Since the USGA began allowing Tournament Committees to implement a Condition of Competition allowing for the use of distance measuring devices, amateurgolf.com has allowed them in our events -- as long as they did not have the capability of measuring the effect of slope on the distance of the shot. I must admit, however, that for the first couple of years it struck me as weird whenever I saw people aiming laser-based devices at a flagstick or other aiming point.
And that was especially true of the original bulky ones that looked like binoculars and made players look a little like bird watchers from the Audubon Society.
I just couldn’t see carrying one. I always had an excuse or two, with “big and bulky” being high on the list.
The second generation of lasers, however, like the one I’m currently using from Leupold, are hip-pocket small and as easy to use as a new car’s keyless entry system.
If you like knowing how far away you are from the flag, a hazard, corner of a dogleg, or any other point of reference, a laser based device is an extremely accurate tool to have in the bag. But that brings me to one of my other earlier excuses not to acquire one of these little technological wonders - “I don’t HAVE a problem with yardage.”
What I’ve learned with about ten rounds (including a couple of tournament rounds) under my belt is that it’s not only a quicker way to get yardage, but once you get confident with using it you get a psychological advantage that allows for commitment to the club selection, target, and shot.
Maybe that’s why over 10% of early respondents to our game improvement survey listed distance measuring devices as the “single technology in the last five years that has helped reduce their score or enjoy the game more.”
So, if you’re starting to think “maybe it’s time I invested in one of these puppies” you should be aware that where there used to be essentially one choice, now there are several.
The Leupold GX-1 has some features I really like, beyond just the size and light weight.
The horizontal beam (Leupold calls it "PinFinder") it utilizes allows you to lock into the target very quickly, and the automatic on/off means that all you do is click the button on the top to turn it on and you don’t have to worry about it draining the single battery when you put it back in your bag or on the cart.
My favorite feature is the ability to quickly put the GX-1 into “scan” mode with a second click-and-hold action with that same top button. What this does is let you watch the digital yardage readout change as you “pan” across your field of vision. You can hone in on the pin much easier this way when there are obstructions (usually trees) either in front of or behind the green.
Like all great golf technology, the Leupold GX-1 or any other distance measuring device can’t hit the ball for you, or substitute for good common sense. A good player can take this information and factor in wind, slope, and the risks associated with chasing “sucker” pins and commit to the right shot for the situation.
Which brings me to the third thing I always despised about the lasers, but which, ironically, I find myself doing now -- getting a yardage from anything less than 60 yards. But now I get it. It’s not something I do all the time, but I “shoot” the pin sometimes from shorter yardage to help me build the confidence to either hit a bump-and-run with a lot of green or to hoist one over a bunker to a tight pin. I find it almost indispensable when I hit one someplace I’m not supposed to be -- there aren’t any yardage markers 50 yards left of the green pin high on a par-5 -- and I’ve hit some really confident shots in those situations after a quick yardage-check.
The Leupold GX-1 is the product-of-choice of the Professional Tour Caddies Association, and I can see why. If you’re interested in finding out more, visit http://golf.leupold.com.