 is extremely difficult. in my experience the gx-1 was too precise and it's laser too precise. The pin seeker mode essentially makes that laser the size of the circle, so it grabs anything in that circle. The circle is much larger with the pin seeker on bushnell than it is on the gx-1. The point I am trying to make is that the v2 is much easier to use and in my experience gives a 100% confident yardage everytime. I can grab pin distances within 3 seconds of pulling it out. It's just convenient. Switched after spending 30+ seconds trying to get a yardage and after seeing one of my old hs buddies whos a +4 and playing in the U.S. Amateur using his v2 to shoot a 66. He tried using the gx-1 and couldn't get the yardage to the pin from about 175 out. He did it on his v2 almost instantly. to each his own

[Zeph]

If you use the scan mode, hitting the flag is no problem. Just hold down the button and hover over the flag. You'll get two distances if you have a hard time holding it still, one for the object in the background and one for the flag. The lowest number is the distance to the flag. It does seem to require steadier hands than a v2 though, I'll agree there.

[boogielicious]

I use scan mode most of the time unless the flags have prisms. Then the GX-1 beeps when it acquires the prism. I think the rangefinders are great for giving you distances to hazards as well as the pin. Several times in the last rounds I have selected my tee club off of scans for hazards. I virtually have no issue with distances up to 250 yards unless the flag is very low because it is hidden behind a hill. Since I can't hit any fairway club that long, it is not much of an issue.

[soloredd]

Do the flags need to have prisms on them to use a rangefinder? I play a par 68 muni sometimes and all their flags have prisms going down the flag stick but I've never seen this on my home course or any other courses. I'm assuming the prism thing is for older technology but I want to be sure. I've thought about going to a rangefinder from my SkyCaddie mainly because I can just go and play - no need to sync my GPS and load courses. I have never used a rangefinder but I am becoming increasingly interested.

[Zeph]

Do the flags need to have prisms on them to use a rangefinder? I play a par 68 muni sometimes and all their flags have prisms going down the flag stick but I've never seen this on my home course or any other courses. I'm assuming the prism thing is for older technology but I want to be sure.\

No. The prism technology is just to make it easier. You won't have any problem shooting flags without prism in them.

As far as I've understood, the Prism Lock on a Leupold works kinda like the PinSeeker on a Bushnell. You hold the top button for using the scan mode, and when it finds the prism flag, the unit beeps and the display freeze, showing the distance to the flag. Without prism, you just hold the top button and aim the reticle at the flag.

[soloredd]

No. The prism technology is just to make it easier. You won't have any problem shooting flags without prism in them.

Right on, Zeph, thanks for the info. I might invest in one of these in the off-season.

[Fourputt]

Do the flags need to have prisms on them to use a rangefinder? I play a par 68 muni sometimes and all their flags have prisms going down the flag stick but I've never seen this on my home course or any other courses. I'm assuming the prism thing is for older technology but I want to be sure. I've thought about going to a rangefinder from my SkyCaddie mainly because I can just go and play - no need to sync my GPS and load courses. I have never used a rangefinder but I am becoming increasingly interested.

The prisms are nice, but not required. With the prism I can shoot a flag from well over 300 yards, even without that assistance I can accurately shoot limp flag from over 250. Since I can't hit anything but my driver 250 yards, that's plenty.

[golfro]

picked my Leupold GX1 last night and took it to the range. LOVE IT.

one question i had though is...the eye piece thing, you can focus by turning...but i noticed when the eye piece is focused so the retical is clearly focused...the background is a bit blurry... if i focus on the background, the retical is blurry...

do you typically focus the retical and get used to the somewhat blurry background?

or...is mine broken or something.

[boogielicious]

Focus on the background or target. Your eye will get used the almost ignoring the retical. The numbers should be in focus though.

[golfro]

Focus on the background or target. Your eye will get used the almost ignoring the retical. The numbers should be in focus though.

well the numbers focus when the retical focuses. so if the retical is really blurry, then the numbers are almost not even visible.

i'm guessing the best is finding a balance between the two...

[Zeph]

I've got the display in full focus, the knob is turned all the way to the left (minus). If I look through it, both the display and background is clearly visible. The display may get a bit out of focus when I look at targest far away, but I can usually read the number, if not I'll just refocus my eyes to the display. Except when I look like 10-20 meters in front of me. Inside 50 meters I don't use the rangefinder, as the shot goes all by feel.

If I turn the knob all the way to the right (pluss), objects closer to me are in focus, but nothing far away and I don't see the display very well either.

This may probably change depending on the eye of the beholder though. Experiment to see what works best I guess.

[golfro]

I've got the display in full focus, the knob is turned all the way to the left (minus). If I look through it, both the display and background is clearly visible. The display may get a bit out of focus when I look at targest far away, but I can usually read the number, if not I'll just refocus my eyes to the display. Except when I look like 10-20 meters in front of me. Inside 50 meters I don't use the rangefinder, as the shot goes all by feel.

Thanks Zeph. I'll definitely have to play around a bit. Guess thats the point of having the knob so I can focus it depending on where i'm focusing the thing.

[boogielicious]

Have fun with it. It is a great tool for determining how you are going to play a hole. It's also excellent for new courses where you not sure where to try and land your tee shot, etc. I've played with retro grouches who at first scowl at the idea. Then after 5 holes, their asking for distances to "that bunker on the left", etc.

[Fat Slice]

OK, after about 15 rounds with the GX1 I have to say that I am glad I did not sell the Bushnell 1500. The GX1 simply cannot "pinseek" as well. PERIOD. It misses the flagstick 30-40% of the time and requires repeated readings. I have to first check with the GPS or ground markers to get a rough idea of what the real distance is before I can trust what the GX1 says. It's a royal pain in the ass compared to the 1500 and I find it amazing that people have claimed the opposite (myself included, after 1 round).

[iacas]

I don't understand posts like the one above mine. I almost always just use my range finder one-handed and never get the wrong number. Why do you aim at the flagstick? Aim at the flag...