Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you play smarter, better golf.
Rangefinders are wonderful tools that are a great investment if you’re getting serious about golf. With the ability to laser the pin, bunkers and other obstacles on the course, you can take the guesswork out of your game and really dial in your shots.
But while rangefinders are great tools, they can be used incorrectly — and then they can do more harm than good.
Recently as I was scrolling on social media, I stumbled upon a video from Jon Sherman regarding this exact topic. Sherman is one of the brightest minds in golf when it comes to course management, so it immediately piqued my interest. Check it out below.
Sherman makes an excellent point about how rangefinders can actually hurt your game. When you’ve got your laser in your hand, it’s likely you are only shooting the distance to the pin. However, this is typically a poor strategy.
Firing directly at flags may be good fodder for stories at the 19th hole after the round, but it’s not the best tactic if you want to post low scores. When you only focus on the flag, you are ignoring some key yardages that are needed to be successful.
Bushnell Tour V6 Laser Rangefinder
Utilizing new and improved electronics, Tour V6 is the most accurate, consistent and longest ranging Tour series laser Bushnell Golf has ever released.
UNRIVALED PRECISION
Utilizing new and improved electronics, the Tour V6 is the most accurate, consistent and longest ranging Tour series laser Bushnell Golf has ever released.
IMPROVED PINSEEKER WITH VISUAL JOLT
In addition to feeling when you have locked onto the flag, a red ring now flashes as JOLT vibrates to give you even greater feedback and confidence to know you have locked onto the flag.
IMPROVED WEATHER RESISTANT DESIGN (IPX6)
The most weather resistant (IPX6) Tour series laser Bushnell Golf has ever made.
INTEGRATED BITE MAGNETIC MOUNT
Featuring Bushnell Golf’s exclusive BITE magnetic mount that allows you to easily mount the Tour V6 right on the cart bar.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Best-in-class performance.
Precision – Get the right number on every shot, whether you are lasering a tree, bunker or a flag, Bushnell is accurate to within inches of your target.
Bushnell Golf App – Unlock useful information like hole layouts with distance, 3D flyovers with distance, and wireless course updates.
Tour Domination – Bushnell Laser Rangefinders stand apart as the undisputed #1 Laser Rangefinder in professional golf.
SPECS
LENGTH:
4.5″
WIDTH:
1.6″
HEIGHT:
3.1″
WEIGHT:
8.5oz
WATER RESISTANT:
YES, IPX6
DISPLAY:
LCD
POWER SOURCE:
3-Volt Lithium (CR-2)
MAGNIFICATION:
6x
OBJECTIVE LENS DIAMETER:
24mm
EXIT PUPIL:
4.0mm
EXTRA LONG EYE RELIEF:
16mm
RANGE:
5-1,300 yards
RANGING ACCURACY:
1 yard
FIELD OF VIEW:
330ft@1000 yards
FULLY MULTI-COATED:
YES
View Product
How may yards to cover the bunker? How far is it to the back of the green? How much room do you have on either side of the flag? Questions like these need to be answered before every shot you hit.
“Sometimes they’ll choose a yardage that doesn’t give them enough wiggle room,” Sherman says.
When you only get the yardage to the flag, it can lead to poor strategic decisions that result in big numbers. Instead, you should be focusing on yardages that give you the most margin for error. Once you start doing that, you’re sure to see your scores drop.
Zephyr Melton
Golf.com Editor
Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.
