Best Golf Rangefinder for Your Game

Golf is a game dictated by numbers. At the core of each shot is a distance, which in turn dictates the loft of the club. Identifying the correct distance is now often accomplished with the assistance of a golf rangefinder.

As with just about everything in golf, there many different golf rangefinders to choose from. However, there are two primary types of golf rangefinders on the market: GPS and laser. Both use different forms of technology to produce highly accurate yardages to the target. So, what is the best golf rangefinder for your game?

A GPS rangefinder utilizes satellite coordinates of your location against maps of thousands of courses in their database. Before your round, identify the course that you’re playing and your GPS rangefinder will follow you throughout the course, plotting your location against your intended target.

A laser rangefinder usually requires a bit more proactive work by manually bouncing a laser onto your target. Today’s laser rangefinders have become pretty easy to use, with some providing vibration assisted target identification, making the process of bouncing the laser correctly quite simple.

We recently tested the Leupold GX-2i3 Golf Laser Rangefinder, which is sleek, compact and features an impressive new ergonomic design, while displaying an incredibly accurate range. The GX-2i3 calculates slope from the line-of-sight distance, incline or decline, current temperature trajectory of the ball and altitude. This is called True Golf Range, which is standard on every Leupold GX-2i3 device. However, if you’re playing in a competition, slope options can be deactivated to become tournament legal.

With 6x magnification, this laser rangefinder gives you plenty of power, while maintaining a wide field of view to more easily identify targets. The Leupold GX-2i3 is powered by the popular CR2 lithium camera battery, which makes it easy to replace.

The GX-2i3 display features a multi-coated lens system along with a sharp, high-contrast, easy-to-read LCD display. Together these components provide clear identification and viewing for even the longest and most difficult to track targets on the golf course.

The unit measures in yards or meters and features one-touch scan mode. There is also a battery level indicator and eyepiece focus with clicks. The Leupold GX-2i3 is waterproof and comes with a carrying case, so it’s highly functional in all types of weather conditions.

All Leupold GX rangefinders come with their patented PinHunter Laser Technology for quick and accurate distance measurements. Just point your Leupold GX-2i3 at the pin, a tree, a building, a hazard, or just about anything and the PinHunter technology measures instantly and clearly up to a distance of 350 yards.

The Leupold GX-2i3 also provides a helpful club selector, which gives users range information and club recommendations which match to the slope of a particular shot, atmospheric conditions and even a golfer’s hitting strength. This powerful tool not only provides you with the distance for each shot, along with slope, but it can also help pick your clubs. Now that’s the kind of assistance any golf golfer can use!

Another feature of the Leupold GX-2i3 is fog mode, which helps screen out false readings caused by rain or other weather conditions. This is a great innovation that helps keep readings as accurate as possible in any climate.

Here’s a more complete list of features of the Leupold GX-2i3:

• 6x magnification
• Inclinometer
• True Golf Range (TGR)
• 7 Selectable Aiming Reticles
• Quick Set Menu
• Line of Sight Distance
• Yards/Meters option
• Fog Mode
• Prism Lock
• Scan Mode
• Waterproof
• 5 year warranty

Is the Leupold GX-2i3 the best golf rangefinder for your game? For the price (around $330), it’s a great laser rangefinder that is easy to use, but also customizable for the advanced player.

I prefer the accuracy and flexibility of this type of a laser rangefinder versus most GPS rangefinders because you can identify just about any target or obstacle that can receive the laser. And for a game of numbers, having the fastest, most accurate data for club selection can make a significant difference on your scorecard.