Bushnell V3 Pro with or without slope - opinions?

[dylhall]

Hi all, I'm looking for some educated opinions on purchasing the Bushnell V3 with or without slope? I purchased the one with slope today, but have a return policy. I'm trying to determine if it's really worth the extra $100 I paid. I played a relatively flat course today where it didn't really matter, but some other courses I play can be hillier. I don't really know how to visually judge how uphill/downhill things are generally so it seemed like a useful tool, but I can also see how it might be gimmicky. What are your experiences and thoughts on this? Worth the extra $100?

[flopster]

Hi all, I'm looking for some educated opinions on purchasing the Bushnell V3 with or without slope? I purchased the one with slope today, but have a return policy. I'm trying to determine if it's really worth the extra $100 I paid. I played a relatively flat course today where it didn't really matter, but some other courses I play can be hillier. I don't really know how to visually judge how uphill/downhill things are generally so it seemed like a useful tool, but I can also see how it might be gimmicky.

What are your experiences and thoughts on this? Worth the extra $100?

First of all, the slope feature makes that rangefinder illegal for any tournament play regardless if it can be turned off, second the slope feature is useful especially on severe grades I have seen up to 20 yards difference on a severe par 3. I have the v2 with slope.

[David in FL]

I would not buy something not legal for tournament use. I certainly wouldn't pay more for it!

[dylhall]

First of all, the slope feature makes that rangefinder illegal for any tournament play regardless if it can be turned off, second the slope feature is useful especially on severe grades I have seen up to 20 yards difference on a severe par 3. I have the v2 with slope.

Yeah, sorry, I should have mentioned I was aware it's not legal for tournament play. I don't play any at this point in my game, I'm more concerned with just getting better results while I'm playing with friends, etc.

[dylhall]

I would not buy something not legal for tournament use. I certainly wouldn't pay more for it!

[quote name="flopster" url="/t/74544/bushnell-v3-pro-with-or-without-slope-opinions#post_989604"] First of all, the slope feature makes that rangefinder illegal for any tournament play regardless if it can be turned off, second the slope feature is useful especially on severe grades I have seen up to 20 yards difference on a severe par 3. I have the v2 with slope. [/quote] Oh, for clarification, what classifies as a tournament? Is that the case for local men's club tourneys? Or more for open amateur local/regional tournaments?

[David in FL]

Not legal under the rules of golf, period.

[dsc123]

I would not buy the version with slope for the reasons mentioned.  Even if you don't play in tournaments now, you may want to in the future and won't want to buy a new rangefinder.

[dylhall]

OK then - so maybe this is a topic for another post, but since it's in line with all of your advice, how do you all judge how much to adjust for slope when it's large enough to matter?

[flopster]

OK then - so maybe this is a topic for another post, but since it's in line with all of your advice, how do you all judge how much to adjust for slope when it's large enough to matter?

Well the feature basically tells you what length of shot on a level surface will reach the target at it's elevation, so if the flag is 135 yards away with a 3* upslope it may say it plays more like 138, as far as when to make adjustments I guess that's entirely up to you but I do remember playing a hole that was a severe downslope and had a yardage of 170 but with the slope feature it measured at 143, I picked the club for the 143 yardage and hit it 10' away.

[dsc123]

Experience, mainly. If the target is significantly higher, I just take an extra club. A 2 club difference is rare, so you should be able to get close just clubbing up or down.

[COBRAboy]

I have the regular one without slope and love it. If you golf on courses with a lot of elevation change then is definitely get the slope. I live in the prairies so no

[Jazzfan]

I used to own a leupold with slope.  Amazing function.  But when I started playing in the Wyoming Open I had to sell it on Craigslist and I took a huge hit.  And I then bought the same Leupold without slope.